Waskom, Texas
Encyclopedia
Waskom is a city in Harrison County
, Texas
, United States
. It lies about 20 miles (32.2 km) east of the county seat, Marshall
, on U.S. Route 80
. To the east is Shreveport, Louisiana
. The population was 2,068 at the 2000 census
with a United States Census Bureau
2005 population estimate of 2,129 citizens.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), all land.
Waskom was established in 1850 as a midway point of an east-west (Dallas to Shreveport) cattle and cotton economic travelway to the Red River in Louisiana, some 20 miles (32.2 km) east. In 1872, it became a main railroad station between Dallas and Shreveport to the west and east respectively and Texarkana to the north. A major railway still travels through Waskom. Today, Waskom sits on I-20 that connects the Carolinas to southwest Texas and Mexico.
of 2000, there were 2,068 people, 790 households, and 571 families residing in the city. The population density
was 750.0 people per square mile (289.3/km²). There were 894 housing units at an average density of 324.2 per square mile (125.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.05% White, 15.76% African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 7.16% from other races
, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.86% of the population.
There were 790 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples
living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,737, and the median income for a family was $32,243. Males had a median income of $29,625 versus $18,859 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,080. About 19.4% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.5% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.
. She was the first woman elected as a director of the Waskom Chamber of Commerce
. A native of Camden
, an unincorporated
community in Polk County in southeast Texas, Hamiter was named "Outstanding Citizen of the Year" in 1975, and her Hamiter's Chevron was the "Outstanding Business" in 1989 and 1996. Previously, she had operated a Gulf Oil
station. Hamiter was active too in civic functions and in the Methodist Church and the Order of the Eastern Star
fraternal organization. She and her husband, Ernest Jewell Hamiter, originally of Bradley
in Lafayette County in southwestern Arkansas
, who survives her, built and managed their 200 acre (0.809372 km²) Hamiter's 3-H Ranch, in Waskom. She is interred at Waskom Restland Cemetery
.
Harrison County, Texas
Harrison County is a county of the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 62,110. It is named for Jonas Harrison, a lawyer and Texas revolutionary. It is located in the Ark-La-Tex region...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It lies about 20 miles (32.2 km) east of the county seat, Marshall
Marshall, Texas
Marshall is a city in Harrison County in the northeastern corner of Texas. Marshall is a major cultural and educational center in East Texas and the tri-state area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Marshall was about 23,523...
, on U.S. Route 80
U.S. Route 80
U.S. Route 80 is an east–west United States highway, much of which was once part of the early auto trail known as the Dixie Overland Highway. As the "0" in the route number indicates, it was originally a cross-country route, from the Atlantic to the Pacific...
. To the east is Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
. The population was 2,068 at the 2000 census
Census
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...
with a 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...
2005 population estimate of 2,129 citizens.
Geography
Waskom is located at 32°28′42"N 94°3′50"W (32.478416, -94.063769).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 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), all land.
Waskom was established in 1850 as a midway point of an east-west (Dallas to Shreveport) cattle and cotton economic travelway to the Red River in Louisiana, some 20 miles (32.2 km) east. In 1872, it became a main railroad station between Dallas and Shreveport to the west and east respectively and Texarkana to the north. A major railway still travels through Waskom. Today, Waskom sits on I-20 that connects the Carolinas to southwest Texas and Mexico.
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 2,068 people, 790 households, and 571 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 750.0 people per square mile (289.3/km²). There were 894 housing units at an average density of 324.2 per square mile (125.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.05% White, 15.76% African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 7.16% 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 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.86% of the population.
There were 790 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% 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, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,737, and the median income for a family was $32,243. Males had a median income of $29,625 versus $18,859 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 $13,080. About 19.4% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.5% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
Mary Frances Ellis "Dolly" Hamiter (November 27, 1919 - April 22, 2008) was a businesswoman and rancher in Waskom who served for more than sixteen years as an elected Harrison County justice of the peaceJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. She was the first woman elected as a director of the Waskom Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
. A native of Camden
Camden, Texas
Camden is an unincorporated community in east central Polk County, Texas, United States. It is located at the junction of Farm to Market Roads 942 and 62, eighty miles northwest of Beaumont. As of the year 2000, the community had approximately 1,200 residents....
, an unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
community in Polk County in southeast Texas, Hamiter was named "Outstanding Citizen of the Year" in 1975, and her Hamiter's Chevron was the "Outstanding Business" in 1989 and 1996. Previously, she had operated a Gulf Oil
Gulf Oil
Gulf Oil was a major global oil company from the 1900s to the 1980s. The eighth-largest American manufacturing company in 1941 and the ninth-largest in 1979, Gulf Oil was one of the so-called Seven Sisters oil companies...
station. Hamiter was active too in civic functions and in the Methodist Church and the Order of the Eastern Star
Order of the Eastern Star
The Order of the Eastern Star is a fraternal organization that both men and women can join. It was established in 1850 by Rob Morris, a lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts, who had been an official with the Freemasons. It is based on teachings from the Bible, but is open to people of all...
fraternal organization. She and her husband, Ernest Jewell Hamiter, originally of Bradley
Bradley, Arkansas
Bradley is a city in Lafayette County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 563 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bradley is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
in Lafayette County in southwestern Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, who survives her, built and managed their 200 acre (0.809372 km²) Hamiter's 3-H Ranch, in Waskom. She is interred at Waskom Restland Cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
.