Weir, Texas
Encyclopedia
Weir is a city in Williamson County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 591 at the 2000 census, and 637 in the 2005 census estimate.
and 30 miles north of Austin
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 591 people, 216 households, and 158 families residing in the city. The population density
was 371.0 people per square mile (143.5/km2). There were 229 housing units at an average density of 143.7/sq mi (55.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.36% White, 1.02% African American, 2.88% Native American, 4.06% from other races
, and 1.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.92% of the population. Weirs current mayor is Mervin Walker.
There were 216 households out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples
living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.1% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,029, and the median income for a family was $47,813. Males had a median income of $32,216 versus $22,386 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,361. About 3.6% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
In the late 19th century, the communities of Weir and Townsville (or Towns Mill) grew around these early settlers. Churches included Baptist and Presbyterian congregations that met at the prairie springs school, as well as an African American church that met in a school near Mankins Crossing. Calvin Weir's daughter, Lucy, served as postmaster at the post office in Townsville, where she also ran a small store. Lucy married the local bronzier Cooper Sukaly, in 1888. Sukaly, an immigrant from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was lynched by Weir locals in 1901 for reasons lost to history.
The communities developed similarly until 1893, when the Georgetown and Granger Railroad came through Weir, bypassing Townsville. In 1903, after the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Rail-Road (Mkt) bought the line, known as the Katy, most area residents moved into the town of Weir, officially established that same year. The Katy Lake Resort, created by Mkt on the river at Towns Mill Dam, attracted tourists to the area. The Townsville post office moved to Weir, and with several new businesses, the town began to thrive.
A flood in 1913 damaged the resort and several local businesses, and after a severe drought, World War I and the great depression, Weir's population faltered but began to prosper again in the mid-20th century. Following voter approval, Weir incorporated as a city in 1987.
Williamson County, Texas
Williamson County is a county located on both the Edwards Plateau to the west, consisting of rocky terrain and hills, and Blackland Prairies in the east consising of rich, fertile farming land, The two areas are roughly bisected by Interstate 35...
, 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...
. The population was 591 at the 2000 census, and 637 in the 2005 census estimate.
Geography
Weir is located at 30.675007°N 97.587862°W (30.675007, -97.587862), about six miles northeast of GeorgetownGeorgetown, Texas
Georgetown is a city and also the county seat of Williamson County, Texas, United States with a population of 47,400 at the 2010 census. Southwestern University, founded in 1840, is the oldest university in Texas and is located in Georgetown, about 1/2 mile east of the historic square...
and 30 miles north of Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.
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 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2), all of it land.
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 591 people, 216 households, and 158 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 371.0 people per square mile (143.5/km2). There were 229 housing units at an average density of 143.7/sq mi (55.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.36% White, 1.02% African American, 2.88% Native American, 4.06% 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 1.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.92% of the population. Weirs current mayor is Mervin Walker.
There were 216 households out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% 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, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.1% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,029, and the median income for a family was $47,813. Males had a median income of $32,216 versus $22,386 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 $19,361. About 3.6% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
History
Tennessee-native Thomas Calvin Weir (1826–1901) came to Williamson County in 1856. He bought land in this area and became a prosperous farmer. Alabaman James Francis Towns (1850–1937) came in 1870 and settled nearby on the San Gabriel River. He and his brother, Robert W. Towns (1848–1938), operated a gin and blacksmith shop, as well as Towns Mill.In the late 19th century, the communities of Weir and Townsville (or Towns Mill) grew around these early settlers. Churches included Baptist and Presbyterian congregations that met at the prairie springs school, as well as an African American church that met in a school near Mankins Crossing. Calvin Weir's daughter, Lucy, served as postmaster at the post office in Townsville, where she also ran a small store. Lucy married the local bronzier Cooper Sukaly, in 1888. Sukaly, an immigrant from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was lynched by Weir locals in 1901 for reasons lost to history.
The communities developed similarly until 1893, when the Georgetown and Granger Railroad came through Weir, bypassing Townsville. In 1903, after the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Rail-Road (Mkt) bought the line, known as the Katy, most area residents moved into the town of Weir, officially established that same year. The Katy Lake Resort, created by Mkt on the river at Towns Mill Dam, attracted tourists to the area. The Townsville post office moved to Weir, and with several new businesses, the town began to thrive.
A flood in 1913 damaged the resort and several local businesses, and after a severe drought, World War I and the great depression, Weir's population faltered but began to prosper again in the mid-20th century. Following voter approval, Weir incorporated as a city in 1987.