Milford, Texas Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Milford, Texas
Town
Downtown Milford in 2010
Motto(s): "Small town living with room to grow"
Location of Milford, Texas

Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Ellis
Area
• Total	2.47 sq mi (6.39 km²)
• Land	2.46 sq mi (6.37 km²)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km²)
Elevation	637 ft (194 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	722
• Density	303.54/sq mi (117.18/km²)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	76670
Area code(s)	214, 469, 945, 972
FIPS code	48-48408
GNIS feature ID	2412995

Milford is a small town in North Central Texas. It is located in the southwestern part of Ellis County, in the United States. In 2020, about 722 people lived there.

Milford is about 14 miles northeast of Hillsboro. It is also about 20 miles southwest of Waxahachie. In 2013, the town was in the news because of a gas pipeline incident. This event led to the town being evacuated for safety.

History of Milford
Milford's Geography
Population Over Time
Education in Milford
Images for kids
See also

History of Milford

How Milford Started

Milford's story began in the 1850s. Some people from Cherokee County came to the Mill Creek valley. They bought land for a very low price. William R. Hudson named the town Milford. He named it after a factory town in Milford, Massachusetts.

In 1853, the first house was built. It was also a general store and belonged to William R. Hudson. A two-story schoolhouse was also built. This school served as a church and community hall. Sadly, it burned down during the Civil War.

In 1854, Arvin Wright, William Hudson, and J.M. Higgins planned out the town. They set up town lots on a ridge. A gristmill started working in 1857. Milford officially became a town in 1888. W.R. McDaniel was the first mayor.

Growth and Changes

By 1890, train tracks reached Milford. The Dallas and Waco Railway came through town. This made Milford an important place for shipping cotton. Farmers could send their crops from here.

By 1892, Milford had grown quite a bit. About 800 people lived there. The town had three churches, a bank, and a hotel. There were also two cotton gins and many other businesses. A weekly newspaper was also printed.

Milford had two schools at this time. One was a private school called Lone Star Institute. The other was Milford Academy, which the community helped pay for. In 1902, the town offered to open the Texas Presbyterian College for Girls. This college opened in Milford.

The town kept growing, and by 1929, about 1,200 people lived there. However, the Great Depression caused the population to drop. The Presbyterian college also closed. By 1931, Milford's population was 747. It kept going down, reaching a low of 490 in 1968. But the town grew again. By 1990, the population was back up to 711.

Gas Pipeline Incident in 2013

On November 14, 2013, a gas pipeline incident happened. It was near U.S. 77 and FM 308. A gas pipeline was damaged, which led to a fire.

Because of concerns about air quality and safety, the entire town was evacuated. About 700 residents had to leave their homes. Students and staff from Milford ISD also went to the nearby town of Italy. A safety zone was set up around the area.

Some residents were allowed to return briefly with police. But the town stayed evacuated for a few days. The fire also caused a football game to be postponed. Players could not get their gear from the town.

Milford's Geography

Milford covers an area of about 2.47 square miles (6.4 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a very small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.02 square kilometers), is water.

U.S. Route 77 goes right through the middle of town. It is known as Main Street there. Interstate 35E runs along the northern edge of Milford. You can get to Milford from Exit 381. Downtown Dallas is about 48 miles north of Milford.

Population Over Time

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	164	—
1890	353	115.2%
1900	653	85.0%
1910	766	17.3%
1920	940	22.7%
1930	747	−20.5%
1940	767	2.7%
1950	690	−10.0%
1960	590	−14.5%
1970	664	12.5%
1980	681	2.6%
1990	711	4.4%
2000	685	−3.7%
2010	728	6.3%
2020	722	−0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

Milford water tower in 2008

As of 2020, there were 722 people living in Milford. There were 296 households and 217 families.

Education in Milford

The Milford Independent School District serves the town. Milford is home to the Milford High School Bulldogs.

From 1902 to 1929, Milford was home to the Texas Presbyterian College for Girls. The town gave the school 10 acres of land and money to help it start. The college later grew to 40 acres. It closed in 1929 and joined with Austin College in Sherman, Texas.