Gilmer, Texas

Coordinates: 32°43′57″N 94°56′49″W / 32.73250°N 94.94694°W / 32.73250; -94.94694
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Gilmer, Texas
City
Buffalo Street in Gilmer
Buffalo Street in Gilmer
Official seal of Gilmer, Texas
Seal
Motto: 
"Finding the Way"
Location of Gilmer in Texas
Location of Gilmer in Texas
Coordinates: 32°43′57″N 94°56′49″W / 32.73250°N 94.94694°W / 32.73250; -94.94694
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyUpshur
Area
[1]
 • Total3.80 sq mi (9.84 km2)
 • Land3.79 sq mi (9.82 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation
367 ft (112 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total4,843
 • Density1,356.99/sq mi (523.90/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
75644-75645
Area code903
FIPS code48-29564[2]
GNIS feature ID1336535[3]
WebsiteCity of Gilmer official website.

Gilmer is a city in, and the county seat of, Upshur County, Texas, United States.[4] It is best known for being the home of the East Texas Yamboree and the birthplace of popular music singers Don Henley of the Eagles band and Johnny Mathis, as well as blues musician Freddie King. Its population was 4,843 at the 2020 census.

History[edit]

Founded in 1846, the city's namesake is former Secretary of the Navy Thomas Walker Gilmer. Gilmer is located on the Old Cherokee Trace, a trail used by the Cherokee Indians in their travels. To this day, arrowheads and other Native American artifacts can be found with little to no digging. Sam Houston, when he lived with the Cherokee, traveled the trace through here. The location of Gilmer was determined by a flood on Little Cypress Creek. First located near the creek, residents decided to change locations because of frequent floods.

Geography[edit]

Main Highway in Gilmer, Texas (US-271)
Downtown Gilmer, Texas

Gilmer is located at 32°43'57" north, 94°56'49" qest (32.732387, –94.946980).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.6 mi2 (12.0 km2), all land.

Four miles west of Gilmer is Lake Gilmer, which opened September 29, 2001.

Gilmer is part of a larger area known as the East Texas Piney Woods.

Climate[edit]

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Gilmer has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[6]

Climate data for Gilmer, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1929–2012)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 85
(29) 		90
(32) 		91
(33) 		97
(36) 		100
(38) 		109
(43) 		110
(43) 		114
(46) 		111
(44) 		98
(37) 		88
(31) 		85
(29) 		114
(46)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 55.6
(13.1) 		60.2
(15.7) 		67.0
(19.4) 		74.5
(23.6) 		81.6
(27.6) 		88.6
(31.4) 		92.6
(33.7) 		92.2
(33.4) 		87.4
(30.8) 		77.2
(25.1) 		65.5
(18.6) 		57.4
(14.1) 		75.0
(23.9)
Daily mean °F (°C) 44.1
(6.7) 		47.7
(8.7) 		54.8
(12.7) 		61.9
(16.6) 		70.4
(21.3) 		77.9
(25.5) 		81.5
(27.5) 		80.8
(27.1) 		74.8
(23.8) 		64.3
(17.9) 		53.3
(11.8) 		45.7
(7.6) 		63.1
(17.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 32.7
(0.4) 		35.2
(1.8) 		42.6
(5.9) 		49.3
(9.6) 		59.3
(15.2) 		67.2
(19.6) 		70.5
(21.4) 		69.4
(20.8) 		62.2
(16.8) 		51.4
(10.8) 		41.2
(5.1) 		34.0
(1.1) 		51.3
(10.7)
Record low °F (°C) −4
(−20) 		−3
(−19) 		12
(−11) 		25
(−4) 		36
(2) 		46
(8) 		50
(10) 		47
(8) 		36
(2) 		23
(−5) 		13
(−11) 		−4
(−20) 		−4
(−20)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.76
(96) 		4.09
(104) 		4.22
(107) 		4.66
(118) 		4.49
(114) 		4.07
(103) 		3.05
(77) 		3.01
(76) 		3.68
(93) 		4.57
(116) 		3.81
(97) 		4.51
(115) 		47.92
(1,217)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.6
(1.5) 		0.7
(1.8) 		0.2
(0.51) 		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) 		1.5
(3.8)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 7.9 7.3 7.9 6.1 7.7 7.6 5.0 4.6 5.5 5.7 6.9 8.0 80.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6
Source: NOAA[7][8]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880386—
189059153.1%
19101,484—
19202,26852.8%
19301,963−13.4%
19403,13859.9%
19504,09630.5%
19604,3125.3%
19704,196−2.7%
19805,16723.1%
19904,822−6.7%
20004,799−0.5%
20104,9052.2%
20204,843−1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
Gilmer racial composition as of 2020[10]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 3,241 66.92%
Black or African American (NH) 757 15.63%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 18 0.37%
Asian (NH) 38 0.78%
Pacific Islander (NH) 4 0.08%
Some Other Race (NH) 10 0.21%
Mixed/multiracial (NH) 261 5.39%
Hispanic or Latino 514 10.61%
Total 4,843

As of the 2020 United States census, 4,843 people, 1,778 households, and 987 families were residing in the city.

As of the census[2] of 2000, 4,799 people, 1,926 households, and 1,300 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,038.5 inhabitants per square mile (401.0/km2). The 2,214 housing units averaged 479.1 per mi2 (185.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 75.91% White, 20.23% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.90% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.42% of the population.

Of the 1,926 households, 30.1% had children under 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were not families. About 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37, and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city, the population was distributed as 25.3% under 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 76.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,487, and for a family was $39,688. Males had a median income of $32,437 versus $17,910 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,823. About 15.9% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.5% of those under the age of 18 and 21.0% of those 65 and older.

Notable people[edit]

Music[edit]

Sports[edit]

Other[edit]

In popular culture[edit]

  • The Michelle Shocked song "Memories of East Texas" recalls her experiences growing up in Gilmer.[15]

Education[edit]

Gilmer is served by the Gilmer Independent School District.

Notes[edit]

  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.[11][12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "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. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ Climate Summary for Gilmer, Texas
  7. ^ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  8. ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  9. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  11. ^ https://www.census.gov/ [not specific enough to verify]
  12. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  13. ^ MICHELLE SHOCKED, TAKING STOCK – The Washington Post Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  14. ^ Merline Pitre. "David Abner, Sr". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  15. ^ Michelle Shocked - Memories Of East Texas Lyrics Retrieved 2022-10-11.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gilmer, Texas.
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