Corsicana, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Corsicana, Texas
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Downtown Corsicana Texas
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| Nickname(s):
"903 Can, Tx "
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| Motto(s):
"Live, work, play!"
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Location within Navarro County and Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Navarro |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 24.00 sq mi (62.17 km2) |
| • Land | 22.98 sq mi (59.53 km2) |
| • Water | 1.02 sq mi (2.64 km2) |
| Elevation | 423 ft (129 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 25,109 |
| • Density | 1,046.21/sq mi (403.88/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
75109, 75110, 75151
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| Area code(s) | 903/430 |
| FIPS code | 48-17060 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410235 |
| Website | cityofcorsicana.com |
Corsicana is a city in Navarro County, Texas, United States. It is also the county seat, which means it's the main town where the county government is located. Corsicana is about 50 miles southeast of Dallas. In 2020, about 25,109 people lived there. It is known as an important center for farming businesses.
Contents
History of Corsicana
How Corsicana Got Its Name
Corsicana was founded in 1848. It was named by José Antonio Navarro after the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea. This island was the birthplace of his father. The first school in Corsicana opened soon after, in 1849.
Women's Role in Early Corsicana
Women's groups played a big part in the city's history. They started the Corsicana Female Literary Institute, a school that ran from 1857 to 1870. The city's first public library opened in 1901 thanks to these women's clubs. In 1905, a gift from Andrew Carnegie helped the library get a permanent home. Today, the library has many books and other materials.
YMCA and Early Supporters
The Corsicana YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) was started in 1884. It grew with help from people like George Taylor Jester. He was a rich businessman and politician. His son, Beauford H. Jester, later became the governor of Texas.
The Discovery of Oil
Oil was found by accident in June 1894. A company was drilling a water well when oil started to seep out. This happened right inside the city! In 1895, the first oil well was drilled for business. This was the first important oil discovery in Texas. A refinery, which processes oil, started working in 1899. Later, in 1900, the Powell oil field was found nearby. New ways of drilling for oil were also developed here.
Corsicana During World War II
During World War II, Corsicana had an airman flying school. Thousands of pilots were trained at Corsicana Air Field.
Geography and Climate
Where is Corsicana Located?
Corsicana covers about 21.7 square miles, with about 1 square mile covered by water. The city is home to Lake Halbert, which has a dam and a park for fun activities.
Nearby Lakes and Nature
Corsicana is also close to Richland Chambers Reservoir. This large lake is great for fishing and boating. It has about 330 miles of beautiful shorelines. Richland Chambers Reservoir is one of the biggest lakes in Texas.
Corsicana's Climate
Corsicana has a warm and humid climate. The average temperatures range from cool in winter (around 34-55°F) to hot in summer (around 73-95°F).
The city gets about 42 inches of rain each year. This helps many trees like oak, pecan, magnolia, and walnut grow tall and green. Rain falls fairly evenly throughout the year, with a bit more in May and October.
| Climate data for Corsicana, TX 1991–2020, extremes 1893–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 89 (32) |
96 (36) |
95 (35) |
99 (37) |
104 (40) |
108 (42) |
113 (45) |
112 (44) |
112 (44) |
101 (38) |
91 (33) |
90 (32) |
113 (45) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 57.7 (14.3) |
62.0 (16.7) |
68.7 (20.4) |
76.1 (24.5) |
83.0 (28.3) |
90.5 (32.5) |
94.9 (34.9) |
96.0 (35.6) |
90.0 (32.2) |
79.5 (26.4) |
67.7 (19.8) |
59.9 (15.5) |
77.4 (25.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 35.2 (1.8) |
39.3 (4.1) |
46.1 (7.8) |
53.0 (11.7) |
62.9 (17.2) |
70.7 (21.5) |
74.0 (23.3) |
73.6 (23.1) |
66.6 (19.2) |
55.1 (12.8) |
45.0 (7.2) |
37.6 (3.1) |
55.2 (12.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −5 (−21) |
−4 (−20) |
12 (−11) |
29 (−2) |
31 (−1) |
41 (5) |
56 (13) |
53 (12) |
41 (5) |
27 (−3) |
19 (−7) |
−1 (−18) |
−5 (−21) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.08 (78) |
3.27 (83) |
4.00 (102) |
4.03 (102) |
4.28 (109) |
3.77 (96) |
2.11 (54) |
2.48 (63) |
3.35 (85) |
4.99 (127) |
3.20 (81) |
3.67 (93) |
42.23 (1,073) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.4 (1.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
trace | 0.7 (1.8) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 82 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Source: NWS Nowdata for Corsicana (Dallas/Fort Worth Area) | |||||||||||||
People of Corsicana
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 80 | — | |
| 1880 | 3,373 | 4,116.3% | |
| 1890 | 6,285 | 86.3% | |
| 1900 | 9,313 | 48.2% | |
| 1910 | 9,749 | 4.7% | |
| 1920 | 11,356 | 16.5% | |
| 1930 | 15,202 | 33.9% | |
| 1940 | 15,232 | 0.2% | |
| 1950 | 19,211 | 26.1% | |
| 1960 | 20,344 | 5.9% | |
| 1970 | 19,972 | −1.8% | |
| 1980 | 21,712 | 8.7% | |
| 1990 | 22,911 | 5.5% | |
| 2000 | 24,485 | 6.9% | |
| 2010 | 23,770 | −2.9% | |
| 2020 | 25,109 | 5.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population Overview
In 2020, Corsicana had 25,109 residents. There were 8,051 households and 5,643 families living in the city. The population has grown steadily over the years, as you can see in the chart.
Diversity in Corsicana
Corsicana is a diverse city. In 2020, about 38.78% of the people were White (not Hispanic). About 19.04% were Black or African American (not Hispanic). A large part of the population, 35.19%, identified as Hispanic or Latino. There are also smaller groups of Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander, and multiracial residents.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (NH) | 9,738 | 38.78% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 4,782 | 19.04% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 47 | 0.19% |
| Asian (NH) | 245 | 0.98% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 664 | 2.64% |
| Some other race (NH) | 80 | 0.32% |
| Mixed/multiracial (NH) | 717 | 2.86% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8,836 | 35.19% |
| Total | 25,109 |
Arts and Entertainment
Downtown Arts Scene
Corsicana's downtown area is full of art and fun. You can find live theater, art shows, and music performances all year. The Warehouse Living Arts Center and the Palace Theater are popular spots. Since 2018, there's even an art contest!
Historic Buildings and Shops
Downtown also has the historic State National Bank building, built in 1926. You can visit coffee shops, restaurants, and an art gallery. Many old brick buildings add to the charm.
Parks and Recreation
A green park near the county courthouse has winding creeks and trails for walking, jogging, and biking. There are also lighted tennis courts, a playground with a retired fire truck, a spray park, and a skate area. The local YMCA has an indoor pool, basketball courts, and fitness classes.
Local Museums
Corsicana has several museums. Pioneer Village, near Jester Park, shows old buildings and items from the area's early days. There's also a museum dedicated to Lefty Frizzell, a famous country singer who was born in Corsicana.
Cook Education Center
The Cook Education Center is on the Navarro College campus. It has a planetarium, which is one of the biggest in Texas. It has a 60-foot dome and 200 seats, showing amazing space shows. The center also has the Pearce Collections Museum. This museum displays items from the Civil War and Western art.
Economy and Businesses
Historic Industries
Corsicana has a long history of interesting businesses. Oil City Iron Works, Inc. started in 1866, making parts for cotton gins. Wolf Brand Chili, a famous national brand, began in 1895 as a small lunch wagon downtown. It was made in Corsicana until 1986. Corsicana is also well-known as the home of the Collin Street Bakery, which has been making delicious fruitcakes since 1896.
Modern Economy
Today, Corsicana's economy is diverse. Major employers include Russell Stover Candies and Collin Street Bakery. Other big companies are Guardian Industries (which makes glass), Corsicana Bedding, and Kohl's distribution centers. The city also has Navarro Regional Hospital and the Texas State Home. You can find many pharmacies, grocery stores, and department stores. College Park Mall is a shopping center with various stores.
Video Game History
Corsicana was once home to Tradewest, a video game company founded in 1986. They were known for publishing popular games like "Double Dragon" and "Battletoads" for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The company later became part of Midway Games, but its Corsicana offices closed in 2002.
Education in Corsicana
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Corsicana is home to Navarro College. Students can earn associate degrees here. It also works with Texas A&M University-Commerce, so students can get bachelor's and graduate degrees. Navarro College became very famous in 2020 because of its amazing coed cheerleading team. They were featured in the Netflix show Cheer. The show followed the team as they prepared for national championships. The cheerleading coach, Monica Aldama, has led the team to many championships since 2000.
Public Schools
The Corsicana Independent School District (CISD) has over 6,500 students. Several CISD schools have been recognized for their quality by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). These include Bowie, Fannin, Carroll, and Navarro Elementary Schools, and Drane Intermediate School. Collins Middle School and Corsicana High School have also met academic standards.
Private School Options
Corsicana also has one private school, James L. Collins Catholic School. It serves students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The school was founded in 1953 and currently has about 270 students.
Notable People from Corsicana
- Monica Aldama, cheerleading coach
- Aaron Allston, science-fiction novelist
- Maceo Baston, professional basketball player
- Mary Brian, silent film era movie star
- Danny Colbert, football player
- Cottrell Laurence Dellums, civil rights organizer
- Lefty Frizzell, Country Music Hall of Fame singer
- Tyree Glenn, trombone player
- Allyn Gordon, watercolor artist
- John Hardee, jazz saxophonist
- Julie Haus, fashion designer
- Skip Hicks, former NFL running back
- Omarius Hines, NFL wide receiver
- V. E. Howard, Church of Christ clergyman
- Herschel Ray Jacobs, American Football player
- Beauford Jester, governor of Texas
- Wesley Johnson, basketball player in the NBA
- John Larry Kelly, Jr., scientist and mathematician
- Danzell Lee, football player
- Danieal Manning, NFL defensive back
- Roger Q. Mills, U.S. Senator and Congressional Representative
- James C. Neill, soldier in the Texas Revolution
- David "Fathead" Newman, jazz saxophonist
- Shirlene Pearson, reality TV star
- Billy Joe Shaver, Texas Country Music Hall of Fame singer
- Martha Simkins, painter
- Spice 1, rapper
- Herold J. Weiler, United States Army officer
Images for kids
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Maceo Demond Baston
See also
In Spanish: Corsicana para niños
