Kerens, Texas
Kerens, Texas | |
|---|---|
Downtown Kerens | |
| Motto: Birthplace Of Big Tex[1] | |
Location of Kerens, Texas | |
| Coordinates: 32°07′40″N 96°14′45″W / 32.12778°N 96.24583°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Navarro |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.50 sq mi (6.48 km2) |
| • Land | 2.50 sq mi (6.48 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0039 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 367 ft (112 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 1,505 |
| • Density | 602/sq mi (232/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 75144 |
| Area code | 903/430 |
| FIPS code | 48-38992[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410186[3] |
| Website | http://ci.kerens.tx.us/ |
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 735 | — | |
| 1910 | 945 | 28.6% | |
| 1920 | 1,343 | 42.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,435 | 6.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,287 | −10.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,198 | −6.9% | |
| 1960 | 1,123 | −6.3% | |
| 1970 | 1,446 | 28.8% | |
| 1980 | 1,582 | 9.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,702 | 7.6% | |
| 2000 | 1,681 | −1.2% | |
| 2010 | 1,573 | −6.4% | |
| 2020 | 1,505 | −4.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] | |||
Kerens is a city in Navarro County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,505 at the 2020 census.[6]
History
Kerens was established in 1881 when the St. Louis Southwestern Railway of Texas was built through the county, according to the Texas Handbook of History, and was named for Judge Richard C. Kerens of St. Louis. The railroad bypassed the nearby settlement of Wadeville, and within a short time all of the businesses from Wadeville moved to the new town. By the mid-1890s, the handbook said, the town had three cotton gin-mills, four grocery stores, two hotels, two drug stores, a wagonmaker, and a weekly newspaper named the Navarro Blade.[7]
Big Tex, the giant icon of the State Fair of Texas, had his beginnings in Kerens.[1] In 1949, residents built a 49-foot-tall (15 m) Santa Claus constructed from iron drill casing and papier mache to help encourage holiday sales. In 1951, State Fair president R. L. Thornton purchased Santa's components for $750 and had Dallas artist Jack Bridges transform them into a cowboy for the annual fair.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2), all land.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Kerens had a population of 1,505 residents, 545 households, and 434 families residing in the city.[8]
The median age was 39.4 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.1 males age 18 and over.[8]
There were 545 households in Kerens, of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.9% were married-couple households, 18.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 36.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[8]
There were 677 housing units, of which 19.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.3%.[8]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[9]
| Race | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White | 852 | 56.6% |
| Black or African American | 341 | 22.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 4 | 0.3% |
| Asian | 8 | 0.5% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 6 | 0.4% |
| Some other race | 161 | 10.7% |
| Two or more races | 133 | 8.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 228 | 15.1% |
2000 census
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 1,681 people, 682 households, and 448 families residing in the city. The population density was 720.4 inhabitants per square mile (278.1/km2). There were 750 housing units at an average density of 321.4 per square mile (124.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 70.14% White, 22.13% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 5.77% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.61% of the population.
There were 682 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,969, and the median income for a family was $36,719. Males had a median income of $26,683 versus $21,600 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,000. About 13.3% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The City of Kerens is served by the Kerens Independent School District.[11]
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, Kerens has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[12]
Notable person
- Tom Mechler, state Republican chairman, formerly lived in Kerens, where he was engaged in the oil and gas business
- Birthplace of Johnson Blair Cherry, head coach of The University of Texas Longhorns Football Team from 1947 to 1950, compiled a 32-10-1 overall record, one SWC Championship, 3 post-season bowl games, and was a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Head coach of Amarillo High School from 1930 to 1937, compiled a record of 86-5 and won 4 State Championships over 7 years. Source: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/cherry-johnson-blair
References
- ^ a b "City of Kerens Texas". City of Kerens Texas. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
- ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Kerens, Texas
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
- ^ Texas State Historical Association. "KERENS, TEXAS". tshaonline.org.
- ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
- ^ "Kerens Independent School District". Kerens Independent School District. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
- ^ Climate Summary for Kerens, Texas
External links
- City of Kerens – official site
- City-Data.com
- Kerens Independent School District