Commerce, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Commerce, Texas
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View of the East Texas A&M University campus
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| Nickname(s):
"The 'Merce"
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Location of Commerce, Texas
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| County | Hunt |
| Region | Texas Blackland Prairies |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.41 sq mi (21.77 km2) |
| • Land | 8.33 sq mi (21.58 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.19 km2) |
| Elevation | 535 ft (163 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 9,090 |
| • Density | 1,080.85/sq mi (417.54/km2) |
| Demonym(s) | Commercite |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
75428-75429
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| Area code(s) | 903, 430 |
| FIPS code | 48-16240 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410211 |
Commerce is a city in Hunt County, Texas, United States. It is located in a special area of Texas called the Texas Blackland Prairies. The city is about 45 miles south of the Texas/Oklahoma border.
Commerce is the second-largest city in Hunt County. In 2020, about 9,090 people lived there. The city is also home to East Texas A&M University. This is a four-year university with over 12,000 students. The university has been in Commerce since 1894. Commerce is one of the smaller cities in Texas that has a large university. These are often called "college towns."
Contents
History
The city of Commerce started when two merchants, William Jernigan and Josiah Jackson, set up a trading post and store. This was in the area that is now downtown Commerce. The land nearby was an open field known as Cow Hill.
The town was officially started in 1872. It was named "Commerce" because there was a lot of business happening. The area had rich farmland for cotton and ranches. In 1885, Commerce became an official city.
Two years later, a railroad was built through Commerce. This helped move goods from Fort Worth. In 1894, a college educator named William L. Mayo moved East Texas Normal College to Commerce. The college had burned down in Cooper. This college is now known as East Texas A&M University.
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The Texas government named Commerce the "Bois d'Arc Capital of Texas." (It's pronounced "bow-dark.") This is because many bois d'arc trees grow naturally in this area. These trees were very important in the past. Native Americans used them to build things and make weapons.
Every September, Commerce holds the annual Bois d'Arc Bash. This festival celebrates these native trees. The Bash has arts and crafts, food, a parade, games for kids, music, and a car show.
Geography
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Commerce is in the northeastern part of Hunt County. It is about 66 miles northeast of Dallas. It is also near other cities like Sherman, Paris, and Sulphur Springs. Greenville, the main city of Hunt County, is about 15 miles southwest.
Commerce has a total area of about 8.4 square miles (21.7 square kilometers). Most of this is land, and a small part is water. The Middle Sulphur River flows north of Commerce. This river is part of the larger Red River system.
Climate
Commerce has a humid subtropical climate. This means the weather changes a lot during the year. Summers are hot, humid, and dry. Spring temperatures are often above average. Fall and winter are cooler, and it can feel colder because of the wind on the open prairie.
Spring is also the main storm season. Thunderstorms are very common, and tornadoes can sometimes form in the area.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 810 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,800 | 122.2% | |
| 1910 | 2,818 | 56.6% | |
| 1920 | 3,842 | 36.3% | |
| 1930 | 4,267 | 11.1% | |
| 1940 | 4,699 | 10.1% | |
| 1950 | 5,889 | 25.3% | |
| 1960 | 5,789 | −1.7% | |
| 1970 | 9,534 | 64.7% | |
| 1980 | 8,136 | −14.7% | |
| 1990 | 6,825 | −16.1% | |
| 2000 | 7,669 | 12.4% | |
| 2010 | 8,078 | 5.3% | |
| 2020 | 9,090 | 12.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 9,467 | 17.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 4,518 | 49.7% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 2,482 | 27.3% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 91 | 1.0% |
| Asian (NH) | 254 | 2.79% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 67 | 0.74% |
| Some other race (NH) | 41 | 0.45% |
| Mixed/multi-racial (NH) | 651 | 7.16% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 986 | 10.85% |
| Total | 9,090 |
In 2020, there were 9,090 people living in Commerce. About 18.9% of the people were under 18 years old. About 8.1% of the people were 65 years old or older. The average age in Commerce was 23.9 years.
The average income for a household in the city was about $34,946. About 32.1% of the people lived below the poverty line.
Economy
Commerce is a college town in a rural area. Its economy has grown steadily over the years. Many new businesses have opened, and old ones have been updated. Most of the bigger businesses are connected to the university. The number of university students is actually larger than the town's population.
The downtown area is about one mile from the university. It is a busy place for town events. Downtown has places to eat, shops, offices, and banks.
Healthcare
Commerce has a hospital called Hunt Regional Medical Center. It is an emergency and trauma center. The main hospital is in nearby Greenville. Commerce also has several doctors' offices, a chiropractor, and dental offices.
Employment
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Many people in Commerce work for the university. Other large employers include Walmart and the local school district.
| # | Employer | # of employees |
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| 1 | East Texas A&M University | 900 |
| 2 | Walmart | 251 |
| 3 | Commerce ISD | 250 |
| 4 | Legacy Housing | 178 |
| 5 | City of Commerce | 85 |
| 6 | Ben E. Keith Company | 84 |
Education
Primary and secondary education
The city's public schools are part of the Commerce Independent School District (CISD). CISD has these schools:
- Commerce Elementary (Pre-K–2nd grade)
- AC Williams Elementary (3rd–5th grade)
- Commerce Middle School (6th–8th grade)
- Commerce High School (9th–12th grade)
Post-secondary education
Commerce is home to East Texas A&M University. This is a fully accredited university. It offers over 100 different study programs. About 12,302 students attend, with 7,808 undergraduate students and 4,494 graduate students.
East Texas A&M was founded in 1889. It first started in Cooper, Texas. But it moved to Commerce in 1894 after a fire. The university is ranked highly for teaching education. It also has a highly ranked graduate school. It is the fifth longest-running university in Texas.
Students in Hunt County, including Commerce, can also attend Paris Junior College. This college has campuses in Paris, Greenville, and Sulphur Springs.
Sports
High school sports
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Commerce High School is the only high school in the city. Their sports teams are called the Commerce Tigers. They compete in the 3A level of UIL sports.
The Tigers play many sports, including football, volleyball, basketball, softball, baseball, track and field, cross country, powerlifting, tennis, and golf. The football team has won two state championships, in 1999 and 2001.
Collegiate sports
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The East Texas A&M Lions are the sports teams for East Texas A&M University. They compete in NCAA Division I sports. They are part of the Southland Conference.
The Lions play football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball, golf, track and field, and cross country. Football is very popular in Commerce. Over 6,000 fans often come to watch the Lions play.
The East Texas A&M Lions have won many conference titles. They have also won six national titles. These include men's basketball (1954–1955), men's golf (1965), football (1972, 2017), and men's tennis (1972, 1978).
Starting in 2022, the university's sports programs began moving to NCAA Division I. They joined the Southland Conference on July 1, 2022.
Media
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KETR is the radio station for Commerce and the surrounding area. It started in 1975 at the A&M-Commerce campus. KETR is a powerful radio station that can reach up to 75 miles away. Its frequency is 88.9 FM, which honors the year 1889 when the university was founded.
The station provides news, music, and sports. It also broadcasts Commerce High School football games. You can also hear East Texas A&M Lions football and basketball games on KETR.
Commerce residents can read three newspapers: The Dallas Morning News, The Greenville Herald-Banner, and the Commerce Journal. East Texas A&M University also has its own student newspaper, The East Texan.
Attractions
Northeast Texas Children's Museum
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Commerce is home to the Northeast Texas Children's Museum. This museum offers fun and creative learning for children. It has many hands-on exhibits and programs. These are great for kids aged 2 to 10. Many schools from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and Northeast Texas visit the museum.
Jim Chapman Lake
Jim Chapman Lake (also known as Cooper Lake) is about 25 minutes east of Commerce. It is located between Cooper and Sulphur Springs. At the lake, you can go boating, swimming, and fishing.
Cooper Lake State Park is on the north side of the lake. The park has picnic areas, campgrounds, and a large swimming area. It also has trails for hiking and horseback riding.
Transportation
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Commerce is served by several highways:
Texas State Highway 11 – This road goes east and west through Commerce. It connects to Sulphur Springs and Winnsboro to the east. To the west, it connects to Wolfe City and Sherman.
Texas State Highway 24 – This is a main road that goes north and south through Commerce and the university. It connects to Campbell and Interstate 30 to the south. To the north, it connects to Cooper and Paris. Many of Commerce's main businesses are along Highway 24.
Texas State Highway 50 – This highway serves the northwest part of Commerce, near the airport. It connects to Ladonia to the north.
Texas State Highway 224 – This road connects Commerce directly to Greenville. These are the two largest cities in Hunt County.
Texas State Highway Loop 178 – This road forms a semi-circle around Commerce.
Texas Farm to Market Road 71 – This road serves the rural area northeast of Commerce.
Texas Farm to Market Road 2874 – This road goes into some rural parts of Hunt County.
Texas Farm to Market Road 3218 – This road serves the southeast area of Commerce. It passes by some Commerce ISD schools.
Business 224 – This is a business route of Highway 224 that goes through downtown Commerce.
Business 11 – This is a business route of Highway 11 that goes through Commerce.
Commerce also has its own airport, the Commerce Municipal Airport.
Public transportation called "The Connection" serves Commerce and all of Hunt County. It runs Monday through Friday. You need to make a reservation one day in advance. The cost is $2 for travel within the same city and $3 for travel between cities in Hunt County.
Notable landmark
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The most famous building in Commerce is Samuel H. Whitley Hall. It is a 12-story building on the East Texas A&M campus. It is the tallest building between Dallas and Texarkana. The building is named after Samuel Whitley, a former university president. It is about 146 feet tall and is a dormitory for new students.
Notable people
- George C. Butte, a politician who ran for governor of Texas.
- Claire Chennault, a World War II Lieutenant General in the Army Air Corps.
- Ben Kweller, a rock musician who wrote a song called "Commerce, TX."
- Larry Lemanski, a director at a research institute at Texas A&M-Commerce.
- Samuel T. Rayburn, who graduated from East Texas Normal College and became Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
- Wade Wilson, a former NFL quarterback and coach for the Dallas Cowboys.
Images for kids
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Commerce's Federal Building in 1920
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See also
In Spanish: Commerce (Texas) para niños
