| La Vernia, Texas | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Nickname(s): L V, Bear Country | |
| Motto: This is the house of the Bears | |
| Location of La Vernia, Texas | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Wilson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.9 sq mi (5.0 km2) |
| • Land | 1.9 sq mi (5.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 489 ft (149 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 931 |
| • Density | 482.8/sq mi (186.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 78121 |
| Area code(s) | 830 |
| FIPS code | 48-41764[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1360813[2] |
La Vernia is a city in Wilson County, Texas, United States. The population was 931 at the 2000 census. It is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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The town was first settled by Indian tribes, mainly the Comanches and the Coahuiltecans were located in this area. Early Anglo-American attempts of settlement had been raided so often that these settlers were forced to leave their houses. An early claim by Erastus Smith, known as Deaf Smith, who was married to a Mexican citizen, received a Spanish land grant on the Cibolo River, near La Vernia.[3] The area would primarily remain unsettled by Europeans until about 1837, when Texas Republic veterans arrived.
W. R. Wiseman of Mississippi, who organized a Presbyterian church at the site around 1851, is said to have named the place Live Oak Grove for a grove nearby.[4] In 1853, William Claiborne Rector was the postmaster at the local post office. During this time the town was called Post Oak, but was changed to La Vernia in 1859.[5]
The origin of the town's current name came from people who noticed the area was full of green oaks and a local rendering of green oaks in Spanish, “La Vernia“, was applied. The Brahan Masonic lodge was established at La Vernia in 1859. It was built to serve for three different purposes: the first floor was made to be used as a school, and the second floor was made to be used for local meetings, and thirdly the building would serve as a place to hold church services.[6]
German and Polish immigration brought the population to 110 by 1885. The community was now seved by three churches, a steam gristmill, and a cotton gin. H. Suhre was the owner of the general store.[7] During this time the major crop grown was corn, being it was so universally useful. Cotton also proved to be an important commodity. In present day La Vernia, corn and cotton are still major crops.
In 1890, La Vernia had a population of 200. Construction of the San Antonio and Gulf Railroad across the area in 1893 brought the population to 343 by 1900. A two-teacher school was in operation by 1896. Classes grew to be so large, that they had to move out of the Masonic lodge. The enrollment had grown to sixty-six children.[8]
By 1915, the town operated two gins, a bank, four churches, a pottery plant, a brick works, and supported a population of 500. In 1947, seventeen businesses would provide much attraction, to more and more people, over the coming years. In 1965, population had increased to 700 residents and twenty-five businesses.[9]
The community incorporated around 1980, and in 1990, had a population of 639 and thirty-six businesses and a gas station called "Tommy's Exxon", owned by Bonnie and Thomas Kravitz, and assisted by their son, Samuel Kravitz. La Vernia experienced out-migration and a subsequent population drop, due to the lure of the big city atmosphere and larger job markets available in neighboring San Antonio, Floresville and Canyon Lake. Many larger towns were getting very popular about this time.
In 2000, La Vernia had 136 businesses and a population of 931. The census[1] of 2005 La Vernia had a population of 1,087 of people. In 2010 a new shopping area was built just west of town on Hwy 87, including a new H-E-B grocery store and gas station. A longtime grocer, Baumann's Grocery store, closed at the time HEB opened.
La Vernia is located at (29.355187, -98.118122)[10]. It is just about 30 minutes south-east of the city of San Antonio. La Vernia is 489 feet (149 m) above sea level.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (5.0 km²), all of it land. latest census[1] of 2005 the population of La Vernia is 1,087 people.
In San Antonio, July and August tie for the average warmest months with an average high of 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 °C). The highest temperature ever to be recorded was 111 °F (43.8 °C) on September 5, 2000.[11] The average coolest month is January. The lowest recorded temperature ever was 0 °F (-17.7 °C) on January 31, 1949. May, June, and October have quite a bit of precipitation. For the last 135 years, the average annual precipitation has been 29.05 inches (73.79 cm), with a maximum of 52.28 inches (132.79 cm) and a minimum of 10.11 inches (25.68 cm) in one year.[12]
| Climate data for San Antonio (San Antonio Int'l), 1981-2010 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 89 (32) |
100 (38) |
100 (38) |
101 (38) |
103 (39) |
107 (42) |
106 (41) |
108 (42) |
111 (44) |
99 (37) |
94 (34) |
90 (32) |
111 (44) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 63.0 (17.2) |
67.0 (19.4) |
73.6 (23.1) |
80.7 (27.1) |
87.1 (30.6) |
92.4 (33.6) |
94.7 (34.8) |
96.1 (35.6) |
90.4 (32.4) |
82.3 (27.9) |
72.3 (22.4) |
64.1 (17.8) |
80.31 (26.84) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 40.7 (4.8) |
44.2 (6.8) |
50.9 (10.5) |
58.2 (14.6) |
66.9 (19.4) |
72.6 (22.6) |
74.7 (23.7) |
74.8 (23.8) |
69.1 (20.6) |
60.2 (15.7) |
50.1 (10.1) |
41.7 (5.4) |
58.68 (14.82) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 0 (−18) |
4 (−16) |
19 (−7) |
31 (−1) |
43 (6) |
48 (9) |
60 (16) |
57 (14) |
46 (8) |
27 (−3) |
21 (−6) |
6 (−14) |
0 (−18) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 1.76 (44.7) |
1.79 (45.5) |
2.31 (58.7) |
2.10 (53.3) |
4.01 (101.9) |
4.14 (105.2) |
2.74 (69.6) |
2.08 (52.8) |
3.03 (77) |
4.10 (104.1) |
2.28 (57.9) |
1.91 (48.5) |
32.25 (819.2) |
| Snowfall inches (cm) | .7 (1.8) |
.1 (0.3) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
.7 (1.8) |
| Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.0 | 7.2 | 8.8 | 6.4 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 6.6 | 6.9 | 6.7 | 7.5 | 83 |
| Avg. snowy days | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 |
| Sunshine hours | 158.1 | 172.3 | 217.0 | 210.0 | 223.2 | 276.0 | 310.0 | 294.5 | 234.0 | 217.0 | 171.0 | 148.8 | 2,631.9 |
| Source: NOAA [13], The Weather Channel (records) [14], HKO (sun, 1961-1990) [15] | |||||||||||||
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 931 people, 317 households, and 239 families residing in the city. The population density was 482.8 people per square mile (186.2/km²). There were 344 housing units at an average density of 178.4 per square mile (68.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.48% White, 0.11% African American, 0.75% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 4.19% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.98% of the population.
There were 317 households out of which 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,500, and the median income for a family was $46,912. Males had a median income of $35,625 versus $24,844 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,931. About 12.5% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.
La Vernia has a lower crime rate compared to surrounding towns.[16] Statistics presented are based on data collected by the FBI as part of its Uniform Crime Reporting Program. These data represent offenses reported to and arrests made by State and local law enforcement agencies as reported to the FBI. Total 347, Murder is 2, Rape are 3, Robbery is 0, Aggravated Assault has recorded 38, Burglary 70, Larceny - theft is unusually high at 228, Motor vehicle thefts is at 6, and Coverage indicator is 100%.[17]
Each year there is a large cattle drive through the town. The landscape is dotted with farms - mostly working ranches with cattle, goats, and horses. The annual Lions Club Bluebonnet Fest is one of the most anticipated events around. All year the La Vernia Lions Club sponsors the Miss La Vernia Pageant and ends with this festival held at the City Park as the pinnacle. In the city, there is a Sonic drive-in, a Dollar General, an HEB Grocery Store, several churches, and some gas stations. La Vernia hosts a Masonic lodge. You can visit the La Vernia Presbyterian Church, that is over 100 years old, or the La Vernia Methodist Church, which first held services in 1853, or walk through the Concrete cemetery. The La Vernia Heritage Museum displays artifacts and memorabilia relating to the history and development of the city.[18]
La Vernia Independent School District ([2]) provides public education to the students of La Vernia. The overall student body is in the range of 3-4 thousand students. This is roughly 4 times the population of the city itself. La Vernia Primary School includes grades Pre-K through 3rd grade. The newly constructed Intermediate School, opened in 2009, includes grades 4-6. 3rd grade will move up to the Intermediate School beginning with the 2009-2010 school year. The building that now serves as the Junior High was the first school building built for the La Vernia school district. Originally serving all grades, it now houses the 7th and 8th grades. 6th grade will move up to the Junior High beginning with the 2009-2010 school year. The La Vernia High School consists of grades 9-12.
Private school education is also provided at the La Vernia Christian Teaching Center ([3]).
Older schools served the La Vernia area prior to the start of the La Vernia Independent School District. The Masonic Lodge (mentioned above) served to educate students for many years. Other early schools includes the Concrete School, which has a marker to show its original location on Country Road 539. Another early school was known as Hill Top School, which was an old two room school house. It was later sold to Lowell and Dorris Jones who turned it into a farmhouse where they raised their family. The home is no longer owed by the Jones family but is a residence in La Vernia.
The town of La Vernia has many different youth sports teams. The football pop warner team called the Grizzles starts at the age of eight years old. Also St Ann’s C.Y.O has sports for kids such as soccer, volleyball, flag football, track, basketball, baseball, and softball. You are able to start at the age of four years old. Junior High has quite a few different teams for grades 7 and 8, including girls' volleyball, basketball, tennis, cross-country, and track, and boys' football, basketball, tennis, cross-country, and track. start the sports when you enter the seventh grade and end the junior high sports when you end the eight grade. High school sports girls' sports are volleyball, basketball, softball, tennis, cross-country, Dance Team, power lifting, and track. Boys' sports are football, power lifting, lacrosse, basketball, baseball, tennis, cross-country, soccer, and track.
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