Gladewater, Texas | |
|---|---|
 Antique shops in Gladewater | |
| Nickname: Antique Capital of East Texas | |
| Motto(s): "Treasuring the past, while embracing the future"[1] | |
 Location of Gladewater, Texas | |
 | |
| Coordinates:32°32′33″N94°56′48″W / 32.54250°N 94.94667°W /32.54250; -94.94667 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Counties | Gregg,Upshur |
| Incorporated (town) | 1873 (dissolved 1878) |
| Incorporated (city) | 1931 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| Area | |
• Total | 12.09 sq mi (31.32 km2) |
| • Land | 11.57 sq mi (29.96 km2) |
| • Water | 0.53 sq mi (1.36 km2) |
| Elevation | 341 ft (104 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 6,134 |
| • Density | 530.3/sq mi (204.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 75647 |
| Area codes | 430, 903 |
| FIPS code | 48-29660[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410592[3] |
| Website | cityofgladewater |
Gladewater is a city inGregg andUpshur Counties in theU.S. state ofTexas, with a 2020 census population of 6,134.[5]
In the early 20th century, Gladewater was anoil boom town. In 1995, theTexas Legislature proclaimed it the "Antique Capital of East Texas".[6]
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Gladewater was founded by theTexas and Pacific Railway Company in 1873 on land bought from Jarrett Dean and Anderson White. A community called St. Clair, 2 miles (3 km) to the east, moved to Gladewater when the railroad announced that the only mail stop in the area would be there; residents from Point Pleasant, also bypassed by the railroad, moved to Gladewater. The first post office at Gladewater was established on August 22, 1873. The town's name probably originated from its proximity to Glade Creek, a tributary of the Sabine River that rose in a rather barren region called the Glades.
In 1874, Gladewater was incorporated with a mayor-alderman government. The incorporation lapsed, and a new charter was not obtained until 1931, when an influx of population necessitated organized city government.
Bonnie and Clyde maintained Gregg County connections through Bonnie Parker's sister Billie Mace, who worked at a Gladewater café in early 1934.[7]
In 1955, Gladewater adopted a council-mayor form of government. The population grew slowly during the 19th century; the town had only 163 people in 1880 and 259 in 1900. In the area around Gladewater,lumbering was a major activity, although farming was also important;cotton was the major crop. In 1908, the town had 10 stores, one bank, two blacksmith shops, two hotels, a gin, a sawmill, and aplaning mill. It continued to grow slowly until 1931.
On April 7, 1931, the first Gladewater oil well blew in. It was located 1 mi (1.6 km) outside town in the Sabine River bottom. Oil production led to a population increase during the 1930s from about 500 to around 8,000 people. In 1940, after the oil boom, Gladewater had a population of 4,454. Civic improvements in the 1940s included an extensive paving project and a commercial airfield. Between 1940 and 1960, the population grew to 5,742. Lake Gladewater, constructed on Glade Creek in 1954, provides recreation for city residents.
During the 1970s Gladewater moved from an oil-oriented to a more diversified economy, primarily because of depletion of oil resources in the area. The movement of salt water into the western edge of the largeEast Texas Oil Field affected Gladewater first. By 1980, the town had a total of 6,548 residents, 4,311 in Gregg County and 2,237 in Upshur County. The economy in the 1980s depended on the oil industry and related activities and on the manufacture of such products as furniture, clothing, paper products, and boats. The lumber and agricultural industry was still a driver for the economy, as well. By 1990, the community had become well known for its numerousantique stores. Notable annual festivals include the East Texas Gusher Days in April, the Gladewater Roundup Rodeo in June, the Arts and Crafts Festival in September, and Christmas in November.
In 1935, theBoston Red Sox franchise had a minor league baseball team in Gladewater, theGladewater Bears.[citation needed] The minor league stadium has since been turned into a city park. The predominant features of the stadium are long gone, but the stadium is located near the Lee Building in Gladewater.
It is located in western Gregg County and southern Upshur County, primarily within Gregg County. U.S. Route 80 leads east 12 miles (19 km) toLongview and west 10 miles (16 km) toBig Sandy.U.S. Route 271 crosses US 80 in the center of Gladewater, leading north 14 miles (23 km) toGilmer and southwest 25 miles (40 km) toTyler.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, Gladewater has a total area of 12.2 square miles (31.5 km2), of which 0.54 square miles (1.4 km2), or 4.61%, is covered by water.[8] TheSabine River forms the southwestern border of the city.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 4,454 | — | |
| 1950 | 5,305 | 19.1% | |
| 1960 | 5,742 | 8.2% | |
| 1970 | 5,574 | −2.9% | |
| 1980 | 6,548 | 17.5% | |
| 1990 | 6,027 | −8.0% | |
| 2000 | 6,078 | 0.8% | |
| 2010 | 6,441 | 6.0% | |
| 2020 | 6,134 | −4.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 3,920 | 63.91% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,167 | 19.03% |
| Native American orAlaska Native (NH) | 34 | 0.55% |
| Asian (NH) | 49 | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 3 | 0.05% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 5 | 0.08% |
| Multiracial (NH) | 371 | 6.05% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 585 | 9.54% |
| Total | 6,134 |
As of the2020 United States census, 6,134 people, 2,122 households, and 1,283 families were residing in the city.
At the 2000census, 6,078 people, 2,257 households, and 1,593 families were living in the city.[4] The population density was 523.7 inhabitants per square mile (202.2/km2). The 2,601 housing units had an average density of 224.1 per square mile (86.5/km2). Theracial makeup of the city in 2000 was 79.80% White, 16.12% African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.02% |Pacific Islander, 1.58% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.50% of the population.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,118, and for a family was $32,278 in 2000. Males had a median income of $24,770 versus $23,271 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $14,317. About 15.5% of families and 19.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 24.9% of those under 18 and 20.9% of those 65 or over. In 2020, the American Community Survey estimated the median household income was $40,000.[13]
All of Gladewater in Gregg County is served by theGladewater Independent School District, home of the Gladewater Bears.[14] Most of the Upshur County portion is also in Gladewater ISD, while a portion is within theUnion Grove Independent School District.[15]
School buildings include:
The other school districts serving parts of the city isSabine Independent School District.
Areas in Gladewater and Union Grove ISD are in the service area ofKilgore Junior College.[16]
The newspaperGladewater Mirror has been published in the community since 1949.[17] It first was a daily newspaper from 1949 to 1968, and then became a weekly newspaper.[18]
Places adjacent to Gladewater, Texas | |
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Municipalities and communities ofGregg County, Texas,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Municipalities and communities ofUpshur County, Texas,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Town | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Authority control databases: Geographic |
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