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Granbury, Texas
Hood County Courthouse in 2018
Location of Granbury, Texas
Location of Granbury, Texas
Country  United States
State  Texas
County Hood
Area
 • Total 16.97 sq mi (43.95 km2)
 • Land 16.18 sq mi (41.92 km2)
 • Water 0.79 sq mi (2.03 km2)
Elevation
735 ft (224 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 10,958
 • Density 645.73/sq mi (249.33/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
76048-76049
Area code(s) 817
FIPS code 48-30416
GNIS feature ID 1336797

Granbury is a city in and the county seat of Hood County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 10,958, and it is the principal city of the Granbury micropolitan statistical area. Granbury is named after Confederate General Hiram B. Granbury.

Granbury started as a square and log cabin courthouse. Many of the buildings on the square are now registered historic landmarks, including the Granbury Opera House, which still hosts "Broadway" productions. The city name originated from the Confederate General Hiram B. Granberry. To explain why the city name is spelled differently, some scholars believe the name Granberry was misread on a document. Still, recent findings have concluded that Granberry chose to spell his name Granbury.

A recent expansion of the city was made possible by building a Brazos River dam in 1969, which formed Lake Granbury, a long, narrow lake that flows through the city.

Granbury and Hood County are rich in Texas history. David (Davy) Crockett's wife, Elizabeth, settled in Hood County in 1853 following the Texas Revolution against Mexico. Crockett, as well as other Alamo participants, received 640 acres in land grants. The Crockett family received land in what is now Hood County. Elizabeth Crockett is buried in Acton State Historic Site, the smallest state park in Texas. A large statue of Elizabeth Crockett marks her gravesite. Several of Crockett's descendants still reside in Hood County.

History

Founded in 1887, Granbury started as a square and log cabin court house. Many of the buildings on the square are now registered historic landmarks, including the Granbury Opera House, which still hosts Broadway productions. The city name originated from the Confederate General Hiram B. Granberry. Some scholars, to explain why the city name is spelled differently, believe the name Granberry was misread on a document, but recent findings have concluded that Granberry chose to spell his name Granbury. Recent expansion of the city was made possible by the damming of the Brazos River in 1969, which formed Lake Granbury, a long, narrow lake which flows through the city.

Granbury and Hood County are rich in Texas history. David (Davy) Crockett's wife, Elizabeth, settled in Hood County in 1853 following the Texas Revolution against Mexico. Crockett, as well as other Alamo participants, received 640 acres in land grants. The Crockett family received land in what is now Hood County. Elizabeth Crockett is buried in Acton State Historic Site, the smallest state park in Texas. A large statue of Elizabeth Crockett marks her grave site. Several of Crockett's descendants still reside in Hood County.

John Wilkes Booth, according to Granbury legend, moved to Hood County and assumed the name of John St. Helen. A store on the historic town square, St. Helen's, is named after him.

2013 tornado

On May 15, 2013, a tornado with a preliminary rating of EF4 struck Granbury leaving six confirmed deaths and at least 100 homes damaged. Additionally, approximately 48 persons injured by the twister were treated at Lake Granbury Medical Center.

Geography

Granbury is located at 32°26′31″N 97°46′53″W / 32.44194°N 97.78139°W / 32.44194; -97.78139 (32.441978, −97.781383). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.994 square miles (36.24 km2), of which, 13.386 square miles (34.67 km2) of it is land and 0.608 square miles (1.57 km2) of it (4.34%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 524
1890 1,164 122.1%
1900 1,410 21.1%
1910 1,336 −5.2%
1920 1,364 2.1%
1930 996 −27.0%
1940 1,166 17.1%
1950 1,683 44.3%
1960 2,227 32.3%
1970 2,473 11.0%
1980 3,332 34.7%
1990 4,045 21.4%
2000 5,718 41.4%
2010 7,978 39.5%
2020 10,958 37.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2010, 7,978 people, 3,559 households, and 1,927 families were residing in the city. The population density was 619.1 people/sq mi (239.0/km2). The4,419 housing units averaged 342.9/sq mi (132.4/km2). The city's racial makeup was 93.75% White, 0.71% African American, 0.71% Native American, 1.14% Asian or Pacific Islander, 2.11% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8.57% of the population.

Granbury Town Square
Stores lining the town square at sunset

Of the 3,559 households, 27.0% had children under 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were not families. About 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.20, and the average family size was 2.83. In the city, the age distribution was 21.0% under 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 23.4% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,952, and for a family was $45,451. Males had a median income of $34,625 versus $25,721 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,801. About 5.0% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Granbury is served by Granbury Regional Airport (GDJ). The neighborhood of Pecan Plantation has a municipal airport (PCP). It operates only recreational flights.

The Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway, building towards Brownwood from Fort Worth, reached Granbury in 1887. In the 20th century, the line was owned successively by the Frisco Railway, the Santa Fe Railway, and the South Orient Railroad before being acquired by the Fort Worth and Western Railroad in 1999.

Gallery

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Granbury has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.



Education

Granbury Opera House at Twilight
The restored Granbury Opera House adorned with patriotic decorations during the 2014 Fourth of July festival

The Granbury Independent School District consists of 21 campuses. They include Granbury High School, STARS Academy, Behavior Transition Center, Granbury Middle School, Acton Middle School, Mambrino STEAM Academy, Brawner Intermediate, Oak Woods Elementary, Acton Elementary, Nettie Baccus Elementary, and Emma Roberson Elementary. Granbury has been a 5A district since 2008. Also, a Happy Hill Farm Academy home is in the district. In 1999, boys' soccer won the 4A state championship in Texas.

Notable people

  • Brian Birdwell, Texas State Senator, assumed this office in a special election in June 2010; he is survivor of the attack on the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, on September 11, 2001
  • Cynthia Brants, artist and member of the Fort Worth Circle
  • Bill Garrett, former PGA Tour golfer
  • Peter Mayhew, British actor who played Chewbacca in the Star Wars films; formerly lived in Granbury
  • Andy Parker, founding drummer of the English rock group UFO; resides in Granbury
  • Jia Perkins, San Antonio Silver Stars basketball player
  • Johnny Perkins, New York Giants professional football player; attended Granbury High School
  • Nellie Gray Robertson, first female county attorney in Texas; born in Granbury and elected Hood County attorney in 1918
  • Jim Shofner, former NFL head coach
  • Dave Smith (American football coach), former Oklahoma State Cowboys and SMU Mustangs head coach
  • Dana Vollmer, Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer
  • Robert Williamson III, poker player, grew up in Granbury and graduated from Granbury High School

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Granbury (Texas) para niños

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