Kaufman County, Texas
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History/Timeline
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| Kaufman Co. seal |
- Kaufman County was formed from Henderson County and organized, 1848 Kaufman County was named for member of Texas and U.S. congresses D.S. Kaufman.[1]
Both the county, established in 1848, and the city were named for David S. Kaufman, a diplomat and U.S. Representative from Texas.
- 1700s Various Indians, Caddoes and Cherokees were present in the territory that is today Kaufman County prior to arrival of American settlers. [2]
- pre 1840 the Cherokees had been driven by the Caddoes into East Texas. The Americans traded with the Caddoes with jewelry and trinkets and had few Indian problems. [2]
- 1840 first Kaufman County settlement was started by William P. King and 40 pioneers from Holly Springs, Mississippi, who had purchased certificates for headrights from the Republic of Texas.
- 1840 the settlers built a fort and named it King's Fort in honor of their leader. [2]
- mid 1840s Land grants and word of mouth praising the area in eastern towns, settlers were attracted to settle near King's Fort, Kingsboro, or Fort de Kingsboro.[2]
- July 27, 1846 - after the annexation of Texas by the United States, King patented the survey that included King's Fort with the new state government. The territory was at that time part of the recently organized Henderson County. [2]
- Feb, 1848 -Kaufman County was formed from Henderson County, and named for David Spangler Kaufman, a diplomat and member of the Congress of the Republic of Texas, the legislature of the state of Texas, and the Congress of the United States. [2]
- 1850 census counted 533 slaves (15 percent of the population)[2]
- March 1851 King's Fort was renamed Kaufman to become the county seat in March 1851, after four elections.
- 1873- Rockwall was formed from Kaufman County and since have been unchanged. When the Southern settlers settled here, slaves were brought to the county.[2]
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- 1861 citizens approved secession from the union by 3/4 majority.,[2]
- 1861-65 However Kaufman county contributed several companies of soldiers, fighting in Elkanah B. Greer's regiment. ::Slave patrols were established in each precinct as well as contributing tax dollars of the citizens to purchase supplies for county companies in the war and to arm the county. [2]
- 1866 End of Civil War brought Reconstruction. [2]
- 1867-70s Reconstruction were unpopular in the county, the period passed without violence against either freedmen or white Unionists, perhaps because of the small African American population. [2]
- 1873 - The Texas and Pacific Railway was completed through the N part of the county in 1873, when it was linked with Longview (East) and DFW in West).[2]
- 1880 to 1930 Population tripled with the African population doubled ti 29%.. These peoples did not find increased educational advantages for years. Kaufman County retained its antebellum rural and agricultural character. The number of farms rose to 5,131.[2]
- 1860s - 1930- corn was the primary crop. Cotton was steadily increasing to 57,698 bales.[2]
- 1880, 1890- The number of beef and dairy cattle raised in Kaufman County, decreased to 950 beef cattle and 7,282 dairy cattle in 1930.
- mid-1890s, the Texas-Midland Railroad was completed through Kaufman County to Garret in the south and Paris in the north. [2]
- post 1892 The T-M, which had been purchased by Hetty H. R. Green in 1892 and was run by her son, Edward H. R. Green, established its shops and offices in Terrell. This brought industry to the county. :1883 the county was chosen as the site of the state's 2nd Mental hospital. [2]
- 1885 -Texas purchased 655-acre site near Terrell, and opened Terrell State Hospital. [2]
- United States Department of Agriculture Extension Service developed as the result of an experiment begun in Kaufman County. [2]
- 1903 the USDA sent Seaman A. Knapp to advise Kaufman County cotton farmers on methods to combat the cotton boll weevil, (then spreading across Texas). The nation's first privately owned and operated demonstration farm north of Terrell was the result of Knapp's visit. The nation's first privately owned and operated demonstration farm north of Terrell.[2]
- 1930s and 1940s w changes in Kaufman County as the Great Depression and World War II affected its people. Farm value fell by 56% Number of farms decreased by 1,800. Unemployment rose from 2% in 1930 to 16% in 1940. [2]
- 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps camp near Kaufman employed young men in soil-conservation and erosion-control projects. 15 manufacturing establishments employed 106 workers. [2]
- 1935 1,294 workers were on government relief in Kaufman County. National Youth Administration maintained a machine shop in the town. [2]
- 1935-1940 Work Projects Administration spent over $1 million in Kaufman County on road and bridge construction and various building programs. [2]
- World war II ended the economic crisis, but increased emigration away from the county. [2]
- 1940 947 workers were employed by government works programs, and 1,163 workers unemployed.
- 1950-1960s similar trends in population during these years.The population trends begun during the depression and war years continued from 1950 to 1970. [2]
Government Offices
Kaufman County has had four courthouses:1851, 1861, 1887 and the present 1956 courthouse.[3]
1st Courthouse- 1851 -
2nd Courthouse, 1861 - 3rd Courthouse, 1887 -
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| 1887 Courthouse |
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| 1887 Courthouse |
4th Courthouse,1956
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| current Courthouse and Civil War statue |
Texas Escapes relates the 1887 Courthouse was torn down to build the new building.."The Confederate monument, constructed in 1911, was moved to a safe place during the demolition of the 1887 courthouse and restored to its current location once the 1956 courthouse was completed." "The current 1956 Kaufman County courthouse is shrouded in trees which helps to hide its modern staleness. To add insult to injury, a security booth was recently constructed to the front of the building, further obscuring the facade of this architectural masterpiece.[3]
Geography
- According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 808 square miles (2,090 km2), of which 781 sq. mi. (2,020 km2) is land and 27 sq. mi. (3.3%) is water. The county is in NE part of Texas, it is bounded on the SW by Trinity River, and drained by the E fork of that stream.
https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hck02
Kaufman County is located in NE Texas.
- County Seat- Terrell, the county's largest town, is 30 miles E of Dallas.
- County's center lies at approximately 32°35' north latitude and 96°18' west longitude.
- Size 788 square miles of Blackland Prairie region of NE Texas.
- Terrain - level to gently undulating
- Elevation 300 to 550 feet above sea level.
- Rivers/Creeks -The county is on a divide between the Trinity and the Sabine.
- Type: Trinity River watershed and by Cedar Creek and tributaries flowing into the Cedar Creek Reservoir in the S
- Vegetation -Prairie grasses,mesquite, oak, pecan,elm trees grow along the streams of the county.
- Soil - slightly acidic, with dark to light loamy surfaces and clayey subsoils.
- Mineral resources include limestone, sand and gravel, oil, and gas.
- Climate is subtropical-humid.
- Temperatures low of 72° F in July to an high of 97° from 33° to 54° in January.
- Rainfall averages thirty-nine inches
- Growing season averages 245 days each year.
https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hck02
| Northwest Rockwall County |
North Hunt County |
Northeast |
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| West Dallas County |
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Kaufman County, Texas |  |
East Van Zandt County |
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| Southwest Ellis County |
South Henderson County |
Southeast |
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Formed From
- Henderson County
Protected areas
Demographics
In 2000, there were 71,313 people residing in the county with a population density of 91 people/sq. mi. (35/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.10% White, 10.53% Black or African American, 0.61% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 5.66% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. 11.11% of the population were Hispanic. The median income for a household in the county was $44,783, and the median income for a family was $50,354. Males had a median income of $35,537 versus $26,494 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,827. About 7.80% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.30% of those under age 18 and 11.80% of those age 65 or over.[4]
Newspapers - (3), the Terrell Tribune, the Kaufman Herald, and the Forney Messenger. Forney, Texas, is also served by online news media outlet in Forney.com who also covers breaking news for the county. A quarterly magazine called Kaufman County Life is produced by the Terrell Tribune. The Kemp and Mabank areas are included in coverage by The Monitor and Athens Daily Review newspapers.[5]
- As of the 2010 census, its population was 103,350. Its county seat is Kaufman. Both the county, established in 1848, and the city were named for David S. Kaufman, a diplomat and U.S. Representative from Texas.
Kaufman County is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Law Enforcement:
This county has had its share of murders of lawmakers. The Kaufman County Sheriff's Office is Kaufman County's main police force. Smaller cities depend on the sheriff's office along with the Texas Highway Patrol for law enforcement duties. Mar 30, 2013 the District Attorney Mike McLelland, along with his wife, were found shot and killed in their home. In December 2012, Texas officials issued a statewide bulletin warning that the Aryan Brotherhood was "actively planning retaliation against law enforcement officials" who worked to prosecute the gang’s leadership. 2 months previously, the Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse was shot and killed outside the Kaufman County courthouse. On April 13, 2013, ex-justice of the peace Eric Williams was arrested for making terroristic threats to county officials via email. Hasse and McLelland had aggressively prosecuted Williams in a theft case, which resulted in the loss of Williams' job and law license. On April 17, his wife Kim Williams was arrested on capital murder charges in all three deaths. These arrests were not linked by officials to the Aryan Brotherhood.[6]
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| Kaufman co. in Texas. |
Kaufman County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 103,350. Its county seat is Kaufman. Both the county, established in 1848, and the city were named for David S. Kaufman, a diplomat and U.S. Representative from Texas.
- Kaufman County is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.
- Western artist Frank Reaugh moved from Illinois to Kaufman County in 1876 to draw inspiration for his paintings such as The Approaching Herd (1902)
Highways
- I-20 Interstate 20
- U.S. Highway 80
- U.S. Highway 175
- Texas State Highway 34
- Texas State Highway 205
- Texas State Highway 243
- Texas State Highway 274
- Texas Spur 557
Cities
- Combine (partly in Dallas County)
- Dallas (mostly in Dallas County, parts in Collin, Denton, Rockwall)
- Heath (mostly in Rockwall County)
- Mesquite (mostly in Dallas County)
- Seagoville (mostly in Dallas County)
- Seven Points (mostly in Henderson County)
Town/villages/Unin Community
Resources
- Kaufman county Resources
- Kaufman county Research addresses
- Terrell community Resources
- Human Services Resources
- HeadStart Resources
- North Texas Aging and Disability
Census
- 1850 --- 1,047 —
- 1860 --- 3,936 275.9%
- 1870 --- 6,895 75.2%
- 1880 --- 15,448 124.0%
- 1890 --- 21,598 39.8%
- 1900 --- 33,376 54.5%
- 1910 --- 35,323 5.8%
- 1920 --- 41,276 16.9%
- 1930 --- 40,905 −0.9%
- 1940 --- 38,308 −6.3%
- 1950 --- 31,170 −18.6%
- 1960 --- 29,931 −4.0%
- 1970 --- 32,392 8.2%
- 1980 --- 39,015 20.4%
- 1990 --- 52,220 33.8%
- 2000 --- 71,313 36.6%
- 2010 --- 103,350 44.9%
- Est. 2015 --- 114,690
Notables
- Western artist Frank Reaugh moved to Kaufman County in 1876 to draw inspiration for his paintings such as The Approaching Herd (1902).
- Stuart Splitzer surgeon from Kaufman and House of Representatives.
Land Grants
- July 27, 1846 - after the annexation of Texas by the United States, King patented the survey that included King's Fort with the new state government
Cemeteries
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- Black Jack Cemetery
- Cedarvale Cemetery
- Elmo Cemetery
- Hillcrest Cemetery
- Heath Cemetery
- Kemp Cemetery
- Shiloh Cemetery
- Oaklawn Cemetery of Mabank
- Morrow Chapel Cemetery
- Prairieville Cemetery
- Fox Cemetery
- Camp Ground Cemetery
- College Mound Cemetery
- Highland Memorial Gardens
- Oakland Memorial Park
- Rains Hall Cemetery, Dallas County, Texas also known as Grange Hall Cemetery or Grange Hill Cemetery
- Rose Hill Cemetery
- Wildwood Cemetery
- Baker Cemetery
- Cedar Grove Cemetery
Sources
- ↑ https://texasalmanac.com/index.php?q=topics/government/kaufman-county
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hck02
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.texasescapes.com/CentralTexasTownsNorth/Kaufman-Texas-Kaufman-County-Courthouse.htm#1887
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaufman_County,_Texas
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaufman_County,_Texas
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaufman_County,_Texas
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