Pilot Point, Texas

Pilot Point, Texas
City
Pilot Point Commercial Historic District (2023)
Motto:  Pointing the way since 1845
Location of Pilot Point in Denton County, Texas
Coordinates: 33°23′47″N96°57′31″W / 33.39639°N 96.95861°W / 33.39639; -96.95861
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Denton
Area [1]
• Total	4.35 sq mi (11.27 km2)
• Land	4.35 sq mi (11.26 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation [2]	696 ft (212 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,381
• Density	1,040.71/sq mi (401.78/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	76258
Area code	940
FIPS code	48-57476 [3]
GNIS feature ID	2411421 [2]
Website	www.cityofpilotpoint.org

Pilot Point is a city in Denton County, Texas, United States. Its population was 3,856 at the 2010 census, ^[4] increasing to 4,381 at the 2020 census.

Geography

Pilot Point is located at 33°23′47″N96°57′31″W / 33.39639°N 96.95861°W / 33.39639; -96.95861 (33.396350, –96.958719). ^[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.7 km²), all land. ^[6]

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Pilot Point has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps. ^[7]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	790		—
1890	1,090		38.0%
1910	1,371		—
1920	1,499		9.3%
1930	1,108		−26.1%
1940	1,122		1.3%
1950	1,176		4.8%
1960	1,254		6.6%
1970	1,663		32.6%
1980	2,211		33.0%
1990	2,538		14.8%
2000	3,538		39.4%
2010	3,856		9.0%
2020	4,381		13.6%

Pilot Point racial composition as of 2020 ^[8]
(NH = Non-Hispanic) ^{[lower-alpha 1]}

Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	2,396	54.69%
Black or African American (NH)	134	3.06%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	40	0.91%
Asian (NH)	17	0.39%
Pacific Islander (NH)	7	0.16%
Some Other Race (NH)	7	0.16%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	283	6.46%
Hispanic or Latino	1,497	34.17%
Total	4,381

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,381 people, 1,591 households, and 901 families residing in the city. ^[8]

Government

The city is governed by an elected council. A separately elected mayor presides over the governing body and also may cast a vote on matters before the council. The city does not currently have a mayor, following Mayor McIlravy's arrest on June 21, 2022, although the Mayor Pro Tempore will be sworn in as mayor soon. ^[11] Council members and the mayor serve without any compensation pursuant to a Home Rule Charter that was approved by voters in 2009. An appointed city manager oversees daily operations of various city services and functions. Elections each May determine occupants of alternating seats on the council and the mayor is elected biannually.

History

2024 Tornado

Further information: Tornado outbreak sequence of May 19–26, 2024 § Valley View–Pilot Point, Texas

On May 25, 2024, a large and violent tornado struck both Pilot Point and nearby Valley View resulting extensive damage (notably including a severely damaged truck stop in Valley View), several injuries and at least 7 fatalities. The tornado has been assigned a preliminary rating of EF3 by the National Weather Service. ^{[12] [13]}

Notable people

• Frederick Edgar Ferguson, Medal of Honor recipient, born in Pilot Point
• Colt Knost, PGA golfer, grew up in Pilot Point, state champion in 2003
• G.A. Moore, Texas High School Football coach, member of the University of North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame
• Thomas Ambrose Tschoepe, Roman Catholic bishop, born in Pilot Point

Education

The city is served by the Pilot Point Independent School District.

Notes

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. ^{[9] [10]}

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pilot Point, Texas
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Pilot Point city, Texas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 29, 2012.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Pilot Point city, Texas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 29, 2012.
7. Climate Summary for Pilot Point, Texas
8. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
9. https://www.census.gov/ ^{[ not specific enough to verify ]}
10. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
11. "Pilot Point Mayor Arrested on Charge of Soliciting a Minor". NBC DFW. June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
12. https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-tornadoes-pryor-claremore-2-confirmed-dead/60907606
13. https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/confirmed-fatalities-dozens-injured-cooke-county-reported-tornado-may-25/287-ed2cca36-a8fe-46be-8297-563609938e1f

External links

• City of Pilot Point official website
• Lisa C. Maxwell, "PILOT POINT, TX," Handbook of Texas Online (https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hgp04), accessed May 28, 2011. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.