Hillsboro, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hillsboro, Texas
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Hill County Courthouse in 2013
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Location of Hillsboro, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Hill |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-manager government |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10.97 sq mi (28.42 km2) |
| • Land | 10.87 sq mi (28.15 km2) |
| • Water | 0.10 sq mi (0.27 km2) |
| Elevation | 643 ft (196 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,221 |
| • Density | 779.83/sq mi (301.08/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
76645
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| Area code(s) | 254 |
| FIPS code | 48-34088 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410766 |
Hillsboro is a city in Hill County, Texas, United States. It is the main city, or county seat, of Hill County. Hillsboro is located in North Central Texas, right on Interstate 35. This highway connects it to bigger cities like Dallas, Fort Worth, and Waco.
The city is a busy spot for trade. Many people traveling on Interstate 35 stop here. Hillsboro is also a great starting point for visiting nearby lakes. These include Lake Whitney, Lake Whitney State Park, and Lake Aquilla. All are just a short drive away.
Contents
History of Hillsboro
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In 1853, Hill County was created from Navarro County. The county was named after Dr. George Washington Hill. He was a doctor and a leader in the Republic of Texas. Hillsboro, first spelled Hillsborough, was chosen as the county seat.
The town was built on land given by Thomas Steiner, John Caruthers, and Jonathan Newby. Soon, Hillsboro had a school, a post office, and a courthouse made of wood. Cotton farming became very important to Hillsboro's economy in the late 1800s.
The city grew quickly after railroads arrived in the early 1880s. These railroads included the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad. They brought new settlers and made it easier to ship goods. The railroads also created many new jobs. Hillsboro officially became a city in 1881.
Between 1890 and 1910, the cotton industry led to a building boom. Many beautiful Queen Anne style homes from this time are still standing. The famous 1890 Hill County Courthouse was also built then. In 1923, Hillsboro Junior College was started. It is now known as Hill College.
Many important Texas leaders have come from Hillsboro. These include U.S. Congressman Joseph Abbott and Texas Lt. Governor Bob Bullock. In 1981, Hillsboro was one of the first "Texas Main Street Cities." This program helps preserve historic downtown areas. The city continues to grow and offer many resources.
Education in Hillsboro
The Hillsboro Independent School District serves the city of Hillsboro. This district provides public education for students.
Hill College is also located in Hillsboro. It offers many educational programs and services. These programs help students, the community, and local businesses.
Besides public schools and the college, Hillsboro has other options. There are private Christian academies and groups for home-schooled students.
Media and News
Hillsboro has its own local media. You can listen to KHBR Radio on 1560 AM. The local newspaper is called The Reporter.
Hillsboro also gets TV channels from the Waco/Killeen/Temple area. Most radio stations from the larger Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex can also be heard here.
Culture and Events
Hillsboro is a rural city located right on Interstate 35. It sits between the big cities of Dallas-Fort Worth and Waco.
Being in this location gives Hillsboro many benefits. As the main city of Hill County, it attracts trade from a wide area. Many travelers on Interstate 35 also stop here. Hillsboro has a friendly and active community. They host many events and programs all year long for both residents and visitors.
Some of the large yearly events in Hillsboro include:
- January - Hill County Fair/Livestock Show
- February - Fire & Ice Dinner at the Rusted Chandelier
- March - Hill College Rodeo
- April - Wine and Photography Art Walk Downtown
- May - Churrofest Annual Celebration with Concerts & Margarita Walk
- May to October - The Hillsboro Farmers Market at the Courthouse Square
- May through September - Free Saturday Night Summer Concert Series, Weekly from 8 to 11 pm
- June - Bond's Alley Art Festival
- July - The 4th of July Late Bloomers Parade in the Historic Residential District
- September - Autumnfest Annual Celebration with Concerts and cider crawl
- December - Christmas Under the Stars Parade & Tree Lighting
- December - Holiday Tour of Homes (every other year)
Geography of Hillsboro
Hillsboro is located near the center of Hill County. Interstate 35 runs along the eastern side of the city. You can get on or off the highway using Exits 364 through 370. Just north of Hillsboro, Interstate 35 splits into I-35E and I-35W.
Hillsboro is about 56 miles (90 km) south of Fort Worth. It is about 62 miles (100 km) southwest of Dallas. It is also about 34 miles (55 km) north of Waco.
Texas State Highway 22 goes through the middle of Hillsboro. It is known as West Elm Street, South Waco Street, and Corsicana Highway. This highway leads west about 19 miles (31 km) to Lake Whitney. It goes east about 40 miles (64 km) to Corsicana.
Texas State Highway 171 also passes through Hillsboro with Highway 22. It leads northwest about 29 miles (47 km) to Cleburne. It goes southeast about 23 miles (37 km) to Hubbard.
Climate in Hillsboro
| Climate data for Hillsboro, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1903–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 89 (32) |
97 (36) |
100 (38) |
101 (38) |
104 (40) |
109 (43) |
113 (45) |
112 (44) |
110 (43) |
103 (39) |
93 (34) |
90 (32) |
113 (45) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 59.0 (15.0) |
62.7 (17.1) |
69.5 (20.8) |
77.1 (25.1) |
84.1 (28.9) |
91.5 (33.1) |
96.0 (35.6) |
97.0 (36.1) |
90.5 (32.5) |
80.3 (26.8) |
68.8 (20.4) |
60.4 (15.8) |
78.1 (25.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 46.5 (8.1) |
50.3 (10.2) |
57.2 (14.0) |
65.1 (18.4) |
73.1 (22.8) |
80.8 (27.1) |
84.4 (29.1) |
84.9 (29.4) |
78.3 (25.7) |
67.8 (19.9) |
56.3 (13.5) |
48.2 (9.0) |
66.1 (18.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 33.9 (1.1) |
37.8 (3.2) |
44.9 (7.2) |
53.0 (11.7) |
62.1 (16.7) |
70.0 (21.1) |
72.8 (22.7) |
72.8 (22.7) |
66.0 (18.9) |
55.2 (12.9) |
43.9 (6.6) |
36.1 (2.3) |
54.0 (12.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −1 (−18) |
−1 (−18) |
12 (−11) |
26 (−3) |
36 (2) |
48 (9) |
55 (13) |
53 (12) |
38 (3) |
21 (−6) |
14 (−10) |
−6 (−21) |
−6 (−21) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.74 (70) |
2.77 (70) |
3.57 (91) |
3.68 (93) |
4.51 (115) |
3.61 (92) |
1.65 (42) |
2.18 (55) |
3.15 (80) |
5.05 (128) |
2.73 (69) |
3.10 (79) |
38.74 (984) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.1 (0.25) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.1 (0.25) |
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) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.7 (1.8) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.4 | 7.1 | 8.0 | 7.1 | 8.6 | 6.6 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 5.6 | 6.9 | 3.8 | 7.4 | 80.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Population and Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 153 | — | |
| 1880 | 313 | 104.6% | |
| 1890 | 2,541 | 711.8% | |
| 1900 | 5,346 | 110.4% | |
| 1910 | 6,115 | 14.4% | |
| 1920 | 6,952 | 13.7% | |
| 1930 | 7,823 | 12.5% | |
| 1940 | 7,799 | −0.3% | |
| 1950 | 8,363 | 7.2% | |
| 1960 | 7,402 | −11.5% | |
| 1970 | 7,224 | −2.4% | |
| 1980 | 7,397 | 2.4% | |
| 1990 | 7,072 | −4.4% | |
| 2000 | 8,232 | 16.4% | |
| 2010 | 8,456 | 2.7% | |
| 2020 | 8,221 | −2.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Demographics tell us about the different groups of people living in a place. This includes their age, race, and how many households there are.
2020 Census Information
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 3,204 | 38.97% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,109 | 13.49% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 19 | 0.23% |
| Asian (NH) | 80 | 0.97% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 6 | 0.07% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 21 | 0.26% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 237 | 2.88% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,545 | 43.12% |
| Total | 8,221 |
According to the 2020 United States census, 8,221 people lived in Hillsboro, Texas. There were 2,925 households and 2,024 families. However, many believe the actual population is higher than what the census shows.
Historic Places in Hillsboro
Hillsboro has several buildings and areas listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important to the history of the United States.
- Farmers National Bank
- Gebhardt Bakery
- Grimes Garage
- Grimes House
- Hill County Courthouse
- Hill County Jail
- Hillsboro Cotton Mills
- Hillsboro Residential Historic District
- McKenzie Site
- Missouri-Kansas-Texas Company Railroad Station
- Old Rock Saloon
- Sturgis National Bank
- Tarleton Building
- U.S. Post Office
- Western Union Building
Famous People from Hillsboro
- Jerry Allison: A drummer for the famous band The Crickets.
- Madge Bellamy: A film actress from the 1920s and 1930s. She was known for the horror movie White Zombie.
- Bob Bullock: A former Texas lieutenant governor and other state roles.
- Richard H. Carmichael: A United States Army general.
- Vara Martin Daniel: An American educator and First Lady of Guam.
- Troy Dungan: A chief weather forecaster for WFAA-TV.
- Roger Edens: A Hollywood producer, composer, and vocal arranger.
- Mike Harris: A basketball player.
- Rafer Johnson: An Olympic gold medalist in the decathlon in 1960.
- Bob Johnston: A record producer, songwriter, and musician.
- Maggie Jones: A blues singer and pianist.
- Crawford Martin: A former Attorney General of Texas and mayor of Hillsboro.
- Dr. J. Vernon McGee: A theologian, Bible teacher, pastor, and radio broadcaster.
- Billy Patterson: A former NFL football player.
- Mary Ellen Rudin: An American mathematician and professor.
- Drew Nellins Smith: An author.
- Derel Walker: A CFL football player.
Images for kids
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Hill County Courthouse in Hillsboro, night view through the side alley, 2023
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Willie Nelson Mural and Dinosaur Museum
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Eclipse watching in downtown Hillsboro, April 8, 2024
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Brin House in Hillsboro
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Bridge in Hillsboro City Park
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The Rusted Chandelier event venue
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Hillsboro Courthouse and Willie Nelson Mural
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The YARD, an outdoor concert venue
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Autumnfest Celebration
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See also
In Spanish: Hillsboro (Texas) para niños
