Vidor, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vidor, Texas
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Vidor City Hall
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Orange |
| Founded | 1898 |
| Incorporated | 1960 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 12.118 sq mi (31.385 km2) |
| • Land | 12.015 sq mi (31.119 km2) |
| • Water | 0.103 sq mi (0.268 km2) |
| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 9,789 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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9,738 |
| • Density | 810.41/sq mi (312.91/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
77662, 77670
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| Area code(s) | 409 |
| FIPS code | 48-75476 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412157 |
| Sales tax | 8.25% |
Vidor is a city in western Orange County, Texas, United States. It's part of Southeast Texas and is located where Interstate 10 and Farm to Market Road 105 meet. Vidor is about 6 miles east of Beaumont. Many people who live in Vidor work in the nearby oil refineries in Beaumont and Port Arthur. In 2020, about 9,789 people lived there.
Historically, Vidor was known as a "sundown town". This term describes communities that were mostly white and where people of other races were not welcome, especially after dark. In 1993, a judge ordered that public housing in Vidor and other parts of Texas needed to allow people of all races. While some groups protested this change, many citizens spoke out against the idea of keeping people apart based on race.
Contents
History of Vidor
The Vidor area was once covered in thick forests. Many trees were cut down after the Texarkana and Fort Smith Railway was built. This railway later became part of a line connecting Kansas City to Port Arthur, Texas.
The city got its name from Charles Shelton Vidor. He owned the Miller-Vidor Lumber Company. His son, King Vidor, became a famous movie director. By 1909, Vidor had its own post office. A few years later, the lumber company built a special road for its trams. Most people in Vidor worked for this company.
In 1924, the Miller-Vidor Lumber Company moved to Lakeview, north of Vidor. They were looking for new forests to cut down. But a small community stayed behind. Vidor officially became a city in 1960.
Changes in Vidor's Community
Vidor used to be known as a "sundown town". This meant that African Americans were not allowed to stay there after sunset. In 1993, a judge ordered that public housing in Vidor and 35 other counties in East Texas had to allow people of all races.
After this order, some groups held protests against it. However, many church leaders and citizens held a large prayer rally to show they were against hatred and for equality. When some Black families moved into the housing complex, they faced challenges. Despite these difficulties, people continued to work for change. In 2020, during the George Floyd protests, a Black Lives Matter rally was held in Vidor. It was attended by a diverse group of 150–200 people, showing a shift in the community.
Vidor and nearby areas have been hit by strong hurricanes. These include Hurricane Rita in 2005, Hurricane Ike in 2008, and Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Residents sometimes had to leave their homes for about two weeks because of these storms.
Geography
Vidor covers an area of about 12.118 square miles (31.385 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Population and People
Vidor's population has changed over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 2,136 | — | |
| 1960 | 4,938 | 131.2% | |
| 1970 | 9,738 | 97.2% | |
| 1980 | 11,834 | 21.5% | |
| 1990 | 10,935 | −7.6% | |
| 2000 | 11,440 | 4.6% | |
| 2010 | 10,579 | −7.5% | |
| 2020 | 9,789 | −7.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 9,738 | −7.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census Texas Almanac: 1850-2000 2020 Census |
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As of the 2020 census, there were 9,789 people living in Vidor. Most residents were White (91.7%). About 6.92% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
In 2022, the average household in Vidor had about 2.50 people. The median household income was about $56,866. Most households (73.8%) owned their homes. About 7.9% of the people in Vidor lived at or below the poverty line. Many adults in Vidor have a high school diploma (87.1%), and some have a bachelor's degree or higher (9.9%).
The most common family backgrounds reported by residents include German, Irish, French, and English. The average age of people in Vidor was 40.7 years old.
Education
The schools in Vidor are part of the Vidor Independent School District. This is the largest school district in Orange County.
Notable People
Many interesting people have connections to Vidor:
- Tracy Byrd – a country music singer
- Tamara Hext – Miss Texas in 1984
- John Hirasaki – a mechanical engineer who worked for NASA
- George Jones – a famous country music singer
- Roger Mobley – a former child actor who later became a police detective in Vidor
- David Ozio – a professional bowler and Hall of Famer
- Don Rollins – a songwriter, who co-wrote the song "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"
- Billie Jo Spears – a country music singer
- Clay Walker – a country music singer
See also
In Spanish: Vidor (Texas) para niños
