53-716: Lufkin is the largest city in Angelina County, Texas , United States and is the county seat. The city is situated in Deep East Texas and is 60 mi (97 km) west of the Texas- Louisiana state line. Its population is 34,143 as of 2020. Lufkin was founded in 1884 and named for Abraham P. Lufkin. It originally served as a stop on the Houston, East and West Texas Railway. It was officially incorporated on October 15, 1890. Lufkin continued to serve as
106-662: A community college , is located in Lufkin. The college has roughly 5,000 students. Additionally, Stephen F. Austin State University is located not far away in Nacogdoches, Texas . Lufkin is served by U.S. Highway 69 , U.S. Highway 59 , State Highway 94 , and State Highway 103 . Lufkin will be served by the extension to Interstate 69 , which is planned to run from the Canada–US border at Port Huron, Michigan , to
159-426: A council-manager form of government. The city is divided into six city council districts, and the mayor is elected by a citywide vote. All elected positions are elected on a nonpartisan ballot, as required by Texas law. The city council's responsibility is to make all legislative and policy decisions, while the responsibility of the city manager is to decide all administrative decisions. In 2018, Lufkin's crime rate
212-757: A country club, municipal and city parks, two shopping malls, and the Lufkin Independent School District . Lufkin celebrated its centennial in 1982. Debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster fell over the Lufkin area on February 1, 2003. A Little League Baseball team from Lufkin, locally known as the Thundering 13, won the U.S. Championship at the 2017 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania . There have been many community tributes to
265-401: A household in the county was $ 30,495, and for a family was $ 35,957. Males had a median income of $ 30,823 versus $ 21,065 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 15,834. About 13.30% of families and 17.40% of the population were below the poverty line , including 23.10% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has
318-511: A little whiskey and subsist on the bass, catfish and perch they hauled from the Neches and Angelina rivers and whatever they could trap and shoot on dry land." Settlement was still thin when Texas won its independence. Angelina County was organized on April 22, 1846, when Nacogdoches County was divided. The first permanent settler after the county was formed is thought to have been George W. Collins. The population increased quickly thereafter due to
371-620: A sawmill in Polk County, Texas . He moved to a small settlement north of Lufkin known as Keltys . In 1887, Kurth obtained a sawmill from Charles L. Kelty. He was soon joined by S. W. Henderson Sr., and Sam Wiener, both of Corrigan, Texas . In 1890, the men started the Angelina County Lumber Company . The company became the forerunner of the lumber industry in East Texas , and led to much of
424-464: A stop on the Houston, East and West Texas Railway ; it is named for Abraham P. Lufkin, a cotton merchant and Galveston city councilman. Lufkin was the father-in-law of Paul Bremond, president of the railroad, which developed the town. Lufkin continued to grow because of its proximity to the railroad and its lumber industry . The history of Lufkin can be divided into three main eras, the railroad era,
477-489: A stop on the railroad until 1890. Three businessmen founded Angelina Lumber Company, which led to much of the economic prosperity Lufkin later enjoyed. When the so-called "timber boom" came to an end, a new "golden era of expansion" began. Lufkin became more industrialized with the opening of Lufkin Industries and Southland Paper Mill. In the mid-1960s, a cultural expansion began, and improvements were made to education and
530-468: A total area of 1,110 sq mi (2,900 km ), of which 53 sq mi (140 km ) (4.7%) are covered by water. School districts: The county is in the district for Angelina College . Polk County College / Commerce Center was completed in 2013 and is located on the U.S. Highway 59 Bypass. Angelina College offers advanced curriculum study and technical training at this location. The facility provides public auditorium space and may be used as
583-631: Is Livingston . The county is named after James K. Polk . The Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation of the federally recognized tribe is in Polk County, where the people have been since the early 19th century. They were forcibly evicted by the federal government from their traditional territory in the Southeast. The 2000 census reported a resident population of 480 persons on the reservation. The tribe reports 1100 enrolled members. Polk County, named for James Knox Polk of Tennessee , President of
SECTION 10
#1732772646772636-525: Is a "partly-wet" county , with beer and wine generally authorized for off-premises consumption. However, the small community of Burke voted to restrict alcohol sales only to restaurants holding permits. John Nova Lomax of the Houston Press said that the residents of Angelina County "were, and are, a self-sufficient breed, good with their hands, bluntly honest and leery of all central authority." (In 1861, Angelina County voted against seceding from
689-633: Is a humid subtropical climate that generally has relatively high temperatures with evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. Generally, this climate is seen on the eastern side continents between 20 and 35°N or S latitude. During summer, these regions over low-latitude ocean waters are generally under the influence of hot, maritime overflow from the western side of subtropical anticyclonic cells. These higher temperatures can lead to warm, oppressive nights. Due to an increase in thunderstorms , summers in Lufkin are usually wetter than winters. Additionally, tropical cyclones can increase precipitation during
742-487: Is a resident of Lufkin. In the Texas Senate Lufkin falls under district 3 and is represented by Republican Robert Nichols . According to the city's 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Lufkin's various funds had $ 38.8 million in revenue, $ 43.7 million in expenditures, $ 85.7 million in total assets, $ 5.3 million in total liabilities, and $ 14.9 million in cash and investments. The City of Lufkin has
795-470: Is building the power plant. Some of the city's major employers include: According to the city's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: Texas State Forest Festival and Southern Hushpuppy Championships run in September. The festival brings net profits to the city of US$ 60,000. Lufkin in comparison to the U.S. average leans more conservative politically. However,
848-412: Is estimated to be 41.8%; 11.3% of the population is estimated to be foreign born. An estimated 24.4% of homes are thought to speak a language other than English. With an estimated 12,910 households, the city averaged 2.68 persons per household. The median household income is estimated to be $ 43,803, and the per capita income is $ 23,134; 20.9% of persons are believed to be below the poverty line . Lufkin
901-673: Is home to Lufkin Industries and Lufkin Gears LLC, which manufactures and services oil field equipment and power transmission equipment, and supplies of creosote -treated utility poles. It is also home to the Atkinson Candy Company , the creator of the Chick-O-Stick , and Brookshire Brothers , a chain of grocery stores in Texas and Louisiana. Lufkin received Texas's first biomass power plant in late 2009. Aspen Power
954-571: Is most likely not true since the prospectus in 1879 already had the railroad planned to bypass Homer and go through the future site of Lufkin. The railroad officially arrived in 1882, and the company began to advertise the sale of lots of land in Lufkin. During this time, many of the businesses and professionals from Homer began to relocate to Lufkin to be closer to the railroad. Some of the first stores in Lufkin included S. Abram's general store, Joseph Kerr's grocery and saddle shop, and W. H. Bonner's general store, all located on Cotton Square, which became
1007-642: The Lufkin Independent School District , with a few small sections in the west within the Hudson Independent School District . A very small portion of the city on Highway 69 is within Central ISD . Lufkin also has a small charter school, Pineywoods Community Academy , that serves grades Pre-K – 12 and is an early college high school. Additionally, Lufkin is served by two small private schools , St. Cyprian's Episcopal School and St. Patrick Catholic School. Angelina College ,
1060-597: The Texas/Mexico border . General aviation service is provided by Angelina County Airport . The Coach USA bus lines serve Lufkin, carried under the Kerrville Bus Company. Brazos Transit District (formerly Brazos Valley Transit Authority) provides regularly scheduled public bus service in the Lufkin area. The Angelina and Neches River Railroad (A&NR) runs through Lufkin. It has an approximate length of 20 miles (32 km) and connects with
1113-626: The U.S. state of Texas . It is in East Texas and its county seat is Lufkin . As of the 2020 census , the population was 86,395. The Lufkin, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Angelina County. It was formed in 1846 from Nacogdoches County . It is named for a Hasinai Native American woman who assisted early Spanish missionaries and was called Angelina by them. The county's first Anglo settlers were what John Nova Lomax described as " Scotch-Irish backwoods folk." Cotton farmers and slaves did not come to Angelina County because it had poor soil. Lomax added that "Culturally,
SECTION 20
#17327726467721166-546: The Union Pacific Railroad lines. Lufkin is served by two hospitals: CHI St. Luke's Health Memorial (formerly Memorial Health System of East Texas at Lufkin), which includes the Arthur Temple Sr. Regional Cancer Center, and Woodland Heights Medical Center. Angelina County, Texas Angelina County ( / ˌ æ n dʒ ə ˈ l iː n ə / AN -jə- LEE -nə ) is a county located in
1219-425: The census of 2000, 41,133 people, 15,119 households, and 10,915 families were residing in the county. The population density was 39 inhabitants per square mile (15/km ). The 21,177 housing units averaged 20 per square mile (7.7/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 79.64% White, 13.17% African American, 1.74% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 3.75% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. About 9.39% of
1272-661: The 1970s, some criminals established marijuana farms. As of 2011 , the main drug dealing activity was the methamphetamine trade. Allen Hill, formerly of the Angelina County Narcotics Squad, said that the local meth trade is doing more damage to the county than drug couriers passing through the county, crack cocaine, and heroin. According to Hill, many Hispanic drug dealers increasingly sold imported "ice"-style meth made by drug cartels instead of crack cocaine or powdered cocaine, because they make more money than they did selling crack. Hill said that many of
1325-543: The Lufkin Station at the Kerrville Bus Company station in Lufkin. Angelina County Airport is located seven miles southwest of Lufkin. 31°16′N 94°37′W / 31.26°N 94.61°W / 31.26; -94.61 Polk County, Texas Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas . As of the 2020 census , its population was 50,123. Its county seat
1378-517: The United States , was created by an act of the first Legislature of the State of Texas , approved on March 30, 1846, out of Liberty County , and embraced that portion from the part designated as the "Northern Division" of said county. It was one of the first of a series of 23 counties, formulated, constituted, and established by the State of Texas, after annexation to the United States. As of
1431-424: The United States, the only East Texas county to do so.) He also said "[t]heir electoral peculiarity continued through the 20th Century." Angelina County was the seat of power of Charlie Wilson , a politician labeled the "Liberal from Lufkin". The current state representative from Angelina County is Republican Trent Ashby , first elected in 2012. In earlier days, criminals established moonshine stands. During
1484-428: The age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.18. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.70% under
1537-467: The age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 33,806, and the median income for a family was $ 39,505. Males had a median income of $ 30,373 versus $ 20,221 for females. The per capita income for
1590-436: The center of most economic activity in Lufkin. Behind the depot, which was on the cotton square, cotton was stored before being shipped on the railroad. The town continued to grow, and acquired a post office in 1882 with William A. Abney as postmaster. Soon after in 1883, a telegraph line was strung connecting Lufkin to Nacogdoches by telegraph. On October 15, 1890, the town was officially incorporated. The first mayor of Lufkin
1643-484: The city leans more liberal than Angelina County and the state Texas' averages. Lufkin falls under Texas's 17th congressional district , which is currently represented by Republican Pete Sessions . The senators who represent Texas are Ted Cruz and John Cornyn , who are both Republicans. In the Texas House of Representatives , Lufkin falls under district 57 and is represented by Republican Trent Ashby , who
Lufkin, Texas - Misplaced Pages Continue
1696-404: The county was $ 15,876. About 12.40% of families and 15.80% of the population were below the poverty line , including 21.90% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over. The Angelina County Sheriff's Office is the county law enforcement agency. The Sheriff is Tom Selman. Angelina County is governed by its Commissioners Court of which Keith Wright presides over as County Judge It
1749-539: The county was less moonlight-and-magnolias Dixie than a little pocket of Appalachia , where pioneers, often from similarly hardscrabble areas of Georgia , Alabama and Mississippi , wanted nothing more than to carve homesteads out of the Piney Woods and river thickets, farm a little, maybe raise a scraggly herd of tough cattle to drive to market in New Orleans ." Lomax added that "[t]hey also wanted to brew up
1802-652: The courthouse should be relocated to Lufkin. The election was held on January 2, 1892, and the citizens decided to relocate the courthouse to Lufkin. The timber boom lasted between 1890 and 1920. Three main lumbering families are recognized for much of the economic prosperity in Lufkin ;– the Kurths, the Hendersons, and the Wieners. Joseph H. Kurth Sr., was a German immigrant, who had operated
1855-458: The drug dealers claim to be affiliated with Mexican drug cartels or gangs like MS-13 . The following school districts serve Angelina County (districts marked with (*) are located partly within the county and partly outside it): Angelina College , a community college, serves all of Angelina County. Stephen F. Austin State University is located in Nacogdoches , which is located in neighboring Nacogdoches County . Greyhound Lines operates
1908-552: The economic prosperity in Lufkin. At the peak of the three families' activities, nearly a dozen sawmills and several other industries were operating. The golden era of expansion occurred between 1938 and 1945. In the late 1930s, two of the principal industries in Lufkin, the Southland Paper Mill, later known as Abitibi Bowater Inc. which closed in 2007, and Texas Foundries opened. These companies provided much of Lufkin's industrial growth. The largest industrial employer
1961-518: The good farming land and to the rivers, which made steamboat transportation possible. The population reached 1,165, of whom 196 were slaves, in 1850. The first county seat was Marion; successively, Jonesville became county seat in 1854, Homer in 1858, and Lufkin in 1892. Lufkin was favored by the route of the Houston, East and West Texas Railway (now the Southern Pacific), which had been built in 1882 from Houston to Shreveport. Angelina County
2014-542: The north. Lufkin is 115 miles (185 km) northeast of Houston. The elevation of Lufkin is 139 to 404 ft above mean sea level. The headquarters of all four United States National Forests and two United States National Grasslands in Texas are located in Lufkin. They are the Angelina , Davy Crockett , Sabine , and Sam Houston National Forests, and the Caddo and Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands. Lufkin
2067-425: The population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 15,119 households, 28.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were not families. About 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
2120-452: The saloon in Homer, which led to their arrest. They paid their way out the next morning, but this infuriated the chief surveyor. He ordered the team for the rail line to bypass Homer and go by Denman Springs. Conveniently, the new route went through the property of Lafayette Denman and his son, Dr. A. M. Denman, who as the legend goes, had hosted the surveying team a few days earlier. This legend
2173-556: The summer. Cold months are usually mild and frost is uncommon. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 34,143 people, 12,755 households, and 8,277 families residing in the city. The population of the city was estimated to be 35,021 in 2019. At the 2019 census estimates, the racial makeup of the city is estimated to be 66.6% White , 25.2% African American , 0.7% American Indian or Alaska native, 2.2% Asian , and 2.2% of two or more races. Hispanic or Latinos of any race were estimated to be 28.6%. White alone (not Hispanic or Latino)
Lufkin, Texas - Misplaced Pages Continue
2226-742: The team. According to the United States Census Bureau , in 2019, the city has a total area of 34.48 sq mi (89.3 km). Lufkin is at the crossroads of East Texas at the intersections of Highways US 59 , future Interstate 69 , which leads to Houston and the Rio Grande Valley to the south and Nacogdoches and Texarkana to the north, and US 69 , which leads from the Golden Triangle of southeast Texas ( Port Arthur and Beaumont ) to points such as Jacksonville , Tyler , Dallas , and Oklahoma to
2279-431: The timber boom, and the golden era of expansion. The railroad era lasted between 1882 and 1890. In 1881, the area that is now Lufkin was little more than a small settlement known as Denman Springs. A railroad surveying team began to plan a route through Angelina County, with a possible route through Homer, Texas , which at the time was the county seat. According to legend, the men in the surveying team began to get rowdy in
2332-459: The total population was 4,271. Cotton culture, however, occupied only 2,048 acres of county land in 1858, a relatively small area for East Texas. Between 1850 and 1860 improved land in the county increased from about 3,000 to about 16,000 acres. In 1861 Angelina County was the only county in East Texas, and one of only a handful of other Texas counties, to reject secession. This election result
2385-418: The war, and no Union soldiers entered the county before 1866. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 865 square miles (2,240 km ), of which 798 square miles (2,070 km ) is land and 67 square miles (170 km ) (7.7%) is water. As of the census of 2000, there were 80,130 people, 28,685 households, and 21,255 families residing in the county. The population density
2438-510: The way of life, including museums and the opening of a new library. The City of Lufkin has a council–manager government , with six city council members, a mayor, and a city manager. The Lufkin Independent School District encompasses most of Lufkin and operates almost all of the schools within Lufkin. Additionally, Angelina College , a community college, is located in Lufkin. The city was originally founded in 1882 as
2491-502: Was 100 people per square mile (39 people/km ). There were 32,435 housing units at an average density of 40 units per square mile (15/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 75.10% White , 14.72% Black or African American , 0.30% Native American , 0.67% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 7.77% from other races , and 1.42% from two or more races. 14.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 28,685 households, out of which 36.10% had children under
2544-401: Was 2.50, and the average family size was 2.95. In the county, the population was distributed as 22.90% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 108.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.50 males. The median income for
2597-407: Was 4,666 crimes per 100,000 persons, which was an overall decrease by 2% from 2017; 134 violent crimes and 1,403 property crimes were reported. According to the United States Census Bureau 80.7% of people in Lufkin above the age of 25 are high-school graduates or higher. About 21.5% of people 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher. Almost all of Lufkin's public schools are operated by
2650-419: Was J. M. Smith, who was the owner of Smith Hotel; he was elected on November 15, 1890. Even before the incorporation of Lufkin, the courthouse was sought to have been moved. By a vote in 1885, though, the courthouse remained in Homer. In November 1891, a fire of mysterious origin destroyed the courthouse in Homer. This prompted a petition from the citizens of Lufkin asking for a new election to be held to decide if
2703-547: Was Lufkin Foundry and Machine Company, later known as Lufkin Industries ; it ceased operations in 2018. In early Lufkin history, most daily life revolved around churches, schools, and sports activities, but this began to change between 1965 and 1983, when Lufkin began a cultural expansion. Improvements included the Kurth Memorial Library, new museums, a civic center, Angelina College , a new federal building,
SECTION 50
#17327726467722756-506: Was settled predominantly by natives of the southern United States, some of them slaveowners who established plantations in their new Texas home. Large plantations were owned by the Stearns, Oates, Kalty, Stovall, and Ewing families. However, many Angelina County farmers were relatively poor men who owned no slaves. In 1847 slaves numbered 154, out of a total population of 834. In 1859 the number of slaves had grown to 427, valued at $ 269,550, and
2809-569: Was startling when compared with that of Angelina County's neighbor to the immediate south, Tyler County, which supported secession by a 99 percent vote. Angelina County had also given the Constitutional Union party candidate, John Bell, a strong minority vote in the 1860 election. Two companies of county men were organized to fight in the Civil War, but they saw only limited action; only nineteen Angelina County men lost their lives in
#771228