Ben Wheeler, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ben Wheeler
Unincorporated community Census designated place
Motto(s):  Ben Wheeler Matters!
Ben Wheeler Location in Texas Show map of Texas Ben Wheeler Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Van Zandt
Elevation	531 ft (162 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	456
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	75754
Area code(s)	430, 903
FIPS code	48-07708

Ben Wheeler is a small community in Van Zandt County, Texas, United States. It is an unincorporated community, meaning it does not have its own city government. It is also a census designated place (CDP). This is a special area defined by the government for counting people during a census. Ben Wheeler is located about twelve miles southeast of Canton.

A Look Back at Ben Wheeler's History

How Ben Wheeler Started

The area around Ben Wheeler was first settled in the 1840s. A farmer named Benjamin F. Wheeler from Kentucky was one of the first settlers. The community was first known as Clough. It was named after a local farmer, George W. Clough.

In 1878, the town's post office moved to its current spot. That's when the community was renamed Ben Wheeler.

Challenges and Growth Over Time

Ben Wheeler faced many tough times in its early years. In 1893, a big fire destroyed most of the town's businesses. By 1896, the population had grown to 500 people. But then, a smallpox epidemic (a widespread disease) hit the town. This caused the number of residents to drop to 238 by 1904.

The town was somewhat protected from the Great Depression (a time of economic hardship). This was thanks to the East Texas Oil Boom. By 1943, Ben Wheeler had 18 businesses and 375 people.

However, as the oil boom slowed down and cotton farming decreased, Ben Wheeler began to decline. By 1972, only nine businesses were left. Its schools even joined with those in nearby Van.

Ben Wheeler's Comeback

By 1988, things started to look up for Ben Wheeler. The growth of nearby cities like Tyler and Canton helped. The number of businesses in Ben Wheeler grew to twenty-two. In 2000, about 400 people lived in the community.

The 2011 Tornado

On April 27, 2011, a moderate tornado hit Ben Wheeler and Edom, Texas. This tornado had strong winds of 90-100 miles per hour. Three buildings were completely destroyed. More than one hundred other buildings were also damaged.

Learning in Ben Wheeler

Ben Wheeler is part of the Van Independent School District. This school district provides education for the community's students.

Bringing Ben Wheeler Back to Life

Brooks and Rese Gremmels started the Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic District Foundation. This is a non-profit organization. A non-profit group works to help the community without making money for owners. Their goal is to fix up old buildings and shops in downtown Ben Wheeler. They want to restore the town's historic charm.

Fun Events: The Feral Hog Festival

Every year, Ben Wheeler hosts a special event. It's called the Annual Feral Hog Festival. This festival happens on the fourth weekend in October. It celebrates the wild hog population in the area.

The festival includes many fun activities. There's a parade and a "hog queen" contest. Local businesses provide lots of food and other entertainment. It's a big community celebration!

Ben Wheeler's Weather

The weather in Ben Wheeler has hot and humid summers. The winters are generally mild to cool. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Ben Wheeler has a humid subtropical climate. This type of climate is often shown as "Cfa" on climate maps.

Who Lives in Ben Wheeler?

Ben Wheeler was first listed as a census designated place in the 2020 U.S. Census. In 2020, the total population of Ben Wheeler was 456 people.