Yoakum, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yoakum, Texas
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Downtown Yoakum
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| Nickname(s):
Leather Capital of Texas,
Hub City of South Texas |
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Location of Yoakum, Texas
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Texas |
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| Counties | Lavaca, DeWitt | |
| Incorporated | May 13, 1889 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Council-Manager | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.59 sq mi (11.89 km2) | |
| • Land | 4.58 sq mi (11.86 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) | |
| Elevation | 365 ft (111.3 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,908 | |
| • Density | 1,296.66/sq mi (500.70/km2) | |
| • Demonym | Yoakumite | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP code |
77995
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| Area code(s) | 361 | |
| FIPS code | 48-80560 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1377671 | |
Yoakum is a city located in Texas, a state in the United States. It is found in both Lavaca and DeWitt counties. In 2020, about 5,908 people lived in Yoakum.
Contents
History of Yoakum
How Yoakum Began
Yoakum started as a small settlement. It grew when the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway was built in 1887. The town was named after Benjamin F. Yoakum, who was a vice president of the railroad company.
Early Growth and Industries
The railroad built important facilities here, like a roundhouse and repair shops. These places employed many people. Yoakum officially became a city in 1889. By 1896, it had a cotton mill, several churches, a bank, and even its own newspapers. About 3,000 people lived there then.
In the early 1900s, the Tex-Tan company made leather goods like saddles and belts. Other businesses included a dairy, food processing plants, and metalworking shops. Yoakum became known as the "tomato capital of south central Texas" starting in 1926, thanks to the many tomato farms nearby.
Geography of Yoakum
Where Yoakum is Located
Yoakum is right on the border between Lavaca and DeWitt counties. Its exact location is 29°17′28″N 97°8′50″W / 29.29111°N 97.14722°W.
Major Roads and Size
U.S. Route 77 Alternate runs along the northwest side of the city. This road goes northeast to Hallettsville (about 17 miles away) and southwest to Cuero (about 16 miles away).
Texas State Highway 111 goes through the middle of Yoakum. It leads southeast to Edna (about 39 miles) and west to Hochheim (about 9 miles). Texas State Highway 95 starts north of Yoakum and goes to Shiner (about 8 miles).
The city covers a total area of about 11.9 square kilometers (4.59 square miles). Most of this area is land, with only a small part (about 0.02 square kilometers) being water.
People of Yoakum
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 1,745 | — | |
| 1900 | 3,499 | 100.5% | |
| 1910 | 4,657 | 33.1% | |
| 1920 | 6,184 | 32.8% | |
| 1930 | 5,656 | −8.5% | |
| 1940 | 4,733 | −16.3% | |
| 1950 | 5,231 | 10.5% | |
| 1960 | 5,761 | 10.1% | |
| 1970 | 5,755 | −0.1% | |
| 1980 | 6,148 | 6.8% | |
| 1990 | 5,611 | −8.7% | |
| 2000 | 5,731 | 2.1% | |
| 2010 | 5,815 | 1.5% | |
| 2020 | 5,908 | 1.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population Overview
In 2020, Yoakum had a population of 5,908 people. There were 2,102 households and 1,485 families living in the city.
Diversity in Yoakum
The people of Yoakum come from many different backgrounds. In 2020, about 35.48% of the population was White (not Hispanic). About 8.48% were Black or African American (not Hispanic). A large part of the population, about 52.42%, was Hispanic or Latino. There were also smaller groups of Native American, Asian, and people of mixed races.
Age Groups
The population in Yoakum includes people of all ages. About 29.1% of the people were under 18 years old. About 17.2% were 65 years old or older. The average age in the city was 35 years.
Notable People from Yoakum
Many interesting people have come from Yoakum, including:
- Carl St. Clair: A famous music director for the Pacific Symphony Orchestra.
- Pappy Daily: A well-known country music producer.
- Wayne Graham: A former Major League Baseball player and a successful baseball coach at Rice University.
- Charlie Hall: A linebacker who played for the Cleveland Browns.
- Hubert Renfro Knickerbocker: A journalist and author who won a Pulitzer Prize.
- Obert Logan: A former NFL safety for the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints.
- Inez Beverly Prosser: A pioneering educator and psychologist. She was the first African-American woman to earn a PhD in psychology.
- Damion Ratley: A wide receiver who played for the Cleveland Browns.
- Ryan Wagner: A relief pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds and the Washington Nationals.
- David B. Hertz: An expert in operations research, known for using Monte Carlo methods in finance.
Climate in Yoakum
Weather Patterns
Yoakum has a type of weather called a humid subtropical climate. This means the summers are hot and humid. The winters are generally mild, meaning they are not too cold.
| Climate data for Yoakum, Texas | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 63.0 (17.2) |
67.0 (19.4) |
74.0 (23.3) |
80.0 (26.7) |
86.0 (30.0) |
92.0 (33.3) |
95.0 (35.0) |
96.0 (35.6) |
91.0 (32.8) |
83.0 (28.3) |
73.0 (22.8) |
65.0 (18.3) |
80.4 (26.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 40.0 (4.4) |
44.0 (6.7) |
51.0 (10.6) |
58.0 (14.4) |
66.0 (18.9) |
71.0 (21.7) |
73.0 (22.8) |
72.0 (22.2) |
68.0 (20.0) |
59.0 (15.0) |
50.0 (10.0) |
43.0 (6.1) |
57.9 (14.4) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.7 (69) |
2.0 (51) |
2.8 (71) |
3.5 (89) |
4.4 (110) |
4.0 (100) |
2.8 (71) |
3.8 (97) |
3.9 (99) |
4.3 (110) |
3.0 (76) |
2.5 (64) |
39.7 (1,007) |
| Average precipitation days | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 60 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Media in Yoakum
Local News
The local newspaper for the Yoakum area is called the Yoakum Herald-Times.
See also
In Spanish: Yoakum (Texas) para niños
