Stephenville, a city founded in the 1860s, is in Erath County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 14,921. It is the county seat of Erath County, and home to Tarleton State University.

Geography

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Stephenville is located at (32.220168, -98.213630).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.0 km² (10.0 mi²). 26.0 km² (10.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.20%) is water.

Demographics

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As of the census of 2000, there were 14,921 people, 5,906 households, and 3,195 families residing in the city. The population density was 574.4/km² (1,488.3/mi²). There were 6,632 housing units at an average density of 255.3/km² (661.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.84% White, 1.47% African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.50% from other races, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.56% of the population.

There were 5,906 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.9% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 25.4% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 15.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,489, and the median income for a family was $40,115. Males had a median income of $27,143 versus $21,824 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,108. About 8.0% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

It is also worth noting that Stephenville resides in what is called a "dry" county where no liqour, beer or wine is available for purchase by the bottle. There are, however, over a dozen "private clubs" where, for a nominal membership fee, a person is entitled to purchase liquor, beer or wine by the drink.

Claims to fame

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In August of 1974, Stephenville garnered nationwide headlines when three inmates who had escaped from a state prison in Colorado killed five people and raped two women in the town; one of the escapees were subsequently shot to death by a combined force of local sheriff's deputies and Texas Rangers.

Stephenville is also the hometown of three of the five members of the Alternative Metal group Submersed. It was also the boyhood home of famed musicians Lee Roy and Rob Parnell.

It was the birthplace of the 1930s bandleader Milton Brown and famed heart surgeon, Dr. Bud Fraiser. It is also the home of Ty Murray.

Stephenville has a relatively quirky landmark installed on the town square: a large plastic cow bearing the name "Moola". The cow is in honor of the beef and dairy industries, both of which are prominent segments of the Stephenville and Erath County economy.

Stephenville, TX is also the 11th song on Jewel's 2006 release, "Goodbye Alice in Wonderland."

External links

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Erath County, Texas | Cities in Texas | County seats in Texas