Sulphur Springs [sic] was named so because when the area was first settled, springs of sulfurous water were abundant.
Eli Bib, one of the first European-American settlers, ran a store from his cabin, selling staples, whiskey, persimmon beer, and slabs of ginger cake. In 1849, Dr. and Mrs. Davis moved into the area. Dr. Davis envisioned the spot as a future city. In 1850, the residents organized the area's first church, the Methodist Episcopal. Construction of the church was completed in 1853. In 1852, the Presbyterian Church was organized. At that time, the population of the village was 441. To serve the growing population, commodities began to be brought in from nearby Jefferson. New stores were established.
The village became a city in 1854 when the first post office was established. The city's name was originally "Bright Star".[6] Mail to and from the city was delivered by the Pony Express. On May 18, 1871, the legislature moved the county seat of Hopkins County from Tarrant to Sulphur Springs, and the name "Bright Star" was removed from the postal directory.
Sulphur Springs Veterans' Memorial at the downtown courthouse
Local government organized slowly. The first known mayor was William A. Wortham. In 1854, Wortham had bought the Texas Star press and moved to Sulphur Springs. His brother-in-law, Bill Davis, and he established the city's first newspaper.
Building being rehabilitated as the new city hallHopkins County Courthouse in downtown Sulphur SpringsCourthouse Square - ground view of plaza
The county seat had numerous newspapers. Echo Publishing Company was founded in 1897. It was the first steam-powered press in Sulphur Springs. After the first plant was lost to a fire, a new plant was constructed that used gasoline as fuel. In 1884, the Sulphur Springs Enterprise was founded. In the same year, James Harvey "Cyclone" Davis, a Populist (People's Party) US congressman, founded the Alliance Vindicator; it was published until 1901. John S. Bagwell bought the Hopkins County Echo in 1916. In 1924, the Texas Star was merged into the Daily News Telegram. The Daily News Telegram later was renamed the Daily Gazette and still later the Weekly Gazette. Eventually, all these newspapers were merged into the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram and the Hopkins County Echo, both of which still operate.
In 1857, the city set aside 10 acres (40,000m2) of land for Bright Star University. The Sulphur Springs District Conference High School began in 1877, established on Bright Star University land on College Street. In December 1882, the school became known as Central College. It was owned by the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was later renamed Eastman College and Conservatory of Music and Art under a new charter and after the leading professor. Before 1900, the college burned and Professor Eastman left the area.
The First National Bank of Sulphur Springs received its national charter in 1855. It is now known as City National Bank.
In 1857, the area's first steam-powered factory was established by the Bell brothers. In the same year, the Morro Castle was built on North Street. Its builders remain unknown.
C. Denton was elected to lead the new city government, which was incorporated during the Reconstruction Era. During the Civil War, the town had lost its charter and had to be incorporated again by the state legislature.
In 1868, federal troops moved into Sulphur Springs and occupied the city for two years during Reconstruction, in an effort to protect freedmen after emancipation. Upon their departure and the end of the military occupation, A. J. Bridges was elected as mayor.
The construction of a railroad line from Mineola, Texas, in 1872 stimulated growth in the city. Settlers were drawn by tales of the healing powers of the city's sulfur baths. Due to population growth, the springs of sulfur were gradually covered. None is active today. A rail line was run from Jefferson to Sulphur Springs in 1879. The St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad (Cotton Belt) was built through Sulphur Springs in 1887 on its way to Commerce and Sherman. The next year, the line was completed to Fort Worth, connecting the city to a major market. In 1891, the bankrupt railroad was sold to Jay Gould interests and renamed the St. Louis Southwestern Railway.
An ice plant was built in 1887. The city's courthouse, which is still used today, was constructed in 1895. In 1904, wells were dug to supply the city with water. In the same year, a long-distance telephone line was run to nearby Greenville. In 1889, the City National Bank was organized.
After World War II, the city adopted a new council-manager type of government. It stimulated new programs. Industrialization brought new plants and factories to the city. The population has grown as a result, to an estimate of more than 16,000 in 2016.[7]
The dairy industry was a major component of the local economy from the late 1940s through 1995. The Southwest Dairy Museum in the city features artifacts on the history of the dairy industry. The industry began to shrink largely because of declining milk prices, higher labor costs, and large corporations operating industrial-scale dairies.
Large industries in the area today include Pinnacle, Ocean Spray, Grocery Supply, Jeld-Wen, Clayton Home Mfg., Flowserve, and others. For several months in 2012, Hopkins County enjoyed a very low unemployment rate of around 4.5% and over 500 jobs were added.[citation needed]
Geography
Sulphur Springs is at the center of Hopkins County, roughly halfway between Dallas and Texarkana. Interstate 30 passes through the south side of the city, with access from exits 120 through 127. I-30 leads east 38 miles (61km) to Mount Pleasant and 100 miles (160km) to Texarkana, while to the west it leads 30 miles (48km) to Greenville and 79 miles (127km) to Dallas. Texas State Highway 19 runs through the western side of Sulphur Springs, leading north 37 miles (60km) to Paris and southwest 44 miles (71km) to Canton. Texas State Highway 11 passes through the southern and western sides of Sulphur Springs, leading southeast 23 miles (37km) to Winnsboro and northwest 20 miles (32km) to Commerce. Texas State Highway 154 runs through the center of Sulphur Springs as Gilmer Street and Church Street, leading north 21 miles (34km) to Cooper and south 27 miles (43km) to Quitman.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Sulphur Springs has a total area of 23.9 square miles (61.9km2), of which 20.5 square miles (53.2km2) are land and 3.4 square miles (8.7km2), or 14.1%, are covered by water.[1] The city is part of the Rock Creek (White Oak Creek) watershed, which flows east to the Sulphur River, a tributary of the Red River.
Climate
Climate data for Sulphur Springs, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–1910, 1945–present)
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 15,941 people, 6,054 households, and 3,906 families residing in the city. As of the census[4] of 2010, 15,449 people, 5,959 households, and 3,987 families were residing in the city. The population density was 867 inhabitants per square mile (335/km2). The 6,654 housing units averaged 373 per sq mi (140.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 68.4% White, 12.6% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 15.9% of the population.
Of the 5,959 households, 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were not families. About 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53, and the average family size was 3.1 people.
In the city, the age distribution was 28.8% under 18, 6.7% from 19 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 92 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,701, and for a family was $36,802. Males had a median income of $32,022 versus $20,325 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,967. About 12.6% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.
The city public library has two collections; the Leo St. Clair Music Box Collection includes more than 150 music boxes, and the Sinclair World War II Collection displays letters, pictures and other World War II artifacts.
The Southwest Dairy Museum and Learning Center depicts all facets of milk production and the history of the dairy industry.
The Farm and Art Market is located downtown from May through October during the evening. In 2012, American Farmland Trust voted the market "America's Favorite Farmers Market".
Parks and recreation
Several parks in the city feature recreational opportunities:
Coleman Lake and Park is a 186-acre (75ha) park with waterfalls, trails ball parks.
Buford Park is a one-acre park with castle playground known as Kid's Kingdom. The local walking trail crosses Pea Vine Pinion pond.
Hopkins County Museum and Heritage Park features 11 acres (4.5ha) of historical buildings that have been relocated to the park for restoration and preservation.
Greyhound provides daily service to Dallas and points west, and Texarkana, Arkansas, and all points east, but the city has no bus depot. The Greyhound buses stop at the Pilot truck stop.
Highways
Sulphur Springs is served by these highways that run through the city:
Samuel Benton Callahan, mixed blood Creek Nation politician, lived in Sulphur Springs before and after the American Civil War
Sophia Alice Callahan, daughter of Samuel Benton Callahan, noted author of novel, Wynema. Lived in Sulphur Springs during and after the American Civil War
Hunt County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 99,956. Its county seat is Greenville. The county is named for Memucan Hunt, Jr., the first Republic of Texas Minister to the United States from 1837 to 1838 and the third Texas Secretary of the Navy from 1838 to 1839. Hunt County is located in Northeast Texas, at the eastern edge of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and the western edge of East Texas. Hunt County is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan statistical area.
Hopkins County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 36,787. Its county seat is Sulphur Springs. Hopkins County is named for the family of David Hopkins, an early settler in the area. Hopkins County comprises the Sulphur Springs, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area. Hopkins County was once known as the Dairy Capital of Texas. Although dairy farms declined in the area in the late 1990s there are still a number of these located there. The Southwest Dairy Museum is located in Sulphur Springs.
Miller County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,600. The county seat is Texarkana.
Fouke is a city in Miller County, Arkansas, United States. It is part of the Texarkana, Texas - Texarkana, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 808 at the 2020 census.
Texarkana is a city in the U.S. state of Arkansas and the county seat of Miller County, on the southwest border of the state. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 29,387. It is the twin city of Texarkana, Texas, located just across the state line. The city was founded at a railroad intersection on December 8, 1873, and was incorporated in Arkansas on August 10, 1880. Texarkana and its Texas counterpart are the principal cities of the Texarkana metropolitan area, which in 2021 was ranked 289th in the United States with a population of 147,174, according to the United States Census Bureau.
Blue Springs is a city in Jackson County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. Blue Springs is located 19 miles (31 km) east of Kansas City. It is the 8th largest city in the Kansas City metropolitan area and 10th largest city in the state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,604.
Sulphur is a city in and county seat of Murray County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 5,065 at the 2020 census, a 2.8 percent gain over the figure of 4,929 in 2010. The area around Sulphur has been noted for its mineral springs, since well before the city was founded late in the 19th century. The city received its name from the presence of sulfur in the water.
Palestine is a city in and the seat of Anderson County in the U.S. state of Texas. It was named after Palestine, Illinois, by preacher Daniel Parker, who had migrated from that town. It is also contested that Micham Main named Palestine after his hometown, also Palestine, Illinois, when he and his family arrived here along with the Parker family and several others.
Maud is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States, within the Texarkana metropolitan area. According to the 2020 U.S. census, it had a population of 977.
Nash is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States, and a suburb of Texarkana. It is part of the Texarkana metropolitan area. The population was 2,960 at the 2010 census, up from 2,169 at the 2000 census. In 2020, its population was 3,814, representing continued population growth as a suburban community.
New Boston is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States. Boston was named for an early storekeeper in the settlement, W.J. Boston. The coming of the railroads led to the location of two more Bostons. A depot was built approximately four miles north of Boston and was named New Boston. The original Boston then became Old Boston. The courthouse was moved to Texarkana in the early 1880s, but a later election carried to move the courthouse back to the geographic center of the county. This location was between the Bostons. The Post Office Department named this location Boston, so Bowie County has claim to three Bostons: New Boston, Boston, and Old Boston. The population was 4,550 at the 2010 census, and 4,612 in 2020.
Texarkana is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States, in the Ark-La-Tex region. Located approximately 180 miles (290 km) from Dallas, Texarkana is a twin city with neighboring Texarkana, Arkansas. The Texas city's population was 36,193 at the 2020 census.
Atlanta is a city in Cass County, northeastern Texas, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. census, the city had a population of 5,675, which decreased to 5,433 as of 2020.
Cooper is a city in and the county seat of Delta County, in the U.S. state of Texas. Located between the north and south forks of the Sulphur River, Cooper is the largest settlement in Delta County. At the 2020 United States census, the city had a population of 1,911.
Mount Vernon is a town and the county seat of Franklin County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,491 at the 2020 United States census.
Tira is a town in Hopkins County, Texas, United States. The population was 319 at the 2020 census.
Crockett is a city and the county seat of Houston County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 6,332. Houston County is the oldest county and Crockett the fifth-oldest city in Texas.
Commerce is a city in Hunt County, Texas, United States, situated on the eastern edge of North Texas, in the heart of the Texas Blackland Prairies. The town is 45 miles (72 km) south of the Texas/Oklahoma border. Commerce is the second-largest city in Hunt County, with a population of 9,090 at the 2020 census. The city is home to Texas A&M University–Commerce, a four-year university of more than 12,000 students that has been in the town since 1894. Commerce is one of the smallest college towns in Texas.
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, within the Greater Houston metropolitan area and Liberty County. The population was 7,471 at the 2020 census.
Wharton is a city in and the county seat of Wharton County, Texas, United States. This city is 60 mi (97 km) southwest of Houston. Its population was 8,832 at the 2010 census and 8,627 at the 2020 census. Wharton is located on the Colorado River of Texas. U.S. Highway 59 passes west of it.
↑ 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.[13]
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