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==See also==
==See also==
{{commonscat|West, Texas}}
{{Portal|Texas}}
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [[Operation Last Call]]
* [[Operation Last Call]]

Revision as of 04:40, 19 April 2013

For the region of the state, see West Texas.
West, Texas
City
Top: Czech Stop & Little Czech Bakery, Bottom Left: Aerial view of the town of West, Texas - looking northeast, Bottom Right: View from Oak Street
Top: Czech Stop & Little Czech Bakery, Bottom Left: Aerial view of the town of West, Texas - looking northeast, Bottom Right: View from Oak Street
Nickname: 
Home of the Official Kolache of the Texas Legislature
Location of West, Texas
Location of West, Texas
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyMcLennan
Incorporated1892
Government
 • MayorTommy Muska
Area
 • Total1.6 sq mi (4.0 km2)
 • Land1.6 sq mi (4.0 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
650 ft (198 m)
Population
 (2010)[1]
 • Total2,807
 • Density1,754.3/sq mi (701.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
76691 Template:GR
Area code(s)254, exchange 826
FIPS code48-77332 Template:GR
GNIS feature ID1349669 Template:GR
WebsiteCity Website

West is a city in McLennan County, Texas, United States.Template:GR As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,807.[1]Template:GR It is named after T.M. West, the first postmaster of the city.[2] The city isn't located in West Texas but instead in the north-central part of the state.

History

The first settlers of northern McLennan County arrived in the 1840s. They were farm and ranch families drawn from the east by the rich lands made available by the government sale of land to build schools in Texas. The area farmers cultivated the land and grew cotton, wheat, and grain sorghum, and raised cattle. The farming community centered around a freshwater spring that became known as Bold Springs. In 1860, Bold Springs had a population of about 300 and provided services such as a blacksmith, churches, and a post office.[2]

The Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad was laid between Hillsboro and Waco in the fall of 1881. The path of the railroad passed through land owned by Thomas West, who had moved to the area in 1859. He farmed land that he had purchased and served as postmaster of Bold Springs. A train depot was built on the land he sold to the railroad company and the land running beside the tracks was divided into small sections and sold to people wanting to start businesses. The new depot included a post office, and from that time forward it was known as the West Post Office. Mr. West served as postmaster and opened the first general store. He became a successful businessman and later owned a hotel, a furniture store, and a bank.[citation needed]

The railroad brought prosperity to the area during the 1880s. More businesses were opened and more surrounding land was purchased. Czech immigrants came to the area, purchasing the rich lands to farm and start a fresh life in the new world. They also opened businesses, sharing their European culture. By the 1890s, the Czech businesses flourished in West.[citation needed]

On June 11, 1892, West was officially organized into a town. It had become the center of commerce for the area. There were cotton gins, grocery stores, churches, schools, and doctors' offices.[citation needed]

The temporary city Crush, Texas, located just three miles (5 km) south of West, was the location of The Crash at Crush,[3] a head-on collision between two locomotives that was staged on September 15, 1896, as a publicity stunt for the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad. Over 30,000 spectators gathered at the crash site, named "crush" for MKT passenger agent William Crush, who conceived the idea. About 4 p.m. the trains were sent speeding toward each other. Contrary to mechanics' predictions, the steam boilers exploded on impact, propelling pieces of metal into the crowd. Two people were killed and many others injured, including Jarvis Deane of Waco, who was photographing the event. Texas Historical Marker 5315, located on Interstate 35 northbound frontage road, between Mangrum and Wiggins Road, commemorates the event.[4]

The turn of the century brought electricity, running water, and natural gas. The population of West and surrounding area grew. The Czechs brought with them the custom of having very large families, and by the 1920s, they became the dominant culture in West.[citation needed]

Many of the descendants of the original settlers continue to farm the lands and run the businesses today. Czech is still spoken by some of the older residents.[5]

2013 explosion

Main article: 2013 West, Texas explosion

An explosion[6] at the West Fertilizer Plant on April 17, 2013 leveled several blocks of the town and caused fires to spread across several more blocks.[7][8] The explosion was measured by the US Geological Survey as a magnitude 2.1 earthquake, occurring at 7:50 PM local time (00:50:38 UTC).[9] Everyone within a mile of the fertilizer plant was evacuated while fire fighters from multiple communities brought the fires under control.[10] There were over 100 injuries and around 35 deaths.[11][12]

Geography

West is located at 31°48′12″N 97°5′35″W / 31.80333°N 97.09306°W / 31.80333; -97.09306 (31.803369, -97.093106)Template:GR. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.0 km² (1.6 mi²). 4.0 km² (1.6 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

Most of the city is located on the east side of Interstate 35.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19702,406—
19802,4853.3%
19902,5151.2%
20002,6927.0%
20102,8074.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2010, 2,807 people, 1,045 households, and 698 families resided in the city.[1] The population density was 1,754.3 people per square mile (701.7/km). There were 1,219 housing units at an average density of 761.8 per square mile (304.7/km²).[13] The racial makeup of the city was 89.0% White, 3.9% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 6.9% from other and two or more races.[13] Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 13.8% of the population.[13] The majority of the White population is of Czech descent (and West was officially designated "Home of the Official Kolache of the Texas Legislature" in 1997).[14]

Of the 1,045 households, 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non family households.[13] About 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals living alone, and 33.0% were households with an individual who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.1.[13]

In the city, the population was distributed as 28.3% of those who are 19 years and younger, 10.8% from 20 to 29, 25.0% from 30 to 49, 14.8% from 50 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older.[13] The median age was 38.9 years.[13] West has a 53% female and 47% male population.[13]

The median income for a household in the city was $35,929, and for a family was $44,485.[15] Males had a median income of $31,055 versus $27,917 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,850.[15] About 13.8% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.0% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.[15]

It is part of the Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Area events

Education

The city of West is served by the West Independent School District, and is home to the West High School Trojans.

Infrastructure

Interstate 35 and Union Pacific Railroad pass through the city.

Notable people

  • The City Hall and Police Department in West
    The City Hall and Police Department in West
  • Restored railroad depot in West
    Restored railroad depot in West
  • His Offer Still Stands": Log Cabin Fellowship church in West
    His Offer Still Stands": Log Cabin Fellowship church in West
  • Village Shoppe and Bakery in downtown West
    Village Shoppe and Bakery in downtown West

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to West, Texas.

References

  1. ^ a b c United States Census Bureau (2011). "West, TX Cenusus". census.gov.
  2. ^ a b History of West
  3. ^ "The Crash at Crush". hmdb.org. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  4. ^ "Crash at Crush, The". Texas Historical Commission. 1976. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  5. ^ http://www.west-tx.com/history.asp
  6. ^ GIF of West Fertilizer Plant explosion
  7. ^ John L. Mone and Betsy Blaney (April 18, 2013). "Dozens hurt in fatal Texas fertilizer plant blast". Associated Press. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ British Broadcasting Company (April 18, 2013). "Many casualties in Texas Waco fertiliser plant blast". bbc.co.uk.
  9. ^ "M2.1 Explosion - 1km NNE of West, Texas". USGS. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  10. ^ Louis Boyle, James Nye, Jill Reilly (April 18, 2013). "Massive blast reduces Texas town to 'war zone': Up to 15 dead including five firefighters and hundreds more injured as explosion rips through fertiliser plant". dailymail.co.uk.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Manny Fernandez, Ravi Somaiya (April 18, 2013). "Huge Blast at Texas Fertilizer Plant Injures Over 100". =nytimes.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  12. ^ Michael S. James, Rebecca Lee (April 18, 2013). "Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion Sends 180 to Hospitals, Levels Homes, 5 to 15 Feared Dead". abcnews.go.com.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h United States Census Bureau (2011). "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 2010 Demographic Profile Data". census.gov.
  14. ^ In House Concurrent Resolution No. 185, 75th Legislature, Regular Session (1997), as documented by Official Capital Designations, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, January 15, 2013.
  15. ^ a b c United States Census Bureau (2011). "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". census.gov.
  16. ^ WestFest
  17. ^ Czech Inn of West
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