Gun Barrel City, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gun Barrel City, Texas
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Location of Gun Barrel City, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Henderson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.62 sq mi (17.16 km2) |
| • Land | 6.25 sq mi (16.20 km2) |
| • Water | 0.37 sq mi (0.96 km2) |
| Elevation | 364 ft (111 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,190 |
| • Density | 992.64/sq mi (383.28/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
75156
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| Area code(s) | 430, 903 |
| FIPS code | 48-31592 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410673 |
Gun Barrel City is a town located in Henderson County, Texas, in the United States. In 2020, about 6,190 people lived there. This was an increase from 5,672 people counted in 2010.
Contents
History of Gun Barrel City
Even though its name sounds like an old Wild West town, Gun Barrel City is actually quite new, only about 50 years old! The town grew up on the shores of Cedar Creek Lake. This lake was built to hold water for the Tarrant Regional Water District.
Becoming an Official Town
Gun Barrel City officially became a town on May 26, 1969. Since then, it has become a main entry point for people wanting to visit Cedar Creek Lake. Many visitors come from all over the region to enjoy the lake through Gun Barrel City.
Growth and Recognition
The town sees a lot of tourism, especially in the summer when people go boating. Gun Barrel City and nearby areas have also seen many new homes built recently. Many wealthy retirees from the Dallas area have moved here. They build large lake homes to enjoy easy access to Cedar Creek Lake.
In May 2000, a 21-year-old named Randal Tye Thomas was elected as the town's 13th mayor. He was an entrepreneur and newspaper publisher. He became well-known in the Dallas area. After a successful year, he resigned in May 2001.
In 2008, Gun Barrel City received a special award. It was named a Certified Retirement Community by the Texas Department of Agriculture. The town has also won second place twice in the governor's Community Achievement Awards.
Geography of Gun Barrel City
Gun Barrel City is in the northwest part of Henderson County. It sits on the eastern side of Cedar Creek Lake. This lake is part of the Trinity River system.
Nearby Towns and Roads
To the north of Gun Barrel City is the town of Mabank. Across the lake to the west is the city of Seven Points. Texas State Highway 334 runs through the middle of Gun Barrel City. This highway goes west to Seven Points and east to U.S. Route 175. Route 175 is between Mabank and Eustace.
Texas State Highway 198 crosses Highway 334 in the eastern part of town. Highway 198 goes north to Mabank. It also goes south about 15 miles to Malakoff. Athens, which is the main city of Henderson County, is about 18 miles southeast of Gun Barrel City. You can get there using US 175.
Land and Water Area
The U.S. Census Bureau says that Gun Barrel City covers about 6.62 square miles (17.2 square kilometers). About 0.37 square miles (1.0 square kilometer) of this area is water.
Economy and Tourism
Gun Barrel City is located on the shores of Cedar Creek Lake. It is about 55 miles southeast of downtown Dallas. The town is a shopping center for over 75,000 people in the area. A great benefit is that Gun Barrel City does not have a town property tax.
Cedar Creek Lake's Importance
Cedar Creek Lake is the fourth-largest lake in Texas. It has over 220 miles of shoreline. This makes it a very popular spot for boating and fishing. All this activity makes the town's population grow. The official population is around 5,000, but it can swell to over 10,000 during the boating season. This busy time starts before Memorial Day and lasts well past Labor Day.
Population and People
Gun Barrel City has grown quite a bit over the years. Here's how the population has changed:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 327 | — | |
| 1980 | 2,118 | 547.7% | |
| 1990 | 3,526 | 66.5% | |
| 2000 | 5,145 | 45.9% | |
| 2010 | 5,672 | 10.2% | |
| 2020 | 6,190 | 9.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
People Living in Gun Barrel City
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,190 people living in Gun Barrel City. These people lived in 2,631 households. There were also 1,629 families.
Here's a look at the different groups of people in Gun Barrel City in 2020:
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (NH) | 5,156 | 83.3% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 76 | 1.23% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 35 | 0.57% |
| Asian (NH) | 43 | 0.69% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 2 | 0.03% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 18 | 0.29% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 245 | 3.96% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 615 | 9.94% |
| Total | 6,190 |
In 2000, there were 5,145 people in the town. The population density was about 1,000 people per square mile. Most people were White (94.23%). About 3.60% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Households and Families
In 2000, there were 2,163 households. About 24.8% of these households had children under 18. More than half (55.5%) were married couples living together. About 26.4% of all households had just one person living alone. About 13.9% of these single-person households were people aged 65 or older. The average household had 2.36 people. The average family had 2.82 people.
Age Groups
In 2000, the population was spread out by age. About 21.8% were under 18 years old. About 22.6% were 65 years or older. The average age in the town was 43 years.
Education in Gun Barrel City
Students in Gun Barrel City attend schools within the Mabank Independent School District.
Local Schools
There are several elementary schools for younger students. These include Southside Elementary, Central Elementary, and Lakeview Elementary. A new high school campus opened in 2007. It is next to the old high school in Mabank.
The schools serving Gun Barrel City students are:
- Lakeview Elementary School (in Gun Barrel City)
- Mabank Intermediate School (in Mabank)
- Mabank Junior High School (in Mabank)
- Mabank High School (in Mabank)
Economic Development
The Gun Barrel City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) works to help the town's economy grow. This group is made up of local business owners and leaders. Their job is to bring new businesses to Gun Barrel City. They also help existing businesses expand.
How the EDC Works
The EDC has a seven-member board and one staff person. It gets its funding from a small part of the sales tax ($.0025).
Helping Businesses
The Gun Barrel City EDC offers help to businesses that qualify. They look at different ways to encourage businesses to move to or grow in the area. They consider things like:
- Taxes paid
- Number of jobs created or kept
- Wages paid to workers
- Money spent locally on products and services
- Overall benefits to the town
The EDC mainly looks for businesses in certain areas. These include manufacturing, production, medical/health, hospitality, and distribution. Funds from the EDC can be used for things like:
- Leasing or buying land
- Leasing, buying, fixing, or building buildings
- Buying important equipment
- Improving local services (like roads or water)
- Training employees
However, these funds cannot be used for starting new risky businesses, for everyday money (like inventory), or for personal loans. The EDC offers different types of help, including loans, loan guarantees, and other programs.
See also
In Spanish: Gun Barrel City (Texas) para niños
