Wilmer is a city in Dallas County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,393 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 3,576.[3] It is part of the Dallas, Texas–Fort Worth–Arlingotn Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Union Pacific's Dallas Intermodal Terminal is located partly in the city of Wilmer and partly in the city of Hutchins [4]. The shipping facility, was built by AUI Contractors LP, Prime Rail Interests Inc. and Halff Associates, Inc. is a 70 million U.S. dollar project.
Geography
Wilmer is located at 32°35′27″N 96°40′57″W / 32.59083°N 96.6825°W / 32.59083; -96.6825 (32.590743, -96.682619)[5][page needed]. It is situated along Interstate 45 in southeastern Dallas County, approximately 14 miles south of downtown Dallas.[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²), all of it land.
History
The area was initially settled by Andrew K. Gray before 1850. The settlement was originally known as Prairie Valley when the Houston and Texas Central Railroad arrived in 1872.[7] In 1884, the post office in Prairie Valley was renamed Wilmer, after A.J. Wilmer, a conductor on the Houston and Texas Central line. The population was estimated at 100 in 1890, with several stores and businesses operation in the community. That figure had risen to over 200 by the World War I commenced. A fire destroyed most of Wilmer's business district on July 4, 1929. The community's shallow wells were unable to pump the adequate amount of water needed to extinguish the blaze.
Wilmer incorporated in 1945 and its first mayor, J.H. May, was elected on a platform of installing a water system. At the time of incorporation, Wilmer had 136 homes and a population of approximately 450. In 1949, a volunteer fire department was established and a fire truck was purchased. Around the same time, Wilmer and the neighboring city of Hutchins consolidated their schools.[6] By 1960, Wilmer was home to 1,785 residents. Throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, Wilmer continued to grow, but at a much slower rate than other communities in Dallas County.[7] With 3,393 residents as of the 2000 census, Wilmer is currently one of the smallest incorporated cities in Dallas County.
Demographics
| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1950 |
465 |
|
—
|
| 1960 |
1,785 |
|
283.9% |
| 1970 |
1,922 |
|
7.7% |
| 1980 |
2,367 |
|
23.2% |
| 1990 |
2,479 |
|
4.7% |
| 2000 |
3,393 |
|
36.9% |
| Est. 2008 |
3,576 |
|
5.4% |
As of the census[1][page needed] of 2000, there were 3,393 people, 958 households, and 714 families residing in the city. The population density was 538.9 people per square mile (207.9/km²). There were 1,078 housing units at an average density of 171.2/sq mi (66.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 47.89% White, 23.43% African American, 1.12% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 24.55% from other races, and 2.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 41.50% of the population.
There were 958 households out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.23 and the average family size was 3.71.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.7% under the age of 18, 13.0% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 5.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 115.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,843, and the median income for a family was $35,820. Males had a median income of $26,742 versus $22,007 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,167. About 16.3% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.5% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Wilmer is served by the Dallas Independent School District. The area is within the Board of Trustees District 5; as of 2008 Lew Blackburn represents the district.[8]
Wilmer-Hutchins Independent School District used to serve Wilmer. WHISD was closed after spring 2005 with official termination in June 2006. After the closure of WHISD property values in the district increased.[9]
Dallas ISD is considering opening a new Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School building, restoring the Wilmer-Hutchins High School building, and demolishing the Kennedy-Curry Middle School building as part of its 2008 bond campaign.[10] Dallas ISD plans to open the new Wilmer Hutchins elementary building in 2011.[11]
Government
The small city received national attention with the candidacy of James Brian Sliter for mayor, in the May 10, 2008 election. Sliter is an unconvicted registered sex offender who accepted a ten-year probation deferred adjudication after arranging to have sex over the Internet with a 15-year-old girl.[12][13] Sliter later dropped out of the race.[14]
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.
- ^ "Table 4: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Texas, Listed Alphabetically: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008" (CSV). United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2009-07-01. http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2008-04-48.csv. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- ^ UP: Dallas Intermodal Terminal
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "Wilmer, Texas". Texas Escapes Online Magazine. http://www.texasescapes.com/CentralTexasTownsNorth/Wilmer-Texas.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- ^ a b "Wilmer, Texas". The Handbook of Texas online. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/WW/hgw11.html. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- ^ "Board of Trustees." Dallas Independent School District. Retrieved on November 24, 2008.
- ^ "W-H property values increase: Schools' negative publicity had scared development, some say.." The Dallas Morning News. July 1, 2006.
- ^ "Summary of Recommendations for 2008 Bond Program." Dallas Independent School District.
- ^ "2008 Bond Program Program Schedule for New Schools." Dallas Independent School District. Retrieved on April 27, 2009.
- ^ Sex offender is running for mayor in Dallas suburb
- ^ Wilmer Receives National Media Attention
- ^ "Sex offender abandons mayor's race in Wilmer." The Dallas Morning News.
External links
