Kerrville, Texas

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Kerrville, Texas
Kerrville around 1900
Kerrville around 1900
Location of Kerrville, Texas
Location of Kerrville, Texas
Coordinates: 30°2′47″N 99°8′26″W / 30.04639, -99.14056
Country United States
State Texas
County Kerr
Area
 - Total 16.9 sq mi (43.9 km²)
 - Land 16.7 sq mi (43.3 km²)
 - Water 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km²)
Elevation 1,637 ft (499 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 20,425
 - Density 1,222.5/sq mi (472.0/km²)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes 78028-78029
Area code(s) 830
FIPS code 48-39040[1]
GNIS feature ID 1339058[2]

Kerrville is a city in Kerr County, Texas, United States. The population was 20,425 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kerr County[3]. Kerrville is named for James Kerr, a major in the Texas Revolution, and friend of town founder Joshua Brown, who settled in the area to start a cypress shingle camp. [1]

Located in the Texas Hill Country, Kerrville is best known for its nearby youth summer camps, Guadalupe River RV parks, Texas' Official State Arts & Crafts Fair, the Home of HEB Grocery Stores & James Avery Jewelry, the Kerrville Folk Festival, and Schreiner University.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Kerrville is located at 30°02′47″N, 99°8′26″W (30.046487 North, -99.140498 West)[4]. This is 58 miles (93 km) northwest of San Antonio and 85 miles (137 km) west of Austin.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 67km km² (16.9 sq mi). 16.7 square miles (43.3 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (1.36%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 20,425 people, 8,563 households, and 5,411 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,222.5 people per square mile (471.9/km²). There were 9,477 housing units at an average density of 567.2/sq mi (219.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.89% White, 2.99% African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 8.20% from other races, and 1.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.73% of the population.

There were 8,563 households out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 33.1% 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 2.21 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 29.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,085, and the median income for a family was $38,979. Males had a median income of $27,555 versus $19,923 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,193. About 11.7% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

The City of Kerrville is served by the Kerrville Independent School District.

The city has also been the home of Schreiner University since 1923.

[edit] Notable facts

  • Founded in 1848 as "Brownsborough," the city was renamed Kerrville in 1856 when it became the county seat.[2]
  • Kerrville is home to H-E-B's (the H. E. Butt Grocery Company) first store which opened in 1905, by Florence Butt.
  • Kerrville was home to "The Father of Country Music" Jimmie Rodgers and "Texas Music Legend" Robert Earl Keen Jr.
  • Kerrville is the home of world-famous jeweler James Avery, ex-NFL players: William Fifer (Detroit Lions 1978), Mike Dyal (Oakland Raiders 1989-90), and John Teltschik (Philadelphia Eagles 1986-90), pro-golfer John Mahaffey (1978 PGA Champion), as well as 2006 Texas gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman, and “Hagi” Hagigholam founder of the successful food chain Mamacita's and drummer John Ike Walton of the 13th Floor Elevators.
  • Kerrville is the home of the Texas Lions Camp,the Echo Hill Ranch summer camp, and Thousand Hills Cowboy Church which holds free rodeo events.
  • Kerrville is home to Mooney Aircraft, which was established its sole factory in Kerrville over 50 years ago and still manufactures new airplanes and parts at the same location.
  • Kerrville is home to Schreiner University, a private 4-year college university which was established in 1923 by an ex-Texas Ranger, Captain Charles Schreiner. In 1991, the school was listed as one of the top regional liberal arts colleges in the Western U.S. by U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges Guide. [3]
  • Kerrville is also home to the Official Texas Arts & Crafts Fair which features over 180 artisans displaying their work under large tents in concert with a variety of Texas entertainers and great food. [4]

[edit] Points of interest

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links