Newton, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Newton, Texas
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Newton County Courthouse
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Location of Newton, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Newton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.46 sq mi (14.13 km2) |
| • Land | 5.45 sq mi (14.10 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 207 ft (63 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,633 |
| • Density | 435.26/sq mi (168.06/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
75966
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| Area code(s) | 409 |
| FIPS code | 48-51372 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411251 |
Newton is a city located in Texas, United States. It is the main town, also known as the county seat, of Newton County. In 2020, about 1,633 people lived there.
Contents
History of Newton
Both Newton County and the city of Newton are named after John Newton. He was thought to be a hero from the American Revolutionary War. However, some stories about his bravery might have been made up.
In 1853, people decided to build a courthouse and a town in the middle of the county. This is how Newton became the county seat instead of another community called Burkeville. A second courthouse was built in Newton between 1902 and 1903. It was made from bricks from a nearby place called Caney Creek.
Newton officially became a city in 1935. It is still the only city in the county that is officially organized. The town's public school started in 1889 as the W.H. Ford Male and Female College. The building where the college once stood is now a museum and home to the city's chamber of commerce.
Newton grew a lot in the early 1900s because of the strong timber industry in East Texas. The town even had its own newspaper before the 1920s.
Courthouse Fire and Rebuilding
The county courthouse is a very important building in Newton. In August 2000, a big fire badly damaged it. It took many years to fix the inside of the building because of problems with money and other things. The historic courthouse finally opened again in December 2012.
Hurricane Rita's Impact
Even though Newton is about 80 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, it was hit hard by Hurricane Rita in September 2005. The wind gusts were very strong, between 80 and 100 miles per hour. Some people in Newton did not have electricity for a whole month after the hurricane.
Geography
Newton covers a total area of about 5.5 square miles (14.13 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small part being water.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 68 | — | |
| 1940 | 886 | — | |
| 1950 | 929 | 4.9% | |
| 1960 | 1,233 | 32.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,529 | 24.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,620 | 6.0% | |
| 1990 | 1,885 | 16.4% | |
| 2000 | 2,459 | 30.5% | |
| 2010 | 2,478 | 0.8% | |
| 2020 | 1,633 | −34.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, there were 1,633 people living in Newton. There were 796 households and 539 families in the city.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 1,014 | 62.09% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 487 | 29.82% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 10 | 0.61% |
| Asian (NH) | 1 | 0.06% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 6 | 0.37% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 57 | 3.49% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 58 | 3.55% |
| Total | 1,633 |
Education
Students in Newton attend schools that are part of the Newton Independent School District. The local high school is Newton High School, and their sports teams are called the Eagles.
Climate
The weather in Newton has hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate.
Notable People
- Sam Forse Collins: A politician who was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1959 to 1964.
- Todd Gilbert: He served as the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates from 2022 to 2024.
- James Gulley: Born in 1965, he is a professional basketball player who played in the Israeli Basketball Premier League.
See also
In Spanish: Newton (Texas) para niños
