Lufkin, Texas
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| Lufkin, Texas | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Angelina |
| Area | |
| - Total | 26.8 sq mi (69.5 km²) |
| - Land | 26.7 sq mi (69.2 km²) |
| - Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²) |
| Elevation | 312 ft (95 m) |
| Population (2006) | |
| - Total | 33,863 |
| - Density | 1,225.1/sq mi (473.0/km²) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| Area code(s) | 936 |
| FIPS code | 48-45072[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1382208[2] |
Lufkin is a city in Angelina County, Texas, United States. The population was 32,709 at the 2000 census making Lufkin the 76th largest city in Texas. It is the county seat of Angelina County[3], and is situated in East Texas. The town is named for Abraham P. Lufkin, a cotton merchant and Galveston, Texas city councilman. Lufkin was the son-in-law of Paul Bremond, president of the Houston, East and West Texas Railway which developed the town.
Founded in 1882, Lufkin is home to Lufkin Industries, which manufactures and services oil field equipment and power transmission equipment. It is also a leading supplier of creosote treated utility poles.
Lufkin is also home to the Atkinson Candy Company, the creator of the Chick-O-Stick, and Brookshire Brothers, a chain of grocery stores in Texas and Louisiana.
Lufkin is served by two hospitals, the Memorial Medical Center at Lufkin, which includes the Arthur Temple Sr. Regional Cancer Center, and Woodlands Heights Medical Center.
The space shuttle Columbia disaster happened in the Lufkin area.
Lufkin is well known for its high school football team, the Lufkin Panthers.
Lufkin celebrated its 125th anniversary in October 2007.
Lufkin will receive Texas's first biomass power plant in late 2009. Aspen Power will build the power plant.
The headquarters of all four United States National Forests and two United States National Grasslands in Texas are located in Lufkin. They are the Angelina, Davy Crockett, Sabine, and Sam Houston National Forests and the Caddo and Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands. (Three other National Grasslands in Texas, the Black Kettle, McClellan Creek, and Rita Blanca, are headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico.)
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[edit] Geography
Lufkin is located at (31.336874, -94.730374)[4].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.8 square miles (69.5 km²), of which, 26.7 square miles (69.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.48%) is water.
Lufkin is at the crossroads of East Texas at the intersections of Highways US 59, future Interstate 69, which leads to Houston and the Rio Grande Valley to the south and Nacogdoches and Texarkana and points to the North and US 69 which leads from the Golden Triangle of Southeast Texas, Port Arthur and Beaumont to the Southeast to points such as Jacksonville, Tyler, Dallas, and Oklahoma to the north.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 32,709 people, 12,247 households, and 8,364 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,225.1 people per square mile (473.0/km²). There were 13,402 housing units at an average density of 502.0/sq mi (193.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.92% White, 26.58% African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.38% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 10.31% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.59% of the population.
There were 12,247 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,989, and the median income for a family was $40,591. Males had a median income of $30,922 versus $20,008 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,613. About 15.0% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Economy
Some of the city's major employers include:
- Angelina College, a local community college,enrolling between 4,000 and 5,000 students in recent years.
- Atkinson Candy Company: founded and headquartered in Lufkin, makers of the famous Chick-O-Stick.
- Brookshire Brothers: a regional grocery company founded and headquartered in Lufkin. The company has 5 stores in the Lufkin area and over 70 stores nationwide.
- The Burke Center: provides a variety of quality behavioral healthcare services to people with mental illness, mental retardation, and chemical dependency.
- Citation (former Texas Foundries): manufactures high-volume ductile iron castings using sand molds.
- Lufkin Industries: founded and headquartered in Lufkin, produces oil pumping equipment (pumpjacks and automation), power transmission (gears) equipment. Lufkin announced in January 2008 that it would cease trailer production and close the trailer plant in Homer, TX. Lufkin also operates a foundry business.
- Lufkin ISD: The city's school district, which includes many elementary schools, a middle school and high school.
- Lufkin State School: a 24-hour residential facility for over 430 people who have mental retardation with varying degrees of abilities and disabilities.
- Memorial Health System of East Texas: the largest health care system in the deep East Texas area
- Pilgrim's Pride: pre-packaged poultry/poultry processing
- Temple-Inland: a Fortune 500 company founded in nearby Diboll, Texas that produces paper, wood, and other related products.
- Wal-Mart: is also, coincidentally, the largest private employer in the world, a Supercenter is located in Lufkin.
- Woodland Heights Medical Center: established in 1918, was Lufkin's first hospital
- Abitibi-Consolidated (recently merged into AbitibiBowater Inc.): a company that produces paper for newspapers and magazines. Abitibi announced on 29 Nov 2007, that it would permanently close this mill. The company is cooperating in the investigation of groundwater contamination by the mill landfill (Jan 2008).
[edit] Famous Citizens
- Chad Alexander- 1992 USA Today High School All American, Texas A&M University 1995 NCAA All-American, 2nd round draft pick of Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers
- Ken "Hubcap" Carter - Radio DJ and newsman and member of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame
- Betty Conner - actress in Gidget (TV series) [1]
- Morris Frank - former sportswriter [2]
- Brian Gilmore- WR San Francisco 49'ers
- Andrea Celeste Green - former United States National Rifle Team member, current record holder at Texas Christian University, 2006 NCAA Finalist, and 2003 All-American
- Rex Hadnot - former Houston Cougar OL, current Miami Dolphin center
- Ken Houston - Lufkin Dunbar graduate who played for the Houston Oilers and Washington Redskins before being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Joe Williams - Lufkin Dunbar graduate who was a member of the World Champion Dallas Cowboys and also played for the New Orleans Saints
- Terrence Kiel - former Aggie and former San Diego Chargers safety.
- Jorvorskie Lane - current Aggie running back [3]
- Abe Martin - Football Coach
- Murphy Martin - Lufkin and Dallas area newsman and ABC News anchorman [4]
- R. B ("Robert B.") McIntire - long time news announcer on KILT radio in Houston
- Reggie McNeal - former Aggie QB and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver. who now is in jail.
- Don Muhlbach - former Aggie and current Detroit Lions deep snapper.
- Tom Murphy (baseball) - former MLB pitcher.
- Joe Robb - former lineman for the St. Louis Cardinals, predecessor to the Arizona Cardinals
- Pete Runnels - former Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox and Houston Colt .45s infielder.
- Chris Seelbach - former Atlanta Braves pitcher [5]
- Allan Shivers - 37th Texas Governor, 1949-1957
- Thad Sitton - historian and writer
- Craig Whitaker - supplemental 1st round pick out of Lufkin High School, currently in the minor leagues with the San Francisco Giants [6]
- J. Frank Wilson - lead vocalist of J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers
- Charlie Wilson - a former U.S Representative best known for leading the CIA into a 'covert war' in Afghanistan widely reported in newspapers at the time
[edit] Transportation
Lufkin is served by U.S. Highway 69 and U.S. Highway 59.
State Highway 103 and State Highway 94 serve Lufkin.
Lufkin will be served by the extension to Interstate 69 which is planned to run from Canadian border at Port Huron, Michigan to the Texas/Mexico border.
General Aviation service is provided by Angelina County Airport.
The Coach USA bus lines is served in Lufkin, carried under the Kerville Bus Company.
The District (formerly Brazos Valley Transit Authority) provides public bus transportation in the Lufkin area.
The Checkerboard Taxi Company and Hughes Cab Company serve the Lufkin area for taxi service.
The Angelina and Neches River Railroad (A&NR) runs through Lufkin. It runs for approx. 20 miles and runs into the Union Pacific Railroad lines.
[edit] Education
Almost all of Lufkin is served by the Lufkin Independent School District.
A few small sections in the west are within the Hudson Independent School District.
Angelina College serves the Lufkin area. Stephen F. Austin State University is located in nearby Nacogdoches.
The Kurth Memorial Library is in Lufkin [7].
[edit] Media
Lufkin currently has a growing number of media.
[edit] Newspaper
[edit] Television
- KTRE - KTRE Channel 9 (ABC)
- KETK-LP - KETK NBC 54 (NBC)
- KYTX - KYTX Channel 19 (CBS)
- KFXK-LP - KFXL Channel 30 (FOX)
[edit] Radio
[edit] AM stations
- KSFA - News Talk 860 (News/Talk)
- KRBA - 1340 AM
[edit] FM stations
- KAFX-FM - KFOX 95.5 (Top 40)
- KLDN - Red River Radio (NPR)
- KTBQ - Classic Rock Q107 (Classic Rock)
- KVLL - Sunny 94.7 (Oldies)
- KSWP - 90.9 KSWP (Contemporary Christian)
- KAVX - KAVX 91.9 (Christian Talk)
- KYBI - Y100 (Adult Contemporary)
- KSML- Super Mix 101.9(Regional Mexican)
[edit] Points of interest
Ellen Trout Zoo-a public zoo owned by the City of Lufkin with over 500 animals, including hippopotamuses, giraffes, rhinos, and much more.
Ellen Trout Park -- Fishing is also available for free at the lake, and 2 public playgrounds with slides, and more are available for the kids to play on without charge.
Crown Colony Country Club Golf Course- The #3 rated golf course in Texas by The Dallas Morning News, this course has small, demanding landing areas that require accuracy with every shot you make. The 18-hole "Crown Colony" course at the Crown Colony Country Club facility features 6,692 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72.
Texas Forestry Museum- a great museum about the forestry of the Lufkin and East Texas area. Includes all kinds of temporary and permanent exhibitions about the forestry service and nature. Located in northeastern Lufkin, on Atkinson Drive SH 103.
Museum of East Texas- a famous local museum. Offers temporary and permanent exhibitions on regional history and art, as well as local pieces.
Lufkin Mall- a mall with over 60 specialty shops. Includes JC Penney, Sears, Bealls, a 12-screen Carmike Cinema, and a soft play area for the kids. Also includes stores like American Eagle, Kirklands, Bath & Body Works, Buckle, Gap, and much more. Two new anchors and , Play Zone, will accompany the mall soon.
Lufkin Azalea Trail- a 1.9 mile public nature trail that runs from Grace Dunne Richardson Park to Kiwanis Park. A popular place for local nature viewers and athletes. Has excellent birding and small animal opportunities. The trail runs by several shopping opportunities in Lufkin to include the Angelina Strip Mall and the Lufkin Mall.
Medford Collection of American Western Art- A unique collection containing more than 50 paintings by contemporary artists including Joe Beeler, James Boren, Raymond Ryan, and Ross Stefan available for public viewing at the Lufkin City Hall.
Downtown Walking Tour- a tour through historic Downtown Lufkin with information about the buildings and paintings in downtown. Includes information about the Angelina Hotel, Cotton Square, Courthouse Square, Lufkin National Bank building, and more.
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- City of Lufkin
- Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce
- Visit Lufkin
- Lufkin Police
- Lufkin Parks
- Lufkin Industries
- Handbook of Texas Online article about Lufkin
- Old Lufkin Photos
- Postcards of Old Lufkin
- KFOX 95.5 Radio
- Texas Bible College
- Lufkin, Texas is at coordinates Coordinates:
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