Hempstead, Texas

City of Hempstead, Texas
City
Nickname(s): Watermelon Capital of Texas
Location in the state of Texas
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Waller
Incorporated	Originally incorporated November 10, 1858, re-incorporated June 10, 1935
Government
• Mayor	Michael Wolfe
Area
• Total	5.0 sq mi (12.9 km2)
• Land	5.0 sq mi (12.8 km2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation	227 ft (69.1 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	4,691
• Density	364.4/sq mi (943.8/km2)
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	77445
Area code(s)	979
FIPS code	48-33200
GNIS feature ID	1337592
Website	hempsteadcitytx.com

Hempstead is a city in Waller County, Texas, United States, part of the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area. It is the county seat of Waller County.

Location

The community, located at the junctions of U.S. Highway 290, Texas State Highway 6, and Texas State Highway 159, is around 50 miles northwest of downtown Houston. The population was 4,691 at the 2000 census.

History

On December 29, 1856, Dr. Richard Rodgers Peebles and James W. McDade organized the Hempstead Town Company to sell lots in the newly established community of Hempstead, which was located at the projected terminus of Houston and Texas Central Railway. Peebles named Hempstead after Dr. G. S. B. Hempstead, Peebles's brother-in-law. Peebles and Mary Ann Groce Peebles, his wife, contributed 2,000 acres (8.1 km²) of the estate of Jared E. Groce, Jr., for the community. On June 29, 1858, the Houston and Texas Central Railway was extended to Hempstead, causing the community to become a distribution center between the Gulf Coast and the interior of Texas. On November 10 of that year, Hempstead incorporated. The Washington County Railroad, which ran from Hempstead to Brenham, enhanced the city upon its completion.

Hempstead, Texas in the Civil War

1862

Camp Groce CSA was established in 1862 on Liendo Plantation on the eastern bank of Clear Creek as a Camp of Instruction for Confederate Infantry Recruits. Originally named "Camp Liendo", the name was changed to honor Leonard Waller Groce, the owner of Liendo Plantation, and owner of over 100 slaves. A contract to construct the barracks at Camp Groce was let in February 1862. Numerous Confederate infantry regiments were organized, trained, and equipped at Camp Groce. The camp was abandoned in the Spring of 1862 due of its' sickly location. Numerous Confederate Soldiers fell sick at Camp Groce and at nearby Camp Hebert and died.

1863

In June of 1863, Camp Groce was re-opened as a prison camp for Union prisoners captured in the Battles of Galveston (January 1,1863)and Sabine Pass I (January 21, 1863). The Union prisoners of war taken at the Battle of Sabine Pass II (September 8,1863) were also sent to Camp Groce. 427 Union prisoners were held at Camp Groce in 1863 and 21 died.

1864

Camp Groce was re-opened in May 1864 for 148 Union prisoners captured at Calcasieu Pass, La. About 40 Soldiers from the 1st Texas US Cavalry were sent to Camp Groce in June of 1864, and 506 more Union Prisoners were transferred to Camp Groce from Camp Ford in August 1864. Yellow Fever and other terrible diseases prevailed on the prisoners. They were moved to Camp Gillespie near Bellville in late September of 1864 and then to Camp Felder, 6 miles north of Chappell Hill, Texas. 221 prisoners died or are missing from Camps Groce, Gillespie, and Felder in 1864. 444 were paroled in December 1864.

1865

About 10,000 Confederate Soldiers were ordered to Hempstead in the Spring of 1865. They were waiting for Confederate President Jefferson Davis to arrive to make the Last Stand of the Confederacy. Davis was captured in Georgia and Confederate General Kirby Smith surrendered the Department of the Trans-Mississippi in May 1865. After the war, Maj. Gen. George A. Custer arrived in August of 1865 with a division of volunteer US cavalry. The division camped near Liendo Plantation for about 2 months before moving to Austin or were mustered out of the service. In addition,the 29th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment occupied the town in the Fall of 1865 until it was mustered out of the US Service on November 6,1865.

1867

In 1867, Companies A and B of the 17th US Infantry were stationed at Hempstead. In the Fall of that year, a terrible Yellow Fever epidemic devastated the civilian population of Hempstead, and nearly 40 Soldiers of the 17th US Infantry perished as well.

1863: 427 POWs, 21 died, 2 escaped
1864: 682 POWs, 147 died, 28 missing, 18 escaped, 13 deserted to the enemy, 14 status unknown

Totals: 1,109 POWs held, 168 died, 28 missing, 20 escaped, 13 deserted to the enemy, 14 status unknown

At least 49 Confederate Soldiers died in and around Hempstead,Texas during the Civil War.

Most of the US and CS Soldiers who died in and around Hempstead,Texas during the Civil War are still buried in the area.

Hempstead is famous for its watermelon crop, and until the 1940s, the town was the top shipper of watermelons in the United States. Billy DiIorio was known as the Watermelon King and Angelina DiIorio was known as the Watermelon Queen. Both resided in Hempstead, Texas. The town holds an annual Watermelon Festival in July.

The town has grown in recent years because of its relative closeness to Houston along U.S. Highway 290. The current economy is based on county government, shipping, and a small but growing industrial base. However, the closing of a large auto dealership (Lawerence Marshall) in 2009 hurt the community's economy and correlated with a drop in the town's population. The town has, however, rebounded in its population since 2010.

One of the town's residents was Lillie E. Drennan, who in 1929 became the first woman to hold a commercial driver's license in Texas. She ran a regional hauling company called the Drennan Truck Line while maintaining an excellent driving record. Drennan received periodical attention in national newspapers and radio broadcasts.

Another notable Hempstead resident is R L Bucher, who along with his two sons, runs the privately owned 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge Hempstead & Northern Railroad on his property.

Geography

Map of Hempstead

Hempstead is located at (30.091427, -96.081252).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.0 square miles (12.9 km²), of which, 5.0 square miles (12.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.40%) is covered by water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	1,612		—
1890	1,671		3.7%
1940	1,674		—
1950	1,395		−16.7%
1960	1,505		7.9%
1970	1,891		25.6%
1980	3,456		82.8%
1990	3,551		2.7%
2000	4,691		32.1%
2010	5,770		23.0%
Est. 2014	6,699		16.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2010, 5,770 people, 2,010 households, and 1,360 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,040.8 people per square mile (401.8/km²). The 2,220 housing units averaged 400.7 per square mile (154.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 36.8% White (including 22.5% non-Hispanic/Latino), 38.9% African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 20.2% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 37.4% of the population.

Of the 2,010 households, 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.7% were married couples living together, 22.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were not families. About 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.42.

In the city, the population was distributed as 30.6% under the age of 18, 14.7% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 95 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,859. In 2008-2012, the per capita income for the city was $15,888. About 25.4% of the population was below the poverty line.

Economy

Until February 2009, the Lawrence Marshall car dealership was Hempstead's largest employer. The sudden closure of the dealership lead the city to reconsider capital projects such as sewer upgrades and park beautification.

Government and infrastructure

Hempstead is the county seat of Waller County.

The United States Postal Service Hempstead Post Office is located at 901 12th Street.

Education

The City of Hempstead is served by the Hempstead Independent School District. The one private Christian school in Hempstead is the Community Christian Academy. The grades of study offered are K through 5th grade.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Hempstead has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.

References

18. The Last Prison:The Untold Story of Camp Groce CSA, by Danial Francis Lisarelli,1999. http://www.universal-publishers.com/book.php?method=ISBN&book=1581127839

External links

• City of Hempstead
• Hempstead, TX Chamber of Commerce Website
• Hempstead, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online