Battle of Caving Banks

Lexington is a town in Lee County, Texas, United States. Its population was 1,217 at the 2020 census.[2] Lexington, a cattle trading town, is approximately 40 miles (64 km) west of Bryan.

History

Lexington's first post office was called String Prairie in 1848, named for the surrounding prairie. The first postmaster was veteran and legislator, James Shaw. In 1850, residents changed the name of the settlement to Lexington to honor the location of the first battle of the American Revolution.[5][6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2), all land.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Lexington has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[7]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1870157
188017914.0%
1920600
1930519−13.5%
19405312.3%
195060313.6%
196071117.9%
19707191.1%
19801,06548.1%
1990953−10.5%
20001,17823.6%
20101,177−0.1%
20201,2173.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
Lexington racial composition as of 2020[9]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 834 68.53%
Black or African American (NH) 110 9.04%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 8 0.66%
Asian (NH) 1 0.08%
Some Other Race (NH) 1 0.08%
Mixed/multiracial (NH) 83 6.82%
Hispanic or Latino 180 14.79%
Total 1,217

As of the 2020 United States census, 1,217 people, 492 households, and 367 families were residing in the town.

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,178 people, 460 households, and 311 families residing in the town. The population density was 992.4 inhabitants per square mile (383.2/km2). The 540 housing units had an average density of 454.9 per square mile (175.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 79.88% White, 10.87% African American, 1.10% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 7.05% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 9.42% of the population.

Of the 460 households, 38.7% had children under 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were not families. About 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56, and the average family size was 3.16.

In the town, the age distribution was 32.6% under 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,023, and the for a family was $37,917. Males had a median income of $32,083 versus $19,886 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,765. About 11.1% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.

Calvin Trillin of The New Yorker said that while Lexington is not geographically in the Texas Hill Country, as it is located on ranch land, it "ethnically is." A politician from Lee County told Paul Burka of Texas Monthly that the voting scenario in the area is "the Germans against the Czechs, and the Americans are the swing vote."[12]

Arts and culture

On Saturdays, farmers and ranchers come into Lexington from areas around the town. A cattle auction takes place at 12:30 pm each Saturday.[12] In addition to the many ranches, Lexington is also home to the only flower farm in Lee County (6G Heritage Farm) at the historic original townsite of Nalley, which is no longer a town today.[13]

Snow's BBQ is located here.

Education

The town is served by the Lexington Independent School District.

Notable people

Notes

  1. ^ Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[10][11]

References

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Total Population: 2010 Census DEC Summary File 1 (P1), Lexington town, Texas". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ Vance, Ruby Nettles. "Lexington, TX". Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  6. ^ Hazlewood, Claudia. "Shaw, James (1808–1879)". Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  7. ^ Climate Summary for Lexington, Texas
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  10. ^ https://www.census.gov/ [not specific enough to verify]
  11. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Trillin, Calvin. 2008-11-24. "By Meat Alone." The New Yorker. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
  13. ^ Handbook of Texas

External links