Cherokee, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cherokee, Texas
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 Cherokee, Texas
Location in Texas
Cherokee, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | San Saba |
| Elevation | 1,496 ft (456 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 325 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1354343 |
Cherokee is a small community in San Saba County, Texas, United States. It's called an "unincorporated community" because it doesn't have its own local government like a city does. In 2000, about 175 people lived there.
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A Look Back: Cherokee's History
Cherokee got its name from a nearby creek, Cherokee Creek. The community started in the early 1850s. A man named P.P. "Pop" Woodard was one of the first settlers.
A post office opened in 1858. It moved a few times before settling in James Samuel Hart's store in 1879. The main town area was planned out by David Seth Hanna in 1878.
By the mid-1890s, about 500 people lived in Cherokee. The town had many businesses. In the 1920s, the population was around 250. There was a bank and two newspapers.
Cherokee never had a train connection. This meant it stayed a small town. The number of people living there stayed around 250 for most of the 20th century. By 1990, the population dropped to 175, and it was still that number in 2000. Farmers in the area raised sheep, poultry (like chickens), and pecans.
Cherokee Today
Today, Cherokee still has a post office. Its zip code is 76832. There's also a general store and a volunteer fire department.
Ranching and hunting are the main ways people make a living here. In the fall, hunting season brings in more money. This helps local businesses like feed stores, taxidermy shops, and restaurants.
Just north of town is the Cherokee Home for Children. This is a non-profit Christian home that cares for children.
Weather Events
On June 12, 2009, two tornadoes hit Cherokee. They caused some damage, knocking down tree limbs and snapping a few oak trees.
Where is Cherokee Located?
Cherokee is in southern San Saba County. It's found where State Highway 16 and RM 501 meet.
The community is about 15 miles south of San Saba. It's also about 18 miles north of Llano.
Cherokee's Climate
The weather in Cherokee has hot, humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool.
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Cherokee has a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets plenty of rain and has warm temperatures for most of the year. On climate maps, this is shown as Cfa.
People from Cherokee
Some interesting people have connections to Cherokee:
- Kelcy Warren: He is a businessman who owns a ranch in Cherokee.
- Dan Kuykendall: He was born in Cherokee. He later became a U.S. Representative for Tennessee.
- Ronnie Floyd: He was a pastor at the local First Baptist Church from 1976 to 1978.
Learning in Cherokee: Education
Cherokee became a center for higher education in 1894. That's when Francis Marion Behrns started the Cherokee Academy. Two years later, its name changed to West Texas Normal and Business College.
In 1911, a building from this college was bought to become Cherokee Junior College. Then, in 1921, it was sold to the county school district. It became the high school.
The main building of Cherokee High School was destroyed by a fire in 1945. It was rebuilt using the original front part of the building.
Today, public education in Cherokee is provided by the Cherokee Independent School District. The district has one school, Cherokee School. This school teaches students from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade.
Images for kids
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A view of the town of Cherokee, Texas.
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Some buildings in Cherokee, Texas.
