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Mexia, Texas

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Mexia, Texas
City
Motto(s): 
A great place to live, no matter how you pronounce it
Location of Mexia, Texas
Location of Mexia, Texas
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyLimestone
Area
 • Total
5.2 sq mi (13.3 km2)
 • Land5.2 sq mi (13.3 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
522 ft (159 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total
6,563
 • Density1,273.9/sq mi (491.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
76667
Area code254
FIPS code48-47916Template:GR
GNIS feature ID1362673Template:GR

Mexia (/[invalid input: 'icon']məˈheɪ.ə/ mə-HAY-ə or /məˈhɛər/ mə-HAIR) is a city in Limestone County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,552 at the 2008 census.

The city's motto, based on the fact that outsiders tend to mispronounce the name [ˈmɛksiə], is "A great place, no matter how you pronounce it."[1]

Named after General José Antonio Mexía, a Hispanic hero for the Republic of Texas Army during the Texas Revolution, the town was founded near his estate. Nearby attractions include Fort Parker Historical recreation, the Confederate Reunion grounds, and Mexia State Supported Living Center (formerly Mexia State School), which began as a prisoner of war camp for members of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps during World War II.

Mexia is also home to the Mexia Public Schools Museum, one of a few museums dedicated to the historical and social significance of a Texas public school system.

Mexia hosts a large Juneteenth celebration every year.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13 km2), all land.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2008, there were 6,552 people, 2,427 households, and 1,660 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,273.9 people per square mile (492.0/km²). There were 2,750 housing units at an average density of 533.8 per square mile (206.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 55.90% White, 31.68% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 10.67% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.90% of the population.

There were 2,427 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 19.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,785, and the median income for a family was $29,375. Males had a median income of $26,479 versus $18,138 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,235. About 20.8% of families and 22.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.5% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.

History

Mexia was founded as a town in the 19th century. Inhabitants occupied the Fort Parker settlement near the Navasota river. The area is near where the rolling hills of the great plains begin. The hills provided grazing land for the buffalo herds, which plains Indians depended upon for sustainance. Many hunting artifacts from Native American people have been found in the creek beds and draws around Mexia. The Comanche tribe came into conflict with the white settlers in and around this area. The abduction of Cynthia Ann Parker took place at Fort Parker. Comanches raided the fort and left with the three year old Parker girl. She lived among the Comanche people into adulthood and was the mother of Quanah Parker, the last Comanche war chief.

Mexia made national news in 1981, when three young black men drowned in Lake Mexia after being taken into custody by law enforcement officers for possession of marijuana during the annual Juneteenth celebration.[2] Carl Baker, 19; Anthony Freeman, 18; and Steven Booker, 19; drowned after a boat used to transport them across the lake, which was also occupied by three officers, capsized less than 100 feet from shore. Initial reports were that the three men had been handcuffed but those reports were unfounded.[3] (Citation not appropriate - see Discussion) Two police officers and one probation officer who had been in the boat were tried for the offense of criminally negligent homicide, but all were acquitted "by an all-white jury in Dallas."[2]

Mexia also made news when its former resident Anna Nicole Smith died,[4] and when Allen Stanford was arrested on allegations of fraud in 2009.[1]

Education

Mexia is zoned to schools in the Mexia Independent School District.[5]

Schools include:

  • A.B. McBay Elementary School
  • R.Q. Sims Intermediate School
  • Mexia Junior High School
  • Mexia High School

Pre-integration:

  • Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School (African-American)[6]

Post-Secondary Education:

Famous past residents

References

  1. ^ a b Alderson, Andrew (2009-02-21). "Sir Allen Stanford: how the small-town Texas boy evaded scrutiny to become a big-time 'fraudster'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-06-16. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b Coleman, Jonathan (2001-06-22). "Juneteenth". The Texas Observer. Retrieved 2009-06-16. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ "Around the Nation; Texas Officers Acquitted In Drowning of 3 Youths". New York Times. 1982-04-18. Retrieved 2009-06-16. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ Brown, Angela K. (2007-02-09). "Some in Smith's Hometown Not So Warm". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-06-16. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ "Mexia Independent School District". Retrieved 2009-06-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ Gosselin, Rick (1995-11-06). "Nothing less than the best: Rhodes always expect to win". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2009-06-16. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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