Wells, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wells, Texas
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| Nickname(s):
"The city between two rivers"
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Location of Wells, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Cherokee |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.0 sq mi (5.0 km2) |
| • Land | 2.0 sq mi (5.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 325 ft (99 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 769 |
| • Density | 401.8/sq mi (155.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
75976
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| Area code(s) | 936 |
| FIPS code | 48-77176 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1371031 |
Wells is a town in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. The population was 769 at the 2010 census.
Wells is served by the 75976 Zip Code and 936 Area Code.
Contents
Geography
Wells is located at 31°29′25″N 94°56′27″W / 31.49028°N 94.94083°W (31.490395, -94.940950).
Wells is in the southernmost tip of Cherokee County in East Texas approximately 65 miles (105 km) south of Tyler and 17 miles (27 km) north of Lufkin on U.S. 69. Nacogdoches is 20 miles (32 km) Northeast, Dallas is 165.84 miles (266.89 km) to the north and west while Houston is 137.51 miles (221.30 km) to the south and west.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2), all of it land.
History
Wells is at the junction of U.S. Highway 69 and Farm Road 1247, twenty-three miles south of Rusk in extreme southern Cherokee County. It was established in 1885 as a stop on the newly constructed Kansas and Gulf Short Line Railroad and was named for Maj. E. H. Wells, a civil engineer for the railroad. A post office opened in 1886, and by 1890 the town had a sawmill, a hotel, a Methodist church, three general stores, and a population of fifty. Shortly after the railroad was completed, the state penitentiary established a satellite camp just outside the town to produce charcoal for the state-run iron works at Rusk. The presence of the prison camp discouraged many potential settlers, and the town's population remained small until after 1900, when the charcoal camp was closed. During the 1910s, however, the town boomed; the First State Bank of Wells opened in 1913, and the following year the population reached 300. During the 1920s the community incorporated, and in 1936 Wells reported 475 residents and twenty businesses. The population continued to grow after World War II, rising to 761 by 1990. Over the same period, however, the number of businesses has gradually declined, falling from twenty-six in 1952 to seven in 1990. Farming, cattle ranching, and lumber are the principal industries.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 475 | — | |
| 1940 | 696 | 46.5% | |
| 1950 | 718 | 3.2% | |
| 1960 | 544 | −24.2% | |
| 1970 | 671 | 23.3% | |
| 1980 | 926 | 38.0% | |
| 1990 | 761 | −17.8% | |
| 2000 | 769 | 1.1% | |
| 2010 | 790 | 2.7% | |
| Est. 2015 | 796 | 0.8% | |
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As of the census of 2000, there were 769 people, 275 households, and 191 families residing in the town. The population density was 401.8 people per square mile (155.5/km²). There were 333 housing units at an average density of 174.0 per square mile (67.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 72.43% White, 18.73% African American, 0.26% Native American, 6.50% from other races, and 2.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.10% of the population.
There were 275 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the town, the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $21,518, and the median income for a family was $26,563. Males had a median income of $24,659 versus $18,542 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,639. About 20.2% of families and 28.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.4% of those under age 18 and 29.5% of those age 65 or over.
Images for kids
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Historic railroad depot in Wells, Texas
