Jacksonville is a city located in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,544 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Jacksonville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Cherokee County, and part of the larger Tyler-Jacksonville combined statistical area.
Jacksonville is located in an area of rolling hills in East Texas, north of the county seat, Rusk, and south of Tyler, in neighboring Smith County, on U.S. Route 69. The north-south Highway 69 intersects the east-west U.S. Route 79 at the former Landmark Hotel/Restaurant and the Capital One Bank building in downtown Jacksonville.
Area production and shipping of tomatoes gained the town the title "Tomato Capital of the World". The impressive red iron ore rock Tomato Bowl, built by Works Progress Administration workers during the Great Depression, is home to the Jacksonville High School "Fightin' Indians" football and soccer teams. Annual events include the "Tomato Fest" celebration in June and the "Tops in Texas Rodeo" held in July.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,868 people, 4,882 households, and 3,358 families residing in the city. The population density was 981.0 people per square mile (378.7/km2). There were 5,397 housing units at an average density of 381.8 per square mile (147.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 62.60% White, 21.70% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 12.72% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.04% of the population.
There were 4,882 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 29.2% under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,800, and the median income for a family was $31,176. Males had a median income of $23,650 versus $19,375 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,541. About 19.2% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over.
History
Jacksonville began in 1847 as the town of Gum Creek. Jackson Smith built a home and blacksmith shop in the area, and became postmaster in 1848, when a post office was authorized. Shortly afterward, Dr. William Jackson established an office near Smith's shop. When the townsite was laid out in 1850, the name Jacksonville was chosen in honor of these two men. The name of the post office was changed from Gum Creek to Jacksonville in June 1850.
Geography
Jacksonville is located a 31°57?49?N 95°16?07?W.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.1 square miles (37 km2), of which 14.1 square miles (37 km2) is land and 0.07% is water.
Climate
- On average, the warmest month is July.
- The highest recorded temperature was 110 °F (43 °C) in 1954.
- On average, the coolest month is January.
- The lowest recorded temperature was 5 °F (-15 °C) in 1982.
- The most precipitation on average occurs in May.
Government
Local government
According to the city's most recent Adopted Budget, the city's various funds had $14.9 million in Revenues, $15.7 million in expenditures, and $4.4 million fund balance.
Management of the city and coordination of city services are provided by:
State government
Jacksonville is represented in the Texas Senate by Republican Robert Nichols, District 3, and in the Texas House of Representatives by Republican Travis Clardy, District 11.
Federal government
At the Federal level, the two U.S. Senators from Texas are Republicans John Cornyn and Ted Cruz; Jacksonville is part of the Fifth Congressional District, represented by Republican Jeb Hensarling.
Library
The Jacksonville Public Library has served the City of Jacksonville and Cherokee County for over 70 years. The Library is a member of the Texas Library Association, the Northeast Texas Library System and the Forest Trails Library Consortium.
The Library's collection now contains more than 61,000 physical items, with an annual circulation in 2006 of over 118,000 (including audio/visual materials and public computer usage). More than 75,000 people visited the Library in 2006; approximately 9,500 children attended events presented by the Library. The Library also maintains a Web site that receives over 21,000 visits annually.
The Library's operating hours are: Monday & Thursday, 12:00 noon to 8:00 pm; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm; and Saturday from 10:00 am top 2:00 pm. The Library is closed on Sundays and most major holidays.
The Library also housed the Vanishing Texana Museum until 2012, when it was moved to the Senior Citizens Building.
Education
Public school districts
The City of Jacksonville is served by the Jacksonville Independent School District.
Public high schools
Jacksonvile High School (The school mascot is the "Fightin' Indians").
Private colleges and universities
After the closure of Lon Morris College in 2012, Jacksonville College is the only private college remaining in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville is also home to the Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary. Both schools are members of the Baptist Missionary Association of America.
Transportation
Many highways pass through and intersect in Jacksonville: US 69, US 79, US 175, TX 135, TX 204, FM 347, FM 768, FM 2138, and Loop 456. Where 3 railroads once served the Jacksonville area (Southern Pacific and Cotton Belt abandoned their tracks in the mid-1980s), only 1, Union Pacific, remains. Bus service is provided by Greyhound Lines, while pilots of small airplanes can avail themselves of the Cherokee County Airport a few miles south of town. Many shipping and trucking firms can serve area customers, or pass through town to several important points directly from Jacksonville, including, Beaumont, Houston, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Kansas City, Shreveport, and Memphis.
Lake Jacksonville
Lake Jacksonville is located three miles (5 km) southwest of Jacksonville. It is the city's primary water source. In addition, it is a popular location for recreation and residences. It was created in 1957 and the city expected it to take years to fill with water from the surrounding creeks. But, with an unusually rainy season, the lake reached full capacity in only a year. Despite the beauty of Lake Jacksonville you will not find homes for short term vacation rentals on the lake. ( See Lakehouse.com, VRBO.com, City of Jacksonville website, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Website and jacksonville-texas.com/Residents/Lake-Jacksonville) The City of Jacksonville leases out most lots on the lake in long term leases and regulates those leases. ( Lake Jacksonville Rules and Regulations) Prospective visitors to Lake Jacksonville should be aware of the lack of housing for short term rentals.
- Lake characteristics
An attempt to unionize meatcutters at Walmart
Despite never having organized unions in any Walmart stores before, meatcutters working at the Jacksonville Walmart voted in favor of organizing under the wing of the United Food and Commercial Workers union in February 2000. During a flurry of subsequent legal actions, Walmart discontinued store-level meatcutting and started shipping in pre-packaged/pre-frozen meat to their stores. When all the hearings and appeals were exhausted, it was decided that the local meatcutters didn't embody the characteristics of a group that could bargain since they weren't specialized, while Walmart was found to have engaged in unfair labor practices. Even now, there is no one in the Jacksonville meat department to make special cuts of meat or any union presence there.
Notable people
Jacksonville is the hometown of country music singers Al Dexter, Lee Ann Womack, and Neal McCoy. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh McCown, New Orleans Saints quarterback Luke McCown, former NFL punter Toby Gowin, former New York Jets TE and DE Pete Lammons, Chicago Cubs first baseman Micah Hoffpauir and baseball pitcher Ray Benge. NFL running back Paul Gipson was born in Jacksonville. Actor Alan Tudyk of El Paso, and actress Sandy Duncan, of Henderson, Texas, were graduates of Lon Morris College. Actress Margo Martindale is also originally from Jacksonville. ESPN Sports commentator Craig James was born in Jacksonville.
Travis Clardy is the House of Representatives member for District 11.
John B. Kendrick (1857-1933), United States Senator from Wyoming and ninth Governor of Wyoming was born on a ranch near Jacksonville.
Charles E. Maple (1932-2006), a former journalist, was from 1977-1980 the president of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and thereafter the assistant superintendent of the Texas State Railroad
Robert Nichols (Texas politician) (born 1944), Texas State Senator, 2007-present. A park and an intermediate school are named for him.
Grady Nutt (1934-1982) was a Christian minister and humorist who resided in Jacksonville for several years. Many of his stories are based on people and places in the Jacksonville area.
Eunice Sanborn, who from November 4, 2010, to January 31, 2011, was the oldest living supercentenarian in the world, resided in Jacksonville.
V. O. Stamps (1892-1940) was co-founder of the Stamps-Baxter Music Company. He moved to Jacksonville in 1919 to sell gospel songbooks, began the V.O. Stamps Publishing Company in Jacksonville in 1924, and ran the Jacksonville office of the Stamps-Baxter Music Company from its beginning in 1927 until the offices moved to Dallas in 1929.
References
External links
- City of Jacksonville
- Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce
- Jacksonville (Economic) Development
- Jacksonville Progress (newspaper)
- Jacksonville Public Library
- Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary
- Jacksonville College
- Jacksonville Independent School District
- Jacksonville History and Memorabilia
- Jacksonville, TX from the Handbook of Texas Online
Interesting Informations
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