Melissa is a city in Collin County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,350 at the 2000 census, but has since increased to an estimated population of 3,014 in July 2006, a 123.3% increase.

Geography

Melissa is located at (33.283534, -96.571851).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,350 people, 472 households, and 365 families residing in the city. The population density was 294.4 people per square mile (113.6/km²). There were 501 housing units at an average density of 109.3/sq mi (42.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.63% White, 0.52% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 7.63% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.33% of the population.

There were 472 households out of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.5% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 104.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $60,909, and the median income for a family was $66,172. Males had a median income of $40,417 versus $30,435 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,193. About 3.0% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The City of Melissa is served by the Melissa Independent School District. In 2004, McKinney ISD and Anna ISD refused to educate anymore Melissa ISD high school classes. In 2007, Melissa High School graduated their first class with forty-six students. Since the Melissa High School has been in service they have had the honor of being the school of choice to many quaified teachers and principles in the area. Harry McKillop Elementary School opened their doors as the second elementary school in the fall of 2008, housing pre-k to fourth grade.

History

Some of Melissa's first settlers came from the old Highlands community, two and a half miles north of present-day Melissa. C.H. Wysong was one of the earliest settlers. A post office was established in 1853. The Houston and Texas Central Railroad was built in Melissa in 1872. The town was laid out at this time. The railroad encouraged many families to come to Melissa. The town is believed to have been named for the daughter of a railroad executive, George A. Quinlan of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad. There is some disagreement about this as others argue that the town was named after Melissa Huntington, daughter of C.P. Huntington, another well-known railroad executive.

The first schoolhouse in Melissa was built on land purchased in 1882 by trustees James Graves, John Gibson, and George Fitzhugh who were early settlers of the area. The first teacher was Mary Huckerston, who taught there for five years. The school began with 38 pupils. Church services were held there for all faiths on Sundays. A two-story brick schoolhouse was built on this site in 1910 to accommodate growth brought by the railroad.

Melissa was an important shipping point in the early 1900s. Corn, wheat, alfalfa hay, wood, and livestock were all sent out on the railroad.

A deadly tornado struck Melissa on April 13th, 1921, killing 13 people and injuring many more. The tornado tore the roof off of the brick school building, but the children inside were not seriously injured. The town's cotton gins were destroyed. The Waldon Hotel was lifted by the winds, turned halfway around, and thrown up against the school building.

Eight years later, on August 8th, 1929, a fire burned down many of the buildings that had been rebuilt after the tornado. Population declined from a high of 500 in 1925 down to 285 in 1949.

Pioneers who settled in or near Melissa

Dr. William Throckmorton, R. E. Moore, G. W. Taylor, T. M. Scott, John and William Fitzhugh, Albert Sherley, Lewis Shirley, James M. Graves, Hogan Witt, John Coffman, Thomas Rattan, Josiah Nichols, Jesse Martin, John M. Nicholson, Lindsey Lewis, J. M. Kincaid, The Orenduffs

References

History of Melissa Independent School 1882-1982 by Billie L. Wallis

McKinney Courier-Gazette, April 13th, 1975

Handbook of Texas Online: Melissa, TX

The Dallas Morning News, June 14th, 1997: ""Surviving the Wrath"

External links