Athens, Texas
Athens, Texas | ||
---|---|---|
FIPS code 48-04504[5] | | |
GNIS feature ID | 1329816[3] | |
Website | athenstx |
Athens is a city and the
Geography
Athens is located in central Henderson County at 32°12′10″N 95°50′57″W / 32.20278°N 95.84917°W (32.202782, –95.849140).[12]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.2 square miles (49.7 km2), of which 16.8 square miles (43.6 km2) are land and 2.4 square miles (6.1 km2), or 12.32%, are covered by water.[7] Lake Athens is a 1,799 acre reservoir located in the eastern half of the city.[13]
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, Athens has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[14] The town was heavily damaged by a low-end EF2 tornado on November 4, 2022.[15][16]
Climate data for Athens, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1903–present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 85 (29) |
93 (34) |
95 (35) |
95 (35) |
98 (37) |
104 (40) |
109 (43) |
108 (42) |
109 (43) |
100 (38) |
90 (32) |
86 (30) |
109 (43) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 75.4 (24.1) |
79.2 (26.2) |
83.5 (28.6) |
86.5 (30.3) |
91.2 (32.9) |
95.6 (35.3) |
99.6 (37.6) |
101.0 (38.3) |
97.7 (36.5) |
90.8 (32.7) |
81.6 (27.6) |
76.9 (24.9) |
102.2 (39.0) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 57.9 (14.4) |
62.0 (16.7) |
69.0 (20.6) |
76.4 (24.7) |
83.2 (28.4) |
90.1 (32.3) |
94.1 (34.5) |
95.1 (35.1) |
89.2 (31.8) |
79.1 (26.2) |
67.6 (19.8) |
59.3 (15.2) |
76.9 (25.0) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 46.2 (7.9) |
50.2 (10.1) |
57.1 (13.9) |
64.8 (18.2) |
72.9 (22.7) |
80.2 (26.8) |
83.3 (28.5) |
83.7 (28.7) |
77.4 (25.2) |
66.8 (19.3) |
55.9 (13.3) |
47.9 (8.8) |
65.5 (18.6) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 34.5 (1.4) |
38.5 (3.6) |
45.2 (7.3) |
53.1 (11.7) |
62.6 (17.0) |
70.3 (21.3) |
72.6 (22.6) |
72.3 (22.4) |
65.7 (18.7) |
54.6 (12.6) |
44.1 (6.7) |
36.5 (2.5) |
54.2 (12.3) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | 18.9 (−7.3) |
23.6 (−4.7) |
27.5 (−2.5) |
37.0 (2.8) |
47.0 (8.3) |
61.4 (16.3) |
66.1 (18.9) |
64.8 (18.2) |
52.4 (11.3) |
37.6 (3.1) |
26.3 (−3.2) |
21.9 (−5.6) |
16.7 (−8.5) |
Record low °F (°C) | −5 (−21) |
−6 (−21) |
15 (−9) |
25 (−4) |
34 (1) |
41 (5) |
53 (12) |
51 (11) |
38 (3) |
26 (−3) |
10 (−12) |
−2 (−19) |
−6 (−21) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.54 (90) |
3.88 (99) |
4.08 (104) |
3.82 (97) |
4.30 (109) |
4.09 (104) |
2.53 (64) |
2.64 (67) |
2.97 (75) |
5.09 (129) |
3.49 (89) |
4.32 (110) |
44.75 (1,137) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.3 (0.76) |
0.3 (0.76) |
trace | 0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.8 (2.03) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.2 | 7.5 | 8.0 | 6.2 | 7.2 | 6.7 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 6.5 | 6.7 | 7.5 | 77.7 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
Source 1: NOAA (snow/snow days 1981–2010)[17][18] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: National Weather Service[19] |
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1860 | 240 | — | |
1870 | 545 | 127.1% | |
1880 | 368 | −32.5% | |
1890 | 1,035 | 181.3% | |
1910 | 2,261 | — | |
1920 | 3,176 | 40.5% | |
1930 | 4,342 | 36.7% | |
1940 | 4,765 | 9.7% | |
1950 | 5,194 | 9.0% | |
1960 | 7,086 | 36.4% | |
1970 | 9,582 | 35.2% | |
1980 | 10,197 | 6.4% | |
1990 | 10,967 | 7.6% | |
2000 | 11,297 | 3.0% | |
2010 | 12,710 | 12.5% | |
2020 | 12,857 | 1.2% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[20] |
Race | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White (NH)
|
6,328 | 49.22% |
Black or African American (NH)
|
2,059 | 16.01% |
Alaska Native (NH)
|
26 | 0.2% |
Asian (NH) | 133 | 1.03% |
Pacific Islander (NH) | 10 | 0.08% |
Some Other Race (NH) | 48 | 0.37% |
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 428 | 3.33% |
Hispanic or Latino | 3,825 | 29.75% |
Total | 12,857 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 12,857 people, 4,095 households, and 2,733 families residing in the city.
As of the
There were 4,110 households, out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together,
15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% are classified as non-families by the United States Census Bureau. Of 4,110 households, 131 are unmarried partner households: 106 heterosexual, 14 same-sex male, and 11 same-sex female households. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,372, and the median income for a family was $35,359. Males had a median income of $27,388 versus $19,375 for females. The
Government
Local government
According to the city's most recent
The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:[24]
City department | Director |
---|---|
City Manager | Elizabeth Borstad |
City Secretary | Bonnie Hambrick |
Director of Finance | Mandie Quigg |
Human Resources Manager | Sissy Geddie |
Chief of Police | VACANT |
Fire Chief | Gregory Werner |
Director of Public Works | Tim Perry |
Director of Development Services | Audrey Sloan |
Director of Utilities | Randy Williams |
State and federal representation
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Athens District Parole Office in Athens.[25]
The United States Postal Service operates the Athens Post Office.[26]
Education
The city of Athens is served by the Athens Independent School District and is home to the Athens High School Hornets. A very small portion in the eastern outskirts of Athens is within the Brownsboro Independent School District.
The main campus of Trinity Valley Community College is located in Athens.
Arts and culture
The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, is located east of the city on Lake Athens.
The East Texas Arboretum and Botanical Society is located in the northwest part of the city.
In addition to Lake Athens,
Notable people
- Fred Agnich, Texas businessman, rancher, state legislator from Dallas; owned a wildlife preserve near Athens[27]
- Fletcher Davis, one of a number of Americans who lay claim to inventing the modern hamburger
- Pete Donohue, Major League Baseball pitcher
- Jon Garrett, racing driver
- Jakeem Grant, NFL wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns
- William R. Hawn, businessman, sportsman
- United States District Courtjudge
- Fred LaRue, former aide to President Richard Nixon. Served four and a half months in prison after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice for his actions pertaining to the Watergate break-in and the following scandal
- Terrence McGee, former NFL cornerback for Buffalo Bills[28]
- Clint W. Murchison, Jr., businessman and founder of the Dallas Cowboys football team[29]
- Sid W. Richardson, native of Athens, Texas, oilman, cattleman, philanthropist
- Barron Tanner, former NFL defensive lineman
Notes
References
- ^ "Welcome to Athens Texas". City of Athens, Texas. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Athens, Texas
- ^ "State and County Quick Facts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Athens city, Texas". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
- ^ Popik, Barry. "Barry Popik". www.barrypopik.com. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- ^ "Athens Texas Chamber of Commerce". Archived from the original on September 22, 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ^ Association, Texas State Historical. "Athens, TX". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
- ^ A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company. 1893. p. 207. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Lake Athens". tpwd.texas.gov. State of Texas. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
- ^ Climate Summary for Athens, Texas
- ^ "ArcGIS Web Application". apps.dat.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
- ^ "NWS Damage Survey for 11/04/22 Tornado Event Update #3". Iowa Environmental Mesonet. National Weather Service in Fort Worth, Texas. November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Athens, TX (1991–2020)". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Athens, TX (1981–2010)". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Dallas". National Weather Service. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
- ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
- ^ 2006-07 CAFR Archived November 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2009-06-10
- ^ City of Athens website Retrieved 2016-12-20
- ^ "Parole Division Region I Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 15, 2010.
- ^ "Post Office Location - ATHENS." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 15, 2010.
- ^ "Fred R. Agnich Papers". lib.utexas.edu. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
- ^ "Buffalo Bills: Terrence McGee". Buffalo Bills. 2017. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
- ^ Helen Markel. "A Business Of 'brim'", Sports Illustrated, May 21, 1956.
External links
- City of Athens official website
- Athens Chamber of Commerce
- Athens Economic Development Corp.
- Athens, TX from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Bill HCR-15 of the Texas State Legislature (November 2006) designating Athens as the "Original Home of the Hamburger"