Tatum, Texas
Encyclopedia
Tatum is a city in Panola
and Rusk
Counties in the U.S. state
of Texas
. The population was 1,175 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,175 people, 459 households, and 324 families residing in the city. The population density
was 309.9 people per square mile (119.7/km²). There were 523 housing units at an average density of 137.9/sq mi (53.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.62% White, 16.43% African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 7.15% from other races
, and 2.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.62% of the population.
There were 459 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples
living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,000, and the median income for a family was $30,119. Males had a median income of $26,719 versus $19,063 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,181. About 20.4% of families and 25.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.8% of those under age 18 and 20.2% of those age 65 or over.
Albert Tatum was born on August 12, 1810, in Hancock County, Georgia, the son of William Tatum and Alice B. (Dent) Tatum. Albert Tatum first married Rebecca Elizabeth Ann Menefee about 1837 in Chambers County, Alabama. They were the parents of one son, William C. Tatum, who was born on June 25, 1838 in Chambers County, Alabama.
After the death of his first wife on December 31, 1840 in Chambers County, Alabama, Albert Tatum married Mary C. Rippetoe on September 22, 1841, in Tallapoosa County, Alabama.
At one time, Albert Tatum owned over 4,000 acres (16 km²) of land around the current town of Tatum.
After the town's first bank was established in 1903, things got bad early in the 20th century as a tornado destroyed part of the town in 1904. The next year, a fire destroyered almost all of the north side of town.
-fired power plant. Martin Creek Lake State Park provides excellent, year round fishing, camping, wildlife observation and photography, picnicking, boating, water skiing, unsupervised lake swimming, backpacking, and hiking. An annual perch fishing contest is held for children ages 4 to 12 the first Saturday in September.
Panola County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 22,756 people, 8,821 households, and 6,395 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile . There were 10,524 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
and Rusk
Rusk County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,372 people, 17,364 households, and 12,727 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 19,867 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
Counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. The population was 1,175 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Tatum is located at 32°18′53"N 94°31′8"W (32.314853, -94.518875).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 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²), all of it land.
Major highways
-
State Highway 43State Highway 43 (Texas)State Highway 43 is a Texas state highway that runs from Atlanta to Henderson.-Previous routes: SH 43 was originally proposed in 1919 to connect Longview to Rusk via Henderson. By 1922, the proposed route had been readjusted to extended farther west to Palestine and north to the Oklahoma border... -
State Highway 149
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 1,175 people, 459 households, and 324 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 309.9 people per square mile (119.7/km²). There were 523 housing units at an average density of 137.9/sq mi (53.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.62% White, 16.43% African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 7.15% 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 2.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.62% of the population.
There were 459 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% 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, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,000, and the median income for a family was $30,119. Males had a median income of $26,719 versus $19,063 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 $13,181. About 20.4% of families and 25.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.8% of those under age 18 and 20.2% of those age 65 or over.
History
Tatum was settled in the 1840s by Albert Tatum and his second wife, Mary C. (Rippetoe) Tatum. In 1848, they built a large plantation there. In 1885, the Santa Fe railroad came through, and the town was divided into individual lots. One of their sons, Paul "Uncle Fox" Tatum, who studied architecture in New York, laid out the streets. He became the postmaster in 1886. The city of Tatum lies along Trammel's Trace, an old trade route. A marker at the south end of town commemorates it. In the city park stands the restored Santa Fe depot.Albert Tatum was born on August 12, 1810, in Hancock County, Georgia, the son of William Tatum and Alice B. (Dent) Tatum. Albert Tatum first married Rebecca Elizabeth Ann Menefee about 1837 in Chambers County, Alabama. They were the parents of one son, William C. Tatum, who was born on June 25, 1838 in Chambers County, Alabama.
After the death of his first wife on December 31, 1840 in Chambers County, Alabama, Albert Tatum married Mary C. Rippetoe on September 22, 1841, in Tallapoosa County, Alabama.
At one time, Albert Tatum owned over 4,000 acres (16 km²) of land around the current town of Tatum.
After the town's first bank was established in 1903, things got bad early in the 20th century as a tornado destroyed part of the town in 1904. The next year, a fire destroyered almost all of the north side of town.
Attractions
Martin Creek Lake State Park is located four miles (6 km) southeast of Tatum. The park was deeded to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department by Texas Utilities and opened to the public in 1976. The park is located on 5000 acres (20 km²) Martin Creek Lake, constructed to provide cooling water for a ligniteLignite
Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, or Rosebud coal by Northern Pacific Railroad,is a soft brown fuel with characteristics that put it somewhere between coal and peat...
-fired power plant. Martin Creek Lake State Park provides excellent, year round fishing, camping, wildlife observation and photography, picnicking, boating, water skiing, unsupervised lake swimming, backpacking, and hiking. An annual perch fishing contest is held for children ages 4 to 12 the first Saturday in September.
Notable people
- Larry CentersLarry CentersLarry Eugene Centers is a former American football fullback in the National Football League for 14 seasons, mostly for his first team, the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals...
, New England Patriots running back - Travian SmithTravian SmithTravian Smith is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oklahoma....
, Oakland Raiders linebacker - Denarius MooreDenarius Moore-Oakland Raiders:Moore was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the 5th Round of the 2011 NFL Draft. After a strong Training camp and Preseason, Moore made the Oakland Raiders 53-man Roster....
, Oakland Raiders Wide Receiver - Bob Allen, former pitcher for the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
- Stephen HodgeStephen Hodge (American football)Stephen Hodge is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football as a strong safety at Texas Christian University .-College career:Hodge did not start for TCU until the middle...
, Dallas Cowboys Linebacker