Danevang, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Danevang, Texas
unincorporated community
Post Office
Danevang, Texas Location in Texas Show map of Texas Danevang, Texas Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Wharton
Elevation	69 ft (21 m)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	77432
Area code(s)	979
FIPS code	48-48481
GNIS feature ID	1355629

Danevang is a small, rural community in southern Wharton County, Texas. It's not an official city, but a group of homes and buildings. You can find Danevang south of El Campo along Highway 71. Even in 2013, the community's church was still an active place.

History of Danevang

Danevang was started in 1894. Most of its first residents were Danes who moved from the American Midwest. They received land from the Danish People's Society. The local Lutheran Church helped keep Danish culture alive. The name "Danevang" means "Danish Field."

A post office opened in 1895. The community grew for a while. But in the 1920s, people started moving away. Some even moved to Solvang, California. The main crops grown here were cotton and other farm products. Danevang also had a lending library for its residents.

Danish was the main language spoken. It was used for church and club meetings until 1971. Holidays like Christmas are still celebrated with Danish traditions. A fire insurance company began in 1897. Telephone service arrived in 1913. In 1920, the Danish Farmers' Cooperative Society was formed. This group helped farmers buy, sell, and process their goods.

In 1923, 97 Danish families lived in Danevang. Four years later, this number grew to over 500 people. However, the population then dropped to 125 by 1967. By 1980, only 60 people lived there. In 2000, the population was 61. In 1994, the community and its church celebrated their 100th anniversary. They had big parties with Danish food, clothing, and music.

An obelisk (a tall, thin monument) stands on the church's lawn. It tells the story of the community's good times and sad times. The gravestones in the local cemetery are almost all Danish. Danevang is known as the "Danish Capital of Texas."

Where is Danevang?

Danevang is located on Highway 71 at County Road 424. It is about 10.8 miles (17.4 km) south of El Campo. It's also about 8.5 miles (13.7 km) north of Midfield in Matagorda County.

Near this crossroads, you'll find the US post office. There are also several farm storage buildings and homes. The Danish Heritage Museum is about 1.0 mile (1.6 km) south. It's at the meeting point of Highway 71 and FM 441. The Danevang Lutheran Church is a short distance east of the museum. It's on County Road 426. Farmland surrounds the homes and buildings in the area. Danevang is also about 47 miles (76 km) south of Columbus. It's about 85 miles (137 km) southwest of Houston.

Danevang's Climate

The weather in Danevang has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Danevang has a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets a lot of rain and has warm temperatures.

Education in Danevang

Danevang's first school opened in 1895. Students there learned the Danish language and Danish history. Today, the El Campo Independent School District serves the community.

Famous People from Danevang

• Heinie Kirkgard, a football player, was born in Danevang.

Media and Weather Records

• KKHA is a radio station located in Danevang.

The National Weather Service chose L. Henningsen to be a "cooperative observer." This was the first weather station in Wharton County. It still keeps weather records today. Seven people have worked as meteorologists (weather scientists) here. Johanna Allenson was one of them, serving for 31 years. Each year, they record rainfall and temperatures. These records are stored in the local assembly hall.