Gilmer, Texas

Gilmer, Texas
City
Buffalo Street in Gilmer
Seal
Motto:  "Finding the Way"
Location of Gilmer in Texas
Coordinates: 32°43′57″N94°56′49″W / 32.73250°N 94.94694°W / 32.73250; -94.94694
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Upshur
Area [1]
• Total	3.80 sq mi (9.84 km2)
• Land	3.79 sq mi (9.82 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation	367 ft (112 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,843
• Density	1,356.99/sq mi (523.90/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes	75644-75645
Area code	903
FIPS code	48-29564 [2]
GNIS feature ID	1336535 [3]
Website	gilmer-tx.com

Gilmer is a city in, and the county seat of, Upshur County, Texas, United States. ^[4] It is best known for being the home of the East Texas Yamboree and the birthplace of popular music singers Don Henley of the Eagles band and Johnny Mathis, as well as blues musician Freddie King. Its population was 4,843 at the 2020 census.

History

Founded in 1846, the city's namesake is former Secretary of the Navy Thomas Walker Gilmer. Gilmer is located on the Old Cherokee Trace, a trail used by the Cherokee Indians in their travels. To this day, arrowheads and other Native American artifacts can be found with little to no digging. Sam Houston, when he lived with the Cherokee, traveled the trace through here. The location of Gilmer was determined by a flood on Little Cypress Creek. First located near the creek, residents decided to change locations because of frequent floods.

Geography

Main Highway in Gilmer, Texas (US-271)

Downtown Gilmer, Texas

Gilmer is located at 32°43'57" north, 94°56'49" qest (32.732387, –94.946980). ^[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.6 mi² (12.0 km²), all land.

Four miles west of Gilmer is Lake Gilmer, which opened September 29, 2001.

Gilmer is part of a larger area known as the East Texas Piney Woods.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Gilmer has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps. ^[6]

Climate data for Gilmer, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1929–2012)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	85 (29)	90 (32)	91 (33)	97 (36)	100 (38)	109 (43)	110 (43)	114 (46)	111 (44)	98 (37)	88 (31)	85 (29)	114 (46)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	55.6 (13.1)	60.2 (15.7)	67.0 (19.4)	74.5 (23.6)	81.6 (27.6)	88.6 (31.4)	92.6 (33.7)	92.2 (33.4)	87.4 (30.8)	77.2 (25.1)	65.5 (18.6)	57.4 (14.1)	75.0 (23.9)
Daily mean °F (°C)	44.1 (6.7)	47.7 (8.7)	54.8 (12.7)	61.9 (16.6)	70.4 (21.3)	77.9 (25.5)	81.5 (27.5)	80.8 (27.1)	74.8 (23.8)	64.3 (17.9)	53.3 (11.8)	45.7 (7.6)	63.1 (17.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	32.7 (0.4)	35.2 (1.8)	42.6 (5.9)	49.3 (9.6)	59.3 (15.2)	67.2 (19.6)	70.5 (21.4)	69.4 (20.8)	62.2 (16.8)	51.4 (10.8)	41.2 (5.1)	34.0 (1.1)	51.3 (10.7)
Record low °F (°C)	−4 (−20)	−3 (−19)	12 (−11)	25 (−4)	36 (2)	46 (8)	50 (10)	47 (8)	36 (2)	23 (−5)	13 (−11)	−4 (−20)	−4 (−20)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	3.76 (96)	4.09 (104)	4.22 (107)	4.66 (118)	4.49 (114)	4.07 (103)	3.05 (77)	3.01 (76)	3.68 (93)	4.57 (116)	3.81 (97)	4.51 (115)	47.92 (1,217)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	0.6 (1.5)	0.7 (1.8)	0.2 (0.51)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	1.5 (3.8)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	7.9	7.3	7.9	6.1	7.7	7.6	5.0	4.6	5.5	5.7	6.9	8.0	80.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	0.2	0.3	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.6
Source: NOAA [7] [8]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	386		—
1890	591		53.1%
1910	1,484		—
1920	2,268		52.8%
1930	1,963		−13.4%
1940	3,138		59.9%
1950	4,096		30.5%
1960	4,312		5.3%
1970	4,196		−2.7%
1980	5,167		23.1%
1990	4,822		−6.7%
2000	4,799		−0.5%
2010	4,905		2.2%
2020	4,843		−1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]

Gilmer racial composition as of 2020 ^[10]
(NH = Non-Hispanic) ^{[lower-alpha 1]}

Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	3,241	66.92%
Black or African American (NH)	757	15.63%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	18	0.37%
Asian (NH)	38	0.78%
Pacific Islander (NH)	4	0.08%
Some Other Race (NH)	10	0.21%
Mixed/multiracial (NH)	261	5.39%
Hispanic or Latino	514	10.61%
Total	4,843

As of the 2020 United States census, 4,843 people, 1,778 households, and 987 families were residing in the city.

As of the census ^[2] of 2000, 4,799 people, 1,926 households, and 1,300 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,038.5 inhabitants per square mile (401.0/km²). The 2,214 housing units averaged 479.1 per mi² (185.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.91% White, 20.23% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.90% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.42% of the population.

Of the 1,926 households, 30.1% had children under 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were not families. About 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37, and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city, the population was distributed as 25.3% under 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 76.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,487, and for a family was $39,688. Males had a median income of $32,437 versus $17,910 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,823. About 15.9% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.5% of those under the age of 18 and 21.0% of those 65 and older.

Notable people

Music

• Don Henley, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and founding member of the Eagles
• Freddie King, guitarist and singer in Blues Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• Johnny Mathis, multiple platinum-selling popular music and standards singer; Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
• Jason Sellers, country music singer-songwriter
• Michelle Shocked, folk singer-songwriter ^[13]

Sports

• Kris Boyd, American football defensive back for the Minnesota Vikings
• Curtis Brown, former defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers
• Manuel Johnson, former wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys
• G. J. Kinne, NFL and Canadian Football League quarterback
• Kenny Pettway, linebacker for the Edmonton Eskimos
• David Snow, former offensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers
• Jeff Traylor, head football coach UTSA
• Gus Johnson, former NFL running back
• Louis Wright, former four-time first-team All-Pro cornerback for the Denver Broncos

Other

• David Abner, an African-American Republican state representative from 1874 to 1875, he was brought to Upshur County as a slave from Selma, Alabama. ^[14]
• Charles F. Baird, a former justice of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and former judge, Travis County District Court, he is the only judge in Texas history to preside over the exoneration of a deceased individual; he was longtime criminal-justice reform advocate.
• Robert N. McClelland was a surgeon for John F. Kennedy at Parkland Hospital in Dallas on the day of his assassination.
• Robert L. Stephens, record-setting test pilot
• Harold Moss, the first African-American mayor of Tacoma, Washington
• Thomas F. Proctor, a trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses, he won the 1994 edition of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff with One Dreamer.

In popular culture

• The Michelle Shocked song "Memories of East Texas" recalls her experiences growing up in Gilmer. ^[15]

Education

Gilmer is served by the Gilmer Independent School District.

Notes

1. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. ^{[11] [12]}

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. Climate Summary for Gilmer, Texas
7. "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
8. "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
10. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
11. https://www.census.gov/ ^{[ not specific enough to verify ]}
12. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
13. MICHELLE SHOCKED, TAKING STOCK – The Washington Post Retrieved 2018-04-17.
14. Merline Pitre. "David Abner, Sr". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
15. Michelle Shocked - Memories Of East Texas Lyrics Retrieved 2022-10-11.

• Herald Democrat (July 25, 1919). "Texas mob hangs Negro". The Herald Democrat . Leadville, Colorado. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
• Richmond Times-Dispatch (August 3, 1919). "Four Held In Lynching". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia: Times Dispatch Pub. Co. pp. 1–54. ISSN   2333-7761. OCLC   9493729 . Retrieved August 3, 2019.

External links

• City of Gilmer official website.
• East Texas Yamboree