Wilmer, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
City of Wilmer, Texas
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Wilmer City Hall, April 2018
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Location of Wilmer in Dallas County, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Dallas City Type: Rural |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.40 sq mi (16.57 km2) |
| • Land | 6.34 sq mi (16.43 km2) |
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.14 km2) |
| Elevation | 466 ft (142 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,974 |
| • Density | 777.2/sq mi (300.18/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
75172
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| Area code(s) | 214, 469, 945, 972 |
| FIPS code | 48-79576 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1350245 |
| Website | http://www.cityofwilmer.net/ |
Wilmer is a city located in Dallas County, Texas, in the United States. It's part of the larger Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. In 2010, about 3,682 people lived here. By 2020, the population grew to 4,974 residents.
Contents
Where is Wilmer Located?
Wilmer is found at 32°35′27″N 96°40′57″W / 32.59083°N 96.68250°W. This means it's about 14 miles south of downtown Dallas. The city is right next to Interstate 45, a major highway.
The United States Census Bureau says Wilmer covers about 6.4 square miles (16.7 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a small part being water.
A Look at Wilmer's Past
Early Days and Naming
Before 1850, a person named Andrew K. Gray first settled in this area. It was first called Prairie Valley. In 1872, the Houston and Texas Central Railroad arrived, which helped the community grow.
In 1884, the post office in Prairie Valley changed its name to Wilmer. This new name honored A.J. Wilmer, who was a conductor on the Houston and Texas Central train line. By 1890, about 100 people lived in Wilmer, and it had several stores. Before World War I, the population grew to over 200.
Challenges and Growth
On July 4, 1929, a big fire destroyed most of Wilmer's business area. The town's wells were not deep enough to provide enough water to put out the fire.
Wilmer officially became a city in 1945. J.H. May was elected as the first mayor. His main goal was to set up a proper water system for the city. When it became a city, Wilmer had 136 homes and about 450 people. In 1949, a volunteer fire department started, and they bought a fire truck. Around this time, Wilmer and its neighbor, Hutchins, combined their schools. By 1960, Wilmer had 1,785 residents. Wilmer continued to grow, but slower than other cities in Dallas County. In 2000, Wilmer had 3,393 residents, making it one of the smaller cities in Dallas County.
Who Lives in Wilmer?
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| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (NH) | 765 | 15.38% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,367 | 27.48% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 15 | 0.3% |
| Asian (NH) | 11 | 0.22% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 7 | 0.14% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 9 | 0.18% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 109 | 2.19% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,691 | 54.1% |
| Total | 4,974 |
In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 4,974 people living in Wilmer. There were 1,576 households and 1,095 families in the city.
Wilmer's Economy
Big Businesses and Shipping
Part of Union Pacific's Dallas Intermodal Terminal is located in Wilmer and also in Hutchins. This huge shipping center cost 70 million U.S. dollars to build. It helps move goods across the country.
Because Union Pacific chose Wilmer for its big shipping hub, many large companies have moved here. These include well-known names like Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Whirlpool, Ace Hardware, and Medline. Wilmer is a great place for businesses because it's easy to get to major highways like I-45, I-20, and I-30. It's also close to big airports like DFW International and Love Field.
Business Benefits
Wilmer offers several benefits to businesses, such as lower taxes and special deals. These include tax breaks, funds for economic growth, and state and federal programs. There's also a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ), which helps businesses that import and export goods.
Education in Wilmer
Public Schools
The Dallas Independent School District (DISD) serves students in Wilmer. As of fall 2011, students in Wilmer attend Eddie Bernice Johnson Elementary School, Kennedy-Curry Middle School, and Wilmer-Hutchins High School.
In 2015, the Wilmer Early Childhood Center opened. It is located where the old Wilmer Elementary School used to be.
Higher Education
Residents of Dallas County, including Wilmer, can attend Dallas College. This college used to be known as Dallas County Community College.
School History and Changes
The Wilmer-Hutchins Independent School District (WHISD) used to serve Wilmer. Wilmer Elementary School was part of this district. Kennedy-Curry Middle School and Wilmer-Hutchins High School also served Wilmer students. WHISD closed down in 2005. After the district closed, property values in the area went up.
From 2005 to 2009, different DISD elementary schools served Wilmer. These included W. W. Bushman, B. F. Darrell, J. N. Ervin, and Whitney M. Young elementary schools. Later, only Bushman, Ervin, and Young served the area.
For middle school, Sarah Zumwalt Middle School served Wilmer from 2005 to 2007. Later, Maynard H. Jackson Middle School also served parts of Wilmer. A. Maceo Smith High School was the high school for Wilmer students from 2005 to 2011.
In 2010, DISD announced plans to open or reopen three schools in the Wilmer-Hutchins area in 2011. These were Wilmer Hutchins Elementary School, Kennedy-Curry Middle School, and Wilmer-Hutchins High School. A new DISD elementary school in Wilmer, named after Eddie Bernice Johnson, opened in 2020.
See also
In Spanish: Wilmer (Texas) para niños
