Anahuac, Texas Information

Anahuac is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The population of the city was 2,210 at the 2000 census. Anahuac is the seat of Chambers County^[3] and is situated in East Texas.

History

The Mexican term Anáhuac comes from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs. The name has various meanings, including "center", "world", and "city", but it also means "capital". Anáhuac is the Pre-Columbian name of the Valley of Mexico and its former lake basins around Mexico City, often including the Lerma and Pánuco river systems. Despite the name, neither the city of Anahuac, Texas nor the immediate region were ever part of the Aztec Empire.

The first dwellers in this area were the Atakapan Indians. In 1721, Frenchman Jean Baptiste de La Harpe reached this area. The area became known under the name Perry's Point, named after Colonel Henry Perry, who erected a military post here in 1816.

In October 1830, Mexican Colonel Juan Davis Bradburn established a customs post atop the same 30 feet (9.1 m) bluff where Perry had camped. Bradburn's orders specified that the new post would be named Anahuac.^[4] The soldiers erected two large kilns to produce bricks to build a more permanent fort. When the kilns were operational, however, Bradburn sold the bricks to settlers who wished to live near the fort. By March 1831, Anahuac comprised 20 houses and 7 stores.^[5] The town grew quickly. Soldiers were given 25 cents per day to use for food and other supplies, and they spent the money locally. By June 1, the town comprised over 300 civilians and 170 military personnel.^[6]

Two major events in 1832 and 1835, known as the Anahuac Disturbances, helped to precipitate the Texas Revolution that led to the separation of Texas from Mexico- one being the jailing of Travis by Mexican Authorities and the other being unfair taxation and duties on River Traffic to the settlers by the Mexican Authorities as well.^{[citation needed]}

In 1862, a small Confederate outpost called Fort Chambers was established nearby, and the town (and fort) played a significant role in the American Civil War.^{[citation needed]}

The 1935 discovery of the Anahuac and Monroe City area oil fields brought a period of economic development. The Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge was established sixteen miles southeast of the city in 1963 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. In 1989, the local chamber of commerce organized the first Gatorfest which attracted 14,000 people into the Fort Anahuac Park, and has been held annually since then.^{[citation needed]}

Geography

Anahuac is located at 29°46′7″N 94°40′45″W / 29.76861°N 94.67917°W (29.768622, -94.679067)^[7].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.5 km²), all of it land.

Ecology

Southeast of the city of Anahuac is the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge which is popular among birdwatchers because almost 250 species of birds (see external link) have been reported there. Anahuac NWR is home to several species of marsh birds called rails including Yellow Rail, Clapper Rail and Black Rail.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 2,210 people, 803 households, and 600 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,044.8 people per square mile (402.5/km²). There were 902 housing units at an average density of 426.4/sq mi (164.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.28% White, 20.23% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 9.05% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.99% of the population.

There were 803 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,924, and the median income for a family was $46,750. Males had a median income of $34,904 versus $24,917 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,056. About 11.1% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Chambers County Airport, in unincorporated Chambers County east of Anahuac, serves Anahuac.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
3. ^ . National Association of Counties. . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
4. ^ Henson (1982), p. 51.
5. ^ Edmondson (2000), p. 147.
6. ^ Epperson (1998), p. 438.
7. ^ "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.

Sources

• Edmondson, J.R. (2000), The Alamo Story-From History to Current Conflicts, Plano, TX: Republic of Texas Press, ISBN 1-55622-678-0
• Epperson, Jean L. (January 1989), "1834 Census - Anahuac Precint, Atascosito District", Southwestern Historical Quarterly 92 (3), http://www.tshaonline.org/shqonline/apager.php?vol=092&pag=463
• Henson, Margaret Swett (1982), Juan Davis Bradburn: A Reappraisal of the Mexican Commander of Anahuac, College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, ISBN 9780890961353

External links

• Anahuac Chamber of Commerce
• Bird Sightings at Anahuac NWR
• U.S. Geological Survey Geographical Names Information System: Anahuac, Texas

Categories: Cities in Texas | Chambers County, Texas | County seats in Texas | Greater Houston | Galveston Bay Area

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See Also:

• Alice, Texas
• Decatur, Texas
• Doss, Texas
• Gatesville, Texas
• Goliad, Texas
• Handbook of Texas
• Leakey, Texas
• Livingston, Texas
• Rankin, Texas
• Rockport, Texas