Greenville, Texas

For other places with the same name, see Greenville (disambiguation).

Greenville, Texas
—  City  —
Flag
Location of Greenville, Texas
Coordinates: 33°7′34″N 96°6′35″W
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Hunt
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
• City Council	Mayor Tom Oliver Dan Perkins Joseph Perks Doug Roszhart Hattie Tennison Bryan Herrin Betty Franklin
• City Manager	Steven J. Alexander
Area
• Total	34.7 sq mi (89.9 km2)
• Land	33.9 sq mi (87.8 km2)
• Water	0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2)
Elevation	541 ft (165 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	25,557
• Density	706.5/sq mi (272.8/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes	75401-75404
Area code(s)	903, 430
FIPS code	48-30920
GNIS feature ID	1377755
Website	ci.greenville.tx.us

Greenville is the county seat, and the largest city, of Hunt County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,557.

Greenville was named for Thomas J. Green, a general in the Texas Army in the war for independence from Mexico. He later became a member of the Congress of the Republic of Texas. The city was almost named “Pinckneyville” in honor of James Pinckney Henderson, the first Governor of Texas.

Geography

Greenville is located at 33°7′34″N 96°6′35″W (33.126004, -96.109703).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 34.7 square miles (90 km²), of which, 33.9 square miles (88 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (2.30%) is water.

Climate

Greenville's considered to be part of the humid subtropical area.

History

City in 1886

Greenville was founded in 1846, named for Thomas J. Green, who had played a significant role in the establishment of Texas as a Republic.

As the Civil War approached, Greenville was divided over the issue of secession, as were several area towns and counties. Greenville attorney and State Senator Martin D. Hart was one prominent Unionist. He formed a company of men who fought for the Union in Arkansas, even as other Greenville residents fought for the Confederacy. The divided nature of Greenville, Hunt County and the State of Texas is noted by an historical marker in "The SPOT" Park at 2800 Lee Street in downtown Greenville. In the post-Civil War era, Greenville's economy became partly dependent on cotton, an industry which many local Jews helped develop within the city as the local economy entered a period of transition.

The town was also famous (or infamous) for a sign that hung over Lee Street, the main street in the downtown district, between the train station and the bus station from the 1920s to 1960s. The banner read "Welcome to Greenville, The Blackest Land, The Whitest People". The same sentiment was also printed on the city water tower. An image of the sign was available as a postcard.

In 1957 Greenville annexed Peniel, Texas, which had been founded in 1899 as a religious community.

On May 12, 2011, a white buffalo was born near Greenville, Texas during a thunderstorm on the ranch of Arby Littlesoldier, a great-great grandson of Sitting Bull. A naming ceremony and dedication is scheduled for June 29, 2011 during which the male calf will officially be given the title "Lightening Medicine Cloud." Public ceremonies are now being arranged.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	4,330		—
1900	6,860		58.4%
1910	8,850		29.0%
1920	12,384		39.9%
1930	12,407		0.2%
1940	13,995		12.8%
1950	14,727		5.2%
1960	19,087		29.6%
1970	22,043		15.5%
1980	22,161		0.5%
1990	23,071		4.1%
2000	23,960		3.9%
2010	25,557		6.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 23,960 people, 9,156 households, and 6,171 families residing in the city. The population density was 706.5 people per square mile (272.8/km²). There were 9,977 housing units at an average density of 294.2 per square mile (113.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.71% White, 18.86% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 8.19% from other races, and 2.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.65% of the population.

There were 9,156 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,606, and the median income for a family was $41,808. Males had a median income of $31,556 versus $22,373 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,231. About 11.3% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Fund Financial Statements, the city’s various funds had $19.9 million in Revenues, $21.7 million in expenditures, $10.1 million in total assets, $1.8 million in total liabilities, and $1.4 million in investments.

The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:

Department	Director
City Manager	Steven J. Alexander
City Attorney	Brent A. Money
City Secretary	Debra Newell
Police Chief	Daniel J. Busken
Fire Chief	Doug Caison
City Planner	Lance Estep
Main Street Coordinator	Doyle Dick
Finance Director	Cliff Copeland
Human Resources Director	Barry Robinson
Public Works Director	Massoud Ebrahim
Library Director	Paul Phelan
Parks & Recreation Director	Colby VanGundy

State government

Greenville is represented in the Texas Senate by Republican Bob Deuell, District 2, and in the Texas House of Representatives by Republican Dan Flynn, District 2.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Greenville District Parole Office in Greenville.

Federal government

At the Federal level, the two U.S. Senators from Texas are Republicans John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison; Greenville is part of Texas' US Congressional 4th District, which is currently represented by Republican Ralph M. Hall.

The United States Postal Service operates the Greenville, Greenville Finance, and Rolling Hills post offices.

Economy

In early years, Hunt County was known as the cotton capital of the world. The world's largest inland cotton compress was located in Greenville until it was destroyed by fire in the mid-1900s.

Currently, the largest industry is L-3 Communications Missions Integration (formerly E-Systems, then Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems (RIIS, IIS)) a major U.S. Defense contractor located at Majors Airport. This airport, created in 1942 and initially financed by the local Rotary club, was used as a training base for P-47 Thunderbolt fighter pilots in World War II, and since then has served as a focal point for economic growth in Greenville. Greenville is also known internationally for its saddle making industry.^{[citation needed]}

According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	L-3 Communications	4,700
2	Presbyterian Hospital	815
3	Greenville Independent School District	810
4	Newell Rubbermaid	650
5	Hunt County	420
6	Wal-Mart Supercenter	363
7	McKesson	300
8	City of Greenville	280
9	Masonite International	250
10	Cytec Engineered Materials	237

Entertainment includes the Kenneth Threadgill Concert series, which brings well-known Texas performers to the Municipal Auditorium stage in three concerts per year; the Greenville Entertainment Series, a subscription concert series featuring artists from a variety of musical genres; the Symphony Festival Series, which brings the world-famous Dallas Symphony Orchestra to Greenville for three concerts and an additional children's concert per year; and the Greenville Follies, a musical review showcasing local talent every other year. Local clubs with musical entertainment, live theater in nearby Commerce, local art shows, a movie theater and a bowling alley offer year-round entertainment.

Tourism draws include the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum, Mary of Puddin Hill Chocolate Factory and the historic downtown area which includes wineries, antique malls, public gardens and boutique shopping. The Rally 'Round Greenville festival is held the third weekend each September downtown and includes the Cotton Patch Challenge Bicycle Race and Tour, an Art Show, Barbecue and Chili Cook-Off, Texas Music Weekend, Kids Alley and more. Downtown Blooms is held in May to celebrate the revitalization of the historic Main Street Area.

Greenville is also home to the Hunt Regional Medical Center.

Notable residents and natives

• Audie Murphy, the most decorated American soldier of World War II, lived near Greenville. The Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum in Greenville contains memorabilia related to Audie Murphy.
• Dean E. Hallmark, a pilot in Jimmy Doolittle's Tokyo Raid of April 18, 1942. Captured and executed by the Japanese. Was a member of the first ever Greenville High School football team to reach the state playoffs in 1931.
• Robert Neyland, Hall of Fame football coach at Tennessee and decorated officer in the U.S. Army.
• Ben Kweller, American rock musician
• Monty Stratton, a famous major league baseball pitcher from the 1930s portrayed by Jimmy Stewart in the movie "The Stratton Story".
• Wade Wilson, Former NFL and Dallas Cowboys quarterback and assistant coach.
• Maud Crawford, an attorney and the first woman to practice law in Camden, Arkansas, disappeared in 1957 amid international attention. She was born in Greenville in 1891.
• Bart Millard, Lead singer and founder of the contemporary Christian band MercyMe.
• Collin Raye, an American country music singer, who called Greenville home.
• Mack Harrell, noted operatic baritone; father of world-renowned cellist Lynn Harrell
• John Boles, noted movie and stage actor of the early 20th Century.
• Haldor Lillenas, prolific hymnwriter and Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee, was pastor of the Church of the Nazarene from 1920 to 1923
• Francia White, American opera singer and radio and television personality during the 1930s and 1940s.
• George Maddox, Former NFL player.
• Mike Thomas (American football),a former NFL running back of the Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers who won the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1975 and went to the Pro Bowl after the 1976 NFL season.
• Jimmy Thomas, a former professional American football running back of the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League.
• Earl Thomas, a former professional American football wide receiver of the Chicago Bears, St. Louis Cardinals, and Houston Oilers in the National Football League.** *
• Daniel Upthegrove, A lawyer educated at Vanderbilt University and the University of Texas, later assistant attorney, then General Solicitor, then President of St. Louis Southwestern Railway 1922-1946.

References

• Romero, Simon. "A Texas Town Nervously Awaits a New Neighbor", New York Times, August 21, 2005.

Further reading

• Babb, Milton. (2010). "Hunt County, An Illustrated History." Historical Publishing Network. ISBN 978-1935377160

• Huey, Brenda. (2006). The Blackest Land The Whitest People. Bloomington: AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1425944247

• Mathews, Paul. (2001). I Remember... Personal Reflections on Greenville and Hunt County, Texas. Henington Publishing. ISBN 0-9709068-0-3

External links

• Greenville Chamber of Commerce
• Friends of Main Street
• City of Greenville – Official site.
• Community's newspaper