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Lockhart, Texas
Caldwell County Courthouse
Caldwell County Courthouse
Nickname(s): 
Barbecue Capital of Texas
Location of Lockhart, Texas
Location of Lockhart, Texas
Country United States
State Texas
County Caldwell
Government
Home rule city
 • Type Council – Manager
Area
 • Total 15.64 sq mi (40.50 km2)
 • Land 15.61 sq mi (40.44 km2)
 • Water 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation
515 ft (157 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 12,698
 • Estimate 
(2019)
14,133
 • Density 905.15/sq mi (349.49/km2)
Demonym(s) Lockhartisan or Lockhartizen
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
78644
Area code(s) 512 & 737
FIPS code 48-43240
GNIS feature ID 1374644
Downtown Lockhart, TX IMG 9187
A view of downtown Lockhart
First Lockhart (TX) National Bank IMG 9190
First Lockhart National Bank building across from the county courthouse

Lockhart is a city and the county seat of Caldwell County, Texas, United States. According to the 2010 census, its population was 12,698.

History

Lockhart Texas
Another view of downtown Lockhart

The city of Lockhart is named after Byrd Lockhart, an assistant surveyor of Green DeWitt and reportedly the first Anglo to set foot in Caldwell County. Lockhart was the site of a victory of the Texans over the Comanche, at the Battle of Plum Creek in 1840. Lockhart was originally called "Plum Creek" but the name was later changed to Lockhart.

The town's economic growth began with the arrival of the railroad in the late 19th century, at which time the town became a regional shipping center for local cotton. Following the arrival of the railroad, various immigrants arrived in Lockhart and opened various businesses.

Lockhart has several claims to fame. In 1999, the Texas Legislature proclaimed Lockhart the "Barbecue Capital of Texas"; Lockhart has four major barbecue restaurants. The Dr. Eugene Clark Library is the oldest operating public library in Texas. Lockhart was also the subject of an article by the architectural historian and critic Colin Rowe, first published in Architectural Record in 1957, and republished in the collection of his writings As I Was Saying (1996). Rowe sees Lockhart as a "curiously eloquent" example of a Victorian post-frontier American town.

Lockhart has played host to many film sets, as this quaint small town is located just 30 miles (48 km) south of Austin. The 1996 Christopher Guest comedy film Waiting for Guffman and the 1993 drama What's Eating Gilbert Grape were filmed partly in Lockhart, including the historic courthouse and the town square. The city's Wal-Mart store was featured in the 2000 film Where the Heart Is.

On July 30, 2016, a hot air balloon struck a power line and caught on fire, killing all 16 people on board. The hot air balloon crashed near the unincorporated community of Maxwell.

Geography

Lockhart is located at 29°52′55″N 97°40′34″W / 29.88194°N 97.67611°W / 29.88194; -97.67611 (29.881870, −97.676040). Located near central Texas, Lockhart is 30 miles (48 km) south of downtown Austin on U.S. Highway 183. It is 70 miles (110 km) northeast of San Antonio and 156 miles (251 km) west of Houston.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.6 square miles (40.4 km2), of which 15.6 square miles (40.3 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.14%, is water.

Climate

Climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfa"(Humid Subtropical Climate).

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 560
1880 718 28.2%
1890 1,233 71.7%
1900 2,306 87.0%
1910 2,945 27.7%
1920 3,731 26.7%
1930 4,367 17.0%
1940 5,018 14.9%
1950 5,573 11.1%
1960 6,084 9.2%
1970 6,489 6.7%
1980 7,953 22.6%
1990 9,205 15.7%
2000 11,615 26.2%
2010 12,698 9.3%
2020 14,379 13.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
2010-2020

As of the census of 2000, 11,615 people, 3,627 households, and 2,691 families were residing in the city. The population density was 1,032.7 people per sq mi (398.6/km2). The 3,871 housing units averaged 344.2 per sq mi (132.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 65.42% White, 12.68% African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 18.00% from other races, and 2.82% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 47.41% of the population.

Of the 3,627 households, 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were not families. About 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81, and the average family size was 3.28.

In the city, the age distribution was 26.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,762, and for a family was $41,111. Males had a median income of $29,329 versus $20,923 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,621. About 12.2% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.

Significant historic buildings

  • Dr. Eugene Clark Library, the oldest continuously operating public library in Texas
  • Caldwell County Courthouse

Location from Lockhart

Gallery

Education

Lockhart is served by the Lockhart Independent School District and is home to the Lockhart High School Lions.

The city has a museum, the Southwest Museum of Clocks and Watches.

Notable people

  • Scott H. Biram, musician
  • Lily Cahill, actress
  • John Cyrier, state representative for District 17; Lockhart native
  • Willie Ellison, professional football player
  • Maud A. B. Fuller, educator, missionary and community leader
  • Billy Grabarkewitz, Major League Baseball player
  • James McMurtry, musician
  • Primo Miller, football player
  • Robert Schwarz Strauss, politician and diplomat

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Lockhart (Texas) para niños

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