Stephenville
City
Stephenville City Hall
Stephenville City Hall
Nickname: 
The "Ville"
Location of Stephenville, Texas
Location of Stephenville, Texas
Coordinates: 32°13′13″N 98°12′49″W / 32.22028°N 98.21361°W / 32.22028; -98.21361
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyErath
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • City CouncilMayor Doug Svien
Mark McClinton
Carla Trussell
Brady Pendleton
Rhett Harrison
Alan Nix
Sherry Zachery
Brandon Huckabee
 • City ManagerAllen L. Barnes
Area
[1]
 • Total11.91 sq mi (30.85 km2)
 • Land11.89 sq mi (30.79 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation
1,273 ft (388 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total20,897
 • Density1,440.4/sq mi (556.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
76401-76402
Area code254
FIPS code48-70208[2]
GNIS feature ID1347894[3]
WebsiteStephenville, Texas

Stephenville is a city in, and the county seat of, Erath County, Texas, United States.[4] It is on the North Bosque River, which forms nearby. Founded in 1854, it is home to Tarleton State University. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 20,847, and it is the principal city in the Stephenville Micropolitan Statistical Area. Stephenville is among several communities that call themselves the "Cowboy Capital of the World".[5]

History

Presbyterian Church at the Stephenville Historical Museum

Stephenville is named after John M. Stephen, who settled there in 1854, and donated the land for the townsite laid out by George B. Erath when the county was organized in 1856. In the first two years of its settlement, the population increased to 776. The population then declined until 1871, because the townsite was in Comanche territory and raids were common, and because the hardships of the American Civil War led citizens to leave. The population grew after Stephenville became an agriculture and livestock center. Coal mining also became important to the area in 1886, and was a major segment of the economy for the 30 years.[6]

Stephenville was incorporated in 1889, with the arrival of the Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway. In the 1890s, many of the buildings around the town square were built, Tarleton State University opened, and the community's two newspapers merged to become the Empire-Tribune, which is still in operation. In February 1907, the Stephenville North and South Texas Railway was chartered by Stephenville and Hamilton business interests, which sold the line in 1910 to the St. Louis Southwestern Railway of Texas system. In the 20th century, industry became an important part of Stephenville, and the population has steadily increased since the 1920s.[6]

In January 2008, dozens of people in Stephenville reported seeing patterns of lights in the night sky. Some described it as a single large unidentified flying object.[7][8] The Air Force Reserve issued a statement from the NAS Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base that jets from the 457th Fighter Squadron were in military airspace designated for training during the time people reported seeing the lights.[9] The F-16s had been engaged in training maneuvers and dropping counter-measure flares used to confuse heat-seeking missiles.[10] Following news reports of the UFO sighting, "media calls came from all over the world", and local police Constable Lee Roy Gaitan gave more than 100 interviews. The town reacted in a "UFO frenzy"; T-shirts proclaiming the town "Alien Capital of the World" and "Erath County -- the New Roswell", were rushed into production, and the local high school suddenly received $7,000 for college scholarships.[11]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 11.89 square miles (30.8 km2), of which 11.89 square miles (30.8 km2) are land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) is covered by water.

Stephenville is served by three major US highways – US Highway 377, US Highway 281, and US Highway 67 (the last of which joins US Hwy 377).

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Stephenville has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[12]

Climate data for Stephenville, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1921–1932, 1941–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 87
(31)		 96
(36)		 95
(35)		 103
(39)		 103
(39)		 109
(43)		 111
(44)		 110
(43)		 110
(43)		 103
(39)		 92
(33)		 89
(32)		 111
(44)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 78.2
(25.7)		 82.3
(27.9)		 86.3
(30.2)		 90.8
(32.7)		 94.3
(34.6)		 97.9
(36.6)		 101.5
(38.6)		 101.8
(38.8)		 97.8
(36.6)		 92.2
(33.4)		 83.3
(28.5)		 78.7
(25.9)		 103.5
(39.7)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 59.1
(15.1)		 63.1
(17.3)		 70.4
(21.3)		 78.6
(25.9)		 85.6
(29.8)		 93.1
(33.9)		 97.3
(36.3)		 97.6
(36.4)		 90.2
(32.3)		 80.5
(26.9)		 68.8
(20.4)		 60.5
(15.8)		 78.7
(25.9)
Daily mean °F (°C) 45.0
(7.2)		 49.0
(9.4)		 56.4
(13.6)		 64.4
(18.0)		 72.7
(22.6)		 80.4
(26.9)		 84.0
(28.9)		 83.6
(28.7)		 76.3
(24.6)		 66.0
(18.9)		 54.9
(12.7)		 46.8
(8.2)		 65.0
(18.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 30.9
(−0.6)		 34.9
(1.6)		 42.4
(5.8)		 50.2
(10.1)		 59.9
(15.5)		 67.6
(19.8)		 70.6
(21.4)		 69.6
(20.9)		 62.5
(16.9)		 51.5
(10.8)		 41.1
(5.1)		 33.1
(0.6)		 51.2
(10.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 19.0
(−7.2)		 21.4
(−5.9)		 25.8
(−3.4)		 35.3
(1.8)		 45.4
(7.4)		 59.0
(15.0)		 65.3
(18.5)		 63.4
(17.4)		 50.1
(10.1)		 36.1
(2.3)		 25.9
(−3.4)		 20.0
(−6.7)		 15.0
(−9.4)
Record low °F (°C) −2
(−19)		 0
(−18)		 9
(−13)		 25
(−4)		 36
(2)		 51
(11)		 50
(10)		 50
(10)		 33
(1)		 21
(−6)		 11
(−12)		 −8
(−22)		 −8
(−22)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.84
(47)		 2.16
(55)		 2.82
(72)		 2.91
(74)		 4.97
(126)		 3.33
(85)		 1.99
(51)		 2.96
(75)		 3.32
(84)		 3.32
(84)		 2.33
(59)		 2.18
(55)		 34.13
(867)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.4
(1.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.3
(0.76)		 0.7
(1.8)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 6.1 6.4 7.7 5.8 7.9 6.0 4.9 5.2 5.9 7.1 5.7 5.6 74.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.7
Source: NOAA[13][14]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860120—
1880725—
189090925.4%
19001,902109.2%
19102,56134.6%
19203,89151.9%
19303,9441.4%
19404,76820.9%
19507,15550.1%
19607,3592.9%
19709,27726.1%
198011,88128.1%
199013,50213.6%
200014,92110.5%
201017,12314.8%
202020,89722.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]
Historical House Museum in Stephenville is an 1869 Victorian home with period furnishings and relics of area history, and a carriage house and a reconstructed log cabin.

2020 census

Stephenville racial composition[16]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[lower-alpha 1]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 14,257 68.23%
Black or African American (NH) 1,122 5.37%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 98 0.47%
Asian (NH) 279 1.34%
Pacific Islander (NH) 6 0.03%
Some Other Race (NH) 44 0.21%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 749 3.58%
Hispanic or Latino 4,342 20.78%
Total 20,897

As of the 2020 United States census, the town had a population of 20.9k people with a median age of 25.7 and a median household income of $48,602. 95.5% of residents are U.S. citizens. Over one year, it's median household income grew from $47,161 to $48,602, a 3.06% increase. Ethic groups in Stephenville include White (Non-Hispanic) (75.6%), White (Hispanic) (12.7%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (3.29%), Other (Hispanic) (2.68%), and Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.11%). No households reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider potential multi-lingual situations, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household. Universities include Tarleton State University (3,536 degrees awarded in 2021). In 2020, the median property value was $153,400, and the homeownership rate was 45.9%. The average reported commute time was 16.1 minutes, and average car ownership was 2 cars per household.[19]

Education

Public library

  • Stephenville Public Library[20]

Public schools

  • Stephenville Independent School District
    • Stephenville High School (grades 9–12)
    • Henderson Jr. High School (grades 7–8)
    • Gilbert Intermediate School (grades 5–6)
    • Hook Elementary School (grades 3–4)
    • Chamberlin Elementary School (grades 1–2)
    • Central Elementary School (grades Pre-K–K)
    • Huston Academy (grades 7–12) (previously Erath Excels! Academy)[21]

Postsecondary education

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Stephenville – The Cowboy Capital of the World". visitstephenville.com. Stephenville Tourism & Visitors Bureau. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Young, Dan M. "Stephenville, TX". tshaonline.org. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  7. ↑ Dozens Claim They Spotted UFO in Texas National Public Radio, "All Things Considered" – January 16, 2008.
  8. ↑ NPR archive link, archived August 7, 2023. Archival of "Dozens Claim They Spotted UFO in Texas] National Public Radio, "All Things Considered" – January 16, 2008."
  9. ↑ Mount, Mike. "UFOs? Nope. They were fighter jets, Air Force says". CNN. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  10. ↑ McGaha, James; Nickell, Joe. "Alien Lights? At Phoenix, Stephenville, and Elsewhere: A Postmortem". skepticalinquirer.org. Skeptical Inquirer From: Volume 39, No. March 2 / April 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  11. ↑ Gellene, Denise. "How UFOs took over a town". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  12. ↑ Climate Summary for Stephenville, Texas
  13. ↑ "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  17. ↑ https://www.census.gov/
  18. ↑ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Stephenville, TX". datausa.io. Data USA. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Library". City of Stephenville. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Huston Academy". Huston Academy. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Erath County Center". Ranger College. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  23. ↑ Hernandez, Lezlie (September 2, 2021). "Spotlight on Jessie G. Beach, Smithsonian Department of Paleobiology Staff Member". Smithsonian Libraries and Archives.
  24. ↑ "Houston's Briles set to interview at Baylor". Houston Chronicle.
  25. ↑ Wilson, Mark. "Storyteller: Erath native exploring 'expanse of possibilities' in film world". Stephenville Empire-Tribune. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  26. ↑ Wilson, Mark. "Holt honored with retirement of SHS baseball jersey No. 1". Stephenville Empire-Tribune. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Ty Murray's Saddle House". Texas Monthly. January 20, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Jess Lockwood wins second Professional Bull Riders title in 3 years at World Finals". Star-Telegram. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  29. ↑ "Professional Bull Riders – PBR Officers". Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  30. ↑ Nixon, Raymond B. (June 17, 1945). "Constitution's Founder Fought for Georgia with Pen and Sword". The Atlanta Constitution. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  1. ↑ Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[17][18]
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