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Kerrville, Texas

Coordinates:30°2′51″N99°8′26.1″W/ 30.04750°N 99.140583°W/30.04750; -99.140583
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Kerrville, Texas
City
Kerrville City Hall
Kerrville City Hall
Motto:
Lose Your Heart to the Hills
Location of Kerrville, Texas
Location of Kerrville, Texas
Coordinates:30°2′51″N99°8′26.1″W/ 30.04750°N 99.140583°W/30.04750; -99.140583
CountryUnited StatesUnited States
StateTexasTexas
CountyKerr
Government
• TypeCouncil–manager
City CouncilMayorJudy Eychner
Place 1 – Roman Garcia
Place 2 – Jeff Harris
Place 3 – Joe Herring, Jr.
Place 4 – Brenda Hughes
City ManagerDalton Rice
Area
• Total22.35 sq mi (57.88 km2)
• Land21.93 sq mi (56.80 km2)
• Water0.42 sq mi (1.08 km2)
Elevation
1,637 ft (499 m)
Population
• Total24,278
• Density1,083.22/sq mi (418.23/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6(Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)UTC−5(CDT)
ZIP Codes
78028–78029
Area code830
FIPS code48-39040[2]
GNISfeature ID1339058[3]
Websitekerrvilletx.gov
Kerrville c. 1900
TheCapt. Charles Schreiner MansionHistoric Site and Education Center in downtown Kerrville was originally the home ofCharles Schreiner,a rancher, businessman, banker, philanthropist, and captain of the Kerr County Home Guard.
Schreiner's Department Store, the mainstay of downtown Kerrville
The Arcadia Theatre at 717 Water St. in Kerrville was built inSpanish stylein 1926 and renovated asArt Decoin 1948. It closed in 1989, and remained so until it was renovated once again in 2019. Arcadia Live is now an operating non-profit that hosts live music, comedy, community events, and private events throughout the year.
Francisco's Restaurant at 201 Earl Garrett St., intersecting Water Street, in the Kerrville downtown square
Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library at 505 Water St. in Kerrville
FirstPresbyterian Churchat 800 Jefferson St. in Kerrville
Christmasin downtown Kerrville (2016)

Kerrvilleis a city in, and thecounty seatofKerr County,Texas,United States.[4]The population of Kerrville was 24,278 at the2020 census.[5]Kerrville is named afterJames Kerr,amajorin theTexas Revolution,and friend of settler-founderJoshua Brown,who settled in the area to start a shingle-making camp.[6]

Being nestled in the hills ofTexas Hill Country,Kerrville is best known for its beautiful parks that line theGuadalupe River,which runs directly through the city; other features include its nearby youth summer camps, hunting ranches, and RV parks. It is also the home of Texas' Official State Arts & Crafts Fair, theKerrville Folk Festival,the Kerrville Triathlon (since 2011), and the Kerrville Renaissance Festival (since 2017), as well asMooney Aviation Company,[7]James Avery Jewelry,andSchreiner University.TheMuseum of Western Art(founded 1983) features the work of living artists specializing in the themes of theAmerican West.

History

[edit]

Archeological evidence (including burned rock middens,lithic artifacts,andCaddoan potterypieces) suggests that humans lived in the area known as Kerrville as early as 10,000 years ago.[8]The early modern residents were successful shinglemakers whose mercantile business became a hub that served the middle and upper Hill Country area in the late 1840s. One of the earliest shinglemakers was Joshua D. Brown. With his family, Joshua Brown had led several other families on an exploration of the Guadalupe Valley. These early pioneers organized their settlements near a bluff just north of the Guadalupe River in the eastern half of today's county. The settlement was referred to as "Brownsborough", but after the area was formally platted in 1856 byJames Kerr,a major in the Texas Revolution, the settlement was formally known as "Kerrville" and maintained a county seat with Texas.

Starting in 1857, aGermanmaster-miller named Christian Dietert and millwright Balthasar Lich started a large grist and saw mill on the bluff. This mill established a permanent source of power and protection from floods, and became the most extensive operation of its kind in the Hill Country area west ofNew BraunfelsandSan Antonio.Soon afterwards,Charles A. Schreinerrode Kerrville's newly found popularity by serving Kerrville's mercantile needs. Schreiner established a family-run empire that helped build Kerrville's early prosperity by owning almost all of Kerrville's business sectors, including freighting enterprises, retail, wholesale, banking, ranching, marketing, and brokering operations. Schreiner's elegant downtown home, aRomanesquestone structure at 226 Earl Garrett Street, is the site of the Hill Country Museum in downtown Kerrville.

TheCivil Warslowed Kerrville's development, but with the start of theReconstruction era,Kerrville's economic boom and ethnic diversification continued anew as demand grew in San Antonio for lumber, produce, and craftsmen. Kerrville's boom was also catalyzed by the combination of the cessation of Indian raids and the expansion into the business of cattle, sheep, and goat ranching.Cattle drivespunctuated the boom-years of the late 1880s and the 1890s. In 1887, theSan Antonio and Aransas Pass Railwayreached Kerrville, and in 1889 the town incorporated, with analdermanicform of city government.

The Kerrville Water Works Company began to provide water for town dwellers in 1894. Telephone service was introduced in 1896, and the city began to pave streets in 1912. Kerrville adopted a "commission" form of city government in 1917, then changed to the "city-manager" form in 1928. In 1942, the town adopted a home-rule charter, while continuing with a city manager. Kerrville has displayed steady population growth throughout the 20th century, increasing from 1,423 residents in 1900 to 2,353 in 1920, 5,572 in 1940, 8,901 in 1960, and 15,276 in 1980. Its economic base has diversified and broadened through business, agriculture, light manufacturing, health care, transportation, services, education, the arts, and tourism. By the mid-1990s theWall Street Journaldescribed Kerrville as one of the wealthiest small towns in America. By 1995, the city's official population was still under 18,000, with another 20,000 people in relatively affluent residential areas south of the river and in the rest of the county. In 2000, the population reached 20,425. Much of the growth in population included retirees and young professionals and semiprofessionals; for many years Kerrville also experienced significant out-migration of young adults raised in the area.

Geography

[edit]

Kerrville is located in eastern Kerr County at30°02′47″N99°8′26″W/ 30.04639°N 99.14056°W/30.04639; -99.14056.[9]ViaInterstate 10,it is 65 miles (105 km) northwest ofSan Antonioand 52 miles (84 km) southeast ofJunction.Texas State Highway 16(Sidney Baker Street) is the main road through the center of Kerrville. Highway 16 leads northeast 24 miles (39 km) toFredericksburgand southwest the same distance toMedina.Texas State Highway 173leads south 25 miles (40 km) toBandera,whileState Highway 27leads west 6 miles (10 km) toIngramand east 18 miles (29 km) toComfort.

According to theUnited States Census Bureau,Kerrville has a total area of 20.7 square miles (53.7 km2), of which 20.3 square miles (52.6 km2) are land and 0.42 square miles (1.1 km2) (2.00%) are covered by water.[10]TheGuadalupe Riverruns through the city, with the downtown area sitting on the northeastern side.

Climate

[edit]

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classificationsystem, Kerrville has ahumid subtropical climate,abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[11]

Climate data for Kerrville, Texas (3 miles north-northeast) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1974–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 87
(31)
97
(36)
95
(35)
100
(38)
103
(39)
107
(42)
105
(41)
108
(42)
109
(43)
97
(36)
91
(33)
86
(30)
109
(43)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 59.1
(15.1)
63.0
(17.2)
69.5
(20.8)
76.4
(24.7)
82.4
(28.0)
88.7
(31.5)
91.6
(33.1)
92.8
(33.8)
86.5
(30.3)
78.2
(25.7)
67.4
(19.7)
60.4
(15.8)
76.3
(24.6)
Daily mean °F (°C) 46.4
(8.0)
50.5
(10.3)
57.5
(14.2)
64.4
(18.0)
72.0
(22.2)
78.3
(25.7)
80.7
(27.1)
81.1
(27.3)
75.0
(23.9)
65.9
(18.8)
55.6
(13.1)
48.0
(8.9)
64.6
(18.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 33.8
(1.0)
38.0
(3.3)
45.4
(7.4)
52.4
(11.3)
61.6
(16.4)
67.9
(19.9)
69.8
(21.0)
69.3
(20.7)
63.4
(17.4)
53.7
(12.1)
43.8
(6.6)
35.7
(2.1)
52.9
(11.6)
Record low °F (°C) 6
(−14)
1
(−17)
11
(−12)
22
(−6)
33
(1)
48
(9)
54
(12)
54
(12)
37
(3)
21
(−6)
12
(−11)
0
(−18)
0
(−18)
Averageprecipitationinches (mm) 1.66
(42)
1.63
(41)
2.35
(60)
2.27
(58)
4.29
(109)
3.31
(84)
2.09
(53)
1.93
(49)
3.73
(95)
3.20
(81)
2.16
(55)
1.94
(49)
30.56
(776)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.1
(0.25)
0.2
(0.51)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.1
(0.25)
0.1
(0.25)
0.5
(1.3)
Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) 7.1 7.2 8.1 6.5 9.0 6.3 5.0 5.1 7.1 7.3 6.7 7.3 82.7
Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.5
Source:NOAA[12][13]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880156
18901,044569.2%
19001,42336.3%
19101,84329.5%
19202,35327.7%
19304,54693.2%
19405,57222.6%
19507,69138.0%
19608,90115.7%
197012,67242.4%
198015,27620.5%
199017,38413.8%
200020,42517.5%
201022,3479.4%
202024,2788.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]

2020 census

[edit]
Kerrville racial composition[15]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Number Percentage
White(NH) 15,734 64.81%
Black or African American(NH) 520 2.14%
Native AmericanorAlaska Native(NH) 58 0.24%
Asian(NH) 378 1.56%
Pacific Islander(NH) 21 0.09%
Some Other Race (NH) 87 0.36%
Mixed/Multi-Racial(NH) 718 2.96%
Hispanic or Latino 6,762 27.85%
Total 24,278

As of the2020 United States census,there were 24,278 people, 9,627 households, and 6,059 families residing in the city.

2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[2]of 2000, 20,425 people, 8,563 households, and 5,411 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,222.5 inhabitants per square mile (472.0/km2). The 9,477 housing units averaged 567.2 per square mile (219.0/km2). Theracial makeupof the city was 85.89% White, 2.99% African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 8.20% from other races, and 1.73% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 22.73% of the population.

Of the 8,563 households, 8.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were not families. About 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the city, the population was distributed as 21.0% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 29.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 87 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.[18]

The median income for a household in the city was $32,085, and for a family was $38,979. Males had a median income of $27,555 versus $19,923 for females. Theper capita incomefor the city was $20,193. About 11.7% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.[18]

Culture

[edit]

TheKerrville Folk Festivalis an annual summer festival which featuresfolk musiciansfrom around the country and Canada.[19]

Infrastructure

[edit]

Nonprofit/service organizations

[edit]

The TaxExemptWorld website, which compilesInternal Revenue Servicedata, reported that in 2013, 465 distinct, active, tax exempt/nonprofit organizations in Kerrville, excluding credit unions, had a total income of $414.4 million and assets of $958.8 million.[20]One example of a performing arts nonprofit organization in Kerrville would beArt 2 Heart.There are seventy-three (73) churches in or near Kerrville, Texas.

Transportation

[edit]
Bridge over theGuadalupe Riverin Kerrville

Interstate highways

[edit]

State highways

[edit]
  • SH 16(Medina Highway, Sidney Baker Highway, Fredericksburg Road)
  • SH 27(Junction Highway, Main Street, Broadway Avenue)
  • SH 173(Bandera Highway)

Loops

[edit]

Farm-to-Market roads

[edit]

Bicycle routes

[edit]

Adventure Cycling AssociationSouthern Tier Bicycle Route[21]

Events

[edit]

Kerrville is home to the annualTexas State Arts and Crafts Fair,which features artisans and entertainers from around the state.[22]TheTexas Lions CampandEcho Hill RanchSummer Camp are also located in Kerrville.

Kerrville hosted the Olympic trials for shooting sports for the2012 Summer Olympicsat the Hill Country Shooting Center.[23]

On Saturday, October 15, 2023, Kerrville experienced the moon's rare annular eclipse of the sun.[24]

Six months later, on Monday, April 8, 2024, the Kerrville Eclipse Festival celebrated the moon's rare total eclipse of the sun.[25]

Education

[edit]
Main building onSchreiner Universitycampus

Kerrville is served by theKerrville Independent School District,which maintains four elementary schools (Tally, Nimitz, Starkey, and Daniels), two middle schools (BT Wilson 6th Grade and Peterson), and two high schools (Hill Country High School andKerrville (TX) Tivy).[26]Our Lady of the Hills Catholic High School[27]and Notre Dame Catholic School[28]and Grace Academy of Kerrville[29]are also located in Kerrville, serving as the primary alternative to the public school system.

Kerrville is home toSchreiner University,a private four-year university which was established in 1923 by an ex-Texas Ranger, Captain Charles Schreiner. The school is consistently listed as one of the top regional liberal arts colleges in the Western U.S. byU.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges Guide.[30]

Until 2020, Schreiner University was also home toGreystone Preparatory School.Greystone offered a one-year preparatory course to help individuals prepare for an appointment to one of the five federal service academies.[31]Since the departure of Greystone, Schreiner Institute was created to fill this role.[32]Directed by veteran Marine Shannon Deville, the program has since been designated as one of sixWest Pointapproved Associate of Graduates Scholarship Programs.[33]

Notable people

[edit]

Sports

[edit]

Entertainment

[edit]

Business

[edit]

Others

[edit]

Points of interest

[edit]
Kerr Arts and Cultural Center in Kerrville

References

[edit]
  1. ^"2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedAugust 7,2020.
  2. ^ab"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
  3. ^"US Board on Geographic Names".United States Geological Survey.October 25, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
  4. ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties. Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2011.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
  5. ^"Explore Census Data".
  6. ^"KERRVILLE, TX | The Handbook of Texas Online| Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)".tshaonline.org.RetrievedJuly 5,2014.
  7. ^"Mooney – Company Facts".Archived fromthe originalon June 25, 2007.RetrievedJuly 5,2014.
  8. ^Stoutamire, Steve; Wilson, Francoise; McBride, Mike (2019). "41KR754, A NEW PALEOINDIAN AND DIVERSE MULTI-COMPONENTSITE,KERR COUNTY, TEXAS".Ancient Echoes.8:31.
  9. ^"US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990".United States Census Bureau.February 12, 2011.RetrievedApril 23,2011.
  10. ^"Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Kerrville city, Texas".American FactFinder.U.S. Census Bureau. Archived fromthe originalon February 13, 2020.RetrievedMay 8,2019.
  11. ^"Kerrville, Texas Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)".RetrievedJuly 17,2016.
  12. ^"NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedNovember 7,2023.
  13. ^"Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedNovember 7,2023.
  14. ^"Census of Population and Housing".Census.gov.RetrievedJune 4,2015.
  15. ^"Explore Census Data".data.census.gov.RetrievedMay 19,2022.
  16. ^Bureau, US Census."Census.gov".Census.gov.{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help)
  17. ^"About the Hispanic Population and its Origin".census.gov.RetrievedMay 18,2022.
  18. ^abUS Census Bureau (May 3, 2002)."Census 2000 Profiles | Profile of General Demographic Characteristics | Geographic area: Kerrville city, Texas"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on August 2, 2014.RetrievedJuly 5,2014.
  19. ^"Kerrville Festivals".kerrville-music.RetrievedMay 26,2014.
  20. ^"Nonprofit Search & 501C3 Lookup By City".Organization Search by City, Kerrville, Texas.Tax Exempt World. 2013.RetrievedJuly 4,2015.
  21. ^"Southern Tier | Adventure Cycling Route Network | Adventure Cycling Association".adventurecycling.org. Archived fromthe originalon March 27, 2012.RetrievedMay 26,2014.
  22. ^Logan Hawkes."Texas State Arts & Crafts Fair".wintertexansonline.RetrievedMay 26,2014.
  23. ^"U.S. Olympic Trials for Shotgun: Skeet and Double Trap Preview – USA Shooting".RetrievedJuly 17,2016.
  24. ^"The City of Kerrville to host Annual Kerrville River Festival with onsite NASA broadcast of Annular Solar Eclipse viewing".September 7, 2023.RetrievedApril 8,2024.
  25. ^"Kerrville Eclipse Festival | Kerrville TX - Official Website".kerrvilletx.gov.RetrievedApril 8,2024.
  26. ^"About Kerrville ISD".Archived fromthe originalon May 27, 2009.
  27. ^"Office Summer Hours: Monday through Thursday 9am-Noon and 1pm-3pm. - Our Lady of the Hills".RetrievedJuly 17,2016.
  28. ^"Notre Dame Catholic School".RetrievedJuly 17,2016.
  29. ^grace academy of kerrville
  30. ^"Schreiner University - Best Colleges - Education - U.S. News & World Report".Archived fromthe originalon February 20, 2009.RetrievedMay 17,2009.
  31. ^"Greystone Preparatory School".greystoneprepschool.net.RetrievedMay 26,2014.
  32. ^schreinerets (February 25, 2020)."Schreiner University Announces Schreiner Institute".Schreiner University.RetrievedMarch 16,2024.
  33. ^schreinerets (February 26, 2024)."Schreiner Institute named an approved West Point AOG Preparatory School".Schreiner University.RetrievedMarch 16,2024.
  34. ^"Mike Dyal Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards – databaseFootball".Archived fromthe originalon April 11, 2016.RetrievedJuly 17,2016.
  35. ^"Mahaffey Takes Southwestern".CBS News.RetrievedJuly 17,2016.
  36. ^"John Teltschik Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards – databaseFootball".Archived fromthe originalon April 12, 2016.RetrievedJuly 17,2016.
  37. ^Pilkington, Ed (May 16, 2008)."Naked ambition".The Guardian.RetrievedMay 17,2008.
  38. ^"Thomas Haden Church Will Star as the Texanist".Texas Monthly.October 30, 2020.RetrievedFebruary 11,2022.
  39. ^"Robert Earl Keen | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos".myspace.RetrievedMay 26,2014.
  40. ^Asa Elmer (Ace) Reid, Jr. (1925–1991)atHandbook of TexasOnline
  41. ^Bio-drama and 'blue yodeling'
  42. ^"Sony Music – Jimmie Rodgers Biography".Archived fromthe originalon September 3, 2009.
  43. ^ab13th Floor Elevators
  44. ^Center Point, Texas
  45. ^"About Us – James Avery".Archived fromthe originalon 8 August 2013.Retrieved17 July2016.
  46. ^"BRINKMAN, Lloyd Donald" Brink "".Austin American-Statesman.July 16, 2015. p. B4.RetrievedNovember 10,2018– viaNewspapers.
  47. ^H-E-B HistoryArchived2010-03-29 at theWayback Machine
  48. ^"About Konni".konniburton.RetrievedDecember 1,2014.
  49. ^"Lou H. Rodenberger's Obituary on Star-Telegram".Legacy.RetrievedJuly 17,2016.
  1. ^Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[16][17]
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