Center, Texas

Center is a city in Shelby County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,678 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Shelby County. It is named for its location near the center of Shelby County, not its location in Texas (it is located near the Louisiana border).

Geography

Center is located at (31.793705, -94.178463). Center is seventeen miles from the Louisiana border and 118 miles north of Beaumont at the center of Shelby County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16.2 km²), of which, 6.2 square miles (16.1 km²) of it is land and 0.16% is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,678 people, 2,034 households, and 1,334 families residing in the city. The population density was 911.0 people per square mile (351.9/km²). There were 2,290 housing units at an average density of 367.4/sq mi (141.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 51.14% White, 34.22% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 10.95% from other races, and 2.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.05% of the population.

There were 2,034 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 20.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,061, and the median income for a family was $31,699. Males had a median income of $23,468 versus $19,441 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,233. About 19.4% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.5% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.

Center is the home to the only remaining Irish castle style courthouse in the US, built in 1885, by J.J.E. Gibson, and maintained by the Texas Historic Commission. The city gets its name from its location in the geographic center of Shelby County.

Sports

In the football season of 2004, the seniors(class of 2005) led the Center High School Roughriders three games into the playoffs, after a 0-10 losing season. 1st round - Chapel Hill (35-0); 2nd round - Liberty Eylau (28-27); 3rd round - Royce City

Center also has one state champion. The doubles duo of Arjun Atholi,and Tyler Patterson. The pair won at the state competition in 2007.

Events

The city celebrates a county wide Watermelon and Poultry Festival every year. The poultry festival is also accompanied by the Poultry Festival Pageant which is participated in by the high school seniors of the county. The Pageant crowns a Poultry Festival Queen who presides over the three day Poultry Festival. The Queen is decided by a board of non-partisan, appointed judges.

Amy Allen (2003); Kimberly Hart (2004); Micah Murphree (2005); Katelyn Allen (2006); Teal Wilkins (2007)

Also in Shelby County we have the Miss Shelby County Pageant: The Pageant is open to all Shelby County Young Ladies and a PreTeen, JrTeen, Teen and Miss Queen is crowned. The title holder represents Shelby County throughout her annual reign at many area events.

Shanell Corbell(2002); Kristen Fitzgerald(2003); Sally Simmons(2004); Margaret Samford(2005) Kela McSwain(2006); Summer Hemphill(2007)

The annual What A Melon Festival also crowns a queen to reign over the festival in July each year. Bridgette Fountain(2005); Amanda Russell(2006); Candice Emanis(2007)

Outlying Communities

• Aiken
• Spann's Chapel
• Mt. Herman
• Jericho
• Short
• James
• Folsom Chapel
• Dreka
• Neuville

Education

The City of Center is served by the Center Independent School District.

References

External links

• The Official Website of Shelby County, Texas
• The Official Website of Center Independent School District
• 'Center, Texas' Entry at The Handbook of Texas Online
• ShelbyCountyToday.com