Richland Springs, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richland Springs, Texas
Town
Nickname(s):  Home of the fighting Coyotes
Motto(s):  Coyotes Fight Never Die
Location of Richland Springs, Texas
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	San Saba
Area
• Total	1.00 sq mi (2.60 km2)
• Land	1.00 sq mi (2.60 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,404 ft (428 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	244
• Density	244/sq mi (93.8/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	76871
Area code(s)	325
FIPS code	48-61880
GNIS feature ID	2412549

Richland Springs is a small town located in San Saba County, Texas, United States. In 2020, the town had a population of 244 people. It is known for its nickname, "Home of the Fighting Coyotes," which refers to the local school's successful sports teams.

History of Richland Springs

Richland Springs began to grow in the 1800s. It became a place where local farmers could sell their cotton and cattle. The first settlers, Jackson J. Brown and his family, arrived near Richland Springs Creek in December 1854. Other families, like the Tankersleys and Duncans, soon followed.

In the late 1850s, a private fort called Fort Duncan was built near the springs. This was to protect settlers from conflicts with Native American groups. However, the fort was not used for long. In 1868, the Brown School was built, named after the first settler. More people moved to the area in the 1870s. In 1877, a post office opened in the store of Samuel E. Hays.

The community got its name from the nearby springs and the good farming land. By 1890, about 150 people lived there. The town had businesses that supported cotton, grain, and livestock farming. It also had a local court and police. A newspaper called the Eye-Witness started in 1905. Soon after, the First State Bank was created. In 1911, a railway line was completed, connecting the town to major cities like Galveston and Amarillo.

Richland Springs officially became a town in 1932. It was run by a mayor and a town council. The town grew, with nearly 500 residents and about forty businesses. But then, the Great Depression hit, which was a time of severe economic hardship. This caused the town to struggle.

World War II helped the town recover in the 1940s. By the early 1950s, about 600 people lived there. However, the number of businesses was still lower than before the Depression. A three-year drought in the mid-1950s hurt the local economy again. The town's only bank failed, and within ten years, the population and businesses were cut almost in half.

The town slowly started to recover in the 1960s. This recovery was helped by local fruit and nut growers. In 1982, Richland Springs had 420 residents and five businesses. By 1986, the number of businesses grew to eight. In 1990, the population was 344, and in 2000, it was 350.

Geography and Climate

Richland Springs covers about 1 square mile (2.6 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the town limits.

Local Climate

The weather in Richland Springs has hot, humid summers. Winters are generally mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate. It means the area gets a good amount of rain throughout the year, and temperatures are usually warm.

Population Information

The population of Richland Springs has changed over the years:

• 1930: 492 people
• 1940: 541 people
• 1950: 584 people
• 1960: 331 people
• 1970: 425 people
• 1980: 420 people
• 1990: 344 people
• 2000: 350 people
• 2010: 338 people
• 2020: 244 people

According to the 2020 census, there were 244 people living in 69 households. This means there were about 244 people per square mile. Most of the people (86.9%) were White. About 13.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.

In the households, about 12.1% had children under 18 living with them. About 44.9% were married couples. The average household had 3.58 people. The average family had 4.16 people.

Looking at age groups, 20.1% of the population was under 18 years old. About 15.6% were 65 years or older. The average age in the town was 18.9 years.

The average income for a household in the town was $23,563. For married couples, the average income was $81,875. About 14.6% of the population lived below the poverty line, which means they had very low incomes.

Education

The Richland Springs Independent School District serves the town. It has one school campus that teaches students from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade.

The Richland Springs Coyotes are famous for their six-man football team. They have played in 10 Texas state championships and have won nine of them. This makes them a very successful team!

See also

In Spanish: Richland Springs (Texas) para niños