Calvert, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Calvert, Texas
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Calvert Historic District (2018)
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| Nickname(s):
Calvy
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Location of Calvert within Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Robertson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.89 sq mi (10.07 km2) |
| • Land | 3.89 sq mi (10.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 335 ft (102 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 962 |
| • Density | 289.46/sq mi (111.76/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
77837
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| Area code | 979 |
| FIPS code | 48-11992 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409965 |
Calvert is a small city in Robertson County, Texas, United States. In 2020, about 962 people lived there. It is located about halfway between the cities of Waco and Bryan-College Station. Calvert is known for its many antique shops. The town is named after Robert Calvert, an early settler who helped bring the railroad to the area.
Contents
History of Calvert, Texas
How Calvert Began and the Railroad Arrived
The first known white settler in the area was Joseph Harlan in 1837. Later, in 1850, Robert Calvert started a large farm nearby. Robert Calvert, who had been a Texas Representative, really wanted the Houston and Texas Central Railway to build tracks through the area. Thanks to his efforts and other town leaders, the railroad agreed to stop in Calvert in 1868.
In January 1868, a group of people bought land and planned out the new community. Soon, shop owners from nearby towns like Sterling and Owensville moved their businesses to Calvert. A post office also opened in 1868. The first trains arrived in 1869, and the town officially became a city in 1870. Even though another family owned most of the land, the town was named after Robert Calvert because he was so important in getting the railroad to come.
After the railroad arrived, Calvert became a major trading center. It was common to see many wagons pulled by oxen slowly moving through town. These wagons were on their way to Houston to sell cotton. They traveled about ten miles a day.
Calvert Becomes the County Seat
In 1870, during a time called Reconstruction, Calvert was chosen as the new county seat for Robertson County, Texas. A county seat is the main town where the county government is located. Before this, the county seat was Owensville. However, just nine years later, in 1879, the people of Robertson County voted to move the county seat again. This time, it moved to a town called Morgan, which is now known as Franklin.
Growth and Challenges in Calvert
By 1871, Calvert was said to have the largest cotton gin in the world. A cotton gin is a machine that quickly separates cotton fibers from their seeds. This machine helped farmers process a lot of cotton from the nearby Brazos River bottoms. In 1882, the gin processed 32,000 bales of cotton.
In 1873, a serious illness spread through the town, causing many people to get sick. This made the town's population much smaller for a while. People who could leave the town did so before it was quarantined. Trains were not allowed to stop in Calvert during this time.
By 1878, Calvert had 52 different businesses. Today, Calvert is still a city in Texas.
Recent Events in Calvert
In 2010, all three police officers in Calvert resigned because of disagreements with the city council. In 2015, a TV station reported that Calvert and some other nearby towns were giving out many speeding tickets. This was to help their city courts earn money.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 2,280 | — | |
| 1890 | 2,632 | 15.4% | |
| 1900 | 3,322 | 26.2% | |
| 1910 | 2,579 | −22.4% | |
| 1920 | 2,099 | −18.6% | |
| 1930 | 2,103 | 0.2% | |
| 1940 | 2,366 | 12.5% | |
| 1950 | 2,548 | 7.7% | |
| 1960 | 2,073 | −18.6% | |
| 1970 | 2,072 | 0.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,732 | −16.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,536 | −11.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,426 | −7.2% | |
| 2010 | 1,192 | −16.4% | |
| 2020 | 962 | −19.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Calvert is part of the larger Bryan-College Station metropolitan area.
Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Calvert in 2020:
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (NH) | 326 | 33.89% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 482 | 50.1% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 3 | 0.31% |
| Asian (NH) | 4 | 0.42% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 3 | 0.31% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 27 | 2.81% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 117 | 12.16% |
| Total | 962 |
In 2020, there were 962 people living in Calvert. There were 585 households and 470 families.
In 2010, there were 1,192 people in Calvert. The population went down to 1,180 residents by 2012.
About 36.7% of the people were White, and 49.1% were African American in 2010. About 16.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In 2010, about 27.4% of households had children under 18. About 34.7% were married couples. The average household had 2.44 people.
About 20.7% of residents were under 18 years old. The average age in Calvert was 38 years.
The median household income was $18,105. This means half of the households earned more than this, and half earned less. About 36.9% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included more than half of the children under 18.
Places to Visit in Calvert
- Calvert Historic District: This area has many old buildings that show the town's history.
- Katy Hamman-Stricker Women's Heritage Center: This is an old library and museum. It celebrates the work of the American Woman's League in Calvert.
Schools in Calvert
The schools in Calvert are part of the Calvert Independent School District.
Local News
The local news for Calvert is reported by the Robertson County News.
Photo gallery
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Downtown Calvert
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Downtown Calvert
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Downtown Calvert
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Masonic Lodge in Calvert, Texas
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Parrish House
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Old Calvert City Hall
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Barton Home
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Wiese Memorial Pavilion
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Famous People From Calvert
- Chalie Boy: A rapper.
- Tom Bradley: He was the Mayor of Los Angeles, California for many years.
- Rube Foster: A famous baseball player and manager. He helped start the Negro leagues.
- Tex McCrary: A radio personality who helped create the talk-show format.
- Joe Sneed: A U.S. federal judge.
- Reverend L.T. Thomas: A preacher and artist.
See also
In Spanish: Calvert (Texas) para niños
