Beckville, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beckville, Texas
|
|
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Panola |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.22 sq mi (3.15 km2) |
| • Land | 1.22 sq mi (3.15 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 338 ft (103 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 722 |
| • Density | 676.25/sq mi (261.03/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
75631
|
| Area code(s) | 903, 430 |
| FIPS code | 48-07108 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409809 |
Beckville is a small city in Panola County, Texas. It is located in the eastern part of the state. In 2020, about 722 people lived there.
Contents
History of Beckville
Beckville got its name from an early settler named Matthew W. Beck. He arrived in the area around 1850. A local post office opened in 1857. By 1885, Beckville had grown to include two churches, three general stores, a hotel, and a blacksmith. About 75 people lived there then.
When the Texas, Sabine Valley and Northwestern Railway was built in 1886, the townspeople asked for a lot of money for their land. Because of this, the railroad built its tracks about a mile north of the original town. A man named Joe Biggs owned the land where the new tracks were. He sold his land to the railroad and helped create a new town area. Soon, most of the businesses moved to this new spot near the railroad. The old Beckville became empty.
The first school in Beckville was built in 1889. By 1897, the town had a school with three teachers and 151 students. In 1914, the population reached 750 people. A fire in 1917 destroyed some of the business area. Beckville officially became a city by 1929, with nearly 880 residents. However, a drought in 1927 and the Great Depression caused the town's growth to stop. By the mid-1930s, the population dropped to 453, and many businesses closed. After World War II, the number of people living in Beckville stayed about the same. In 1990, the population was 783.
Beckville's Location
Beckville covers a total area of about 1.2 square miles (3.15 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
People of Beckville
Beckville's population has changed over the years. Here's how it has grown and shrunk:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 435 | — | |
| 1940 | 453 | 4.1% | |
| 1950 | 550 | 21.4% | |
| 1960 | 632 | 14.9% | |
| 1970 | 582 | −7.9% | |
| 1980 | 945 | 62.4% | |
| 1990 | 783 | −17.1% | |
| 2000 | 752 | −4.0% | |
| 2010 | 847 | 12.6% | |
| 2020 | 722 | −14.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
| Race | Number of People | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 445 | 61.63% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 171 | 23.68% |
| Asian (NH) | 2 | 0.28% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 14 | 1.94% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 90 | 12.47% |
| Total | 722 |
In 2020, there were 722 people living in Beckville. These people lived in 308 households, and 203 of these were families.
In 2000, there were 752 people in Beckville. About 34.1% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.57 people. The average family had 3.10 people. The population was spread out by age. About 25.4% were under 18. About 13.7% were 65 or older. The average age was 34 years.
Education in Beckville
The Beckville Independent School District serves the city of Beckville. This school district provides education for students in the area.
In 1888, John L. Appling gave one acre of land for a school. This land was next to another acre he gave for the Baptist Church. In 1897, citizens voted to create free education. The official order for the Beckville school was made on April 17, 1897. Since the 1888 school was too small, a new two-story building was built. This new building is where the high school stands today. The old 1888 school building was sold and became a house. You can still see it today near the First Baptist Church in downtown Beckville. According to old railroad records, the 1888 school is one of the oldest schoolhouses in Texas.
Famous Person from Beckville
- Demorrio Williams - He used to play professional football as a middle linebacker in the NFL. He played for teams like the Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, and San Diego Chargers.
See also
In Spanish: Beckville (Texas) para niños
