Saturday, February 27, 2016

One of the reasons i think the railroad was such a big thing.............rather obvious........but the hidden reasons..............is b/c of this city.....................whose whole existence was b/c of the railroads..........


Texarkana, Texas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Texarkana, Texas
City
City of Texarkana
Texarkana Municipal Building
Texarkana Municipal Building
Nickname(s): The Texas Side, T-Town, TK, TXK, & Twin City, One Horse Town
Motto: Twice as Nice
Location of Texarkana, Texas
Location of Texarkana, Texas
Texarkana, Texas is located in USA
Texarkana, Texas
Texarkana, Texas
Location in US
Coordinates: 33°26′14″N 94°04′03″WCoordinates: 33°26′14″N 94°04′03″W
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyBowie
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • City CouncilMayor Bob Bruggeman
Bradfield H. Casteel
Willie Ray
Tina Veal-Gooch
Brian L. Matthews
Bill Miller
Josh Davis
 • City ManagerJohn Whitson
Area
 • Total29.5 sq mi (76.3 km2)
 • Land29.0 sq mi (75.2 km2)
 • Water0.4 sq mi (1.1 km2)
Elevation299 ft (91 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total36,411
 • Density1,254/sq mi (484.1/km2)
Time zoneCentral (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST)CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes75500-75599
Area code(s)903, 430
FIPS code48-72368[1]
GNIS feature ID1369752[2]
Websitewww.txkusa.org
Texarkana is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States, located in the Ark-La-Tex region. Together with neighboring Texarkana, Arkansas, it forms the combined city of Texarkana. The population of the Texas city was 36,411 at the 2010 census.[3] The city and its Arkansas counterpart form the core of the Texarkana Metropolitan Statistical Area, encompassing all of Bowie County, Texas, and Miller County, Arkansas. The two cities had a combined population of 66,330 at the 2010 census, and the metropolitan area had a total population of 136,027.[4]

History[edit]

Railroads were quick to see the possibilities of this vast area, and in the late 1850s the builders of the Cairo and Fulton Railroad were pushing their line steadily across Arkansas. By 1874, they had crossed the Red River and had reached the Texas state line. Between February 16 and March 19, 1874, trains ran between the Texas border and the Red River, whence passengers and freight were ferried to Fulton to continue by rail. The Red River Bridge opened on March 20, 1874, and since then trains have run directly from Texarkana to St. Louis.
There was keen rivalry between the 1870s railroad builders. The Texas and Pacific Railroad reached across Texas to the Arkansas state line. The border was the logical place for the different railways to connect. On December 8, 1873, the Texas and Pacific sold the first town lots for the future city. First to buy was J.W. Davis, who purchased the land where today's Hotel McCartney now stands, opposite Union Station.
It is not known who gave Texarkana its name. A popular story credits Colonel Gus Knobel, who surveyed the Iron Mountain Railroad right-of-way from Little Rock to this section to the state line. He allegedly painted "TEX-ARK-ANA" on a plank and nailed it to a tree, saying, "This is the name of a town which is to be built here."
Water tower in Texarkana
Miller County, on the Arkansas side of the metropolitan area, is probably the only county in the United States that was abolished, only to be reestablished later. Miller County was formed in 1820 to honor James Miller who was Arkansas' first governor. Miller County was formed with a large degree of uncertainty as to the location of the line dividing the county and the Mexican boundary. Consequently, settlers felt that Arkansas levied and collected taxes on land that eventually might be held by Mexico. Moreover, many who resented the oppression of Texans by the Mexicans were openly declaring allegiance to the Texans. This led to general unrest, and after the Texas Republic was created, it grew worse. So, in 1838, Governor James Conway proposed that the "easiest and most effective remedy is the abolition of Miller County to an area which is more patriotic." From that year until 1874, it was a part of Lafayette County, Arkansas. Its re-establishment sprung only from the sale of town lots in Texarkana in 1873. Efforts of the young town to be incorporated were not realized until October 17, 1880, nearly seven years after Texarkana, Texas (June 12, 1874) was formed. December 8, 1873, is generally recognized by both cities as the date of organization.[5]

Geography[edit]

Texarkana is located at the junction of Interstate 30 and US highways 59, 67, 71, and 82 in extreme northeast Texas on the Texas-Arkansas border,[6] at 33°26′14″N 94°4′3″W (33.437170, -94.067394).[7] It is bordered by the city of Texarkana, Arkansas, to the east, and by the smaller cities of Nash and Wake Village, Texas, to the west. It is in the Central Time Zone.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Texas city has a total area of 29.5 square miles (76.3 km2), of which 29.0 square miles (75.2 km2) is land and 0.42 square miles (1.1 km2), or 1.39%, is water.[3] The city is roughly 180 miles northeast of Dallas.

Climate[edit]

  • The warmest month is July.
  • The highest recorded temperature was 117 °F (47 °C) in 1936.
  • On average, the coolest month is January.
  • The lowest recorded temperature was -6 °F (-21 °C) in 1989.
  • The most precipitation on average occurs in November.
[hide]Climate data for Texarkana, Texas
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)85
(29)		89
(32)		94
(34)		95
(35)		100
(38)		108
(42)		110
(43)		117
(47)		108
(42)		104
(40)		88
(31)		84
(29)		117
(47)
Average high °F (°C)52.5
(11.4)		58.3
(14.6)		66.5
(19.2)		74.6
(23.7)		81.6
(27.6)		88.9
(31.6)		93.1
(33.9)		93.1
(33.9)		86.3
(30.2)		76.5
(24.7)		63.9
(17.7)		55.1
(12.8)		74.20
(23.44)
Average low °F (°C)30.7
(−0.7)		34.3
(1.3)		41.8
(5.4)		50
(10)		60.4
(15.8)		68.3
(20.2)		72
(22)		70.5
(21.4)		63.6
(17.6)		51.7
(10.9)		41.1
(5.1)		33.5
(0.8)		51.49
(10.83)
Record low °F (°C)−7
(−22)		−3
(−19)		11
(−12)		24
(−4)		35
(2)		50
(10)		52
(11)		51
(11)		37
(3)		22
(−6)		15
(−9)		−1
(−18)		−7
(−22)
Average precipitation inches (mm)3.91
(99.3)		3.8
(97)		4.46
(113.3)		4.23
(107.4)		4.97
(126.2)		4.82
(122.4)		3.62
(91.9)		2.41
(61.2)		3.77
(95.8)		4.61
(117.1)		5.69
(144.5)		4.95
(125.7)		51.24
(1,301.5)
[citation needed]
On the evening of May 22, 2008 a microburst producing winds up to 100 mph occurred over Stateline Avenue and surrounding communities. An analysis of radar data leading up to the damage showed that two severe thunderstorms came together on the south side of the city. One severe storm was moving northeastward from Southern Bowie County while the other was moving northwestward through Miller County. Both storms collided in an area just south of Downtown Texarkana.

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18801,833—
18902,85255.6%
19005,25684.3%
19109,79086.3%
192011,48017.3%
193016,60244.6%
194017,0192.5%
195024,75345.4%
196030,21822.1%
197030,4970.9%
198031,2712.5%
199031,6561.2%
200034,7829.9%
201036,4114.7%
Est. 201437,225[8]2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 34,782 people, 13,569 households, and 8,941 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,357.3 people per square mile (524.0/km²). There were 15,105 housing units at an average density of 589.4 per square mile (227.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.18% White, 37.05% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.73% Asian (U.S. Census), 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.43% from other races and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.91% of the population.
There were 13,569 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 19.3% have a female householder with no husband present and 34.1% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 26.0% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,727, and the median income for a family was $38,505. Males had a median income of $34,155 versus $21,143 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,815. About 19.4% of families and 24.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.8% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over. The most affluent area of Texarkana is Pleasant Grove, where the median income is $49,562 for each household and the median for a family is $57,219 in 2013.

Economy[edit]

According to the city's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[10] the top employers in the city are:
#Employer# of Employees
1Red River Army Depot & tenants7,200
2Christus St. Michael Health Care1,883
3Cooper Tire & Rubber Company1,700
4Domtar1,300
5Wal-Mart1,100
6International Paper925
7Wadley Regional Medical Center850
8Texarkana Independent School District795
9Texarkana Arkansas School District785
10Southern Refrigerated Transport750

Government[edit]

Local government[edit]

According to the city's most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Fund Financial Statements, the city's various funds had $36.0 million in revenues, $37.0 million in expenditures, $18.9 million in total assets, $3.5 million in total liabilities, and $7.2 million in investments.[11]
The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:[10]
-
DepartmentDirector
City ManagerJohn A. Whitson
Assistant City ManagerShirley Jaster
City SecretaryJennifer Evans
-
Municipal Court JudgeSherry Jackson
Police ChiefDaniel Shiner
Director of Human ResourcesJim Powell
Director of Community Planning and DevelopmentDavid Orr
Finance DirectorCharles L. Bassett, Jr.
Chief Building OfficialLynn Henry
Public Information OfficerLisa Thompson
Director of Public WorksKyle Dooley
Director of ParksRobby Robertson

Education[edit]

Public school districts[edit]

Colleges and universities[edit]

Texarkana is home to Texas A&M University–Texarkana, a four-year branch of the Texas A&M University System, and to Texarkana College, a community college.

Religion[edit]

Texarkana is the headquarters of the theologically conservative American Baptist Association, whose Missionary Baptist churches are most numerous in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana,Oklahoma, and Mississippi.

State government[edit]

Though the city was historically Democratic, Texarkana is currently represented by Republicans in both houses of the Texas State Legislature. The state senator is Kevin Eltife from District 1. George Lavender of Texarkana represents Texas House District 1.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Texarkana District Parole Office in Texarkana.[13]
The Texas Sixth Court of Appeals is located downtown in the Bi-State Justice Building.[14]

Federal government[edit]

At the federal level, the two U.S. senators from Texas are Republicans John Cornyn and Ted Cruz; Texarkana is part of Texas's 4th congressional district, which is currently represented by Republican John Ratcliffe.
The Federal Courthouse (which also holds the downtown post office[15]) is located directly on the Arkansas-Texas state line and is the only federal office building to straddle a state line. During his campaign for the presidency in 1960. John F. Kennedy spoke on the steps of the courthouse.
The Federal Correctional Institution, Texarkana, is a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility in unincorporated Bowie County just outside the southwest border of the city.[16][17]

Transportation[edit]

Amtrak station in Texarkana
Texarkana Regional Airport is located in Texarkana, Arkansas, and serves general aviation and American Eagle service to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
Texarkana Union Station is located in downtown Texarkana along the state line, with daily Amtrak service west to Los Angeles via Dallas, San Antonio, and El Paso and east to Chicago via Little Rock and St. Louis.
The Texarkana Urban Transit District provides bus transportation to major areas of town along nine different routes. Service runs from 5:30 am to 6:20 pm Monday - Saturday.
Interstate 30 passes through Texarkana on the north. Loop 151 on the west of the city forms part of the Texarkana Loop, a three-quarter loop around the west, south and east of the twin cities with I-30 completing the loop on the north. Interstate 369 shares the western portion of Loop 151. Interstate 49is a newly constructed interstate corridor on the Arkansas side of the city which will connect Texarkana to Shreveport, Louisiana.

Notable people[edit]

In popular culture[edit]

  • Texarkana is referenced in the song "Cotton Fields" by the American folk and blues musician Lead Belly and later recorded by several notable country rock artists, including The Highwaymen, Buck Owens, The Beach Boys and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Lead Belly (Huddie Ledbetter), was born on a cotton plantation near Linden, Texas, about 40 miles southwest of Texarkana, and later worked on a plantation near De Kalb, Texas, about 35 miles west of Texarkana.
  • In the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit, Texarkana is the city Bandit and his buddy Snowman must reach to pick up 400 cases of Coors beer and bring back to Atlanta, Georgia in 28 hours.
  • "Texarkana" is a 1991 song by R.E.M.. The track appears on the band's seventh studio album, Out of Time.
  • In the novel A Canticle for Leibowitz, centuries after a nuclear war that reduces world civilization to a second dark age, Texarkana rises as the capital of a burgeoning empire that expands across the former United States and becomes known as the Atlantic Confederacy.

Photo gallery[edit]

  • The Justice Center in Texarkana is shared by both the Arkansas and Texas governments.
    •  
  • Texarkana Public Library
    •  
  • Saenger Theatre
    •  
  • Capital One Bank, Texarkana
    •  
  • Korean War Memorial in Texarkana commemorates those killed in the war from the Four-States Area.
    •  
  • Beech Street FirstBaptist Church; former pastor is Mike Huckabee.
    •  
  • Beech Street Baptist Church, Texarkana, Ark.-Tex. (postcard, 1909)
    •  
  • Beech Street Baptist Church, Texarkana, Ark-Tex (postcard, 1910-side view)
    •  
  • Central Christian Church, a Disciples of Christ congregation, at 4605 North State Line in Texarkana, Texas
    •  
  • Water tower in Texarkana


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