Rising Star, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rising Star, Texas
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Location of Rising Star, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Eastland |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.73 sq mi (4.47 km2) |
| • Land | 1.73 sq mi (4.47 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,634 ft (498 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 756 |
| • Density | 437.0/sq mi (169.13/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
76471
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| Area code(s) | 254 |
| FIPS code | 48-62252 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412555 |
Rising Star is a small town located in Eastland County, Texas, in the United States. In 2020, about 756 people lived there. It's a quiet place with a rich history and a friendly community.
Contents
Exploring Rising Star's Location
Rising Star is found in the southwestern part of Eastland County. Major roads like U.S. Route 183 and Texas State Highway 36 cross through the town. These roads connect Rising Star to other nearby cities.
How Big is Rising Star?
The town of Rising Star covers an area of about 4.5 square kilometers (or 1.73 square miles). All of this area is land, meaning there are no large lakes or rivers within the town's borders.
What is Rising Star's Climate Like?
Rising Star has a climate known as a humid subtropical climate. This means the summers are usually hot and humid. The winters are generally mild, but they can sometimes be cool.
People and Population in Rising Star
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 640 | — | |
| 1920 | 906 | 41.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,160 | 28.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,198 | 3.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,289 | 7.6% | |
| 1960 | 997 | −22.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,009 | 1.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,204 | 19.3% | |
| 1990 | 859 | −28.7% | |
| 2000 | 835 | −2.8% | |
| 2010 | 835 | 0.0% | |
| 2020 | 756 | −9.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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Over the years, the number of people living in Rising Star has changed. For example, in 1950, the town had its highest population with 1,289 residents. By 2020, the population was 756.
Who Lives in Rising Star?
In 2000, there were 835 people living in Rising Star. Most residents were White, with smaller numbers of other racial groups. About 6% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The town had 345 households. Many of these were married couples living together. About 24% of households had children under 18. The average age of people in Rising Star was 43 years old.
The History of Rising Star
The first families arrived in the area that would become Rising Star on January 10, 1875. These seven families were all related to each other. They were looking for new land to settle.
How Settlers Found Land
At that time, the state of Texas had a lot of land that was not owned yet. This land was sold to help pay for public schools and universities. Some land was also given to railroad companies. This helped new train lines be built across Texas.
Settlers could buy this land for a low price. For example, school land could be bought for as little as $1.00 per acre. They often had many years to pay it off. Most of the early families in Rising Star bought land from the railroad companies.
More Families Arrive
Soon, more families moved to the area. Some of these families included the Andersons, Irbys, and Roaches. They helped the community grow even bigger.
How Rising Star Got Its Name
At first, there were no mail routes in this new area. By 1880, the community became a stop on a mail route between Cisco and Brownwood. In 1881, the town asked the U.S. government for a new post office.
The community leaders needed to suggest a name. They chose "Star." However, the Postal Service said there was already a post office named Star in Texas. So, the citizens met again. After a long discussion, one person suggested, "Since we are a rising young community, why don't we just call ourselves Rising Star." Everyone agreed, and the name was accepted!
Railroad Connections
Between 1910 and 1911, a special train track was built to Rising Star. This track was part of the Texas Central line, also known as the Katy Railroad. It connected Rising Star to other towns like De Leon and Cross Plains. However, the Katy Railroad stopped using this track in the 1940s.
Education in Rising Star
Students in Rising Star attend schools within the Rising Star Independent School District. The town is proud to be home to the Rising Star High School Wildcats!
Famous People from Rising Star
- Gene Alford: A professional football player who was born in Rising Star.
- Brooks Holder: A professional baseball player who was also born in Rising Star.
- Joe M. Kilgore: A former U.S. representative (a person who helps make laws for the country) from Texas, who grew up partly in Rising Star.
- Lexie Dean Robertson: A well-known poet who was named Poet Laureate of Texas from 1939 to 1941.
See also
In Spanish: Rising Star (Texas) para niños
