Eastland, Texas

Eastland, Texas
City
Downtown Eastland, Texas
Location of Eastland, Texas
Coordinates: 32°23′55″N98°49′16″W / 32.39861°N 98.82111°W / 32.39861; -98.82111
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Eastland
Area [1]
• Total	4.39 sq mi (11.38 km2)
• Land	4.36 sq mi (11.30 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation	1,440 ft (439 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	3,960
• Estimate  (2019) [2]	3,850
• Density	882.22/sq mi (340.59/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	76448
Area code	254
FIPS code	48-22132 [3]
GNIS feature ID	1335045 [4]
Website	www.cityofeastland.com

Eastland is a city in Eastland County, Texas, United States. Its population was 3,960 at the 2010 census. ^[5] It is the county seat of Eastland County. ^[6]

History

The recession of 1921 exacerbated racial tensions between Anglos and Mexicans. Naturally, unemployment increased in town and whites attempted to oust Mexicans who were hired during the World War I boom. Masked men ravaged shacks used by Mexicans as living quarters. Whites threatened Mexicans' lives, and fearful, they fled to nearby Fort Worth to seek help from the Mexican Consulate, since local authorities took the side of the Anglo locals. ^[7]

In 1928, the current courthouse was erected, the prior cornerstone was opened, and "Old Rip" was allegedly found alive. The animal, a kind of lizard, received national publicity. It died in 1929 of pneumonia, and was placed in a glass-front casket on view in the present courthouse. ^[8]

Geography

Eastland is located north of the center of Eastland County at 32°23′55″N98°49′16″W / 32.39861°N 98.82111°W / 32.39861; -98.82111 (32.398715, −98.821144). ^[9] It is 96 miles (154 km) west-southwest of Fort Worth and 55 miles (89 km) east of Abilene. The city is accessed by Interstate 20 between exits 340 to the south and 343 to the east.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.6 sq mi (9.2 km²), all land. ^[5]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	88		—
1880	539		512.5%
1900	596		—
1910	855		43.5%
1920	9,368		995.7%
1930	4,648		−50.4%
1940	3,849		−17.2%
1950	3,626		−5.8%
1960	3,292		−9.2%
1970	3,178		−3.5%
1980	3,747		17.9%
1990	3,690		−1.5%
2000	3,769		2.1%
2010	3,960		5.1%
2019 (est.)	3,850	[2]	−2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]

2020 census

Eastland racial composition ^[11]
(NH = Non-Hispanic) ^{[lower-alpha 1]}

Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	2,632	72.93%
Black or African American (NH)	56	1.55%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	13	0.36%
Asian (NH)	40	1.11%
Some Other Race (NH)	1	0.03%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	121	3.35%
Hispanic or Latino	746	20.67%
Total	3,609

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,609 people, 1,535 households, and 950 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, 3,769 people, 1,475 households, and 998 families were living in the city. The population density was 1,333.1 people/ sq mi (514.2/km²). The 1,737 housing units averaged 614.4/sq mi (237.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.64% White, 1.80% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 4.72% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 12.89% of the population.

Of the 1,475 households, 33.8% had children under 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were not families. About 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45, and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city, theage distribution was 25.7% under 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,277, and for a family was $34,333. Males had a median income of $27,072 versus $16,574 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,339. About 14.2% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.0% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The Texas Eleventh Court of Appeals is located in the Eastland County Courthouse in Eastland. ^[13]

Education

The city is served by the Eastland Independent School District and is home of the Eastland Mavericks.

Notable people

• Emma Carter Browning (1910–2010), aviation executive and pilot
• Hayden Fry (1929–2019), college football coach
• Ira L. Hanna (1908–1978), 36th mayor of Cheyenne, Wyoming
• Richard D. Lawrence, United States Army lieutenant general
• Don Pierson (1925–1996), former mayor of Eastland, business innovator, communications pioneer (Radio England), and civic leader
• Doc Scurlock (1849–1929), Old West figure and founding member of the Regulators, who rode with such men as Billy the Kid
• Barney Smith
• Clayton W. Williams, Sr. (1895–1983), an engineer with the Oil Belt Power Company, lived in Eastland during the early 1920s

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Eastland has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps. ^[14]

Gallery

• 
  United States Post Office
• 
  The Majestic Theatre in Eastland
• 
  Facade of historic First United Methodist Church of Eastland
• 
  The Eastland Historic Hotel
• 
  First Christian Church in downtown Eastland
• 
  First Baptist Church in Eastland
• 
  Downtown Eastland
• 
  Drug building in Eastland, Texas

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Eastland city, Texas". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
7. Chicano! The History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement, p. 113
8. "Eastland, Texas", 2009 Texas State Travel Guide, p. 121
9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
11. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
12. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
13. "Contact Information Archived 2010-01-25 at the Wayback Machine ." Texas Eleventh Court of Appeals. Retrieved on March 10, 2010.
14. Climate Summary for Eastland, Texas

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. ^[12]

External links

• City of Eastland official website
• Eastland Chamber of Commerce
• Community site sponsored by the Eastland Economic Development Corporation
• Eastland Independent School District
• KATX radio
• Eastland County Today, local newspapers
• MicroplexNews, local independent news outlet