Yorktown, Texas

Yorktown is located in southwestern DeWitt County at 28°59′00″N 97°30′09″W / 28.983196°N 97.502415°W / 28.983196; -97.502415Coordinates: 28°59′00″N 97°30′09″W / 28.983196°N 97.502415°W / 28.983196; -97.502415 (28.983196, -97.502415).[4] State Highways 72 and 119 intersect on the western side of town. Highway 72 leads northeast 16 miles (26 km) to Cuero and southwest 25 miles (40 km) to Kenedy, while Highway 119 leads northwest 35 miles (56 km) to Stockdale and south 24 miles (39 km) to Goliad.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Yorktown has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[5]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,271 people, 864 households, and 584 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,318.1 people per square mile (509.8/km²). There were 1,048 housing units at an average density of 608.3 per square mile (235.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.83% White, 2.99% African American, 0.40% Native American, 15.32% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 37.60% of the population.

Zapata, Texas

Zapata is a census-designated place (CDP) in and the county seat of Zapata County, Texas, United States.[3] The population was 5,089 at the 2010 census. As an unincorporated community, Zapata has no municipal government but like all 254 Texas counties has four elected county commissioners chosen by single-member districts and a countywide elected administrative judge.

Zapata was named for José Antonio de Zapata (died 1839), the revolutionary commander who served in the cavalry of the Republic of the Rio Grande, of which the town was a part.[4] The town was relocated to higher ground in 1953 prior to the completion of Falcon Dam, which left the original town center beneath the waters of Falcon Lake.

At the 2010 census,[1] there were 5,089 people, 4,328 households[citation needed] and 1,265 families[citation needed] residing in the CDP. The population density was 629.9 per square mile (243.2/km2).[citation needed] There were 2,239 housing units at an average density of 290.4 per square mile (112.1/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.38% White, 0.02% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 6.82% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 94.99% of the population.

Zavalla, Texas

Zavalla is a city in Angelina County, Texas, United States. The population was 713 at the 2010 census.[3] The town is named for Lorenzo de Zavala, a Mexican rancher, politician, and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence who served as the first Vice-President of the Republic of Texas. Its city limits stretch several miles south of town into a heavily wooded area.

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 647 people, 268 households, and 176 families residing in the city. The population density was 306.6 people per square mile (118.4/km²). There were 340 housing units at an average density of 161.1 per square mile (62.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.68% White, 0.46% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.62% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.01% of the population.

There were 268 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.99.

Zephyr, Texas

Zephyr is located at 31°40′34″N 98°47′41″W / 31.67611°N 98.79472°W / 31.67611; -98.79472 (31.6759884, -98.7947697). It is situated along U.S. Highway 84 in southeastern Brown County, about 12 miles east of Brownwood and 54 miles southwest of Stephenville.[2]

The community was initially located on the banks of Blanket Creek in 1850. The name Zephyr, meaning soft, gentle wind, was first used by land surveyors who were trapped in the area during a blue norther.[1] In 1863, the Lazarus Vann family arrived in the vicinity. They were joined by other families over the next few years. A school was founded in 1876. Zephyr's first store opened in 1878 and a post office was established the following year. In 1885, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway completed a line from Brownwood to Lampasas that missed Zephyr by roughly a mile. Store owner J.M. Wilson moved his store and the post office one mile west of the community's initial location to its present site.[2] The community would later become a station on the railroad. On May 30, 1909, an F4 tornado struck Zephyr, killing 34 people and injuring 70. Most of the deaths occurred in residential areas on the southern and eastern sides of the community. To date, the Zephyr tornado remains one of the deadliest tornadoes in the state's history.[3] The community rebuilt and experienced a long period of growth. By 1940, the population stood around 750. A new high school was constructed that same year. Zephyr's economy was dependent on cotton, but a boll weevil infestation and deteriorating market conditions caused the community's last gin to close in the early 1940s.[1] The population had fallen below 300 during the 1960s and remained at that level into the 1970s. During the final decades of the 20th century, Zephyr was home to around 198 people. That figure remained constant through 2000.[1]

Public education in the community of Zephyr is provided by the Zephyr Independent School District. The district has one campus that includes both Zephyr Elementary School (grades K-6) and Zephyr High School (grades 9-12).

Votaw, Texas

Waskom, Texas

Waskom is a city in Harrison County, Texas, United States. It lies about 20 miles (32 km) east of the county seat, Marshall, on U.S. Route 80. To the east is Shreveport, Louisiana. The population was 2,160 at the 2010 census.[4]

Waskom was established in 1850 as a midway point of an east-west (Dallas to Shreveport) cattle and cotton economic travelway to the Red River in Louisiana, some 20 miles (32 km) east. In 1872, it became a main railroad station between Dallas and Shreveport to the west and east respectively and Texarkana to the north. A major railway still travels through Waskom. Today, Waskom sits on Interstate 20, that connects the Carolinas to southwest Texas and Mexico. Waskom won the 3A D2 state title in football in 2014 and 2015.

Waskom is located in eastern Harrison County at 32°28′42″N 94°3′50″W / 32.47833°N 94.06389°W / 32.47833; -94.06389 (32.478416, -94.063769).[5] The eastern border of the city is the Texas–Louisiana border. Interstate 20 provides access to the city from Exit 633 on the west side and Exit 635 to the south. I-20 leads east 20 miles (32 km) to Shreveport and west 166 miles (267 km) to Dallas.

West, Texas

West is a city in McLennan County, Texas, United States.[5] As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,807.[1][6] It is named after T.M. West, the first postmaster of the city.[7] The city is located in the north-central part of Texas, approximately 70 miles south of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, 20 miles north of Waco and 120 miles north of Austin, the state's capital.

The first settlers of northern McLennan County arrived in the 1840s. They were farm and ranch families drawn from the east by the rich lands made available by the government sale of land to build schools in Texas. The area farmers cultivated the land and grew cotton, wheat, and grain sorghum, and raised cattle. The farming community centered around a freshwater spring that became known as Bold Springs. In 1860, Bold Springs had a population of about 300 and provided services such as a blacksmith, churches, and a post office.[7]

The Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad was laid between Hillsboro and Waco in the fall of 1881. The path of the railroad passed through land owned by Thomas West, who had moved to the area in 1859. He farmed land that he had purchased and served as postmaster of Bold Springs. A train depot was built on the land he sold to the railroad company and the land running beside the tracks was divided into small sections and sold to people wanting to start businesses. The new depot included a post office, and from that time forward it was known as the West Post Office. Mr. West served as postmaster and opened the first general store. He became a successful businessman and later owned a hotel, a furniture store, and a bank.[7]

Whitharral, Texas

Whitharral was founded in 1924 after the sale of the Littlefield ranchlands.[2] The town was named for John Whitfield Harral, a trustee of the Yellow House Land Company, which sold the Littlefield ranchlands to farmers.[3]

Tornadoes have hit the town twice.[2] The first occurred on Easter Sunday of 1957, causing some residential damage. Late in the evening on April 17, 1970, a violent tornado caused heavy damage to parts of the city and flattened the school's gym just minutes after fans and players had left the facility.[4]

Winfield, Texas

When the Texas and St. Louis Railway was being constructed through western Titus County in 1880, the citizens of Gray Rock, on the western boundary of the county, were asked to donate money and land to the company for routing the road through their community. When the merchants refused to cooperate, W. C. Barrett deeded a portion of his land a mile northeast of Gray Rock to railroad officials for a depot, and the road was built north of Gray Rock. At its earliest stages the community that began to emerge around the depot was called Barrett, but when the post office was opened there in 1887 with Patrick H. Carr as postmaster, the village was called Carr. In 1892 the name was changed to Winfield, in honor of the general passenger agent for the railroad, W. H. Winfield. In 1890 the population was reported at forty-seven. By 1896 the town had three churches, several stores, a pottery operated by J. S. Hogue, and a population estimated at 150. During the early years of the twentieth century, the town experienced its greatest period of growth. By 1914 it had a brick company, a newspaper, numerous stores and gins, two banks, and a population estimated at 700. The two banks merged in 1919, and the resulting bank closed in the early 1920s. By 1925 the population of Winfield had declined to 629, and by the 1940s it was 350. The town was incorporated in the 1940s and maintained a relatively stable population for several decades. In 1980 residents numbered 349, and in 1982 the town had five rated businesses. In 1990 the population was 345.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Winfield has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[4]

As of the census[1] of 2010, there were 524 people, 175 households, and 133 families residing in the city. The population density was 538.7 people per square mile (207.2/km²). There were 195 housing units at an average density of 209.7/sq mi (80.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 37.8% White, 00% African American, 0.56% Native American, 18.04% from other races, and 1.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 41.8% of the population.

Wortham, Texas

Wortham is located in the northwest corner of Freestone County at 31°47′18″N 96°27′44″W / 31.78833°N 96.46222°W / 31.78833; -96.46222 (31.788472, -96.462209).[4]Texas State Highway 14 runs through town as Third Street, leading north 10 miles (16 km) to Richland and Interstate 45, and south 8 miles (13 km) to Mexia. Fairfield, the Freestone County seat, is 18 miles (29 km) to the southeast.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.1 km2), all of it land.[3] Wortham lies near the highest point between Dallas and Houston, the nearby Tehuacana Hills.

Wortham is situated on a grant given in 1834 by Mexico to Robert B. Longbotham (born December 29, 1797[5]), an immigrant from England who settled there in 1839. In 1871, when the Houston and Texas Central Railway was planned through the area, Longbotham sold the right of way for five dollars. A townsite was purchased from Longbotham by a group of investors, who platted a town named "Tehuacana". When a post office was established in November 1871, however, the name was changed to "Long Bottom", a corruption of the original owner's name. In 1874 the settlement was renamed "Wortham" in honor of Col. Luther "Rice" Wortham, a merchant who had been instrumental in convincing the railroad to build through the area.