Nacogdoches, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nacogdoches, Texas
City
Clockwise from top: Old Stone Fort, Adolph Stern House, Nacogdoches City Hall, Nacogdoches downtown, Gladys E. Steen Dorms, Depot, Stephen F. Austin statue
Logo
Nickname(s):  "The Oldest Town in Texas"
Location of Nacogdoches, Texas within Nacogdoches County
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Nacogdoches
Incorporated (as a town)	1837
Incorporated (as a city)	1929
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
Area
• Total	27.66 sq mi (71.64 km2)
• Land	27.61 sq mi (71.51 km2)
• Water	0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2)
Elevation	331 ft (101 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	32,147
• Density	1,190.81/sq mi (459.78/km2)
Demonym(s)	Nacogdochian
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes	75961–75965
Area code(s)	936
FIPS code	48-50256
GNIS feature ID	2411207

Nacogdoches (pronounced NAK-ə-DOH-chis) is a historic city in East Texas. It is the county seat of Nacogdoches County, Texas. Many people know Nacogdoches as "The Oldest Town in Texas." This is because people have lived here for thousands of years.

As of the 2020 census, about 32,147 people live in Nacogdoches. The city is also home to Stephen F. Austin State University. This university is well-known for its programs in forestry and agriculture. Nacogdoches is a sister city to Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Discovering Nacogdoches History

Ancient Roots and Spanish Missions

People have lived in the Nacogdoches area for a very long time. Evidence shows settlements dating back 10,000 years! The area was once the main village of the Nacogdoche tribe of Caddo Indians. The city's name, Nacogdoches, comes from this Caddo-speaking Native American tribe.

In 1716, Spain built a mission here. It was called Misión Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. This was the first European building in the area. Later, in 1772, Spanish officials asked all settlers to move to San Antonio.

The historic Old Stone Fort Museum in Nacogdoches, Texas.

However, a Spanish trader named Colonel Antonio Gil Y'Barbo led a group of settlers back to Nacogdoches in 1779. That summer, Spain officially recognized Nacogdoches as a pueblo, or town. Y'Barbo helped plan the town's streets. He also built a stone house for his trading business. Today, this house is known as the Old Stone Fort. It was an important gateway to the Texas frontier.

Early American Settlers and Texas Independence

Nacogdoches has been under more flags than the state of Texas! It has flown under nine different flags throughout its history. People from the United States began moving to Nacogdoches in the 1820s. The first English-language newspaper in Texas was published here.

In 1832, the Battle of Nacogdoches took place. Many local settlers joined together to support a federalist government. They successfully drove the Mexican military out of East Texas.

The recently updated historic Nacogdoches train depot.

Thomas Jefferson Rusk was an important early settler. He was a hero of the Texas Revolution and signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. He also served as one of the first U.S. Senators for Texas. Rusk helped start Nacogdoches University, which operated from 1845 to 1895. The Old Nacogdoches University Building is now a historic landmark.

Sam Houston, another famous Texan, lived in Nacogdoches for four years before the Texas Revolution in 1836. He opened a law office downtown.

William Goins was a successful businessman in Nacogdoches. He ran an inn, a trucking service, and a blacksmith shop. He also owned a large farm and helped the Texas Army during the Revolution.

The Sterne–Hoya House, once home to Adolphus Sterne, is now a museum.

Adolphus Sterne was a merchant who had a beautiful home in town. Famous visitors like Sam Houston and David Crockett often stopped by. Sterne's diary is a great source of information about early Nacogdoches.

The August Tubbe Plantation is one of the last family-owned farms from the 1800s in East Texas. It was started in 1859 by August Tubbe, an immigrant from Germany. The plantation was important for growing cotton and sugarcane. It also had the first water-powered sawmill in Nacogdoches.

In 1859, the first oil well in Texas began operating near Nacogdoches. Lyne Taliaferro Barret started this project. After the American Civil War, he found oil in 1866. This well was the first and oldest oil well in Texas.

Modern Times and Community Spirit

A postcard showing Main Street in Nacogdoches around the late 1930s.

In 1912, the famous Marx Brothers performed in Nacogdoches. During their show, a runaway mule caused a stir! The audience left, and when they returned, Julius (later known as Groucho) made jokes about the town. People laughed, and the brothers decided to focus on comedy. A plaque in downtown Nacogdoches remembers this funny event.

In 1946, a strong tornado hit part of the city, causing a lot of damage and affecting many people.

The historic downtown Main Theater.

In 1997, singer Willie Nelson visited Nacogdoches. He recorded several jazz songs at a local studio. These recordings were later released on an album called Nacogdoches in 2004.

On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart during its return to Earth. Much of the debris landed in the Nacogdoches area. The city became a central point for news coverage of the recovery efforts.

Nacogdoches has also faced hurricanes. In 2005, Hurricane Rita struck the city. In 2008, Hurricane Ike also hit Nacogdoches. The city became an important evacuation route for people leaving other parts of Texas.

Today, Nacogdoches hosts the Texas Blueberry Festival every June. It is a certified retirement community and offers many events throughout the year. The city's downtown has been recognized as a "Best Historic Venue."

Exploring Nacogdoches Geography and Climate

Nacogdoches is located in East Texas. It is about 140 miles (225 km) north-northeast of Houston. It is also about 180 miles (290 km) southeast of Dallas and 90 miles (145 km) southwest of Shreveport.

The city covers an area of about 25.3 square miles (65.5 km²). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. The city center is located near where two creeks, the LaNana and Banita, meet. Lake Nacogdoches is about 10 miles (16 km) west of the city.

Weather in Nacogdoches

Nacogdoches has a warm climate. The warmest month is usually August, and the coolest is January. The highest temperature ever recorded was 112°F (44°C) in 2000. The lowest was -3°F (-19°C) in 2021. May typically sees the most rainfall.

Life in Nacogdoches: People and Economy

Who Lives in Nacogdoches?

Nacogdoches is a diverse city. In 2020, the city had a population of 32,147 people. About 53.5% of residents were White, and 26.4% were Black or African American. About 20.2% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

How Nacogdoches Makes a Living

Pilgrim's Pride is a large employer in Nacogdoches.

The economy of Nacogdoches relies a lot on Stephen F. Austin State University. Many businesses in town depend on students as customers and employees. Other important parts of the local economy include healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, and lumber.

Here are some of the top employers in Nacogdoches:

Government in Nacogdoches

Nacogdoches City Hall.

The city of Nacogdoches is managed by a mayor and a city manager. They work together to provide services to the community.

Nacogdoches is represented in the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives by Republican officials. It is also part of Texas's 17th congressional district in the United States Congress.

Education and Learning in Nacogdoches

The sign for Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches.

Most students in Nacogdoches attend schools in the Nacogdoches Independent School District.

The city is home to Stephen F. Austin State University, a state university with about 13,000 students. Angelina College also has a branch campus in Nacogdoches, offering more learning opportunities.

Fun Places to Visit in Nacogdoches

• Mast Arboretum
• Millard's Crossing Historic Village
• Old Stone Fort Museum

Famous Faces from Nacogdoches

Many interesting people have connections to Nacogdoches!

• Antonio Gil Y'Barbo, a frontier trader who helped found the town.
• Sam Houston, a president of the Republic of Texas.
• Thomas Jefferson Rusk, a military leader and U.S. Senator.
• Brandon Belt, a professional baseball player.
• Clint Dempsey, a famous soccer player.
• Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a professional football player.
• Brad Maule, an actor.

See also

In Spanish: Nacogdoches para niños