Gladewater, Texas
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| Gladewater, Texas | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Counties | Gregg, Upshur |
| Area | |
| - Total | 12.1 sq mi (31.4 km²) |
| - Land | 11.6 sq mi (30.1 km²) |
| - Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.4 km²) |
| Elevation | 364 ft (111 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 6,078 |
| - Density | 523.7/sq mi (202.2/km²) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 75647 |
| Area code(s) | 903 |
| FIPS code | 48-29660[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1336557[2] |
Gladewater is a city in Gregg and Upshur Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 6,078 at the 2000 census.
The town is probably most famous as a base during Elvis Presley's early career [1], and also as the town in which Johnny Cash wrote Walk the Line. Gladewater was also a major Boom Town during the early 20th Century with the discovery of oil.
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[edit] Geography
Gladewater has the distinction of being in three different counties: Gregg, Smith, and Upshur counties. Gladewater is located at (32.542666, -94.946950),[3] primarily within Gregg County.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.1 square miles (31.4 km²), of which, 11.6 square miles (30.1 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.4 km²) of it (4.37%) is water.
[edit] History
Gladewater is at the intersection of U.S. highways 80 and 271, thirteen miles west of Longview on the boundary between Gregg and Upshur counties. It was founded by the Texas and Pacific Railway Company in 1873 on land bought from Jarrett Dean and Anderson White. A community called St. Clair, two miles to the east, moved to Gladewater when the railroad announced that the only mail stop in the area would be there; residents from Point Pleasant, also bypassed by the railroad, moved to Gladewater. The first post office at Gladewater was established on August 22, 1873. The town's name probably originated from its proximity to Glade Creek, a stream that rose in a rather barren region called the Glades.
In 1874 Gladewater was incorporated with a mayor-alderman government. The incorporation lapsed, and a new charter was not obtained until 1931, when an influx of population necessitated organized city government. In 1955 Gladewater adopted a council-mayor form of government. The population grew slowly during the nineteenth century; the town had only 163 people in 1880 and 259 in 1900. In the area around Gladewater lumbering was a major activity, although farming was also important; cotton was the major crop. In 1908 the town had ten stores, one bank, two blacksmith shops, two hotels, a gin, a sawmill, and a planing mill. It continued to grow slowly until 1931.
On April 7, 1931, the first Gladewater oil well blew in. It was located one mile outside town in the Sabine River bottom. Oil production led to a population increase during the 1930s from about 500 persons to around 8,000. In 1940, after the oil boom, Gladewater had a population of 4,454. Civic improvements in the 1940s included an extensive paving project and a commercial airfield. Between 1940 and 1960 the population grew to 5,742. Lake Gladewater, constructed in 1954, provides recreation for city residents.
During the 1970s Gladewater moved from an oil-oriented to a more diversified economy, primarily because of depletion of oil resources in the area. The movement of salt water into the western edge of the large East Texas oilfield affected Gladewater first. By 1980 the town had a total of 6,548 residents, 4,311 in Gregg County and 2,237 in Upshur County. The economy in the 1980s depended on the oil industry and related activities and on the manufacture of such products as furniture, clothing, paper products, and boats. The lumber industry is also important, as is agriculture. By 1990 the community had become well known for its numerous antique stores. Important annual festivals include the East Texas Gusher Days in April, the Gladewater Roundup Rodeo in June and the Arts and Crafts Festival in September.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 6,078 people, 2,257 households, and 1,593 families residing in the city. The population density was 523.7 people per square mile (202.1/km²). There were 2,601 housing units at an average density of 224.1/sq mi (86.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.80% White, 16.12% African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.58% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.50% of the population.
There were 2,257 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,118, and the median income for a family was $32,278. Males had a median income of $24,770 versus $23,271 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,317. About 15.5% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.9% of those under age 18 and 20.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
The City of Gladewater is served by the Gladewater Independent School District - Home of the Gladewater Bears.
Other Gladewater School Districts:
[edit] Notable People from Gladewater
- Chicago Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith
- Award-winning author Joe R. Lansdale.
- James Scott - former Chicago Bear wide-receiver
- Winston Hill - All Pro Tackle with the New York Jets, a member of the Super Bowl champion team
- John Floyd - Former wide receiver with the San Diego Chargers
- Skip Butler - Former punter for the Houston Oilers
- Stonie Clark - Former Defensive Tackle for the Texas Longhorns best known for his play at the goalline in the 1994 Red River Shootout with the Oklahoma Sooners. With 43 seconds left to go in the game, Stonie Clark tackled James Allen at the one yard line to help the Longhorns win 17-10.
- Chris Johnson - Oakland Raiders defensive back (Born in Gladewater grew up in Longview, Texas - Attended school at Pine Tree Independent School District)
- Delmonico Montgomery - Cornerback in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the New Orleans Saints. Defensive specialist for the New Orleans Voodoo, the Nashville Kats, and is currently on the Kansas City Brigade roster in the Arena Football League.
- Stephen Young - Born in Gladewater and a Gladewater High School Graduate in 1994 went on to success as a radio personality at KNUT - AM. Country Music was his passion and led the station to success in 1993 until it was forced off the air in 1994. Where are you now?
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Gladewater, Texas is at coordinates Coordinates:
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![[1]](http://www.elvisbay.com/reviews/concerts/pics/gladewater54.jpg){kind=link}