Lorena, Texas
Encyclopedia
Lorena is a small city in McLennan County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 1,433 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Waco
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
Lorena acquired national attention at the 1988 Democratic National Convention
in Atlanta, Georgia
, where the keynote address was delivered by then state treasurer and later Governor
Ann Richards
. As she called for the election of Governor
Michael Dukakis
of Massachusetts
and then U.S. Senator Lloyd M. Bentsen of Texas as President
and Vice President of the United States
, Richards read a letter from an unnamed young mother in Lorena who described herself as "forgotten" by the national leadership.
According to Richards, the woman wrote:
"Our worries go from pay day to pay day, just like millions of others. And we have two fairly decent incomes, but I worry how I’m going to pay the rising car insurance and food. I pray my kids don’t have a growth spurt from August to December, so I don’t have to buy new jeans. We buy clothes at the budget stores and we have them fray and fade and stretch in the first wash. We ponder and try to figure out how we're gonna pay for college and braces and tennis shoes. We don’t take vacations and we don't go out to eat. Please don’t think me ungrateful. We have jobs and a nice place to live, and we’re healthy. We're the people you see every day in the grocery stores, and we obey the laws. We pay our taxes. We fly our flags on holidays and we plod along trying to make it better for ourselves and our children and our parents. We aren’t vocal any more. I think maybe we’re too tired. I believe that people like us are forgotten in America."
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,433 people, 537 households, and 417 families residing in the city. The population density
was 444.8 people per square mile (171.8/km2). There were 551 housing units at an average density of 171.0/sq mi (66.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.21% White, 0.98% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 3.07% from other races
, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.86% of the population.
There were 537 households out of which 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.5% were married couples
living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,891, and the median income for a family was $54,083. Males had a median income of $37,560 versus $27,647 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,315. About 3.1% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.
McLennan County, Texas
McLennan County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in Central Texas. In 2000, its population was 213,517; in 2008 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated its population to be 230,213. Its seat is Waco. The county is named for Neil McLennan, an early settler....
, 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...
. The population was 1,433 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Waco
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Waco metropolitan area
The Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of one county – McLennan – in Central Texas, anchored by the city of Waco...
.
Lorena acquired national attention at the 1988 Democratic National Convention
1988 Democratic National Convention
The 1988 National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party was held at The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia from July 18–July 21, 1988 to select a candidate for the 1988 United States presidential election. At the convention Gov. Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts was nominated for President and...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, where the keynote address was delivered by then state treasurer and later Governor
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
Ann Richards
Ann Richards
Dorothy Ann Willis Richards was an American politician from Texas. She first came to national attention as the state treasurer of Texas, when she delivered the keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention. Richards served as the 45th Governor of Texas from 1991 to 1995 and was...
. As she called for the election of Governor
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
Michael Dukakis
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and then U.S. Senator Lloyd M. Bentsen of Texas as President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
, Richards read a letter from an unnamed young mother in Lorena who described herself as "forgotten" by the national leadership.
According to Richards, the woman wrote:
"Our worries go from pay day to pay day, just like millions of others. And we have two fairly decent incomes, but I worry how I’m going to pay the rising car insurance and food. I pray my kids don’t have a growth spurt from August to December, so I don’t have to buy new jeans. We buy clothes at the budget stores and we have them fray and fade and stretch in the first wash. We ponder and try to figure out how we're gonna pay for college and braces and tennis shoes. We don’t take vacations and we don't go out to eat. Please don’t think me ungrateful. We have jobs and a nice place to live, and we’re healthy. We're the people you see every day in the grocery stores, and we obey the laws. We pay our taxes. We fly our flags on holidays and we plod along trying to make it better for ourselves and our children and our parents. We aren’t vocal any more. I think maybe we’re too tired. I believe that people like us are forgotten in America."
Geography
Lorena is located at 31.382482°N 97.212998°W(31.382482, -97.212998).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), all of it land.
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 1,433 people, 537 households, and 417 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 444.8 people per square mile (171.8/km2). There were 551 housing units at an average density of 171.0/sq mi (66.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.21% White, 0.98% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 3.07% 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 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.86% of the population.
There were 537 households out of which 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.5% 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, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,891, and the median income for a family was $54,083. Males had a median income of $37,560 versus $27,647 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 $19,315. About 3.1% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.