Princeton, Texas

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Princeton, Texas
Location of Princeton in Collin County, Texas
Location of Princeton in Collin County, Texas
Coordinates: 33°10′52″N 96°30′0″W / 33.18111, -96.5
Country United States
State Texas
County Collin
Area
 - Total 4.3 sq mi (11.2 km²)
 - Land 4.3 sq mi (11.2 km²)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation 574 ft (175 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 3,477
 - Density 801.4/sq mi (309.4/km²)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 75407
Area code(s) 972
FIPS code 48-59576[1]
GNIS feature ID 1344570[2]

Princeton is a city in Collin County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,477 at the 2000 census.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Princeton is located at 33°10′52″N, 96°30′0″W (33.181172, -96.500118)[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11.2 km²), all of it land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 3,477 people, 1,238 households, and 932 families residing in the city. The population density was 801.4 people per square mile (309.3/km²). There were 1,377 housing units at an average density of 317.4/sq mi (122.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.94% White, 0.95% African American, 0.98% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 4.57% from other races, and 2.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.90% of the population.

There were 1,238 households out of which 40.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,590, and the median income for a family was $45,948. Males had a median income of $32,852 versus $25,021 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,092. About 6.6% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 20.9% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

In the late 1870s T. B. Wilson and his brother George began farming near the site of future Princeton. In 1881 the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad Company extended its line from Greenville to McKinney, passing through land owned by the brothers. The name Wilson's Switch was commonly used to designate the area. When residents applied for a post office branch, however, they learned that the name Wilson was already being used. The community then submitted the name Princeton in honor of Prince Dowlin, a landowner and promoter of the town. This name was accepted, and a post office was established in 1888.[1]

Princeton is the site of a prisoner of war camp for German prisoners during the Second World War. The local farmers paid the POWs to work on their farms. Before and after the war the camp was used as a camp for migratory farmers. Under a special bill, the German prisoners of war were contracted to work on the City Park located across from the city hall. The park was built in memory of the men who served in the armed forces during World War II.

See also: List of POW camps in the United States

Recently, members of the Princeton Independent School District, the Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Princeton Lions Club have teamed up to annually hold the Princeton Onion Festival. It is a major festival for the town that began in 2005 and is expected to occur on the second weekend of April each year. Among the various events at the festival are an onion cookoff, a children's beauty pageant, a car show, a 5k fun-run, and a community Bar-B-Q dinner. Individuals and groups selling arts and crafts also attend the festival. For more information on the festival, visit http://www.princetononionfestival.com/

[edit] Education

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

[edit] External links

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