Mount Enterprise, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mount Enterprise, Texas
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US Post Office in Mount Enterprise, Texas, USA
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Location of Mount Enterprise, Texas
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| County | Rusk |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.49 sq mi (3.85 km2) |
| • Land | 1.49 sq mi (3.85 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 449 ft (137 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 505 |
| • Density | 338.9/sq mi (131.17/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
75681
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| Area code(s) | 903 |
| FIPS code | 48-49728 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411178 |
Mount Enterprise is a small city in Rusk County, Texas, United States. In 2020, about 505 people lived there. It is known for its interesting history, especially its early industries like iron mining and furniture making.
Contents
History
Early Days and Naming
The city of Mount Enterprise is located south of Henderson in a rural part of Rusk County. It got its name from two things. First, there's a small hill or "elevation" near the town. Second, it was named after the business "enterprise" (meaning a business venture or project) of the Vinzent brothers. They settled here in 1832.
The town grew because there was a lot of iron ore in the area. Charles Vinzent thought the nearby "old mountain" was an "iron mountain." He was right! The brown, crumbly ore found here has more than 50% iron. However, the Vinzent brothers' main business was making and selling things. Their factory produced wagons, buggies, furniture, plows, and even coffins. They also made a special type of butter churn. They opened several stores in Mount Enterprise to sell these products and more. At one point, the Vinzent family had as many as four stores.
Growing Industries and Education
Lumbering, which is cutting down trees for wood, was another important early industry in Mount Enterprise. The town had a furniture factory as early as 1850. Before the Civil War, there were also many large farms, called plantations, in the area.
In 1846, a post office was set up called Mulberry Grove. Henry Henson was the first postmaster. Three years later, in 1849, the name was changed to Mount Enterprise.
Education was also important to the early settlers. The Mount Enterprise Male and Female College started in 1851 and operated until 1855. In 1853, the Mount Enterprise Male and Female Academy was established. By 1880, the town had grown to include three sawmills, a hotel, two cotton gins, a school, and three churches. The population at that time was about 150 people.
The Railroad and Modern Times
In 1894, a railroad called the Caro Northern Railway was built. It was mainly used for logging and connected Mount Enterprise to Caro, which is about 16 miles away in Nacogdoches County. This railroad also linked Mount Enterprise to the larger Texas and New Orleans Railroad.
The railroad track came within a mile of the original Mount Enterprise. Because of this, the entire town actually moved closer to the railroad! This new location became "new Mount Enterprise," and the old spot was then called "old Mount Enterprise."
The railroad stopped operating in 1934. However, by 1939, the town had officially become a city. It still had many businesses, a bank, a post office, and even a newspaper. The population had grown to 920 people. After 1940, the number of people living in Mount Enterprise slowly went down. In 1982, there were 485 residents, and the town had a bank, a post office, and fifteen businesses. By 1990, the population was 501. It increased slightly to 525 in 2000, but then dropped to 447 by the 2010 census. In 2020, the population was 505.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Mount Enterprise covers a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.8 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no water.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 425 | — | |
| 1980 | 485 | 14.1% | |
| 1990 | 501 | 3.3% | |
| 2000 | 525 | 4.8% | |
| 2010 | 447 | −14.9% | |
| 2020 | 505 | 13.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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In 2000, there were 525 people living in Mount Enterprise. These people lived in 206 households, and 155 of these were families. The population density was about 356 people per square mile.
Most of the people living in the city were White (91.05%). About 8.19% were African American. A small number (0.76%) were from two or more races. About 1.71% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average household had about 2.55 people, and the average family had about 2.97 people. The median age in the city was 39 years old. This means half the people were younger than 39, and half were older.
Education
The city of Mount Enterprise is served by the Mount Enterprise Independent School District. This school district provides education for the children living in the area.
See also
In Spanish: Mount Enterprise para niños
