Carthage, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carthage, Texas
City
City of Carthage
The historic Hawthorn-Clabaugh-Patterson House is now used for offices of the Carthage Chamber of Commerce.
Motto(s):  "Country at its best!"
Location of Carthage, Texas
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Panola
Area
• Total	10.68 sq mi (27.67 km2)
• Land	10.66 sq mi (27.61 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation	312 ft (95 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	6,779
• Estimate  (2019)	6,431
• Density	603.28/sq mi (232.92/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	75633
Area code(s)	903 Exchanges: 265.690,693,694
FIPS code	48-13108
GNIS feature ID	1353900

Carthage is a city and the county seat of Panola County, Texas, United States. This city is situated in East Texas, 150 miles (240 km) southeast of Dallas and near the Louisiana state line. Its population was 6,569 at the 2020 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Carthage has a total area of 10.5 square miles (27 km²), of which 10.5 square miles (27 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) (0.4%) is water.

Demographics

Federal Building/US Post Office in downtown Carthage

As of the census of 2010, 6,779 people, 2,628 households, and 1,745 families resided in the city. The population density was 645.6 people per mi² (249.2/km²). The 2,909 housing units averaged 277.0 per mi² (106.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.5% White, 21.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 6.5% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 11.0% of the population.

Of the 2,628 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were not families. About 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city, the age distribution was 24.6% under 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.

As of the 2000 Census, the median income for a household in the city was $31,822, and for a family was $37,031. Males had a median income of $33,080 versus $21,473 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,332. About 11.8% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.

Points of interest

The Texas Country Music Hall of Fame is located in Carthage, which also houses the Tex Ritter museum. The Jim Reeves Memorial is located just on the outskirts of Carthage, east on U.S. 79. Reeves and Ritter were from the nearby unincorporated communities of Galloway and Murvaul, respectively.

The old Panola County Jail Museum is located on North Shelby Street.

Panola County Heritage Museum is located at 100 East Sabine Street across from the gazebo in downtown Anderson Park.

Lake Murvaul is fifteen miles west of Carthage on Murvaul Bayou.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Carthage has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Education

First State Bank and Trust Company in downtown Carthage

The City of Carthage services the Carthage Independent School District as well as the two-year community college of Panola College located adjacent Carthage City Hall.

Notable people

Anderson Park is located in the center of downtown Carthage.

• Jacke Davis was an American professional baseball outfielder, who spent eight seasons in professional baseball, including part of one season in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Philadelphia Phillies
• Milton M. Holland was born the son of a slave owner but became the first native Texan to be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm
• Philip Humber is an American former professional baseball who pitched for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, and the Houston Astros in seven MLB seasons. On April 21, 2012 against Seattle Mariners Philip Humber pitched a perfect game for Chicago White Sox

Historical marker commemorating Colored Town, a black business section that had its prime from 1940-1965, from East Panola to Live Oak streets

• Mildred Fay Jefferson was the first American black woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School; as well as being former president and founding member of the National Right to Life Committee
• Derek Wayne Johnson is an American film director, screenwriter, film producer and 3rd Level Black Belt in the art of American Karate inducted into the AMAA Who's Who in the Martial Arts Hall of Fame alongside Chuck Norris, Benny Urquidez and other influential martial artists
• Margie Neal was a newspaper publisher and first American woman elected to Texas State Senate in 1926 A Texas Historical Marker in the center of town recognizes her achievements.
• Jim Reeves was an American country and popular music singer-songwriter, with records charting from 1950s to 1980s known as "Gentleman Jim"
• Brandon Rhyder is an American Texas Country/Red Dirt singer, graduated from the University of Texas at Tyler with a degree in Industrial Technology
• Tex Ritter was an American actor from the mid 1930s into the 1960s, as well as a pioneer of American country music
• Jack Boynton Strong was an American politician and lawyer who served as a Democrat in the Texas Senate between 1963 and 1971, and then served on the Texas Board of Education from 1971 to 1979

Images for kids

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  Carthage welcome sign

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  Central Baptist Church in downtown Carthage

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  The Esquire Theater in Carthage hosts Country music on Saturday evenings.