Paducah, Texas

Paducah is a town in Cottle County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,498 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cottle County^[3].

Geography

Paducah is located at 34°0′50″N 100°18′14″W / 34.01389°N 100.30389°W (34.013957, -100.303780)^[4].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.

It is one of two cities named Paducah located in the United States. The other Paducah is in extreme western Kentucky. Paducah, Texas was named after Paducah, Kentucky.[1]

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 1,498 people, 650 households, and 421 families residing in the town. The population density was 985.0 people per square mile (380.5/km²). There were 820 housing units at an average density of 539.2/sq mi (208.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 79.57% White, 11.21% African American, 7.61% from other races, and 1.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.29% of the population.

There were 650 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 20.3% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 26.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 82.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,333, and the median income for a family was $30,652. Males had a median income of $26,184 versus $16,131 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,778. About 15.4% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.0% of those under age 18 and 17.8% of those age 65 or over.

Much of the town is uninhabitable or vacant, as the buildings are poorly maintained or falling down. Occupancy rate of commercial building in the center square appear to be less than 20 percent. This is a classic case of a once thriving community that has fallen into disrepair.

Education

The Town of Paducah is served by the Paducah Independent School District, a Title I school with 29 full-time teachers and an enrollment of 281 students.[2]

Notable citizens

Paducah was the home of William S. "Bill" Heatly, a Democratic politician. A member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1954•1982, was known as the "Duke of Paducah." A sculpture of his bust is located on the west side of the Cottle County Courthouse. Heatly's son, William H. "Bill" Heatly, is currently serving as District Judge for the 50th Judicial District with his home base in Paducah.

Clarence Hailey Long, the original inspiration for the Marlboro Man advertising campaign stemming from a 1949 issue of LIFE magazine, was born in Paducah in 1910.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
3. ^ . National Association of Counties. . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
4. ^ "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

• Paducah ISD -- Home of the Dragons!
• Cottle County website
• Chamber of Commerce
• Cottle County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of North Texas
• Cottle, George Washington (1811-1836)
• Historical Marker -- Cottle County
• Historical Marker -- Cottle County
• Historical Marker -- Cottle County Courthouse

Categories: Cottle County, Texas | Towns in Texas | County seats in Texas