Whitney, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Whitney, Texas
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Downtown Whitney
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| Nickname(s):
"Getaway Capital of Texas"
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Location of Whitney, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Hill |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.88 sq mi (4.88 km2) |
| • Land | 1.86 sq mi (4.82 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 587 ft (179 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,992 |
| • Density | 1,162.37/sq mi (448.72/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
76692
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| Area code(s) | 254 |
| FIPS code | 48-78664 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413482 |
Whitney is a city located in Hill County, Texas, United States. In 2020, the city had a population of 1,992 people. Whitney is situated about 3 miles (5 km) east of Lake Whitney, a popular spot for outdoor activities.
Contents
The Story of Whitney: How it Began
Whitney was founded in 1876. This happened when the Houston and Texas Central Railroad (H&TC) built a train line through Hill County. The town was named after Charles A. Whitney. He was a main owner of the H&TC railroad and related to Charles Morgan, a well-known businessman.
The Battle of the Benches: A Town's Funny Fight
In 1922, a local pharmacist named D. Scarborough put a bench outside his store in Whitney. Soon, this bench became a favorite spot for older men in town. They would sit there to relax, talk, and watch the world go by.
After World War II, Whitney started to become more modern. Some of the town's women felt that the old bench and the men's habits were outdated. They asked the young mayor, Fred Basham, to remove the bench. They complained about the men spitting and using rough language.
The mayor agreed and had the chief of police move the bench into a nearby alley. The old men were very upset when they found their special spot gone. They quickly gathered signatures for a petition, asking for the bench to be put back.
When the town leaders did not listen, the men brought out nail kegs to sit on where the bench used to be. The chief of police threatened to take away their nail kegs. This made the old men even angrier. They demanded a special town election to decide if the bench should be returned.
On July 30, 1949, the town held a vote. The women and the mayor lost the election. The people voted 124 to 67 in favor of bringing the bench back.
Whitney's Location and Natural Features
Whitney is located in the western part of Hill County. Texas State Highway 22 runs through the southeast side of the city. This highway goes east about 12 miles (19 km) to Hillsboro, which is the main town of the county. It goes west about 26 miles (42 km) to Meridian. Lake Whitney State Park is a fun place to visit, located about 3 miles (5 km) west of Whitney. You can get there by taking Farm to Market Road 1244.
The United States Census Bureau reports that Whitney covers a total area of about 1.88 square miles (4.9 square kilometers). A small part of this area, about 0.02 square miles (0.06 square kilometers), is covered by water. This means about 1.23% of the city's area is water.
How Many People Live in Whitney?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 526 | — | |
| 1910 | 766 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,011 | 32.0% | |
| 1930 | 751 | −25.7% | |
| 1940 | 824 | 9.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,383 | 67.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,050 | −24.1% | |
| 1970 | 1,371 | 30.6% | |
| 1980 | 1,631 | 19.0% | |
| 1990 | 1,626 | −0.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,833 | 12.7% | |
| 2010 | 2,087 | 13.9% | |
| 2020 | 1,992 | −4.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Understanding Whitney's Population in 2020
The table below shows the different groups of people living in Whitney, based on the 2020 United States census. NH means "Non-Hispanic."
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (NH) | 1,436 | 72.09% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 133 | 6.68% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 3 | 0.15% |
| Asian (NH) | 15 | 0.75% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 1 | 0.05% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 5 | 0.25% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 82 | 4.12% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 317 | 15.91% |
| Total | 1,992 |
According to the 2020 United States census, there were 1,992 people living in Whitney. These people lived in 762 different households, and 497 of these were families.
Schools in Whitney
The city of Whitney is served by the Whitney Independent School District. This school district provides education for the children living in the area.
Famous People from Whitney
- Tommy Duncan was a country musician. He was a founding member of the famous band called the Texas Playboys.
- John Prentice was a cartoonist and comic-book artist. He was born in Whitney.
See also
In Spanish: Whitney (Texas) para niños
