Gilmer, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gilmer, Texas
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Buffalo Street in Gilmer
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| Motto(s):
"Finding the Way"
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Location of Gilmer in Texas
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Texas | |
| County | Upshur | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 3.80 sq mi (9.84 km2) | |
| • Land | 3.79 sq mi (9.82 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) | |
| Elevation | 358 ft (109 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,843 | |
| • Density | 1,356.99/sq mi (523.90/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP Codes |
75644-75645
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| Area code(s) | 903, 430 | |
| FIPS code | 48-29564 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410590 | |
Gilmer is a city in Texas, USA. It is the main town, or county seat, of Upshur County. Gilmer is famous for its fun East Texas Yamboree festival. It's also the hometown of famous musicians like Don Henley from the Eagles, Johnny Mathis, and blues legend Freddie King. In 2020, about 4,843 people lived in Gilmer.
Contents
History of Gilmer
Gilmer was started in 1846. It was named after Thomas Walker Gilmer, who used to be a very important person called the Secretary of the Navy for the United States.
The city is located on a very old path called the Old Cherokee Trace. This trail was used by the Cherokee Native Americans when they traveled. Even today, you can sometimes find old arrowheads and other items from Native American history in the area. Sam Houston, a famous Texan, also traveled this trail when he lived with the Cherokee people.
Gilmer's first location was near a creek, but it often flooded. So, the people decided to move the city to a new, safer spot.
Geography and Climate
The city of Gilmer covers about 4.6 square miles (12.0 square kilometers) of land.
Just four miles west of Gilmer, you'll find Lake Gilmer. This lake opened in 2001 and is a great spot for outdoor activities.
Gilmer is located in a larger area of East Texas known for its many trees, especially pine trees. This area is called the East Texas Piney Woods.
Gilmer's Climate
The weather in Gilmer usually has hot and humid summers. The winters are generally mild, meaning they are not too cold. According to climate experts, Gilmer has a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets a good amount of rain throughout the year.
| Climate data for Gilmer, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1929–2012) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 85 (29) |
90 (32) |
91 (33) |
97 (36) |
100 (38) |
109 (43) |
110 (43) |
114 (46) |
111 (44) |
98 (37) |
88 (31) |
85 (29) |
114 (46) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 55.6 (13.1) |
60.2 (15.7) |
67.0 (19.4) |
74.5 (23.6) |
81.6 (27.6) |
88.6 (31.4) |
92.6 (33.7) |
92.2 (33.4) |
87.4 (30.8) |
77.2 (25.1) |
65.5 (18.6) |
57.4 (14.1) |
75.0 (23.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 44.1 (6.7) |
47.7 (8.7) |
54.8 (12.7) |
61.9 (16.6) |
70.4 (21.3) |
77.9 (25.5) |
81.5 (27.5) |
80.8 (27.1) |
74.8 (23.8) |
64.3 (17.9) |
53.3 (11.8) |
45.7 (7.6) |
63.1 (17.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 32.7 (0.4) |
35.2 (1.8) |
42.6 (5.9) |
49.3 (9.6) |
59.3 (15.2) |
67.2 (19.6) |
70.5 (21.4) |
69.4 (20.8) |
62.2 (16.8) |
51.4 (10.8) |
41.2 (5.1) |
34.0 (1.1) |
51.3 (10.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −4 (−20) |
−3 (−19) |
12 (−11) |
25 (−4) |
36 (2) |
46 (8) |
50 (10) |
47 (8) |
36 (2) |
23 (−5) |
13 (−11) |
−4 (−20) |
−4 (−20) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.76 (96) |
4.09 (104) |
4.22 (107) |
4.66 (118) |
4.49 (114) |
4.07 (103) |
3.05 (77) |
3.01 (76) |
3.68 (93) |
4.57 (116) |
3.81 (97) |
4.51 (115) |
47.92 (1,217) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.6 (1.5) |
0.7 (1.8) |
0.2 (0.51) |
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) |
1.5 (3.8) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.9 | 7.3 | 7.9 | 6.1 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 6.9 | 8.0 | 80.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Gilmer
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 386 | — | |
| 1890 | 591 | 53.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,484 | — | |
| 1920 | 2,268 | 52.8% | |
| 1930 | 1,963 | −13.4% | |
| 1940 | 3,138 | 59.9% | |
| 1950 | 4,096 | 30.5% | |
| 1960 | 4,312 | 5.3% | |
| 1970 | 4,196 | −2.7% | |
| 1980 | 5,167 | 23.1% | |
| 1990 | 4,822 | −6.7% | |
| 2000 | 4,799 | −0.5% | |
| 2010 | 4,905 | 2.2% | |
| 2020 | 4,843 | −1.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Gilmer had a population of 4,843 people. The city is home to a mix of different backgrounds.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 3,241 | 66.92% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 757 | 15.63% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 18 | 0.37% |
| Asian (NH) | 38 | 0.78% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 4 | 0.08% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 10 | 0.21% |
| Mixed/multiracial (NH) | 261 | 5.39% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 514 | 10.61% |
| Total | 4,843 |
In 2020, there were 1,778 households in Gilmer.
Famous People from Gilmer
Many talented people have come from Gilmer. Here are a few:
Music Stars
- Don Henley: A singer and songwriter who won many awards. He is a founding member of the famous band The Eagles.
- Freddie King: A legendary guitarist and singer known for his blues music. He is in both the Blues Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- Johnny Mathis: A singer who has sold millions of records. He is known for popular music and classic songs. He received a special Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Jason Sellers: A country music singer and songwriter.
- Michelle Shocked: A folk singer and songwriter.
Sports Heroes
- Kris Boyd: A football player who plays defensive back for the Minnesota Vikings.
- Curtis Brown: A former defensive back who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Gus Johnson: A former running back in the NFL.
- Manuel Johnson: A former wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys.
- G. J. Kinne: A quarterback who played in the NFL and the Canadian Football League.
- Kenny Pettway: A linebacker who played for the Edmonton Eskimos.
- David Snow: An offensive lineman who played for the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Jeff Traylor: The head football coach for UTSA.
- Louis Wright: A former cornerback for the Denver Broncos, known for being a top player four times.
Other Notable People
- David Abner: An African-American Republican state representative in the 1870s. He was brought to Upshur County as a slave.
- Charles F. Baird: A former judge in Texas. He is the only judge in Texas history to clear the name of someone who had passed away. He worked to improve the justice system.
- Robert N. McClelland: A surgeon who helped John F. Kennedy at Parkland Hospital in Dallas on the day of his assassination.
- Harold Moss: The first African-American mayor of Tacoma, Washington.
- Thomas F. Proctor: A trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses. He won a big race called the Breeders' Cup Distaff in 1994.
- Robert L. Stephens: A pilot who set many records as a test pilot.
Education in Gilmer
Students in Gilmer attend schools that are part of the Gilmer Independent School District.
See also
In Spanish: Gilmer (Texas) para niños
