Hamlin, Texas

Hamlin is a city in Jones and Fisher Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 2,124 at the 2010 census,[5] and in 2018, the estimated population was 1,997.[6] The Jones County portion of Hamlin is part of the Abilene, Texas metropolitan area.

Hamlin, Texas
City
Strauss Dry Goods Co. storefront, which has been converted into a public park, and adjoining building
Location of Hamlin, Texas
Coordinates: 32°53′12″N 100°7′31″W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Counties	Jones, Fisher
Year established	1907
Government
• Mayor	George strait
Area [1]
• Total	5.30 sq mi (13.72 km^2)
• Land	5.29 sq mi (13.69 km^2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km^2)
Elevation	1,722 ft (525 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	2,124
• Estimate  (2019)[2]	2,021
• Density	382.26/sq mi (147.58/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	79520
Area code(s)	325
FIPS code	48-31964[3]
GNIS feature ID	1337284[4]

Downtown Hamlin near sunset

History

The city was named for W. H. Hamlin, a railroad official of the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway.[7] The Orient reached Hamlin in 1906[7] and was followed by the Texas Central Railroad within a few years and by the Abilene and Southern Railroad in 1910. The arrival of the railroad was announced in 1902, and the first train arrived in 1906. The county's first gypsum plant was constructed 6 miles (10 km) outside of Hamlin in 1903. Business boomed with the rail service, and the town included gins, a cottonseed oil mill, and a number of other businesses. Oil was discovered in 1928, which also contributed to the economy.[7] The Hamlin Herald was first published in 1906[7] and is still in print.[8] Hamlin later gained its first and only hospital, Hamlin Memorial Hospital, in 1948; it is operated by Hamlin Hospital District and owns Hamlin Medical Clinic.

Geography

Hamlin is located in northwestern Jones County at 32°53′12″N 100°7′31″W (32.886690, -100.125207).[9] The city limits extend west into Fisher County, although no people lived in this portion as of 2010.[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.3 square miles (13.7 km²), of which 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²), or 0.20%, is covered by water.[5]

U.S. Route 83 passes through the center of Hamlin as Central Avenue, leading north 18 miles (29 km) to Aspermont and southeast 17 miles (27 km) to Anson, the Jones County seat. Abilene is 42 miles (68 km) to the southeast. Texas State Highway 92 crosses Hamlin as Lake Drive, leading east 20 miles (32 km) to Stamford and west 20 miles to Rotan.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1910	1,978		—
1920	1,633		−17.4%
1930	2,828		73.2%
1940	2,406		−14.9%
1950	3,569		48.3%
1960	3,791		6.2%
1970	3,325		−12.3%
1980	3,248		−2.3%
1990	2,791		−14.1%
2000	2,248		−19.5%
2010	2,124		−5.5%
2019 (est.)	2,021	[2]	−4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

As of the census[3] of 2000, 2,248 people, 924 households, and 623 families resided in the city. The population density was 422.4 people per square mile (163.1/km²). The 1,090 housing units averaged 204.8 per square mile (79.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.58% White, 6.23% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 11.48% from other races, and 1.73% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 20.69% of the population.

Of the 924 households, 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were not families. About 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was distributed as 25.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,873, and for a family was $33,667. Males had a median income of $25,887 versus $16,350 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,308. About 13.7% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 21.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The city is served by the Hamlin Independent School District and is home to the Hamlin High School Pied Pipers.[12]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Hamlin has a semiarid climate, BSk on climate maps.[13]

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
5. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Hamlin city, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 21, 2019.
7. Historical marker
8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2013-05-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
10. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Hamlin city (part), Fisher County, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
12. http://www.hamlin.esc14.net/
13. Climate Summary for Hamlin, Texas