Anson, Texas

Anson, Texas
City
Jones County Courthouse
Location of Anson, Texas
Coordinates: 32°45′20″N99°53′47″W / 32.75556°N 99.89639°W / 32.75556; -99.89639
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Jones
Area [1]
• Total	2.76 sq mi (7.16 km2)
• Land	2.76 sq mi (7.15 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	1,729 ft (527 m)
Population  (2020) [2]
• Total	2,294
• Density	830.26/sq mi (320.56/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	79501
Area code	325
FIPS code	48-03372 [3]
GNIS feature ID	1329566 [4]
Website	anson-tx.us

Anson is a city in and the county seat of Jones County, Texas, United States. ^[5] The population was 2,294 at the 2020 census. ^[2] It is part of the Abilene, Texas metropolitan area. Originally named "Jones City", the town was renamed "Anson" in 1882 in honor of Anson Jones, the last president of the Republic of Texas. ^[6]

Geography

Anson is located in central Jones County at 32°45′20″N99°53′47″W / 32.75556°N 99.89639°W / 32.75556; -99.89639 (32.755529, −99.896301). ^[7] Three U.S. highways pass through the city. U.S. Routes 83 and 277 run north–south through the center as Commercial Avenue, while U.S. Route 180 crosses on 17th Street. US 83 leads northwest 36 miles (58 km) to Aspermont, while US 277 leads northeast 15 miles (24 km) to Stamford, and the highways together lead southeast 24 miles (39 km) to Abilene. US 180 leads east 36 miles (58 km) to Albany and west 61 miles (98 km) to Snyder.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Anson has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.2 km²), of which 2.2 acres (8,855 m²), or 0.12%, are water. ^[1] The city is part of the Brazos River watershed, with the southeastern corner of the city crossed by Carter Creek, and the northern part draining to Redmud Creek.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	495		—
1910	1,842		—
1920	1,425		−22.6%
1930	2,093		46.9%
1940	2,338		11.7%
1950	2,708		15.8%
1960	2,890		6.7%
1970	2,615		−9.5%
1980	2,831		8.3%
1990	2,644		−6.6%
2000	2,556		−3.3%
2010	2,430		−4.9%
2020	2,294		−5.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]

2020 census

Anson racial composition ^[9]
(NH = Non-Hispanic) ^{[lower-alpha 1]}

Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	1,258	54.84%
Black or African American (NH)	47	2.05%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	11	0.48%
Asian (NH)	14	0.61%
Some Other Race (NH)	4	0.17%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	84	3.66%
Hispanic or Latino	876	38.19%
Total	2,294

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,294 people, 869 households, and 532 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, 2,556 people, 950 households, and 681 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,219.2 inhabitants per square mile (470.7/km²). The 1,089 housing units had an average density of 519.5 per square mile (200.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.82% White, 2.78% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 18.62% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 32.63% of the population.

Of the 950 households, 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were not families. About 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57, and the average family size was 3.10.

In the city, the population was distributed as 28.3% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,954, and for a family was $30,284. Males had a median income of $26,893 versus $19,038 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,798. About 17.0% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.0% of those under age 18 and 18.8% of those age 65 or over.

Traditions

Anson is home to the "Texas Cowboys' Christmas Ball", a three-night event held the weekend before Christmas. The first ball was held by M.G. Rhodes at his Star Hotel in Anson in 1885 and annually thereafter until 1890, when the hotel burned down. The event happened sporadically until it faded away during Prohibition. Teacher and folklorist Leonora Barrett revived the event in 1940. The dance was (and still is) held in Pioneer Hall, a Works Progress Administration project from the Great Depression. Music is usually provided by Michael Martin Murphey and his band. ^[11]

Anson also may or may not have been the inspiration for the movie "Footloose" and, as of 1987, still had an enforced "no dancing" law on the books that is/was only lifted for the annual Christmas dance. An effort was made in 1987 to change the ordinance to allow supervised dancing, which was successful. The conflict was the basis for the book, No Dancin' In Anson: An American Story of Race and Social Change, by University of Texas professor Ricardo Ainslie.

Education

The city is served by the Anson Independent School District and is home to the Anson High School Tigers.

Notable people

• Omar Burleson, late U.S. representative born in Anson
• Greg Glazner, Walt Whitman Award-winning poet born in Anson
• Jeannie C. Riley, Country singer who had a number-one pop and country hit in 1968 with "Harper Valley PTA"; born in Anson

Gallery

• 
  Historic First United Methodist Church in Anson, Texas
• 
  Downtown Anson south of the courthouse at sunset
• 
  U.S. Post Office in Anson
• 
  Opera house

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Anson has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps. ^[12]

Climate data for Anson, Texas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1898–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	88 (31)	95 (35)	100 (38)	101 (38)	113 (45)	114 (46)	110 (43)	112 (44)	109 (43)	104 (40)	92 (33)	89 (32)	114 (46)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	78.6 (25.9)	82.8 (28.2)	88.9 (31.6)	93.3 (34.1)	99.7 (37.6)	101.4 (38.6)	103.6 (39.8)	103.2 (39.6)	98.6 (37.0)	93.5 (34.2)	84.1 (28.9)	78.4 (25.8)	106.0 (41.1)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	57.3 (14.1)	61.6 (16.4)	69.1 (20.6)	78.4 (25.8)	85.7 (29.8)	92.8 (33.8)	95.6 (35.3)	95.1 (35.1)	87.7 (30.9)	78.5 (25.8)	66.6 (19.2)	57.9 (14.4)	77.2 (25.1)
Daily mean °F (°C)	43.3 (6.3)	47.1 (8.4)	54.6 (12.6)	63.7 (17.6)	72.2 (22.3)	80.0 (26.7)	83.3 (28.5)	82.9 (28.3)	75.3 (24.1)	64.8 (18.2)	53.1 (11.7)	44.7 (7.1)	63.8 (17.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	29.4 (−1.4)	32.7 (0.4)	40.1 (4.5)	49.0 (9.4)	58.6 (14.8)	67.2 (19.6)	71.0 (21.7)	70.6 (21.4)	63.0 (17.2)	51.2 (10.7)	39.6 (4.2)	31.5 (−0.3)	50.3 (10.2)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	17.3 (−8.2)	20.3 (−6.5)	24.6 (−4.1)	34.6 (1.4)	46.1 (7.8)	59.2 (15.1)	64.9 (18.3)	63.4 (17.4)	51.3 (10.7)	36.7 (2.6)	25.8 (−3.4)	19.1 (−7.2)	13.1 (−10.5)
Record low °F (°C)	3 (−16)	−5 (−21)	9 (−13)	26 (−3)	35 (2)	48 (9)	55 (13)	50 (10)	32 (0)	19 (−7)	14 (−10)	−12 (−24)	−12 (−24)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	1.03 (26)	1.41 (36)	1.53 (39)	1.95 (50)	3.32 (84)	3.56 (90)	2.46 (62)	2.58 (66)	2.26 (57)	2.50 (64)	1.46 (37)	1.37 (35)	25.43 (646)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	0.9 (2.3)	0.4 (1.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.5 (1.3)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	1.2 (3.0)	0.8 (2.0)	3.8 (9.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	3.2	3.6	4.4	4.3	6.0	5.6	3.5	4.8	4.2	4.5	3.9	3.3	51.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	0.4	0.5	0.1	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.4	1.8
Source 1: NOAA [13]
Source 2: National Weather Service [14]

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2020 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Anson city, Texas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved February 9, 2024.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. National Association of Counties. "NACo County Explorer" . Retrieved February 9, 2024.
6. Ricci, Connie. "Anson, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online . Retrieved December 10, 2008.
7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
9. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
10. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
11. Leanna Skarnulis. "Cowboys' Christmas Ball" AmericanProfile December 6–12, 2009. pp 14–16
12. Climate Summary for Anson, Texas
13. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Anson, TX". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
14. "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS San Angelo". National Weather Service. Retrieved April 30, 2023.

1. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. ^[10]

External links

• City of Anson official website