Sulphur Springs, Texas

For the fishing resort and former spa in San Saba County, see Bend, Texas § Sulphur Springs.

Sulphur Springs, Texas
City
Motto:  "Great Parks. Great People"
Location of Sulphur Springs, Texas
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Hopkins City Type: Rural/City
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
• City Council	Mayor Kayla Price Mayor Pro Tem Emily Glass Craig Johnson Clay Walker Oscar Aguilar Freddie Taylor John Sellers
• City Manager	Marc Maxwell
Area
• Total	21.0 sq mi (54.5 km2)
• Land	17.9 sq mi (46.3 km2)
• Water	3.2 sq mi (8.2 km2)
Elevation	502 ft (153 m)
Population  (2000)
• Total	14,551
• Density	814.8/sq mi (314.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	75482-75483
Area code	903
FIPS code	48-70904
GNIS feature ID	1348056
Website	SulphurSpringsTX.org

Sulphur Springs is a city in Hopkins County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 15,449. It is the county seat of Hopkins County.

History

Sulphur Springs derives its modern name from the fact that when the area was first settled, springs of sulphur water were abundant. Before the first settlers arrived, local Native American tribes often used the areas around the springs as their home. When the settlers began arriving, they, too, used the springs as their camping grounds.

A man by the name of Eli Bib, one of the first settlers, ran a store from his cabin that sold staples, whiskey, persimmon beer, and slabs of ginger cake. In 1849, Dr. and Mrs. Davis moved into the area. Dr. Davis envisioned the spot as a future city. In 1850 the residents organized the area's first church, the Methodist Episcopal. Construction of the church was completed in 1853. In 1852, the Presbyterian Church was organized. At that time, the population of the village was 441. In order to serve the growing group of people, commodities began to be brought in from nearby Jefferson and new stores began to spring up.

The village became a city in 1854 when the first post office was established. The city's name was originally Bright Star. Mail to and from the city was delivered by the Pony Express. On May 18, 1871, the county seat of Hopkins county was moved from Tarrant to Sulphur Springs, and the name "Bright Star" was removed from the postal directory.

Sulphur Springs Veteran's Memorial at the downtown Courthouse

The exact date of the first government's formation is unknown, but one of the first to hold the mayor's office was William A. Wortham. In 1854, Wortham bought the Texas Star press and moved to Sulphur Springs where he, his brother-in-law, and Bill Davis established the city's first newspaper.

Building being rehabilitated to be the new City Hall

The Echo Publishing Company was founded in 1897. It was the first steam-powered press in Sulphur Springs. After the first plant was lost to a fire, a new plant was constructed which used gasoline as fuel. In 1884 the Sulphur Springs Enterprise was founded. In the same year, leading exponent of Populism James Harvey "Cyclone" Davis founded the Alliance Vindicator, which was published until 1901. John S. Bagwell bought the Hopkins County Echo in 1916. In 1924, the Texas Star was merged into the Daily News Telegram. The Daily News Telegram later changed its name, first to the Daily Gazette and later to the Weekly Gazette. Eventually all these newspapers were merged into the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram and the Hopkins County Echo, both of which still exist.

Ten acres (40,000 m²) of land were set aside for Bright Star University in 1857. The Sulphur Springs District Conference High School began in 1877, established on Bright Star University land on College Street. In December 1882, the school became known as Central College. It was owned by the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was later renamed Eastman College and Conservatory of Music and Art under a new charter. Before the year 1900 the college burned and Professor Eastman left the area.

The First National Bank of Sulphur Springs was received its National charter in 1855. It is now known as City National Bank.

In 1857 the area's first steam-powered factory was established by the Bell brothers. In the same year, the Morro Castle was built on North Street. Its builders remain unknown.

C. Denton was elected to lead the new city government, which was incorporated after the war. During the Civil War, the town had lost its charter and had to be incorporated again at the conclusion of hostilities. The city of Sulphur Springs, and Hopkins County in general, sent many brave soldiers to fight during the Civil War.

In 1868, Union troops moved into Sulphur Springs and occupied the city for a period of two years. Upon their departure and the end of the military occupation, A. J. Bridges became mayor of the new city government and the city then began to grow and prosper.

A railroad line was extended from Mineola, Texas in 1872. Settlers were drawn by tales of the healing powers of the city's sulphur baths. Due to population growth, the springs of sulphur were gradually covered and none remain active today. A rail was run from Jefferson to Sulphur Springs in 1879. The St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Railroad (Cotton Belt) built through Sulphur Springs in 1887 on its way to Commerce and Sherman. The next year the line was completed to Fort Worth. In 1891 the bankrupt railroad was sold to Jay Gould interests and renamed the St. Louis Southwestern Railway.

Courthouse bench in Sulphur Springs

An ice plant was built in 1887. The city's courthouse, which still exists today, was constructed in 1895. In 1904, wells were dug to supply the city with water. In the same year, a long distance telephone line was run to nearby Greenville. In 1889, the City National Bank was organized.

Hopkins County Courthouse in downtown Sulphur Springs

After World War II a new city manager type of government was founded. With the inception of this new government, many new programs were started, new plants and factories began and relocated in the city, and businesses and the city grew until the population rose to be approximately 16,000.

The dairy industry was a major component of the local economy from the late 1940s through 1995; and Sulphur Springs is home to the Southwest Dairy Museum which features artifacts on the history of the dairy industry. The dairy industry began to shrink largely because of declining milk prices, higher labor costs, and large corporations operating massive dairies, which reduced the amount of local mom and pop dairies considerably. Large industries in the community include Pinnacle, Ocean Spray, Grocery Supply, Jeld-Wen, Clayton Home Mfg., Flowserve and others. For several months in 2012, Hopkins County enjoyed a very low unemployment rate at approximately 4.5% and 500+ jobs added.

Courthouse Square - ground view of plaza

Splash Pad in Downtown Sulphur Springs

Other Attractions

• Leo St. Clair Music Box Collection houses more than 150 unique music boxes, many one-of-a-kind, unique and antique, and some owned by movie stars and soldiers.
• Sinclair WWII Collection displays letters, pictures, and other World War II artifacts. Both are housed at the beautiful state of the art library.
• Southwest Dairy Museum and Learning Center depicts all facets of milk production and the history of the dairy industry. It houses an old fashioned soda bar where visitors enjoy ice cream and light lunches.
• Cooper Lake State Park has over 2,500 acres of terrain and 19,300 acres of lake.
• Lake Fork, renown for champion bass fishing, is 15 miles south of Sulphur Springs.
• Coleman Lake and Park is a 186-acre park with waterfalls, trails, tournament rated ball parks. Imagination Mountain sits atop the waterfall and completes this family play area with tunnels, slides and sandpits.
• Buford Park is a one-acre park with castle playground known as Kid’s Kingdom. The local walking trail crosses Pea Vine Pinion pond.
• The Farm and Art Market is located downtown from May through October during the evening. In 2012, American Farmland Trust voted the market as “America’s Favorite Farmers Market’.
• Hopkins County Museum and Heritage Park features 11 acres of historical buildings from Hopkins County which have been relocated to the park for restoration and preservation. The park hosts many events throughout the year and offers a peek into the past with butter churning, blacksmithing and dutchoven cooking.

View of the Plaza's Farmers Market from top of Courthouse

Geography

Sulphur Springs is located at 33°8′3″N 95°36′7″W (33.134064, -95.601965).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.0 square miles (54 km²), of which, 17.9 square miles (46 km²) of it is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²) of it (15.11%) is water....

Climate

Sulphur Springs is considered to be part of the humid subtropical area.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	621		—
1870	921		48.3%
1880	1,854		101.3%
1890	3,038		63.9%
1900	3,635		19.7%
1910	5,151		41.7%
1920	5,558		7.9%
1930	5,417		−2.5%
1940	6,742		24.5%
1950	8,991		33.4%
1960	9,160		1.9%
1970	10,642		16.2%
1980	12,804		20.3%
1990	14,062		9.8%
2000	14,551		3.5%
2010	15,449		6.2%
2014 (est.)	15,975		3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2010, there were 15,449 people, 5,959 households, and 3,987 families residing in the city. The population density was 867 people per square mile (314.6/km²). There were 6,654 housing units at an average density of 372.8 per square mile (140.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.4% White, 12.6% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, .08% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.9% of the population.

There were 5,959 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.1 people.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 19, 6.7% from 20 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.2 years. For every 100 females there were 92 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,701, and the median income for a family was $36,802. Males had a median income of $32,022 versus $20,325 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,967. About 12.6% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Sulphur Springs served by the following highways that run through the city:

• Interstate 30
• U.S. Highway 67 (runs concurrent with Interstate 30)
• State Highway 11
• State Highway 19
• State Highway 154

The city is also served by a municipal airport. It was named Texas Airport of the Year for 2003 by the Federal Aviation Administration. Railroad Service is provided by the Kansas City Southern Railroad and the shortline Blacklands Railroad is based in Sulphur Springs.

Intercity transportation

Greyhound provides daily service to Dallas and points west, and Texarkana, Arkansas and all points east. There is no bus depot in Sulphur Springs proper; instead, Greyhound stops at the Pilot truck stop.

Amtrak does not directly service Sulphur Springs; however, Amtrak's Texas Eagle stops in nearby Mineola, Texas with daily service to San Antonio and Chicago and thrice-weekly service to They provide free transportation to everybody but James Day. GO Ask the chief of police Los Angeles.

Education

The City of Sulphur Springs is served by the Sulphur Springs Independent School District and home to the Sulphur Springs High School Wildcats. A campus of Paris Junior College is also located in Sulphur Springs and offers freshman and sophomore level college classes. In addition to this, Sulphur Springs Center Paris Junior College is a postsecondary education institution located in Sulphur Springs.

Notable people

• Gary Panter, artist, illustrator, musician
• Tyreo Harrison, NFL linebacker
• Kaci Brown, pop singer
• Erwin Cain, attorney and Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives
• Caleb Miller, NFL linebacker
• Damione Lewis, NFL defensive tackle
• Earl Black and Merle Black, noted political scientists.
• Mandy Clark, birthname Amanda Barney, voice actress
• Keenan Clayton, NFL linebacker
• Steve George, American football player
• Forrest Gregg, SMU football, all Southwest Conference, All-Pro Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, NFL Coach–Cincinnati Bengals, NFL Hall of Famer.
• Fair to Midland, progressive metal band
• Gerald Mann, Texas Attorney General and SMU quarterback
• Grover Sellers, Texas Attorney General
• Colleen Hoover, New York Times best-selling author

External links

• City website