Mineral Wells, Texas | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 32°49′01″N98°04′40″W / 32.81694°N 98.07778°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Texas |
Counties | Palo Pinto, Parker |
Government | |
• Type | Council-Manager |
Area | |
• Total | 21.16 sq mi (54.79 km2) |
• Land | 20.40 sq mi (52.83 km2) |
• Water | 0.76 sq mi (1.96 km2) |
Elevation | 902 ft (275 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 14,820 |
• Density | 700/sq mi (270/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−06:00 (Central (CST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−05:00 (CDT) |
ZIP Codes | 76067-76068 [3] |
Area code | 940 |
FIPS code | 48-48684 [4] |
GNIS feature ID | 2411119 [2] |
Website | MineralWellsTX.gov |
Mineral Wells is a city in Palo Pinto and Parker Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 14,820 at the 2020 census. The city is named for mineral wells in the area, which were highly popular in the early 1900s.
In 1919, Mineral Wells hosted the spring training camp for the Chicago White Sox, the year of the famous "Black Sox" scandal involving "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. Mineral Wells also hosted spring training for the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals in the 1910s and early 1920s. The baseball field was located in the center of town.[ citation needed ]
Mineral Wells military history dates back to 1864 with the organization of Company 1, 4th Texas Infantry. By January 1925, the War Department approved the site that would become Camp Wolters, the training ground for the 56th Cavalry Brigade of the Texas National Guard.
In 1956, the base began operations as the Primary Helicopter Center of the United States Army that would provide basic training and primary flight training for all rotary-wing aviators. The Vietnam War created an increased need for pilots. To meet the demand, Fort Wolters increased operations to become the training site for helicopter pilots for the Marine Corp in 1968 and the Air Force in 1970. Nearly every helicopter pilot that flew in Vietnam was trained at Fort Wolters.
Fort Wolters was deactivated in 1973. The 8,500 acres was then parsed out to the city of Mineral Wells, private businessmen, Weatherford College, and Lake Mineral Wells State Park.
Mineral Wells is very well known for the state park which features fishing, camping, horse riding, biking, hiking trails and rock climbing. One attraction is Penitentiary Hollow, a popular rock climbing area. [5]
Mineral Wells lies east of the Brazos River and Palo Pinto Mountains.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.2 square miles (54.9 km2), of which 20.5 square miles (53.0 km2) are land and 0.7 square mile (1.9 km2) (3.45%) is covered by water.
Mineral Wells is 51 miles (82 km) west of Fort Worth and 109 miles (175 km) east of Abilene.
The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The Köppen climate classification describes the weather as humid subtropical, and uses the code Cfa. [6]
Climate data for Mineral Wells Airport (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 91 (33) | 97 (36) | 98 (37) | 102 (39) | 106 (41) | 114 (46) | 112 (44) | 113 (45) | 111 (44) | 104 (40) | 94 (34) | 91 (33) | 114 (46) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 58.0 (14.4) | 62.2 (16.8) | 70.5 (21.4) | 77.8 (25.4) | 84.5 (29.2) | 91.7 (33.2) | 96.1 (35.6) | 96.0 (35.6) | 88.5 (31.4) | 78.7 (25.9) | 67.3 (19.6) | 58.7 (14.8) | 77.5 (25.3) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 45.4 (7.4) | 49.7 (9.8) | 57.7 (14.3) | 64.9 (18.3) | 72.8 (22.7) | 79.9 (26.6) | 83.8 (28.8) | 83.5 (28.6) | 76.4 (24.7) | 66.0 (18.9) | 55.0 (12.8) | 46.5 (8.1) | 65.1 (18.4) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 32.8 (0.4) | 37.2 (2.9) | 45.0 (7.2) | 52.0 (11.1) | 61.0 (16.1) | 68.2 (20.1) | 71.4 (21.9) | 71.0 (21.7) | 64.3 (17.9) | 53.3 (11.8) | 42.7 (5.9) | 34.3 (1.3) | 52.8 (11.6) |
Record low °F (°C) | 4 (−16) | −4 (−20) | 10 (−12) | 27 (−3) | 32 (0) | 51 (11) | 58 (14) | 56 (13) | 40 (4) | 23 (−5) | 12 (−11) | −8 (−22) | −8 (−22) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.59 (40) | 2.19 (56) | 2.98 (76) | 2.63 (67) | 4.00 (102) | 3.55 (90) | 2.13 (54) | 2.49 (63) | 2.66 (68) | 3.28 (83) | 2.41 (61) | 1.89 (48) | 31.80 (808) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.8 | 6.2 | 7.3 | 6.9 | 8.9 | 6.9 | 5.0 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 6.5 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 76.9 |
Source: NOAA [7] [8] |
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1890 | 577 | — | |
1900 | 2,048 | 254.9% | |
1910 | 3,950 | 92.9% | |
1920 | 7,890 | 99.7% | |
1930 | 5,986 | −24.1% | |
1940 | 6,303 | 5.3% | |
1950 | 7,801 | 23.8% | |
1960 | 11,053 | 41.7% | |
1970 | 18,411 | 66.6% | |
1980 | 14,468 | −21.4% | |
1990 | 14,870 | 2.8% | |
2000 | 16,946 | 14.0% | |
2010 | 16,788 | −0.9% | |
2020 | 14,820 | −11.7% | |
2023 (est.) | 15,454 | [9] | 4.3% |
U.S. Decennial Census [10] |
Race | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White (NH) | 9,457 | 63.81% |
Black or African American (NH) | 516 | 3.48% |
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 69 | 0.47% |
Asian (NH) | 155 | 1.05% |
Pacific Islander (NH) | 10 | 0.07% |
Some Other Race (NH) | 40 | 0.27% |
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 506 | 3.41% |
Hispanic or Latino | 4,067 | 27.44% |
Total | 14,820 |
According to the 2020 United States census, the city had a population of 14,820 individuals, residing in 4,958 households, and belonging to 3,329 families. This represents a decrease of 12.54% compared to the figures reported in the 2000 Census.
As of the census [4] of 2000, 16,946 people, 5,707 households, and 3,857 were families residing in the city. The population density was 828.6 inhabitants per square mile (319.9/km2). The 6,386 housing units averaged 312.2 units per square mile (120.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 77.69% White, 8.77% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 10.51% from other races, and 1.84% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 19.27% of the population.
Of the 5,707 households, 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were not families. About 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56, and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city, the age distribution was 24.1% under 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 120.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 123.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,233, and for a family was $33,765. Males had a median income of $29,074 versus $18,633 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,336. About 16.6% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.2% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Mineral Wells District Parole Office in Mineral Wells. [14] The Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) operated the Mineral Wells Pre-Parole Transfer Facility in the Fort Wolters Industrial Park on behalf of the TDCJ. It closed in August 2013. [15] The correctional facility, which had been operated by CCA since 1995, is located on the property of the former Fort Wolters in Palo Pinto County and in Mineral Wells. It can house up to 2,100 prisoners. As of March 2013, its annual payroll was $11.7 million, and it was among the largest employers in Mineral Wells, with about 300 employees. On Monday March 4, 2013, the Texas Senate Senate Finance Committee voted 11–4 to close the correctional facility. [16] Mike Allen, the mayor of Mineral Wells, criticized the closure, saying, "We'll lose right at over 300 jobs, and 300 jobs in a community of 17,000 ... is devastating. This means a lot to this community." [16] John Whitmire, the head of the Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee, said, "We're sitting on about 12,000 empty [prison] beds, so it just makes good business sense ... that we not operate it, and we take those savings and plow them back into additional public-safety programs." [16]
The United States Postal Service operates the Mineral Wells Post Office. Zip codes are 76067 and 76068. [17]
Mineral Wells is served by the Mineral Wells Independent School District, and by the Community Christian School. [18]
Weatherford College operates a branch campus on the old Fort Wolters facility.
Sutton County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,372. Its county seat is Sonora. The county was created in 1887 and organized in 1890. Sutton County is named for John S. Sutton, an officer in the Confederate Army.
Stephens County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 9,101. Its county seat is Breckenridge. The county was created in 1858 and organized in 1876. It was originally named Buchanan County, after U.S. President James Buchanan, but was renamed in 1861 for Alexander H. Stephens, the vice president of the Confederate States of America.
Parker County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 148,222. The county seat is Weatherford. The county was created in 1855 and organized the following year. It is named for Isaac Parker, a state legislator who introduced the bill that established the county in 1855. Parker later fought in the Texas Brigade.
Palo Pinto County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 28,409. The county seat is Palo Pinto. The county was created in 1856 and organized the following year.
Hood County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 61,598. Its county seat is Granbury. The county is named for John Bell Hood, a Confederate lieutenant general and the commander of Hood's Texas Brigade.
Falls County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 16,968. The county seat is Marlin. It is named for the original 10-foot-tall waterfall on the Brazos River, which existed until the river changed course during a storm in 1866. The present falls is two miles northeast of the original falls, at the Falls on the Brazos Park, a camping site only a few miles out of Marlin on Farm to Market Road 712.
Eastland County is a county located in central West Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 17,725. The county seat is Eastland. The county was founded in 1858 and later organized in 1873. It is named for William Mosby Eastland, a soldier during the Texas Revolution and the only officer to die as a result of the "Black Bean executions" of the Mier Expedition.
Palos Heights is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a southwest suburb of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 12,068.
Palos Hills is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a southwest suburb of Chicago. The city was established in 1958 and had reached a population of 18,530 in the 2020 census. It is named after Palos de la Frontera, Spain, from which Christopher Columbus set sail to North America. Moraine Valley Community College as and Amos Alonzo Stagg High School are its main schools.
Angleton is a city in and the county seat of Brazoria County, Texas, United States, within the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area. Angleton lies at the intersection of State Highway 288, State Highway 35, and the Union Pacific Railroad. The population was 19,429 at the 2020 census. Angleton is in the 14th congressional district, and is represented by Republican Congressman Randy Weber.
Fresno is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Fort Bend County, Texas, United States. The local population was 24,486 as of the 2020 census, an increase over the figure of 19,069 tabulated in 2010 census, and 6,603 at the 2000 census.
Kendleton is a city in western Fort Bend County, Texas, United States, located southwest of Sugar Land. It was established by emancipated slaves after the Civil War. The population was 343 at the 2020 census. As of 2011, Darryl Humphrey was the mayor of the city.
Rosenberg is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, within the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area and Fort Bend County. Rosenberg was named for Henry Von Rosenberg, who emigrated to Texas from Switzerland in 1843. Von Rosenberg was an important figure in the settlement of Fort Bend County and the Gulf Coast region. The population was 38,282 at the 2020 census, up from 30,618 at the 2010 census. The community holds the Fort Bend County fair in October. Rosenberg is adjacent to the city of Richmond, the Fort Bend County seat.
Kyle is a city in Hays County, Texas, United States. Its population grew from 28,016 in 2010 to 45,697 in 2020, making it one of Texas' fastest-growing cities. It is part of the Greater Austin area.
Shiner is a city in Lavaca County, Texas, United States. The town was named after Henry B. Shiner, who donated 250 acres (1.0 km2) for a railroad right-of-way. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 2,127. Shiner was founded by German and Czech emigrants.
Dayton is a city in Liberty County, Texas, United States. The population was 8,777 at the 2020 census.
Strawn is a city in Palo Pinto County, Texas, United States. The population was 540 at the 2020 census. Strawn, on State Highway 16 and 108, Farm to Market Road 2372, and the Missouri Pacific Railroad in southwestern Palo Pinto County, was one of several towns developed about 1880 when the Texas and Pacific Railway began service. The site, known earlier as North Fork for its location on Palo Pinto Creek, was laid out on the land of two early ranchers, Stephen Bethel Strawn and James N. Stuart. Stuart built the area's first house in 1875. A community to the west, Russell's Pocket, and one to the east, Davidsonville, were merged to form Strawn.
Willow Park is a city in Parker County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,936 in 2020.
Haltom City is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, located in Tarrant County. It is part of the Mid-Cities region of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Its population was 46,073 at the 2020 census. Haltom City is an inner suburb of Fort Worth, a principal city of the DFW Metroplex. The city is six miles from downtown Fort Worth, 30 miles from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, and 20 miles from the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Haltom City is surrounded almost entirely by Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Watauga, and Richland Hills.
Palo Pinto is a census-designated place (CDP) and unincorporated community and county seat in Palo Pinto County, Texas, United States. This was a new CDP for the 2010 census with a population of 333.
{{cite web}}
: |last=
has generic name (help)