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Anahuac, Texas

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City of Anahuac
City
Location of Anahuac, Texas
Location of Anahuac, Texas
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyChambers
Area
 • Total2.1 sq mi (5.5 km2)
 • Land2.1 sq mi (5.5 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
30 ft (9 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total2,210
 • Density1,044.8/sq mi (403.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
77514
Area code409
FIPS code48-03144Template:GR
GNIS feature ID1329510Template:GR

Anahuac (/[invalid input: 'icon']ˈænəˌwæk/ anna-wack[1]) is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The population of the city was 2,210 at the 2000 census. Anahuac is the seat of Chambers CountyTemplate:GR and is situated in East Texas. The city is known as the "alligator capital" of the state due to the annual alligator festival.[2]

History

Further information: History of the Galveston Bay Area

The Mexican term Anáhuac comes from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs. The name has various meanings, including "center", "world", and "city", but it also means "capital". Anáhuac is the pre-Columbian name of the Valley of Mexico and its former lake basins around Mexico City, often including the Lerma and Pánuco river systems. Despite the name, neither the city of Anahuac, Texas nor the immediate region were ever part of the Aztec Empire.

The first dwellers in this area were the Anahuaconian Indians. In 1721, Frenchman Jean Baptiste de La Harpe reached this area. The area became known under the name Perry's Point, named after Colonel Henry Perry, who erected a military post here in 1816.

In October 1830, Mexican Colonel Juan Davis Bradburn established a customs post atop the same 30 feet (9.1 m) bluff where Perry had camped. Bradburn's orders specified that the new post would be named Fort Anahuac.[3] The soldiers erected two large kilns to produce bricks to build a more permanent fort. Fort Anahuac would still be intact today had it not been for the locals stealing the bricks and using them for their own home construction soon after the Texas Revolution; virtually all bricks were taken and none remain to this day. By March 1831, Anahuac comprised 20 houses and 7 stores.[4] The town grew quickly. Soldiers were given 25 cents per day to use for food and other supplies, and they spent the money locally. By June 1, the town comprised over 300 civilians and 170 military personnel.[5]

Two major events in 1832 and 1835, known as the Anahuac Disturbances (caused mainly by rogue white bandits from the Brazos Valley area), helped to precipitate the Texas Revolution that led to the separation of Texas from Mexico- one being the jailing by Mexican authorities of William Travis for illegal slave importation [6] and the other being unfair taxation and duties on river traffic to the settlers by the Mexican Authorities as well.[citation needed]

In 1862, a small Confederate outpost was established nearby, and the outpost (and Fort Anahuac) played a significant role in the American Civil War.[citation needed]

The 1935 discovery of the Anahuac and Monroe City area oil fields brought a period of economic development. The Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge was established sixteen miles southeast of the city in 1963 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. In 1989, the local chamber of commerce organized the first Gatorfest which attracted 14,000 people into the Fort Anahuac Park, and has been held annually since then.[citation needed] The Festival has expanded every year since and in 2010 hosted the largest festival in history with more than 30,000 people attending.

As of 2012 the city has occurred significant debts and is close to financial bankruptcy.[2]

Geography

Anahuac is located at 29°46′7″N 94°40′45″W / 29.76861°N 94.67917°W / 29.76861; -94.67917 (29.768622, -94.679067)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2), all of it land.

Ecology

Southeast of the city of Anahuac is the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge which is popular among birdwatchers because almost 250 species of birds (see external link) have been reported there. Anahuac NWR is home to several species of marsh birds called rails including Yellow Rail, Clapper Rail and Black Rail.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
20002,210—
20102,2431.5%
U.S. Census Bureau[7]

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 2,210 people, 803 households, and 600 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,044.8 people per square mile (402.5/km²). There were 902 housing units at an average density of 426.4 per square mile (164.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.28% White, 20.23% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 9.05% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.99% of the population.

There were 803 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,924, and the median income for a family was $46,750. Males had a median income of $34,904 versus $24,917 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,056. About 11.1% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Chambers County Airport, in unincorporated Chambers County east of Anahuac, serves Anahuac.

Media

The Progress is the local newspaper of Anahuac. As of 2012 it is about 100 years old.[2] The Houston Chronicle serves Greater Houston.

Education

The Anahuac Independent School District serves the community.

References

  1. ^ http://www.texastripper.com/pronounce/locations-a.html
  2. ^ a b c Horswell, Cindy. "Anahuac drowning in budget and water woes." Houston Chronicle. Monday July 23, 2012. Retrieved on July 25, 2012.
  3. ^ Henson (1982), p. 51.
  4. ^ Edmondson (2000), p. 147.
  5. ^ Epperson (1998), p. 438.
  6. ^ Tucker (2010), p. 30.
  7. ^ "Selected Historical Decennial Census Population and Housing Counts". Historical Decennial Census. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 3 July 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

Sources

  • Edmondson, J.R. (2000), The Alamo Story-From History to Current Conflicts, Plano, TX: Republic of Texas Press, ISBN 1-55622-678-0
  • Epperson, Jean L. (January 1989), "1834 Census - Anahuac Precinct, Atascosito District", Southwestern Historical Quarterly, vol. 92, no. 3
  • Henson, Margaret Swett (1982), Juan Davis Bradburn: A Reappraisal of the Mexican Commander of Anahuac, College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, ISBN 978-0-89096-135-3
  • Tucker, Phillip Thomas (2010), Exodus from the Alamo: The Anatomy of the Last Stand Myth, Philadelphia, PA: Casemate, ISBN 978-1-932033-93-9
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