Webster, Texas
Webster is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston•Sugar Land•Baytown metropolitan area. The population was 9,083 at the 2000 census.
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History
Further information: History of the Galveston Bay AreaThe community was founded in 1879 by James W. Webster under the name Gardentown. It was established initially as a colony for settlers from England. It began as a stopover for travelers between Houston/Harrisburg, Galveston, Kemah, and Seabrook. Eventually railroads, such as the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway, were built through the area. Farmers in the area raised pears and other produce.[3]
In 1903, the Houston Chamber of Commerce invited Seito Saibara, a former Japanese member of parliament and a Christian theologian, to come to Texas to teach rice farming. Rice at that time was emerging as an important cash crop. Saibara settled in Webster with and established a small farming community of Japanese Christians. Saibara and his son Kiyoaki established the foundations of what became the rice industry of the U.S. Gulf Coast.[4][5]
Dairies and livestock ranches developed in the town as well in the early 1900s. Petroleum was discovered at the Webster-Friendswood Oilfield in the 1930s but the population remained small. The small community was incorporated in 1958.[3]
In 1961 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced that it was building the Manned Space Center (now known as the Johnson Space Center) nearby along the shores of Clear Lake. Growth and development quickly swept over the Clear Lake Area and Webster's population blossomed.[3] Webster today has become a thriving bedroom community closely tied to the Clear Lake Area and its high-tech industry.
Geography
Map of WebsterWebster is located at 29°32′19″N 95°07′10″W / 29.538581°N 95.119354°W (29.538581, -95.119354).[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.7 square miles (17.2 km2), of which, 6.6 square miles (17.1 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2) of it (0.60%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 9,083 people, 4,114 households, and 1,970 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,372.9 people per square mile (529.8/km2). There were 4,733 housing units at an average density of 715.4/sq mi (276.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 64.85% White, 9.03% African American, 0.55% Native American, 5.72% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 15.78% from other races, and 3.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.24% of the population.
There were 4,114 households out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.7% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.1% were non-families. 40.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 15.0% from 18 to 24, 43.5% from 25 to 44, 15.4% from 45 to 64, and 5.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 109.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,385, and the median income for a family was $43,495. Males had a median income of $35,346 versus $29,808 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,964. About 12.5% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
Webster Post OfficeThe City of Webster has two fire stations, Station #1 and Station #2, with the fire department offices in the second station.[7]
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) operates its Webster Field Investigator Office and its Webster Driver's License Office in a nearby area in Houston.[8][9]
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Webster District Parole Office in a nearby area in Houston.[10]
The United States Postal Service Webster Post Office is located at 17077 North Texas Avenue.[11]
Education
Primary and secondary schools
Public schools
Pupils in Webster attend schools in Clear Creek Independent School District. The community is divided between the Board of Trustee District 2 and the Board of Trustee District 4.[12][13] They are represented by Win Weber and Stuart J. Stromeyer, respectively, as of 2008.[14]
All residents are zoned to McWhirter Elementary School (Webster).
Some residents are zoned to Victory Lakes Intermediate School (League City), and some residents are zoned to League City Intermediate School (League City).
All residents are zoned to Clear Creek High School (League City).
Webster Intermediate School formerly served the city but moved to Friendswood and was renamed Westbrook Intermediate School in Spring 2005; Westbrook does not serve Webster as of 2006.[15]
There are other sections of Webster zoned to other schools, but there are no residents in those sections.
Parks and recreation
The Edgar A. Smith Family YMCA is located in Webster.
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.
- ^ a b c Kleiner, Diana J.: Webster, TX from the Handbook of Texas Online Texas State Historical Association.
- ^ "History of Webster, Texas". City of Webster. http://www.cityofwebster.com/index.asp?NID=2#chpt2. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
- ^ Saibara, Seito from the Handbook of Texas Online Texas State Historical Association.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Public Information Phone Numbers." City of Webster. Retrieved on May 16, 2010.
- ^ "Field Investigator Offices." Texas Department of Public Safety. Retrieved on May 16, 2010.
- ^ "Texas Driver License Office Map." Texas Department of Public Safety. Retrieved on May 16, 2010.
- ^ "Parole Division Region III." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 15, 2010.
- ^ "Post Office Location - WEBSTER." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
- ^ District 2 Map. Clear Creek Independent School District. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
- ^ District 4 Map. Clear Creek Independent School District. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
- ^ "School Board Members: Bios and Contact Information." Clear Creek Independent School District. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
- ^ [1]
External links
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Categories: Harris County, Texas | Cities in Texas | Galveston Bay Area | Greater Houston
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