Rockdale, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rockdale, Texas
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Rockdale City Hall
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| Motto(s):
"Great Things Happen Here"
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Location of Rockdale, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Milam |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.01 sq mi (10.39 km2) |
| • Land | 4.01 sq mi (10.39 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 466 ft (142 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,323 |
| • Density | 1,371.29/sq mi (529.42/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
76567
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| Area code(s) | 512 |
| FIPS code | 48-62672 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1366723 |
| Website | City of Rockdale, Texas |
Rockdale is a city in Milam County, Texas, United States. It's known for its motto, "Great Things Happen Here." In 2020, about 5,323 people lived there. Rockdale is located in central Texas, about 41 miles west of College Station.
Contents
History of Rockdale
Long ago, around 1751, a wooden fort was built near the San Xavier River. This fort, called San Francisco Xavier de Gigedo Presidio, protected missions in the area. It was also a stopping point on the "Camino Real," an important old road.
The city of Rockdale started to grow in 1873. This happened when the International-Great Northern Railroad built tracks through the area. The town got its name from a large rock nearby. This rock was about 12 feet tall and 20 feet around! Rockdale officially became a city in 1878.
Geography and Climate
Rockdale is located at 30°39′17″N 97°0′27″W / 30.65472°N 97.00750°W. The city covers about 3.1 square miles (8.0 km2) of land. There are no large bodies of water within the city limits.
Rockdale's Weather
Rockdale has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool.
People of Rockdale
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,185 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,505 | 27.0% | |
| 1900 | 2,515 | 67.1% | |
| 1910 | 2,073 | −17.6% | |
| 1920 | 2,323 | 12.1% | |
| 1930 | 2,204 | −5.1% | |
| 1940 | 2,136 | −3.1% | |
| 1950 | 2,321 | 8.7% | |
| 1960 | 4,481 | 93.1% | |
| 1970 | 4,655 | 3.9% | |
| 1980 | 5,611 | 20.5% | |
| 1990 | 5,235 | −6.7% | |
| 2000 | 5,439 | 3.9% | |
| 2010 | 5,595 | 2.9% | |
| 2020 | 5,323 | −4.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 5,323 people living in Rockdale. There were 2,026 households and 1,154 families.
Diversity in Rockdale
Rockdale is home to a diverse group of people. Here's a look at the different groups living there in 2020:
| Group | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 52.49% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 11.37% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (not Hispanic) | 0.3% |
| Asian (not Hispanic) | 0.64% |
| Pacific Islander (not Hispanic) | 0.06% |
| Other Race (not Hispanic) | 0.54% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (not Hispanic) | 2.93% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 31.67% |
Household Information
In 2017, there were 2,077 households in Rockdale. About 33.1% of these households had children under 18. Many households (51.9%) were married couples living together. About 28.2% of all households were single individuals. Also, 15.6% of households had someone aged 65 or older living alone.
The average household had 2.55 people. The average family had 3.14 people.
Age Distribution
The people in Rockdale have different ages. About 28.5% of the population was under 18. About 19.1% were 65 or older. The average age in the city was 36 years old.
Income Levels
In Rockdale, the average income for a household was $34,612. For families, the average income was $39,491. About 18.3% of the total population lived below the poverty line. This included 27.7% of those under 18.
Rockdale's Economy
Rockdale's economy has changed a lot over the years.
Alcoa Plant's Impact
Rockdale was once home to a very large Alcoa aluminium smelting facility. This plant could make a huge amount of aluminum every day. When Alcoa arrived in 1952, the city's population almost doubled. Rockdale changed from a farming community to one with many manufacturing jobs.
However, the aluminum making stopped in 2008. The entire Alcoa plant closed in February 2014.
Power Plant and New Industries
The Sandow Power Plant was also in Rockdale, but it closed in 2018.
Today, some of the old Alcoa buildings are used by cryptocurrency miners. These companies, like Bitdeer and Riot Blockchain, use the electricity lines that were built for the old aluminum plant.
Education in Rockdale
Students in Rockdale attend schools in the Rockdale Independent School District.
Local Media
- The Rockdale Reporter is the local newspaper.
- KRXT is the local radio station.
Famous People from Rockdale
Many notable people have connections to Rockdale:
- Stan Blinka - A former NFL football player.
- Lee Roy Caffey - An NFL football player who was born and retired in Rockdale.
- Le'Raven Clark - An NFL football player.
- Kenneth Cockrell - A NASA astronaut who graduated from Rockdale High School.
- Pee Wee Crayton - A famous Blues guitarist.
- Dan Kubiak and L. B. Kubiak - Brothers who both served in the Texas House of Representatives.
- Billy Ray Locklin - A former AFL and Canadian Football League defensive back.
- Gordon McKee - A former track and field athlete.
- Liz Galloway McQuitter - A professional basketball player and coach.
- George Sessions Perry - An author who wrote about Rockdale.
- Sam Williams - A former NFL defensive back.
- Leroy Wright - A former American Basketball Association player and coach.
- Joseph S. Stiborik - A radar operator on the Enola Gay.
Images for kids
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Planta y perfil del reducto proyectado en las márgenes del río San Javier, en la provincia de Texas
See also
In Spanish: Rockdale (Texas) para niños
