Cross Plains, Texas
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| Cross Plains, Texas | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Callahan |
| Area | |
| - Total | 1.2 sq mi (3.1 km²) |
| - Land | 1.2 sq mi (3.1 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 1,742 ft (531 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 1,068 |
| - Density | 893.1/sq mi (344.8/km²) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 76443 |
| Area code(s) | 254 |
| FIPS code | 48-17816[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1333719[2] |
Cross Plains is a town in Callahan County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,068 at the 2000 census.
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[edit] Geography
Cross Plains is located at (32.126467, -99.164677)[3].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all of it land.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,068 people, 432 households, and 285 families residing in the town. The population density was 893.1 people per square mile (343.6/km²). There were 554 housing units at an average density of 463.3/sq mi (178.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.28% White, 0.47% Native American, 1.69% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.34% of the population.
There were 432 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $22,235, and the median income for a family was $27,500. Males had a median income of $22,188 versus $17,955 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,284. About 18.5% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 19.0% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] History
Cross Plains had been named Turkey Creek - the stream that still crosses the town's Treadaway Park. It's early years had the basic necessities like a store, a cotton gin and gristmill, but little else. In 1878, the United States Government granted a post office to Cross Plains, which was named for the crossings of stagecoaches and military roads prior to the Civil War. It is said that Robert E. Lee and U.S. Grant camped with their troops at a grove of live oak trees on the banks of Turkey Creek, which is now known as Treadway Park. East and West Caddo Peaks, located 5 miles west, were used as landmarks by early Indians, soldiers and also by government surveying crews. They had one newspaper in 1902 (The Herald) but it soon went out of business. The second paper, The Cross Plains Review started in 1909 and continues to publish a weekly newspaper every Wednesday. The town moved from the west banks of Turkey Creek to its present site in January 1911, in anticipation of the coming railroad. On January 11, 1912, the first train arrived, the Texas Central, which was soon to become the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad. An oil boom in 1925 increased the population and by 1940 it was over 1,200. It has remained hovering around the 1,000 mark for the last 50 years. City documents are unavailable to the public.
[edit] Education
The Town of Cross Plains is served by the Cross Plains Independent School District.
In 2004, voters passed a $1.1 million bond package for new classrooms and gymnasium for the Cross Plains Independent School District.
The CPISD has an average enrollment of approximately 455 students.
[edit] Robert E. Howard Days and Barbarian Festival
Cross Plains has also instituted a Robert E. Howard Days festival and Barbarian Festival, which are held in Treadaway Park each June. The festival honors the writer Robert E. Howard and his character Conan the Barbarian.[1][2]
[edit] Major highways
[edit] 2005 Wildfire
On December 27, 2005, a grass/range wildfire destroyed 116 homes in and around Cross Plains. On December 29, 2005 the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) listed 85 single family homes, 25 mobile homes and 6 apartment units as being destroyed. An additional 36 homes where damaged. The First United Methodist Church building of Cross Plains was also destroyed. Two people died after being trapped in their houses.
The fire started 5 miles west of the city along Highway 36 and westerly winds of up to 30 miles per hour spread the flames into town burning a total of 7,665 acres of land.
The fire spared the nearly century-old house (now a museum) of Robert E. Howard, author of the Conan the Barbarian books.
[edit] External links
- Cross Plains, Texas is at coordinates Coordinates:
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