Italy, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Italy, Texas
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Downtown Italy, Texas
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| Motto(s):
"The biggest little town in Texas"
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Location of Italy, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Ellis |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.80 sq mi (4.67 km2) |
| • Land | 1.80 sq mi (4.67 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 551 ft (168 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,926 |
| • Density | 1,070/sq mi (412.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
76651
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| Area code(s) | 214, 469, 945, 972 |
| FIPS code | 48-37072 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412797 |
Italy (pronounced IT-lee, like "it" and "lee") is a small town in Ellis County, Texas, United States. It's not named after the country of Italy because it looks similar. Instead, a settler who had visited the European country decided to name this Texas town after it. In 2020, about 1,926 people lived there.
Contents
A Look at Italy, Texas History
Italy, Texas, was started in 1879. Early settlers found the land perfect for farming. They grew crops like cotton, corn, sweet potatoes, and wheat.
How the Railroad Helped Italy Grow
In 1890, the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad came to Italy. This made the town an important place for trading goods. More people moved to Italy, and its population grew steadily. By 1900, there were 1,061 residents, and by 1925, about 1,500 people lived there.
Changes Over Time
The Great Depression in the 1930s caused the town's population to shrink for over 30 years. However, in the 1970s, Italy started to grow again. By the year 2000, almost 2,000 people called Italy home.
Where is Italy, Texas?
Italy is located in the southwestern part of Ellis County.
Major Roads and Connections
Interstate 35E runs through the northwest side of town. This highway connects Italy to bigger cities. You can drive about 15 miles north to Waxahachie, which is the county seat. If you go further north, about 44 miles, you'll reach downtown Dallas.
U.S. Route 77 also goes through the middle of Italy. It runs alongside Interstate 35E. Another road, Texas State Highway 34, leads northeast from Italy to Ennis, which is about 20 miles away.
Size of the Town
According to the United States Census Bureau, Italy covers a total area of about 1.8 square miles (4.7 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
People Living in Italy, Texas
The population of Italy has changed over the years. Here's how it looked in different census years:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 370 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,061 | 186.8% | |
| 1910 | 1,149 | 8.3% | |
| 1920 | 1,350 | 17.5% | |
| 1930 | 1,230 | −8.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,224 | −0.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,185 | −3.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,183 | −0.2% | |
| 1970 | 1,309 | 10.7% | |
| 1980 | 1,306 | −0.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,699 | 30.1% | |
| 2000 | 1,993 | 17.3% | |
| 2010 | 1,863 | −6.5% | |
| 2020 | 1,926 | 3.4% | |
Who Lives in Italy Now?
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,926 people living in Italy. These people made up 765 households and 561 families.
Here's a breakdown of the different groups of people living in Italy in 2020:
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 1,133 | 58.83% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 234 | 12.15% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 8 | 0.42% |
| Asian (NH) | 7 | 0.36% |
| Mixed/multiracial (NH) | 56 | 2.91% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 488 | 25.34% |
| Total | 1,926 |
Famous People from Italy, Texas
Some well-known individuals have connections to Italy, Texas:
- Keith Davis – A former safety who played for the Dallas Cowboys football team.
- Dale Evans – An actress and singer, famous as the wife of cowboy star Roy Rogers.
- Jack Hyles – A pastor who founded Hyles-Anderson College.
- Kortnei Johnson – A talented athlete.
- J. B. Milam – A principal chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.
- Art Shires – A former professional baseball player who played first base for teams like the Chicago White Sox.
Education in Italy, Texas
The town of Italy is served by the Italy Independent School District. This district includes:
- Italy High School (for students in grades 7–12)
- Stafford Elementary (for younger students from prekindergarten to grade 6)
The town also has the S.M. Dunlap Memorial Library, a place for reading and learning. In 2009, the Texas Education Agency gave the school district an "academically acceptable" rating.
Climate in Italy, Texas
Italy, Texas, has a climate with hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate.
Images for kids
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Farmers State Bank
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City Hall
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See also
In Spanish: Italy (Texas) para niños
