Groesbeck, Texas

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Groesbeck, Texas
City
Downtown Groesbeck Wiki (1 of 1).jpg
Motto(s): 
The Friendly City
Location of Groesbeck, Texas
Location of Groesbeck, Texas
Limestone County Groesbeck.svg
Coordinates: 31°31′22″N 96°31′56″W / 31.52278°N 96.53222°W / 31.52278; -96.53222Coordinates: 31°31′22″N 96°31′56″W / 31.52278°N 96.53222°W / 31.52278; -96.53222
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyLimestone
Area
[1]
 • Total4.37 sq mi (11.33 km2)
 • Land4.34 sq mi (11.24 km2)
 • Water0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation
479 ft (146 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total4,328
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
4,253
 • Density980.18/sq mi (378.44/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
76642
Area code(s)254
FIPS code48-31280[1]
GNIS feature ID1358461[2]
Websitewww.cityofgroesbeck.com

Groesbeck is a city in and the county seat of Limestone County, Texas, United States.[4] Its population was 4,328 at the 2010 census. The community is named after a railroad employee.

History[]

The city of Groesbeck was dedicated as a township by Houston and Texas Central Railroad in 1869. It was named for Abram Groesbeeck, a railroad director.[5] The difference in spelling between the person and town is a result of the post office directives for simpler spelling.[6] Development of its city government began in 1871. Groesbeck became the county seat of Limestone County in 1873, and is home to the "Million Dollar Courthouse". Old Fort Parker Historical Site on the north side of Groesbeck is preserved to tell the story of Cynthia Ann Parker, who was captured by Comanches, and became the mother of Quannah Parker, the last Comanche chief. The last legal execution in Limestone County occurred on April 12, 1895, when Richard Burleson, who had been convicted of murdering James Garrett McKinnon, was hanged in front of the courthouse in Groesbeck.[7]

Geography[]

Groesbeck is located at

 WikiMiniAtlas
31°31′22″N 96°31′56″W / 31.52278°N 96.53222°W / 31.52278; -96.53222 (31.522907, -96.532125).[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.8 sq mi (9.8 km2), of which, 3.8 sq mi (9.8 km2) are almost all land (0.27% covered by water).

The community is located at the junction of State Highways 14 and 164.

Groesbeck is the closest town to historic Old Fort Parker. The fort holds an annual Christmas event at the site every December. The original fort has been rebuilt on the original site to the original specifications.

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880402—
189066364.9%
19001,462120.5%
19101,454−0.5%
19201,5224.7%
19302,05935.3%
19402,27210.3%
19502,182−4.0%
19602,49814.5%
19702,396−4.1%
19803,37340.8%
19903,185−5.6%
20004,29134.7%
20104,3280.9%
2019 (est.)4,253[3]−1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

At the 2010 census, 4,328 people, 1,286 households, and 864 families lived in the city. The population density was 989 people/sq mi (382/km2). The 1,473 housing units averaged 336.8/s mi (130/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 65.36% White, 20.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.03% Asian, 11.3% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 20.9%.[9]

Of the 1,286 households, 32.6% had children under 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were not families. About 29.2% of households were one person and 13% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.6, and the average family size was 3.25.

The age distribution in the city was 24.6% under 18, 8.4% from 19 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% 65 or older. The median age was 34.4 years.

Government[]

The City of Groesbeck is a type A general-law city. Melvin O'Docharty has served the mayor since 2014. The five city council members are David Hernandez (mayor pro tem), Arleen Taveras, Bob Zeman, Kim Harris, and Matthew Daley. [1]

The main source of water is the Navasota River.

Library[]

The city of Groesbeck has one public library, located at 601 W. Yeagua St., also known as Hwy. 164.

Education[]

The city of Groesbeck is served by the Groesbeck Independent School District, which includes five different schools: Preschool, H.O.Whitehurst, Enge Washington, Groesbeck Middle School, and Groesbeck High School.

Notable people[]

  • Joe Don Baker, actor, was born in Groesbeck in 1936.
  • Larry Dossey, physician, was born Groesbeck in 1940.
  • Clay Hammond, R&B singer and songwriter, was born in Groesbeck in 1936.
  • John E. Hatley, a former master sergeant in the United States Army, is serving a 40-year sentence in the Fort Leavenworth Disciplinary Barracks for the murder of four Iraqi detainees. He attended high school in Greoesbeck.
  • Lenoy Jones, a National Football League (NFL) player, played for Groesbeck High School.
  • Garland Roark, author (Wake of the Red Witch)
  • Kenneth Sims, first overall selection in the 1982 NFL Draft, inducted into College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021, played for Groesbeck High School.
  • Frankie Smith, an NFL player, played for Groesbeck High School.
  • John Westbrook was the first African American to play football in the Southwest Conference; he was born in Groesbeck in 1947.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  5. ^ "GROESBECK, TX | The Handbook of Texas Online| Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)". Tshaonline.org. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  6. ^ A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company. 1893. p. 366. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  7. ^ Collins, Bob. "Photo in Joe's Crab Shack decor was a hanging, not a lynching". NewsCut. Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

External links[]

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