Ben Wheeler, Texas

Ben Wheeler
Unincorporated community Census designated place
Motto:  Ben Wheeler Matters!
Ben Wheeler Location within the state of Texas Show map of Texas Ben Wheeler Ben Wheeler (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 32°26′46″N95°42′09″W / 32.44611°N 95.70250°W / 32.44611; -95.70250
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Van Zandt
Elevation [1]	518 ft (158 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	456
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	75754
Area code(s)	430, 903
FIPS code	48-07708
GNIS feature ID	2805846 [1]

Ben Wheeler is an unincorporated community and census designated place (CDP) in Van Zandt County, Texas, United States. It lies twelve miles southeast of Canton.

History

The area around Ben Wheeler was first settled in the 1840s by Kentucky farmer Benjamin F. Wheeler. Originally known as Clough, after prominent local farmer George W. Clough, the community was renamed Ben Wheeler in 1878 after the town's post office was relocated to the present townsite. The community was beset by many hardships in its early years, including an 1893 fire which destroyed most of the town's businesses. By 1896, the population reached 500, but disaster struck again by way of a smallpox epidemic that reduced the number of residents to 238 by 1904. Somewhat insulated from the effects of the Great Depression by the East Texas Oil Boom, Ben Wheeler had 18 businesses and a population of 375 in 1943. As the oil boom subsided and area cotton production fell, however, Ben Wheeler began a decline which led to the closing of all but nine area businesses by 1972, and the consolidation of its schools with those in nearby Van. By 1988, however, buoyed by the growth of nearby Tyler and Canton, the number of operating businesses in Ben Wheeler had risen to twenty-two and in 2000 the community was home to an estimated 400 residents.

2011 tornado

On Wednesday, April 27, 2011, a moderate tornado with sustained winds of 90-100 mph struck the communities of Ben Wheeler and Edom, Texas. Three structures were destroyed and upwards of another one hundred structures damaged. ^[2]

Education

Ben Wheeler is served by the Van Independent School District.

Restoration and Revival

Brooks and Rese Gremmels started the Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic District Foundation. It is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation, designed to restore old buildings and shops in downtown Ben Wheeler.

Annual Feral Hog Festival

Every year, on the fourth weekend in October, the community celebrates their feral hog population with festivities held downtown. Events include a parade and hog queen contest, as well as many other activities and food provided by local businesses.

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, Ben Wheeler has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. ^[3]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	456		—
U.S. Decennial Census [4] 1850–1900 [5] 1910 [6] 1920 [7] 1930 [8] 1940 [9] 1950 [10] 1960 [11] 1970 [12] 1980 [13] 1990 [14] 2000 [15] 2010 [16] 2020 [17]

Ben Wheeler first appeared as a census designated place in the 2020 U.S. Census. ^{[18] [16] [17]}

2020 census

Ben Wheeler CDP, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
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 may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2020 [17]	% 2020
White alone (NH)	345	75.66%
Black or African American alone (NH)	3	0.66%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	5	1.10%
Asian alone (NH)	0	0.00%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	2	0.44%
Other race alone (NH)	0	0.00%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	15	3.29%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	86	18.86%
Total	456	100.00%

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ben Wheeler, Texas
2. Stengle, Jamie. "Rural East Texas residents pick up after tornado". Associated Press-The Statesman. Retrieved April 28, 2011.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
3. Climate Summary for Ben Wheeler, Texas
4. "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau .
5. "1900 Census of Population - Population of Texas By Counties And Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
6. "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
7. "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
8. "1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
9. "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
10. "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
11. "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
12. "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
13. "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
14. "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
15. "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
16. "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
17. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ben Wheeler CDP, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
18. "2020 Geography Changes". United States Census Bureau.

External links

• Ben Wheeler, Tx at Handbook of Texas Online
• Ben Wheeler official home page