Mason, Texas
Mason is a city in Mason County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,134 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mason County[3].
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Geography
Mason is located at 30°44′52″N 99°13′55″W / 30.74778°N 99.23194°W (30.747796, -99.231880).[4]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.5 km²), all of it land.
The Mason County Courthouse in Mason, Texas.The Llano Uplift is located partially in Mason County. This geologic feature is the reason that Topaz is found in Mason County.
History
In 1851 a small frontier fort was built by the U.S. Army on a hill overlooking what is now the small town of Mason. This fort was a base for the 2nd Cavalry in their efforts to stop Indian raids on white settlements in central Texas. Robert E. Lee was commander of Fort Mason in early 1861, when he was ordered to return to Washington shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. Thus, the fort was Lee's last command for the Union army.
The protection and commercial possibilities of the fort drew settlers, many from the small Texas German town of Fredericksburg, forty-five miles to the southeast. Dissident German Methodists moved to the Willow Creek area east of Mason and established farms and ranches in the community later known as Art.
After the U.S. Civil War, returning Confederate veterans and German ranchers clashed over cattle rustling and other crimes. The resulting killings were known as "The HooDoo Wars," and involved several famous gunfighters. A famous local businesswoman, Anna Martin, established several successful enterprises including a still prosperous bank, and set an example of capitalist success in the county.
Fred Gipson, revered for his novels Old Yeller and its sequel Savage Sam, was a native of Mason. Both novels eventually became popular Walt Disney films. A bronze statue by Texas sculptor Garland A. Weeks depicting a boy and his dog was erected in his honor in front of the town's library.
J. Marvin Hunter (1880•1957), author, journalist, and historian of the American West, worked with his father, John Warren Hunter, at the Mason Herald newspaper in the 1890s. Hunter later founded Frontier Times magazine and Frontier Times Museum in Bandera.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,134 people, 914 households, and 585 families residing in the city. The population density was 579.7 people per square mile (223.9/km²). There were 1,103 housing units at an average density of 299.6/sq mi (115.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 58.1% White, 0.19% African American, 0.61% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 8.25% from other races, and 2.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.04% of the population.
There were 914 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,344, and the median income for a family was $39,310. Males had a median income of $26,736 versus $14,461 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,525. About 15.9% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 19.7% of those age 65 or over.
Largest Topaz
The largest gem quality topaz found in North America came from Mason County. It weighs just shy of three pounds. For much of its life it has been in the Smithsonian Institution, but recently it has returned to Mason County for display in our Museum on the Square.
References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ . National Association of Counties. . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
External links
- Mason Chamber of Commerce
- Mason County News
- Mason County Historical Commission
- Gems of the Hill Country
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Categories: Cities in Texas | Mason County, Texas | County seats in Texas
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