Kyle, Texas
Kyle, Texas | |
|---|---|
 Downtown Kyle | |
 Location of Kyle, Texas | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Hays |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.0 sq mi (15 km2) |
| • Land | 5.9 sq mi (15.3 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 728 ft (222 m) |
| Population (2010)[1] | |
| • Total | 28,016 |
| • Density | 899.0/sq mi (347.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 78640 |
| Area code | 512 |
| FIPS code | 48-39952Template:GR |
| GNIS feature ID | 1339257Template:GR |
Kyle is a town in Hays County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,314 at the 2000 census; it was 28,016 in the 2010 census, making Kyle one of the fastest growing cities in Texas.[2]
Geography
Kyle is located at 29°59′21″N 97°52′33″W / 29.989080°N 97.875947°W (29.989080, -97.875947).Template:GR The city is about 22 miles (35 km) south of Downtown Austin,[3] and 53 miles northeast of San Antonio.[citation needed]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.0 square miles (16 km2), of which, 5.9 square miles (15 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (1.34%) is water.
History
Kyle was founded in 1881 by Captain Fergus Kyle. The site was chosen because of its proximity to the International – Great Northern Railroad line.
From 1892 to 1901 Kyle was home to the Pulitzer Prize winning author, Katherine Anne Porter. Many of her most famous short stories such as Noon Wine are set in locations in and around Kyle. Her former home there is now a writer's residence open to the public by appointment. The Katherine Anne Porter Literary Center hosts readings by visiting writers. Upcoming visitors include U.S. Poet Laureate Charles Simic, National Book Award Winner Tim O'Brien, Pulitzer Prize Winner Robert Stone, and celebrated short-story author Mary Gaitskill.[citation needed]
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 5,314 people, 1,491 households, and 1,209 families residing in the city. The population density was 899.0 people per square mile (347.2/km2). There were 1,560 housing units at an average density of 263.9 per square mile (101.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 63.29% White, 8.30% African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 23.45% from other races, and 3.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 52.31% of the population. As of May, 2007 the Kyle City Council set the population at just over 25,000. Kyle is the fifth fastest growing city in the state of Texas.
There were 1,491 households out of which 50.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.5% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 13.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.22 and the average family size was 3.58.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 39.3% from 25 to 44, 13.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 118.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 124.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,534, and the median income for a family was $50,197. Males had a median income of $30,956 versus $26,868 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,252. About 4.8% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
In 2011 the city council of Kyle voted 6-1 to ban the making and usage of synthetic cannabis products like K2 and spice.[3]
State and federal representation
The Management and Training Corporation operates the Kyle Unit, a prison for men in Kyle, on behalf of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).[4] In 1988 the construction of Kyle Unit, the first private prison for the TDCJ, sparked controversy. Some residents protested for getting the prison built, and some residents protested against the prison. The three city council members who favored the unit's construction were re-elected. The Kyle Unit became the second largest employer in Kyle, after the Hays Consolidated Independent School District. In 1989 the prison had a $50,000 weekly payroll, with much of it going to the city's residents.[5]
The United States Postal Service operates the Kyle Post Office.[6]
Education
The City of Kyle is served by the Hays Consolidated Independent School District.
Notable people
- Fitzhugh Andrews — composer
- Brandon Darby, social and political activist, FBI informant
- Otto Hofmann, organ builder
- Edwin Jackson Kyle — U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala (1945–48); namesake of Kyle Field
- Helen Michaelis — renowned expert on Quarter Horses; first woman inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame
- J. Milton Nance — historian at Texas A&M University
- Katherine Anne Porter — author
- Joseph Fenity — national reporter for Sirius XM Radio
Bibliography
- Strom, Ann (1981). The Prairie City: A History of Kyle, Texas, 1880–1980. Nortex Press. ISBN 978-0-89015-313-0.
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References
- ^ Census data for Kyle, Texas, United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ^ Heffley, Anna (2006-10-18). "Defense contractor headed to Kyle". The Free Press. Retrieved 2009-03-06.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ a b "Kyle moves to ban synthetic marijuana products." Associated Press at the Houston Chronicle. February 5, 2011. Retrieved on February 6, 2011.
- ^ "Kyle Unit." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on October 7, 2010.
- ^ Krausse, Henry. "Kyle warms to financial aspect of becoming a `prison town'." The Austin American-Statesman. June 18, 1989. B1. Retrieved on October 7, 2010. "Much of the prison's $50000 weekly payroll will go to Kyle residents." "[...]after Hays Consolidated Independent School District, the prison will be the [...]" "In addition to becoming the community's second-largest employer,"
- ^ "Post Office Location - KYLE." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on October 7, 2010.
External links
- The Official Kyle, Tx Fair and Music Festival Web Site
- The Official Kyle Web Site
- The official Kyle Texas Tourism Web Site
- Kyle from the Handbook of Texas Online
- The official Kyle Texas Chamber of Commerce web site
- Katherine Anne Porter Literary Center
- Michaelis Ranch History - Early history of Kyle, and one of the oldest surviving ranches in the area
Municipalities and communities of Hays County, Texas, United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Village | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |