Kerens, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kerens, Texas
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Downtown Kerens
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| Motto(s):
Birthplace Of Big Tex
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Location of Kerens, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Navarro |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.50 sq mi (6.48 km2) |
| • Land | 2.50 sq mi (6.48 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 371 ft (113 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,505 |
| • Density | 602.0/sq mi (232.25/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
75144
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| Area code(s) | 903/430 |
| FIPS code | 48-38992 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1339049 |
| Website | http://ci.kerens.tx.us/ |
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 735 | — | |
| 1910 | 945 | 28.6% | |
| 1920 | 1,343 | 42.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,435 | 6.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,287 | −10.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,198 | −6.9% | |
| 1960 | 1,123 | −6.3% | |
| 1970 | 1,446 | 28.8% | |
| 1980 | 1,582 | 9.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,702 | 7.6% | |
| 2000 | 1,681 | −1.2% | |
| 2010 | 1,573 | −6.4% | |
| 2020 | 1,505 | −4.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Kerens is a city in Navarro County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,505 at the 2020 census.
History
Kerens was established in 1881 when the St. Louis Southwestern Railway of Texas was built through the county, according to the Texas Handbook of History, and was named for Judge Richard C. Kerens of St. Louis. The railroad bypassed the nearby settlement of Wadeville, and within a short time all of the businesses from Wadeville moved to the new town. By the mid-1890s, the handbook said, the town had three cotton gin-mills, four grocery stores, two hotels, two drug stores, a wagonmaker, and a weekly newspaper named the Navarro Blade.
Big Tex, the giant icon of the State Fair of Texas, had his beginnings in Kerens. In 1949, residents built a 49-foot-tall (15 m) Santa Claus constructed from iron drill casing and papier mache to help encourage holiday sales. In 1951, State Fair president R. L. Thornton purchased Santa's components for $750 and had Dallas artist Jack Bridges transform them into a cowboy for the annual fair.
Geography
Kerens is located at 32°7′50″N 96°13′45″W / 32.13056°N 96.22917°W (32.130639, –96.229207).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2), all land.
Demographics
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 822 | 54.62% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 340 | 22.59% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 3 | 0.2% |
| Asian (NH) | 8 | 0.53% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 6 | 0.4% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 6 | 0.4% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 92 | 6.11% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 228 | 15.15% |
| Total | 1,505 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,505 people, 631 households, and 434 families residing in the city.
Education
The City of Kerens is served by the Kerens Independent School District.
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, Kerens has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
Notable person
- Tom Mechler, state Republican chairman, formerly lived in Kerens, where he was engaged in the oil and gas business
See also
In Spanish: Kerens para niños
