Eden, Texas

Eden is a city in Concho County, Texas, United States.[6] The population was 2,766 at the 2010 census. About half of the population consists of inmates housed at the Eden Detention Center.

Eden, Texas
City
Eden City Hall
Location in Concho County
Eden, Texas
Location in Texas
Eden, Texas
Eden, Texas (the United States)
Coordinates: 31°12′59″N 99°50′44″W
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyConcho
IncorporatedFebruary 4, 1911[1]
Government
 • MayorEddy Markham[2]
Area
 • Total2.38 sq mi (6.16 km2)
 • Land2.38 sq mi (6.16 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
2,054 ft (626 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total2,766
 • Estimate 
(2019)[4]
1,294
 • Density543.93/sq mi (210.00/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
76837
Area code(s)325
FIPS code48-22552[5]
GNIS feature ID1356813[6]
Websitewww.edentexas.com

Eden is located 160 mi (260 km) northwest of Austin.

The community developed as a trading center for agricultural products.

History

The earliest settlers were the family of Harvey and Louisa McCarty.[1] Frederick Ede and his family moved to the area around 1881. In 1882, Ede donated 40 acres (16 ha) of land to be used as a townsite and to build a town square. The following year, a post office was established and was named "Eden", an adaptation of Frederick Ede's name.[1][7]

Picking cotton in Eden, circa 1895

A school was established in 1885.[7]

By 1890, Eden had a general store, a jeweler, a saloon, a Baptist church (organized in 1886), and a population exceeding 100.[1][8] A newspaper, The Eden Echo, was founded in 1906.[9] That same year, a bank was established. Telephone service arrived about 1907, and a public well and windmill were installed in 1908.[1]

Eden was incorporated on February 4, 1911.[1] That same year, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway completed a 98 mi (158 km) line between Eden and Lometa, located east of Eden.[10]

By 1914, Eden had a restaurant, two general stores, two hotels, two cotton gins, two lumber companies, two hardware stores, a Baptist church, and a Methodist church. The population was 600.[1]

The Eden Independent School District was established in 1920,[1] and electricity arrived in Eden in 1925.[7]

Eden became a trading center for mohair and wool after 1925, as sheep ranching in the area increased. Local ranchers also began raising cattle and goats, as well as polo ponies for eastern markets.[1]

In 1961, the first F-105 fighter-bomber delivered to the US Air Force 49th Tactical Fighter Wing was named the "Kordel-Eden", after Kordel, Germany, and the pilot's hometown of Eden, Texas.[11]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2), all of it 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 system, Eden has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[12]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1920593—
19301,194101.3%
19401,60334.3%
19501,99324.3%
19601,486−25.4%
19701,291−13.1%
19801,2940.2%
19901,56721.1%
20002,56163.4%
20102,7668.0%
2019 (est.)1,294[4]−53.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

As of the census[5] of 2000, 2,561 people, 499 households, and 333 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,055.2 people per square mile (406.9/km2). The 602 housing units averaged 248.0 per square mile (95.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.63% White, 1.52% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 6.48% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 51.43% of the population.

Of the 499 households, 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were not families. About 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was distributed as 12.3% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 47.4% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 262.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 320.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,636, and for a family was $34,750. Males had a median income of $17,341 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,119. About 8.8% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The City of Eden is served by the Eden Consolidated Independent School District. Eden Elementary School and Eden High School are located in the city.[14]

Infrastructure

The United States Postal Service operates the Eden Post Office.[15]

The Eden Detention Center incarcerates male federal prisoners who are primarily criminal aliens who will be deported upon release. The facility is operated by Corrections Corporation of America on behalf of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, employs 285 staff, and has a capacity of 1,558 inmates.[16]

Concho County Hospital is a 16-bed general medical and surgical hospital in Eden. It has an emergency room, and four staff doctors.[17]

Notable people
  • James Earl Rudder Memorial Park
  • Welcome sign
  • Eden Detention Center
  • Gazebo in James Earl Rudder Park
  • The "Garden of Eden" green space and nature trails in Eden
  • Don Freeman Memorial Museum

References
  1. Standifer, Mary M. (June 12, 2010). "Eden, Tx (Concho County)". Handbook of Texas Online.
  2. "City Council Members". City of Eden, Texas. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  3. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Eden
  7. Hatfield, Thomas M. (2011). Rudder: From Leader to Legend. Texas A&M University Press. pp. 8, 11, 12, 285, 313. ISBN 9781603442626.
  8. Third Annual Report of the Agricultural Bureau of the Department of Agriculture, Insurance, and History. Texas State Printing Office. 1891. p. 53.
  9. "About The Eden echo. (Eden, Tex.) 1906-current". Library of Congress. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  10. Werner, George C. (June 15, 2010). "Gulf, Colorado And Santa Fe Railway". Handbook of Texas Online.
  11. Plunkett, W. Howard (2008). F-105 Thunderchiefs: A 29-Year Illustrated Operational History, with Individual Accounts of the 103 Surviving Fighter Bombers. McFarland. p. 99. ISBN 9780786450633.
  12. Climate Summary for Eden, Texas
  13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. "Schools". Eden Consolidated Independent School District. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  15. "Eden". United States Postal Service. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  16. Laxson, John (August 29, 2014). "Eden Detention Center". Corrections Corporation of America.
  17. "Concho County Hospital". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  18. "Henry, Gwinn". Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  19. "James Earl Rudder Memorial Park". City of Eden, Texas. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
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