Groves, Texas
Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Groves is a city in Jefferson County, Texas, United States. The population was 17,335 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2010">Template:Cite web</ref> It is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
[edit]In 1886, Sam Courville moved his family from a Sabine Lake settlement in Port Arthur to a new home on Template:Convert of land.<ref name="PNGISD History">Template:Cite web</ref> In that general area around 1911, John Warne Gates purchased additional tracts of land. The land was conveyed to the Griffing brothers of Port Arthur in 1916, and three years later Griffing Brothers Nursery employee Wiley Choate supervised the planting of several thousand pecan trees on a Template:Convert tract.<ref name="PNGISD History"/> In 1921, the Port Arthur Land Development Company took control of the site and divided the land into a residential subdivision known as "Pecan Grove". The name was later changed to "Groves", after development representative and pioneer Port Arthurian Asa Groves.<ref name="Groves History">Template:Cite web</ref>
A post office was established in 1927, a school opened in 1929, and a public library opened in 1930. The community rapidly developed as a stop on the Kansas City Southern Railway.<ref name="Texas Handbook"/> The Atlantic Refinery began operating in 1936. In 1940, a public water system was installed in the community. Several civic organizations, including the Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, and Volunteer Fire Department, were formed during the 1940s.<ref name="City Leaders">Template:Cite web</ref> By the early 1950s, Groves had an estimated population of 1,300. In 1952, Groves voted to incorporate as a city.<ref name="Texas Handbook"/> Rapid population growth followed, surpassing 17,000 in the 1960 census and reaching 18,067 by 1970. During the rest of the 20th century, the population slowly declined. In 2000, Groves was the fourth-largest city in Jefferson County, after Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Nederland.
Geography
[edit]Groves is in eastern Jefferson County, Template:Convert southeast of downtown Beaumont. The city of Port Arthur borders Groves on three sides (southeast, southwest, and northeast), while Port Neches lies to the northwest.<ref name="Texas Handbook">Template:Cite web</ref> Three State Highways—73, 87, and 347—pass through or near the city. Sabine Lake, an estuary of the Gulf of Mexico, is Template:Convert to the southeast.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Groves has an area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert, or 0.28%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010"/> Most of the city sits at an elevation of Template:Convert above sea level.
Demographics
[edit]| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 10,037 | 57.9% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,045 | 6.03% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 41 | 0.24% |
| Asian (NH) | 593 | 3.42% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 3 | 0.02% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 39 | 0.22% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 428 | 2.47% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5,149 | 29.7% |
| Total | 17,335 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,335 people, 5,747 households, and 3,851 families residing in the city.
As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 15,733 people, 6,182 households, and 4,512 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 6,570 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 93.46% White, 1.32% African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.65% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.98% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.82% of the population.
There were 6,182 households, of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18 (see Recreation), 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,692, and the median income for a family was $50,892. Males had a median income of $41,404 versus $23,493 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,147.
Government and infrastructure
[edit]The United States Postal Service Groves Post Office is at 6230 39th Street.<ref>"Post Office Location - GROVES." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.</ref>
The city has spent over $14 million on infrastructure since 2003. This includes a $6 million water treatment plant and $5 million borrowed from the TWDB to deal with inflow and infiltration issues in the waste water collection system. Substantial amounts have also been spent on the water distribution system and waste water treatment plant, and $2 million allocated to streets and drainage maintenance and improvements.Template:Citation needed
Education
[edit]Primary and secondary schools
[edit]The city is primarily served by the Port Neches-Groves Independent School District. A small area of Groves is served by the Port Arthur Independent School District.
Groves Middle, Van Buren, Taft Elementary, and Groves Elementary are in Groves.
Colleges and universities
[edit]The Lamar University system is in nearby Beaumont. Post-secondary educational opportunities are provided to Groves and surrounding areas by the main campus of Lamar University, Lamar Institute of Technology, Lamar State College at Port Arthur, and Lamar State College at Orange.
Public libraries
[edit]The Groves Public Library is at 5600 West Washington Boulevard.<ref>"Groves Public Library." City of Groves. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.</ref>
In popular culture
[edit]A donut shop in Groves was a key location in the 2021 film Red Rocket.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Notable people
[edit]- Greg Davis, college football coach
- Janis Joplin, singer
- Mary Karr, writer
- Brittney Rodriguez, actress
Jerry LaCroix, singer with Edgar Winter's White Tras, Blood Sweat and Tears, Rare Earth
References
[edit]Template:Reflist Template:Notelist