Mexia, Texas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mexia, Texas | |
| Motto: A great place, no matter how you pronounce it | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Limestone |
| Area | |
| - Total | 5.2 sq mi (13.3 km²) |
| - Land | 5.2 sq mi (13.3 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 522 ft (159 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 6,563 |
| - Density | 1,273.9/sq mi (491.8/km²) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 76667 |
| Area code(s) | 254 |
| FIPS code | 48-47916[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1362673[2] |
Mexia (pronounced /məˈheɪə/ muh-HAY-uh or /məˈhɛər/ muh-HAIR[citation needed]) is a city in Limestone County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,563 at the 2000 census.
The city's motto, based on the fact that outsiders tend to mispronounce the name [ˈmɛksiə], is "A great place, no matter how you pronounce it."
Named after General José Antonio Mexía, a Hispanic hero for the Republic of Texas Army during the Texas Revolution, the town was founded near his estate. Nearby attractions include Fort Parker Historical recreation, the Confederate Reunion grounds, and Mexia State School, which began as a prisoner of war camp for members of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's Afrika Corps during World War II. Mexia is also home to the Mexia Public Schools Museum; one of the only museums in existence dedicated to the historical and social significance of a Texas public school system.
Mexia hosts a large Juneteenth celebration every year.
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[edit] Geography
Mexia is located at (31.681734, -96.481167)[3].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13.3 km²), all of it land.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 6,563 people, 2,427 households, and 1,660 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,273.9 people per square mile (492.0/km²). There were 2,750 housing units at an average density of 533.8/sq mi (206.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 55.90% White, 31.68% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 10.67% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.90% of the population.
There were 2,427 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 19.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,785, and the median income for a family was $29,375. Males had a median income of $26,479 versus $18,138 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,235. About 20.8% of families and 22.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.5% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] History
Mexia made national news in 1981 when three young black men drowned in Lake Mexia after being taken into custody by law enforcement officers for possession of marijuana during the annual Juneteenth celebration.[4] Carl Baker, 19; Anthony Freeman, 18; and Steven Booker, 19, drowned after a boat used to transport them across the lake, which was also occupied by three officers, capsized less than 100 feet from shore. Initial reports were that the three men had been handcuffed but those reports were unfounded. Nevertheless, two police officers and one probation officer who had been in the boat were tried for the offense of criminally negligent homicide but all were acquitted by a jury composed of Mexia citizens.Mexia also made news when Anna Nicole Smith died.[5]
[edit] Education
Mexia is zoned to schools in the Mexia Independent School District [1].
Schools include:
- A.B. McBay Elementary School
- R.Q. Sims Intermediate School
- Mexia Junior High School
- Mexia High School
[edit] Famous past residents
- Anna Nicole Smith[6]
- Daniel Wayne Smith
- Ray Rhodes
- Cindy Walker [7]
- Henry Cecil McBay
- Allen Stanford
[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.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Juneteenth, June 22, 2001]
- ^ Around the Nation; Texas Officers Acquitted In Drowning of 3 Youths, New York Times, April 18, 1982.
- ^ Mexia reluctant to claim Anna Nicole as one of its own, Houston Chronicle, February 9, 2007.
- ^ http://tv.yahoo.com/news/article/urn:newsml:tv.ap.org:20070210:anna_nicole_hometown__ER:1
[edit] External links
- Mexia, Texas is at coordinates Coordinates:
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