Sulphur Springs, Texas
Encyclopedia
Sulphur Springs is a city in Hopkins County
, Texas
, in the United States
. As of the 2000 census
, the city population was 14,551. It is the county seat
of Hopkins County
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 21 square miles (54.4 km²), of which, 17.9 square miles (46.4 km²) of it is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²) of it (15.11%) is water....
of 2000, there were 14,551 people, 5,780 households, and 3,855 families residing in the city. The population density
was 814.8 people per square mile (314.6/km²). There were 6,492 housing units at an average density of 363.5 per square mile (140.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.51% White, 14.27% African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.69% from other races
, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.19% of the population.
There were 5,780 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples
living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.02 people.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,403, and the median income for a family was $36,802. Males had a median income of $29,559 versus $21,179 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,662. About 12.6% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.
water were abundant. Before the first settlers arrived, local Native American
tribes often used the areas around the springs as their home. When the settlers began arriving, they, too, used the springs as their camping grounds.
A man by the name of Eli Bib, one of the first settlers, ran a store from his cabin that sold staples, whiskey, persimmon
beer, and slabs of ginger cake. In 1849, Dr. and Mrs. Davis moved into the area. Dr. Davis envisioned the spot as a future city.
In 1850 the residents organized the area's first church, the Methodist Episcopal. Construction of the church was completed in 1853. In 1852, the Presbyterian Church was organized. At this point in time, the population of the village was 441. In order to serve the growing group of people, commodities began to be brought in from nearby Jefferson and new stores began to spring up.
The village became a city in 1854 when the first post office was established. The city's name was originally Bright Star. Mail to and from the city was delivered by the Pony Express
.
On May 18, 1871, the county seat
of Hopkins county
was moved from Tarrant to Sulphur Springs. The name "Bright Star" was removed from the postal directory.
The exact date of the first government's formation is unknown, but one of the first to hold the mayor's
office was William A. Wortham. In 1854, Wortham bought the Texas Star press and moved to Sulphur Springs where he, his brother-in-law, and Bill Davis established the city's first newspaper.
The Echo Publishing Company was founded in 1897. It was the first steam-powered press
in Sulphur Springs. After the first plant was lost to a fire, a new plant was constructed which used gasoline
as fuel. In 1884 the Sulphur Springs Enterprise was founded. In the same year, leading exponent of Populism James Harvey "Cyclone" Davis
founded the Alliance Vindicator, which was published until 1901. John S. Bagwell bought the Hopkins County Echo in 1916. In 1924, the Texas Star was merged into the Daily News Telegram. The Daily News Telegram changed its name first to the Daily Gazette and later to the Weekly Gazette. Eventually all these newspaper
s were merged into the Sulphur Springs News Telegram and the Hopkins County Echo, both of which still exist.
Ten acres (40,000 m²) of land were set aside for the Bright Star University in 1857. The Sulphur Springs District Conference High School began in 1877, established on the Bright Star University land on College Street. In December 1882, the school became known as Central College. It was owned by the Method Episcopal Church. It was later renamed Eastman College and Conservatory of Music and Art under a new charter. Before the year 1900 the college burned and Professor Eastman left the area.
The First National Bank of Sulphur Springs was nationalized in 1855. It is now known as City National Bank.
In 1857 the area's first steam-powered factory was established by the Bell brothers. In the same year, the Morro Castle was built on North Street. Its builders remain unknown.
C. Denton was elected to lead the new city government, which was incorporated. During the Civil War
, the town had to be incorporated again.
In 1868, Union
troops moved into Sulphur Springs and stayed for a period of two years. Upon their departure and the end of the military regime, A. J. Bridges became mayor of the new city government.
A railroad line was extended from Mineola in 1872. Settlers were drawn by tales of the healing powers of the city's sulphur baths. Due to population growth, the springs of sulphur were gradually covered and none remain active today. A rail was run from Jefferson to Sulphur Springs in 1879. The St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad (Cotton Belt)built through Sulphur Springs in 1887 on its way to Commerce and Sherman. The next year the line was completed to Fort Worth. In 1891 the bankrupt railroad was sold to Jay Gould interests and renamed the St. Louis Southwestern Railway
.
An ice plant was built in 1887. The city's courthouse
, which still exists today, was constructed in 1895. In 1904, well
s were dug to supply the city with water. In the same year, a long distance telephone
line was run to nearby Greenville
. In 1889, the City National Bank was organized.
After World War II
a new government was founded. With the inception of this new government, many new programs were started and the city grew until the population rose to be approximately 15,000.
The dairy industry is a major component of the local economy; Sulphur Springs is home to the Southwest Dairy Museum
which features artifacts on the history of the dairy industry.
It can also be noted that Sulphur Springs is the hometown of Tom Waits's Father.
The city is also served by a municipal airport
. Railroad Service is provided by the Kansas City Southern Railroad and the shortline Blacklands Railroad is based in Sulphur Springs.
.
Hopkins County, Texas
*Brashear*Dike*Como*Cumby*Gafford*Pickton*Saltillo*Sulphur Bluff*Sulphur Springs*Tira-See also:*National Register of Historic Places listings in Hopkins County, Texas-External links:*...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, the city population was 14,551. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Hopkins County
Hopkins County, Texas
*Brashear*Dike*Como*Cumby*Gafford*Pickton*Saltillo*Sulphur Bluff*Sulphur Springs*Tira-See also:*National Register of Historic Places listings in Hopkins County, Texas-External links:*...
.
Geography
Sulphur Springs is located at 33°8′3"N 95°36′7"W (33.134064, -95.601965).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 21 square miles (54.4 km²), of which, 17.9 square miles (46.4 km²) of it is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²) of it (15.11%) is water....
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 14,551 people, 5,780 households, and 3,855 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 814.8 people per square mile (314.6/km²). There were 6,492 housing units at an average density of 363.5 per square mile (140.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.51% White, 14.27% African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.69% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.19% of the population.
There were 5,780 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.02 people.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,403, and the median income for a family was $36,802. Males had a median income of $29,559 versus $21,179 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,662. About 12.6% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.
History
Sulphur Springs derives its modern name from the fact that when the area was first settled, springs of sulphurSulfur
Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element with atomic number 16. In the periodic table it is represented by the symbol S. It is an abundant, multivalent non-metal. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with chemical formula S8. Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow...
water were abundant. Before the first settlers arrived, local Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribes often used the areas around the springs as their home. When the settlers began arriving, they, too, used the springs as their camping grounds.
Persimmon
A persimmon is the edible fruit of a number of species of trees in the genus Diospyros in the ebony wood family . The word Diospyros means "the fire of Zeus" in ancient Greek. As a tree, it is a perennial plant...
beer, and slabs of ginger cake. In 1849, Dr. and Mrs. Davis moved into the area. Dr. Davis envisioned the spot as a future city.
In 1850 the residents organized the area's first church, the Methodist Episcopal. Construction of the church was completed in 1853. In 1852, the Presbyterian Church was organized. At this point in time, the population of the village was 441. In order to serve the growing group of people, commodities began to be brought in from nearby Jefferson and new stores began to spring up.
The village became a city in 1854 when the first post office was established. The city's name was originally Bright Star. Mail to and from the city was delivered by the Pony Express
Pony Express
The Pony Express was a fast mail service crossing the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the High Sierra from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, from April 3, 1860 to October 1861...
.
On May 18, 1871, the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Hopkins county
Hopkins County, Texas
*Brashear*Dike*Como*Cumby*Gafford*Pickton*Saltillo*Sulphur Bluff*Sulphur Springs*Tira-See also:*National Register of Historic Places listings in Hopkins County, Texas-External links:*...
was moved from Tarrant to Sulphur Springs. The name "Bright Star" was removed from the postal directory.
The exact date of the first government's formation is unknown, but one of the first to hold the mayor's
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
office was William A. Wortham. In 1854, Wortham bought the Texas Star press and moved to Sulphur Springs where he, his brother-in-law, and Bill Davis established the city's first newspaper.
The Echo Publishing Company was founded in 1897. It was the first steam-powered press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
in Sulphur Springs. After the first plant was lost to a fire, a new plant was constructed which used gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
as fuel. In 1884 the Sulphur Springs Enterprise was founded. In the same year, leading exponent of Populism James Harvey "Cyclone" Davis
James H. Davis (congressman)
James H. "Cyclone" Davis was a Populist Party organizer and a Democratic Congressman from Texas for one term from 1915–1917.-Early life:...
founded the Alliance Vindicator, which was published until 1901. John S. Bagwell bought the Hopkins County Echo in 1916. In 1924, the Texas Star was merged into the Daily News Telegram. The Daily News Telegram changed its name first to the Daily Gazette and later to the Weekly Gazette. Eventually all these newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s were merged into the Sulphur Springs News Telegram and the Hopkins County Echo, both of which still exist.
Ten acres (40,000 m²) of land were set aside for the Bright Star University in 1857. The Sulphur Springs District Conference High School began in 1877, established on the Bright Star University land on College Street. In December 1882, the school became known as Central College. It was owned by the Method Episcopal Church. It was later renamed Eastman College and Conservatory of Music and Art under a new charter. Before the year 1900 the college burned and Professor Eastman left the area.
The First National Bank of Sulphur Springs was nationalized in 1855. It is now known as City National Bank.
In 1857 the area's first steam-powered factory was established by the Bell brothers. In the same year, the Morro Castle was built on North Street. Its builders remain unknown.
C. Denton was elected to lead the new city government, which was incorporated. During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the town had to be incorporated again.
In 1868, Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
troops moved into Sulphur Springs and stayed for a period of two years. Upon their departure and the end of the military regime, A. J. Bridges became mayor of the new city government.
A railroad line was extended from Mineola in 1872. Settlers were drawn by tales of the healing powers of the city's sulphur baths. Due to population growth, the springs of sulphur were gradually covered and none remain active today. A rail was run from Jefferson to Sulphur Springs in 1879. The St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad (Cotton Belt)built through Sulphur Springs in 1887 on its way to Commerce and Sherman. The next year the line was completed to Fort Worth. In 1891 the bankrupt railroad was sold to Jay Gould interests and renamed the St. Louis Southwestern Railway
St. Louis Southwestern Railway
The St. Louis Southwestern Railway , known by its nickname of "The Cotton Belt Route" or simply Cotton Belt, was organized on January 15, 1891, although it had its origins in a series of short lines founded in Tyler, Texas, in 1870 that connected northeastern Texas to Arkansas and southeastern...
.
An ice plant was built in 1887. The city's courthouse
Courthouse
A courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
, which still exists today, was constructed in 1895. In 1904, well
Water well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
s were dug to supply the city with water. In the same year, a long distance telephone
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
line was run to nearby Greenville
Greenville, Texas
Greenville is the county seat, and the largest city, of Hunt County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,557....
. In 1889, the City National Bank was organized.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
a new government was founded. With the inception of this new government, many new programs were started and the city grew until the population rose to be approximately 15,000.
The dairy industry is a major component of the local economy; Sulphur Springs is home to the Southwest Dairy Museum
Southwest Dairy Museum
The Southwest Dairy Museum, located in Sulphur Springs, Texas, showcases the importance of the dairy industry's past, present and future. The Southwest Dairy Museum is funded by the dairy checkoff program, thus all of its programs and functions are made possible by dairy farmers...
which features artifacts on the history of the dairy industry.
It can also be noted that Sulphur Springs is the hometown of Tom Waits's Father.
Transportation
Sulphur Springs served by the following highways that run through the city:-
Interstate 30 -
U.S. Highway 67 (runs concurrent with Interstate 30) -
State Highway 11State Highway 11 (Texas)State Highway 11, or SH 11, is a highway that runs from US 59 in Linden to SH 56 in Sherman in northeast Texas.-Route description:SH 11 begins at an intersection with State Highway 56 on the easternedge of Sherman, just north of the Sherman Regional Airport. The route then travels to the southeast... -
State Highway 19State Highway 19 (Texas)State Highway 19, or SH 19, runs from Huntsville to Paris in east Texas. It is a two-lane freeway near Huntsville.-History:SH 19 was one of the original 26 Texas state highways proposed in 1917. The original proposal was for it to run from the Texas/Oklahoma border north of Paris to Houston. By... -
State Highway 154
The city is also served by a municipal airport
Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport
Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport is an airport located in Sulphur Springs, Texas, USA. The airport has two runways. It was named Texas Airport of the Year for 2003 by the Federal Aviation Administration....
. Railroad Service is provided by the Kansas City Southern Railroad and the shortline Blacklands Railroad is based in Sulphur Springs.
Education
The City of Sulphur Springs is served by the Sulphur Springs Independent School DistrictSulphur Springs Independent School District
Sulphur Springs Independent School District is a public school district based in Sulphur Springs, Texas .In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.-Schools:*Sulphur Springs High...
.
Notable people from Sulphur Springs
- Gary PanterGary PanterGary Panter is an illustrator, painter, designer and part-time musician. Panter's work is representative of the post-underground, new wave comics movement that began with the end of Arcade: The Comics Revue and the initiation of RAW, one of the second generation in American underground comix...
, artist, illustrator, musician - Tyreo HarrisonTyreo HarrisonTyreo Tremayne Harrison Tyreo Tremayne Harrison Tyreo Tremayne Harrison (born May 15, 1980 in Sulphur Springs, Texas is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college...
, NFL linebacker - Kaci BrownKaci BrownKaci Deanne Brown is an American pop and R&B singer. Born in Sulphur Springs, Texas, she moved with her family to Nashville at age 12 in 2001, initially with the intention of developing a career in country music. Instead, she chose a pop career and toured with the Backstreet Boys. At age 17, she...
, pop singer - Erwin CainErwin CainErwin Alfred Cain is an attorney and businessman from Sulphur Springs, Texas, who is a freshman Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 3 Erwin Alfred Cain (born March 15, 1960) is an attorney and businessman from Sulphur Springs, Texas, who is a freshman Republican...
, attorney and Republican member of the Texas House of RepresentativesTexas House of RepresentativesThe Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits... - Caleb MillerCaleb MillerCaleb Miller is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
, NFL linebacker - Damione LewisDamione Lewis-St. Louis Rams:Lewis was drafted by the St. Louis Rams with the 12th overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. On July 27, 2001, Lewis agreed to a five-year, $7.5 million contract with the Rams...
, NFL defensive tackle - Earl BlackEarl BlackEarl Black is a professor of Political Science at Rice University and a well-known expert on the politics of the Southern United States, particularly as they relate to race. He and his twin brother, Merle Black, a professor at Emory University, have written several books on the politics of the...
and Merle BlackMerle BlackP. Merle Black is the Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Political Science at Emory University. He is a frequent media source on Southern politics,as is his twin brother, Earl Black, a professor at Rice University...
, noted political scientists. - Mandy ClarkMandy ClarkMandy Clark is an American voice actress, primarily noted for her role as Tomo Takino in the English-language dub of Azumanga Daioh. She auditioned for ADV Films in the year 2000 without prior drama training, and landed her first episode role in Excel Saga. She went on hiatus from voice acting...
, birthname Amanda Barney, voice actress - Keenan ClaytonKeenan ClaytonKeenan Clayton is an American football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Eagles in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oklahoma....
, NFL Linebacker - Forrest GreggForrest GreggAlvis Forrest Gregg is a former American football player and coach in the National Football League. During a Pro Football Hall of Fame playing career, he was a part of six championships, five of them with the Green Bay Packers before closing out his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys with a win in...
, SMU football, all Southwest Conference, All Pro-Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, NFL Coach-Cincinnati Bengals, NFL Hall of Famer. - Fair to MidlandFair to MidlandFair to Midland is an American progressive metal band that formed in 1998 and is based in Dallas, Texas. They are currently signed to E1 Music. According to the band's official website, their name comes from "...an old Texan play on the term 'fair to middling'." The band produced two self-released...
, progressive metal band - Gerald MannGerald MannGerald Mann was an American football player and the attorney general of Texas from 1939 to 1944.Mann studied at Southern Methodist University, where he was twice named to all-conference football teams and was nicknamed the "Little Red Arrow." He subsequently worked his way through Harvard Law...
, Texas Attorney General and SMU Quarterback - Grover SellersGrover SellersGrover Sellers was Attorney General of Texas from 1944 - 1946.-Early years:Sellers was born in Louisiana on November 20, 1892...
, Texas Attorney General - James Hulen, National Geographic photographer