Henrietta, Texas
Encyclopedia
Henrietta is a city in and the county seat
of Clay County
, Texas
, United States
. It is part of the Wichita Falls, Texas
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 3,264 at the 2000 census.
in north central Clay County.
Clay County was separated from Cooke County
(along with Montague County
) in 1857 and Henrietta was named as the county seat. The naming of the town remains a mystery though several explanations have been offered. However, it was named, it became the center of gravity for the fledgling county. By 1860, it remained the only town in the county, having 109 residents, 10 houses, and a general store. It sat at the far western edge of Anglo expansion in north central Texas, but Native Americans
remained a viable threat to current and future settlers. In 1862, Henrietta opened its post office. The Civil War saw American soldiers leave all of the south, and Henrietta again suffered from continuous attacks from local tribes. By late 1862, Henrietta was abandoned, as white settlers fled back east to Cooke and Montague counties. Remaining structures were burned. Anglos continued to attempt resettlement, and in 1865 after the Civil War, a group attempting resettlement was massacred. A Quaker group again attempted to reoccupy the former townsite but they were killed or fled. In 1870, 50 soldiers and Kiowa Indians fought a battle in the ruins of Henrietta.
After the battle, white settlers returned to Henrietta, this time permanently. In 1874, the town's post office reopened and Henrietta quickly became the economic hub of north central Texas. In 1882, the Fort Worth and Denver Railway
reached Henrietta on its southern side, and in 1887 it became the western most terminus for the Gainesville, Henrietta, and Western Railway. The line was later extended to Wichita Falls
after heavy lobbying by Wichita Falls businessmen. Henrietta became a logistical supply point for various operations in north central Texas, including mining in Foard
and Archer
counties. The Southwestern Railway Company completed a rail line between Archer City, Texas
and Henrietta in 1910.
Henrietta, though it had settlers off and on since 1857, did not incorporate until 1881. The Clay County courthouse was built in 1884, which is still in use today. By 1890, the population had reached 2100, and the town boasted a 400-seat opera house, five churches, a new jailhouse, and a school. From 1893 to 1895, it even had a college - Henrietta Normal College. It remained the economic hub of the county at the turn of the 20th century.
But Henrietta's growth would wane in the 20th century as nearby Wichita Falls grew rapidly into the most prosperous economic center in the area. The Southwestern Railway line was abandoned in 1920, and the Gainesville, Henrietta, and Western Railway line was abandoned in 1969. By 1990, the population remained under 3000. In 2000, it topped 3000 for the first time since the 1970 census. It remains a "bedroom community" for Wichita Falls today. It also remains the largest city in Clay County.
The play Texas shown at Palo Duro Canyon near Amarillo, Texas
is loosely based on the history of Henrietta.
The 1995 movie The Stars Fell on Henrietta
, produced by Clint Eastwood
and David Valdez, and starring Robert Duvall
, Brian Dennehy
and Billy Bob Thornton
, depicts the Texas oil rush of the 1930s, and is set in Henrietta.
, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²), of which, 4.7 square miles (12.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.05%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,264 people, 1,308 households, and 893 families residing in the city. The population density
was 694.8 people per square mile (268.1/km²). There were 1,460 housing units at an average density of 310.8 per square mile (119.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.89% White, 0.89% African American, 1.04% Native American, 0.98% from other races
, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.94% of the population.
There were 1,308 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,835, and the median income for a family was $40,797. Males had a median income of $27,765 versus $21,335 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,647. About 8.2% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.
. South of town between Henrietta and Jacksboro
, students attend Midway Independent School District (Clay County, Texas)
.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Clay County
Clay County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,006 people, 4,323 households, and 3,181 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 4,992 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is part of the Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States, United States. Wichita Falls is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay and Wichita counties. According to the U.S. Census estimate of 2010,...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Wichita Falls metropolitan area
The Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in North Texas that covers three counties - Archer, Clay, and Wichita. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 151,524 .-Counties:*Archer*Clay*Wichita-Places with 1,000 to 25,000 people:*Archer...
. The population was 3,264 at the 2000 census.
History
Henrietta is one of the oldest settled towns in north central Texas. It sits at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 287, U.S. Highway 82, State Highway 148, and Farm to Market Road 1197Farm to Market Road 1197
Farm to Market Road 1197 is a farm to market road in Clay County, Texas.-Route description:The southern terminus of FM 1197 is at in downtown Henrietta, and the route travels north along North Bridge Street through the city, passing the rodeo grounds, city square, the Clay County Courthouse, and...
in north central Clay County.
Clay County was separated from Cooke County
Cooke County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 36,363 people, 13,643 households, and 10,000 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile . There were 15,061 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
(along with Montague County
Montague County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,117 people, 7,770 households, and 5,485 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile . There were 9,862 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
) in 1857 and Henrietta was named as the county seat. The naming of the town remains a mystery though several explanations have been offered. However, it was named, it became the center of gravity for the fledgling county. By 1860, it remained the only town in the county, having 109 residents, 10 houses, and a general store. It sat at the far western edge of Anglo expansion in north central Texas, but Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
remained a viable threat to current and future settlers. In 1862, Henrietta opened its post office. The Civil War saw American soldiers leave all of the south, and Henrietta again suffered from continuous attacks from local tribes. By late 1862, Henrietta was abandoned, as white settlers fled back east to Cooke and Montague counties. Remaining structures were burned. Anglos continued to attempt resettlement, and in 1865 after the Civil War, a group attempting resettlement was massacred. A Quaker group again attempted to reoccupy the former townsite but they were killed or fled. In 1870, 50 soldiers and Kiowa Indians fought a battle in the ruins of Henrietta.
After the battle, white settlers returned to Henrietta, this time permanently. In 1874, the town's post office reopened and Henrietta quickly became the economic hub of north central Texas. In 1882, the Fort Worth and Denver Railway
Fort Worth and Denver Railway
The Fort Worth and Denver Railway , nicknamed "the Denver Road," was a class I American railroad company that operated in the northern part of Texas from 1881 to 1982, and had a profound influence on the early settlement and economic development of the region....
reached Henrietta on its southern side, and in 1887 it became the western most terminus for the Gainesville, Henrietta, and Western Railway. The line was later extended to Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States, United States. Wichita Falls is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay and Wichita counties. According to the U.S. Census estimate of 2010,...
after heavy lobbying by Wichita Falls businessmen. Henrietta became a logistical supply point for various operations in north central Texas, including mining in Foard
Foard County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,622 people, 664 households, and 438 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 850 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
and Archer
Archer County, Texas
Archer County is a county located in the US state of Texas, and was formed in 1858 from Fannin County. It is part of the Wichita Falls, Texas, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2005, the population estimate is 9,095, up from 8,854 in 2000. Its county seat is Archer City. Archer is named for...
counties. The Southwestern Railway Company completed a rail line between Archer City, Texas
Archer City, Texas
Archer City is a city in Archer County, Texas, United States. The city lies at the junction of State Highway 79 and State Highway 25. It is the county seat of Archer County. It is located 25 miles south of Wichita Falls, Texas and is part of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and Henrietta in 1910.
Henrietta, though it had settlers off and on since 1857, did not incorporate until 1881. The Clay County courthouse was built in 1884, which is still in use today. By 1890, the population had reached 2100, and the town boasted a 400-seat opera house, five churches, a new jailhouse, and a school. From 1893 to 1895, it even had a college - Henrietta Normal College. It remained the economic hub of the county at the turn of the 20th century.
But Henrietta's growth would wane in the 20th century as nearby Wichita Falls grew rapidly into the most prosperous economic center in the area. The Southwestern Railway line was abandoned in 1920, and the Gainesville, Henrietta, and Western Railway line was abandoned in 1969. By 1990, the population remained under 3000. In 2000, it topped 3000 for the first time since the 1970 census. It remains a "bedroom community" for Wichita Falls today. It also remains the largest city in Clay County.
The play Texas shown at Palo Duro Canyon near Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
is loosely based on the history of Henrietta.
The 1995 movie The Stars Fell on Henrietta
The Stars Fell on Henrietta
The Stars Fell on Henrietta is a 1995 drama film from Warner Bros., directed by James Keach and produced by Clint Eastwood.-Plot:The setting is early America during the oil boom. An elderly, down on his luck 'oil man', Mr. Cox finds himself in the town of Henrietta...
, produced by Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
and David Valdez, and starring Robert Duvall
Robert Duvall
Robert Selden Duvall is an American actor and director. He has won an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards and a BAFTA over the course of his career....
, Brian Dennehy
Brian Dennehy
Brian Mannion Dennehy is an American actor of film, stage and screen.-Early years:Dennehy was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Hannah and Edward Dennehy, who was a wire service editor for the Associated Press; he has two brothers, Michael and Edward. Dennehy is of Irish ancestry and was...
and Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter, director and musician. Thornton gained early recognition as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire and in several early 1990s films including On Deadly Ground and Tombstone...
, depicts the Texas oil rush of the 1930s, and is set in Henrietta.
Geography
Henrietta is located at 33°49′N 98°12′W (33.8160, -98.1938). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²), of which, 4.7 square miles (12.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.05%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,264 people, 1,308 households, and 893 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 694.8 people per square mile (268.1/km²). There were 1,460 housing units at an average density of 310.8 per square mile (119.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.89% White, 0.89% African American, 1.04% Native American, 0.98% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.94% of the population.
There were 1,308 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,835, and the median income for a family was $40,797. Males had a median income of $27,765 versus $21,335 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $15,647. About 8.2% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The City of Henrietta is served by the Henrietta Independent School DistrictHenrietta Independent School District
Henrietta Independent School District is a public school district based in Henrietta, Texas .In addition to Henrietta, the district serves the city of Jolly as well as rural areas in central Clay County....
. South of town between Henrietta and Jacksboro
Jacksboro, Texas
Jacksboro is a city in Jack County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,533 at the 2000 census. Jacksboro is located at the junction of U.S...
, students attend Midway Independent School District (Clay County, Texas)
Midway Independent School District (Clay County, Texas)
Midway Independent School District is a public school district in Texas . The district is located in southern Clay County and extends into a small portion of northern Jack County....
.
Transportation
-
U.S. Highway 287 West to Wichita FallsWichita Falls, TexasWichita Falls is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States, United States. Wichita Falls is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay and Wichita counties. According to the U.S. Census estimate of 2010,...
; East Southeast to Fort WorthFort Worth, TexasFort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and... -
U.S. Highway 82 West to LubbockLubbock, TexasLubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
; East to NoconaNocona, TexasNocona is a city along U.S. Highway 82 and State Highway 175 in Montague County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,198 at the 2000 census.-History:... -
State Highway 148 South to JacksboroJacksboro, TexasJacksboro is a city in Jack County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,533 at the 2000 census. Jacksboro is located at the junction of U.S...
; North to PetroliaPetrolia, TexasPetrolia is a city in Clay County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Wichita Falls, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 782 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Petrolia is located at .... -
Farm to Market Road 1197Farm to Market Road 1197Farm to Market Road 1197 is a farm to market road in Clay County, Texas.-Route description:The southern terminus of FM 1197 is at in downtown Henrietta, and the route travels north along North Bridge Street through the city, passing the rodeo grounds, city square, the Clay County Courthouse, and...
North to HurnvilleHurnville, TexasHurnville is an unincorporated community on Farm to Market Road 1197 eight miles north of Henrietta in north central Clay County, Texas, United States.-History:... -
Farm to Market Road 2847Farm to Market Road 2847Farm to Market Road 2847 is a farm to market road in Clay County, Texas.-Route description:FM 2847 is a shoulderless two-lane route for its entire length. State maintenance of the roadway begins south of an intersection with , which provides access westward to Lake Arrowhead...
Southwest to FM 2606Farm to Market Road 2606Farm to Market Road 2606 is a farm to market road in Clay County, Texas.-Route description:FM 2606 is a two-lane route for its entire length. Its western terminus is at near the entrance to Lake Arrowhead State Park. The route travels to the east, past the north edge of Lake Arrowhead and across...
, Lake Arrowhead, and HalsellHalsell, TexasHalsell is an unincorporated community located 10 miles southwest of Henrietta in west central Clay County, Texas, United States.-History:Established in 1900 and named for a local rancher, the town of Halsell received a post office in 1901...
External links
- The Clay County Leader, local newspaper.
- See historic photos of Henrietta from the Clay County Historical Society, hosted by the Portal to Texas History