Bellville (Texas)

Austin County

48-07432

Bellville is a city in Austin County in the U.S. state of Texas in the United States of America and the county seat of administration ( county seat ) of Austin County.

Geography

The city is located in the central southeast Texas and has a total area of 6.8 km ², without significant water surface. The distance from Houston to the east is about 100 km and the Gulf of Mexico to the southeast about 200 km. Through the city lead the Texas State Routes 36 and 159, as well as the country roads ( Farm Roads ) 529, 1456 and 2429th

History

The city was named after Thomas B. Bell, a settler and colleagues from Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred, who came to Texas in 1822 and 1838 built up the resistance in the area of the later city. Some men settled here permanently and founded the city in 1846 the county seat of administration. 1849 opened the first post office and a small log cabin, which was replaced in 1850 by a stable building, served provisionally as a courthouse. 1854 the first courthouse was built of stone, and a year later, the city had a marketplace around with several shops around.

In the following years the town grew slowly until winter 1879-80, the railway company Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad laid its tracks here. Over the next four months the population grew from 300 to 522 inhabitants and the wooden buildings were gradually replaced by large stone building in the Victorian style. 1884, Bellville two churches, two hotels, a bakery, three saloons, twelve general stores, a public school and two weekly newspapers: the Bellville standard and the Austin County Times and the city became the cotton center of the region, in 1898, with over 8600 loaded bales of cotton reached its peak.

Around 1885, the city had about 1,000 inhabitants, the majority of German immigrants and was in the schools both English and German was taught. 1891 saw the first Bellville weekly newspaper in German language. In this time of Bellville Turnverein Pavilion was built.

1914 Bellville had two banks, an ice factory, and telegraph and telephone connection. A year later there was the first oil discoveries and the town grew to 2,000 inhabitants. During the Great Depression, and by the end of the Second World War, the population fell to around 1300 inhabitants. It was not until the mid-50s the old inhabitants was achieved from 1915 to 1990, and was again increased to 3378 inhabitants.

Demography

According to the census of 2000, there were 3,794 people in 1,425 households and 966 families. The population density was 561 inhabitants per km ². The racial the population was composed of 81.9 % White, 11.7 % African American, 0.4 % Native American, 0.3 % Asian and 4.0 % from other ethnic groups; about 1.7 % from two or more races. 12.0 % of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,425 households, 34.7 % had children under the age of 18 living with them. 52.6 % were married couples living together. 11.6% were single mothers and 32.2% were non-families. 27.9 % of all households were single-person households, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size is 3.11.

26.4 % of the population were under 18 years old, 8.3 % from 18 to 24, 25.3% 25-44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.7 % were 65 years or older. The average age was 38 years. For every 100 females of all ages were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, 85.1 males.

The median income for a household was $ 40,806, and the median income for a family $ 49,730. Males had a median income of $ 36,719 versus $ 21,685 for females. The per capita income was $ 17,671. 8.0 % of the population and 4.5 % of families are below the poverty line. Of which 7.9 % have children under the age of 18 and 8.1 % of those 65 or older.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Juke Boy Bonner, blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player