Palestine, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Palestine, Texas
City
City of Palestine
Downtown Palestine
Location of Palestine, Texas
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Anderson
Government
• Type	Council–manager
Area
• Total	19.63 sq mi (50.83 km2)
• Land	19.42 sq mi (50.30 km2)
• Water	0.20 sq mi (0.53 km2)
Elevation	482 ft (147 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	18,544
• Density	912.88/sq mi (352.46/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	75800-75899
Area code(s)	903
FIPS code	48-54708
GNIS feature ID	1364714

Palestine ( pal-I-steen) is a city in and the seat of Anderson County in the U.S. state of Texas. Named for Palestine, Illinois, by preacher Daniel Parker, though another source says that it was named by migrant Micham Main for the same hometown, the city had a 2020 U.S. census-tabulated population of 18,544, making it the sixth-largest incorporated municipality in Northeast Texas by population.

Palestine is a relatively small city located in the Piney Woods, equidistant from the major cities of Dallas, and Houston, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana. It is notable for its natural environment, including the dogwood floral blooming season, for having 23 historical sites on the National Register of Historic Places, and as the western terminus of the Texas State Railroad. This steam-and-diesel railroad museum operates tourist trains between Palestine and Rusk.

History

Founding

In 1846, the Texas Legislature created Palestine to serve as a seat for the newly established Anderson County. James R. Fulton, Johnston Shelton and William Bigelow were hired by the first Anderson County commissioners to survey the surrounding land and lay out a town site, consisting of a central courthouse square and the surrounding 24 blocks. Antedating the town was a temporary trading post in operation since at least 1843. It grew significantly following the arrival of the railroad in the 1870s. It had a population of over 10,000 by 1898.

Palestine, Texas was named so by Micham Main, who named the new town in honor of his hometown of Palestine, Illinois.

Railroad

The Texas State Railroad is a state park that allows visitors to ride trains pulled by diesel and steam locomotives between the park's Victorian-style depots and through the forests of East Texas. It dates back to 1883, with the completion of the Rusk Penitentiary near the city of Rusk. Built with inmate labor, the original purpose of the railroad was to transport raw materials for the iron smelter located at the Rusk Penitentiary. In 1906, the line reached Maydelle, and by 1909, the line was completed when it reached Palestine. Regularly-scheduled train service ceased in 1921, the line was leased to various railroad companies until 1969, and the Texas Legislature turned the railroad into a state park in 1972.

The International Railroad and the Houston and Great Northern Railroad met in Palestine in 1872 and merged in 1873 to become the International and Great Northern Railroad (IGN). The IGN later became part of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, then ultimately Union Pacific Railroad. In 1875, IGN President H.M. Hoxie moved to Palestine and built the first Victorian Mansion. Merchant owners and railroad executives built other elaborate homes along South Sycamore Street. The IGN built a major depot in 1892 and a modern passenger coach shop, in 1902, making Palestine an important locomotive and coach location. These shops remained in operation until 1954, when the present facility was built exclusively for freight car repair. Today, the Palestine Car Shop is one of only two car shops on the Union Pacific Railroad that perform heavy modifications and repairs to freight cars. The Palestine workforce has more than 100 employees.

1900's

In 1914 the county's fifth courthouse was completed, which is still standing and in use. Oil was discovered at Boggy Creek, east of Palestine, in 1928 which added to and diversified the town's economy. Palestine became a center for oil-well servicing and supplies in support of other producing fields found later elsewhere in Anderson County.

Construction of the earth-filled Blackburn Crossing Dam, creating Lake Palestine as a reliable source of water, was begun in 1960, completed in 1962. It was enlarged from 1969 to 1972 to 75 feet high, and 5,720 feet long.

Geography

Palestine is located near the center of Anderson County at 31°45′29″N 95°38′19″W / 31.75806°N 95.63861°W / 31.75806; -95.63861 (31.757925, -95.638473). Several numbered highways converge on the city, including U.S. Highways 79, 84, and 287, plus Texas State Highways 19 and 155. Dallas is 110 miles (180 km) to the northwest, and Houston is 150 miles (240 km) to the south. Tyler is 47 miles (76 km) to the northeast.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.6 square miles (50.7 km²), of which 19.4 square miles (50.2 km²) is land and 0.19 square miles (0.5 km²), or 1.06%, is covered by water.

Surrounding municipalities

	Corsicana (58 miles)	Athens (34 miles)	Tyler (47 miles) Jacksonville (26 miles)
	Fairfield (36 miles)		Rusk (30 miles)
		Palestine
	College Station (103 miles)	Elkhart (10 miles) Crockett (35 miles)	Nacogdoches (65 miles)

Lake Palestine

Lake Palestine is a freshwater lake created by the construction of the Blackburn Crossing dam on the Neches River in 1962. A 25,600 acre lake with a total length of 18 miles, 135 miles of shoreline and an average depth of 16.25 ft, it offers an array of freshwater fish species including bass, crappie and catfish. The Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority owns and operates Lake Palestine. The City of Palestine has a water contract for 25 million gallons of water per day, served by a channel dam, 13 miles of pipeline and a water treatment plant which the City operates for water coming into the city.

Roads and highways

Palestine is at a crossroads of several arterial highways converging in Palestine:

• U.S. Highway 79 from Austin to the Southwest and continues on to Shreveport to the northeast
• U.S. Highway 84 from Waco to the West and continues on to Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia to the east
• U.S. Highway 287 from Fort Worth to the northwest and continues on to Beaumont and Port Arthur to the southeast
• State Highway 19 from Huntsville to the South and continues on to Athens and Paris
• State Highway 155 emanating from Palestine northeast to Tyler
• Loop 127 is entirely within Palestine
• Loop 256 encircles downtown Palestine

Climate

• The average warmest month is July.
• The highest recorded temperature was 114 °F in 1954.
• On average, the coolest month is January.
• The lowest recorded temperature was -4 °F in 1930.
• The maximum average precipitation occurs in October.

Demographics

At the 1850 United States census, Palestine had a population of 2,000; a decade later, its population declined to 1,938, yet has since increased in population since to a historic 18,712 at the 2010 U.S. census. By the publication of the 2020 United States census, its population slightly declined to 18,544, though was up from 2000's 17,598 residents.

As the city's population has grown despite interval declines from 1990 to 2020, its racial and ethnic makeup continues to be dominated by non-Hispanic or non-Latino whites, and Black or African Americans according to official census records. According to the 2020 American Community Survey's 5-year estimates program, roughly 47.6% of the population was non-Hispanic white, and 26.9% Black or African American. Hispanics and Latino Americans of any race made up 22.2% of the population, and residents from two or more races were 2.6%. The official census tabulation and census estimates reflect continued diversification within the United States; in 2000, the racial and ethnic makeup was 64.60% White, 24.77% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 7.90% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latino Americans of any race were 14.88% of the population.

There was an estimated 6,560 households in Palestine, with the average household size at 2.68; according to 2020 census estimates, there were 4,479 families and the average family size was 3.32. Of the households and families comprising the city's population, 57.9% of housing units were owner-occupied and 42.1% were renter-occupied units. In 2000, there were 6,641 households; 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 18.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were not families. About 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.13.

At the 2000 U.S. census, the median income for a household in the city was $30,497, and for a family was $36,806. Males had a median income of $28,331 versus $20,662 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,514. About 16.6% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over. Since the 2020 census, the median household income increased to $40,684 and households paid a median of $817 a month.

Arts and culture

Music and Performing Arts

The Texas Theatre hosts community events.

• The 25,000-square foot Civic Center is owned and operated by the City of Palestine.
• The Texas Theatre is a historic structure designed originally designed as a movie palace that opened in 1930, is a prime example of Spanish Colonial architecture and provides a home for live community theater today.

Museums

• The Museum for East Texas Culture, located in Reagan Park, is housed in a 1915 schoolhouse. Exhibits include local Palestine historical noteworthy people, events and locations, an authentic vintage classroom, a log cabin and railroad memorabilia.
• The Curious Museum on Oak Street, in the spirit of San Francisco's Exploratorium, engages creative and innovative thinking skills to educate visitors of all ages.
• The Texas State Railroad Society Museum, located in the downtown Carnegie Library, displays model trains, local history and artifacts and train memorabilia.

Recreation

Parks

Lakes and forested parks are natural features of the Piney Woods of East Texas,. Palestine is home to several, most prominently

• 22-acre Steven Bennett Park
• 20-acre Greens Park
• 16-acre Reagan Park
• 10-acre Calhoun Park
• 29-acre athletic complex with 10 lighted baseball fields

Lakes

• There are four lakes within the city limits of Palestine,all of which have boat ramps, provide fishing, and collectively provide a variety of picnic areas and hiking trails:
• Wolf Creek lake
• Upper Lake
• Lower Lake
• Blue Lake

Wildlife

• The Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area, located 20 miles northwest of Palestine is a 10,000-acre a wildlife research and demonstration area for the Post Oak Savanna Ecoregion, a natural resource observe birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, fishes and vegetation.

Golf

• Two local golf courses provide a range of recreational opportunity. Wildcat Golf Course, a 9-hole originally constructed in 1921. is located in the city. Located on the north of the city, the Pine Dunes is a highly rated Jay Morrish-designed course which opened in the late 1990s. An indicator of the level of this course are awards such as 4-1/2 stars from Golf Digest and Golfweek's 2015 #1 "Best Courses You Can Play.".

Events

Recurring calendared activities include:

• Dulcimer Festival - Featuring concerts, workshops, informal jam sessions the three-day dulcimer festival event features and attracts notable practitioners of dulcimer, guitar, violin, banjo and concertina, it has held at The Museum for East Texas Culture at Reagan Park every Spring since 2001.
• Dogwood Trails Festival - The Dogwood Trails Festival occurs each spring over the last two weekends of March and the first weekend in April.
• Dogwood Jamboree - The Dogwood Jamboree is held every two months at the Palestine Civic Center. The country and western concert is hosted by Pastor Dan Manuel and a variety of country and western artists. Each performance always features new talent, young, older, and in-between. The newest addition to the Dogwood Jamboree features a talent competition developing young artists under the age of 18. People come from all over the nation and from foreign countries to see the performances.
• Hot Pepper Festival - A popular culinary celebration that takes place every October in the city’s historic downtown area, the festival provides concert entertainment and spotlights peppers with salsa-making contest, 4-H petting zoo, antique tractor show, and a parade.
• Frost Fest - An annual event that provides snow sliding/tubing, ice skating, historical tour of homes, a 5k Run, and family activities every December.

Palestine welcome sign off U.S. Route 79

Gallery

• 

  The Palestine Visitor Information Center at the entrance to the downtown district is located in a former railroad depot.

• 

  A glimpse of downtown Palestine

• 

  Federal Building

• 

  East Texas National Bank

• 

  First Presbyterian Church of Palestine

• 

  Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 503 North Queen Street in downtown Palestine

• Palestine, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online

Economy

Typical of many rural American communities, Palestine's economy is stimulated by small businesses, and local chains from national and international retailers such as Walmart. The largest employer is the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which employs more than 3,900. Other significant employers include a thriving medical and healthcare sector that tends to the large population of retirees.

Education

Public school districts

Palestine High School

With almost 3,500 students, the Palestine Independent School District is the largest school district in Palestine. The district comprises:

• Palestine High School, grades 9–12
• Palestine Junior High, grades 7–8
• A. M. Story Elementary, grades 4–6
• Southside Primary, grades 2–3
• Northside Early Childhood Center, Pre-K–1

Located on the western edge of the city, the Westwood Independent School District is home to around 1,700 students. It consists of a primary, elementary, junior=high, and high-school campuses.

Westwood Independent School District

• Westwood High School, grades 9–12
• Westwood Junior High, grades 7–8
• Westwood Elementary, grades 3–6
• Westwood Primary, grades K–2

Charter schools

Innovation Academy, a charter school operated by the University of Texas at Tyler, began in 2012 with grades 3–6, expanding upward to grades 7–12 at the rate of one grade per year. In March 2018, the school had 188 students enrolled, and planned to grow to 600 students. On March 19, 2018, the university announced it would be upgrading the Innovation Academy school building at a cost of $650,000.

A small portion of remote area of the city is also within the Elkhart ISD.

Colleges and universities

Trinity Valley Community College operates TVCC-Palestine just north of the city limits at the intersection of US 287 and State Highway 19. In addition to offering academic transfer courses, the Palestine campus offers vocational-technical programs in vocational nursing, cosmetology, mid-management, computer science, criminal justice, business and office technology, fire science, legal assistant, emergency medical technician, and paramedic programs, and also trains correctional officers for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Continuing education and adult education courses are also offered.

The University of Texas at Tyler also operates a campus in the city. A new, $9.6 million, 50-acre (200,000 m²) campus opened in 2010, fall semester. The UT-Tyler Palestine Campus currently offers courses in nursing.

Transportation

Palestine welcome sign off U.S. Route 79

Palestine is at a crossroads of several arterial highways:

• U.S. Highway 79 from Austin to the Southwest and continues on to Shreveport to the northeast
• U.S. Highway 84 from Waco to the West and continues on to Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia to the east
• U.S. Highway 287 from Fort Worth to the northwest and continues on to Beaumont and Port Arthur to the southeast
• State Highway 19 from Huntsville to the South and continues on to Athens and Paris
• State Highway 155 emanating from Palestine northeast to Tyler
• Loop 127 is entirely within Palestine
• Loop 256 encircles downtown Palestine

Airport

Palestine is served by the general aviation Palestine Municipal Airport, located on the northwest edge of the city. Activated in 1942, its FAA identifier is PSN. Its runway 18/36 has a length of 5005 ft, and crosswind runway 9/27 has a length of 4002 ft. It is home to 31 airplanes, mostly single-engined, and is owned and operated by the city. Palestine was served by Trans-Texas Airlines (later known as Texas International Airlines) during the 1940s and 1950s using Douglas DC-3 aircraft. One afternoon flight arrived from Dallas and Tyler continuing on to Lufkin, Beaumont, and Houston, while another aircraft stopped through going the other way. The service was discontinued between 1952 and 1954.

Notable people

Images for kids

• 

  Map of Palestine, circa 1885

See also

In Spanish: Palestine (Texas) para niños