Waskom, Texas

Waskom is a city in the U.S. state of Texas[6] with a 2018 census-estimated population of 1,887,[7] down from 2,160 residents in 2010.[8][9] It is located in Harrison County and lies approximately 19 miles (31 km) east of the county seat, Marshall, on U.S. Route 80 and Interstate 20.[10] Waskom forms part of Greater Marshall, which is also included in the Longview-Marshall combined statistical area in the Ark-La-Tex region. To the east are the cities of Greenwood and Shreveport, Louisiana.

Waskom, Texas
City
Waskom Volunteer Fire Department
Nickname(s): 
The Gateway to Texas[1]
Location within Harrison County
Waskom, Texas
Location within Texas
Waskom, Texas
Location within the United States
Waskom, Texas
Location within North America
Coordinates: 32°28′42″N 94°3′50″W
Country United States
State Texas
CountyHarrison
Area
 • Total2.68 sq mi (6.94 km2)
 • Land2.68 sq mi (6.94 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
285 ft (87 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total2,160
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
2,190
 • Density817.16/sq mi (315.46/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
75692
Area code(s)903
FIPS code48-76636[4]
GNIS feature ID1349531[5]
Websitecityofwaskom.com

History

The city of Waskom was established in 1850 as Powell Town, presumably for Jonathan S. Powell, who owned a land grant in the area.[11] It was founded as a midway point for an east-west (Dallas to Shreveport) cattle and cotton economic trail to the Red River in Louisiana.[11][12]

From 1850 to 1872 it had a post office as Powellton. In 1872, it became a main railroad station between Dallas, Texarkana, and Shreveport. The city's named was changed to Waskom Station in 1872 and to Waskom in 1881 after J. M. Waskom, a director of the Southern Pacific Railroad.[12][11]

In 2014 and 2015, Waskom High School won the 3A D2 state title in football.[13]

In June 2019, the city council voted to outlaw abortion in the city, declaring Waskom a "sanctuary city for the unborn", as state governments elsewhere in the United States also were drafting abortion bans.[14][15] There is currently no abortion clinic in the city.[16][17] In late 2019 and early 2020, other cities in Texas voted in favor of becoming "sanctuary cities for the unborn."[18][19][20]

Geography

Waskom is located in eastern Harrison County at 32°28′42″N 94°3′50″W (32.478416, -94.063769).[21] The eastern border of the city is the Texas–Louisiana border. Interstate 20 provides access to the city from Exit 633 on the west side and Exit 635 to the south. I-20 leads east 20 miles (32 km) to Shreveport and west 166 miles (267 km) to Dallas.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.7 square miles (6.9 km2), all land.[8] The city drains to the north towards Paw Paw Bayou and to the south towards tributaries of Cross Bayou. Both bayous run east to Cross Lake, which flows out to the Red River in Shreveport.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1940564—
195071927.5%
19601,33685.8%
19701,4609.3%
19801,82124.7%
19901,812−0.5%
20002,06814.1%
20102,1604.4%
Est. 20192,190[3]1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[22]

As of the census of 2010 and the American Community Survey's estimates, there were 2,160 people, 732 households, and 460 families residing in the city.[23][24] The population density was 750.0 people per square mile (289.3/km2) in 2000. There were 868 housing units in 2010.[23] In 2000, the racial makeup of the city was 75.05% White, 15.76% Black or African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 7.16% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic and Latin Americans of any race were 9.86% of the population.

In 2018 there was an estimated population of 1,887,a decrease of 273 inhabitants since the 2010 census.[7] Per the American Community Survey's 2018 estimates, a total of 598 households and 468 families resided in Waskom.[25] There were 833 housing units in 2018.[26] The racial makeup as of 2018 was 61.0% non-Hispanic white, 17.1% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American or Alaskan Native, and 2.2% from two or more races.[26] Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 19.0% of the city's populace.[26]

In 2000, there were 790 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.6% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,737, and the median income for a family was $32,243. Males had a median income of $29,625 versus $18,859 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,080. About 19.4% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.5% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2018, 48.1% of households had children under the age of 18 living with them.[25] The average household size was 3.16 and the average family size was 3.59.[25] The median age of Waskom was 49.9.[27] The median income was $29,844.[28]

Education

The city is served by the Waskom Independent School District.

Media

Waskom is within the media market of the Shreveport-Bossier City metropolitan statistical area.

The city's newspaper market is primarily served by The Marshall News Messenger and The Waskom Post.[29] The Shreveport Times, owned by USA Today, also has circulation within Waskom.

Notable people

References
  1. "Waskom, TX". City of Waskom. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "Waskom city, Texas Geography Profile". Data.census.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  7. "2018 ACS 5-Year Estimates Detailed Tables". Data.census.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  8. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Waskom city, Texas". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  9. "2010 DEC Summary File". Data.census.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  10. "Find Distance Between Cities Locations on Map Mileage Calculator: Waskom, Texas to Marshall, Texas". Distancebetweencities.us. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  11. Lentz, Sallie M. (2010-06-15). "WASKOM, TX". Tshaonline.org. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
  12. "History | City of Waskom, Texas Official Site". Retrieved 2019-05-28.
  13. Nathan Hague. "Waskom Wildcats wins back-to-back state titles". Marshall News Messenger. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
  14. "Texas town bans abortion in all-male council vote". BBC News. 2019-06-13. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  15. Miller, Ryan W. "'Sanctuary city for the unborn': All-male city council in Texas town bans most abortions". Usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  16. Isaac Stanley-Becker. "Five men outlaw abortion in a Texas town, declaring a 'sanctuary city for the unborn'". The Washington Post.
  17. Hargett, Kenley. "'Abortion is Freedom' billboards cause controversy in Waskom, city declared the act illegal". Ksla.com. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  18. Emily Wax-Thibodeaux (2019-10-01). "Anti-abortion law spreads in East Texas as "sanctuary city for the unborn" movement expands". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  19. Parke, Caleb (2020-01-16). "Banning abortion, more Texas towns become 'sanctuary cities for the unborn'". Fox News. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  20. Walters, Edgar (2020-01-15). "Three Texas towns vote in favor of 'sanctuary cities for the unborn,' hoping to ban abortion". Click2houston.com. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  21. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  22. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  23. "2010 ACS Demographic and Housting Estimates". Data.census.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  24. "2010 ACS Households and Families Estimates". Data.census.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  25. "2018 ACS Households and Families Estimates". Data.census.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  26. "2018 ACS Demographic and Housting Estimates". Data.census.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  27. "2018 ACS Age and Sex Estimates". Data.census.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  28. "2018 ACS Annual Income Estimates". Data.census.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  29. "The Waskom Post". The Waskom Post. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
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