Editing Taylor, Texas (section)

==History==
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In 1876, the Texas Land Company auctioned lots in anticipation of the arrival of the [[International-Great Northern Railroad]] when Taylor was founded that year. The city was named after Edward Moses Taylor, a railroad official, under the name Taylorsville, which officially became Taylor in 1892. Immigrants from [[Moravia]] and [[Bohemia]] (now the [[Czech Republic]]) and other Slavic states, as well as from [[Germany]] and [[Austria]], helped establish the town. It soon became a busy shipping point for cattle, grain, and cotton.

By 1878, the town had 1,000 residents and 32 businesses, 29 of which were destroyed by fire in 1879. Recovery was rapid, however, and more substantial buildings were constructed. In 1882, the Taylor, Bastrop and Houston Railway (later part of the [[Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad]]) reached the community, and machine shops and a roundhouse served both rail lines. In 1882, the town was incorporated with a mayor-council form of city government, and in 1883, a public school system replaced a number of private schools.

By 1890, Taylor had two banks and the first [[Savings and loan association|savings and loan]] institution in Texas. An electric company, a cotton compress, and several newspapers were among the new enterprises. A water line from the [[San Gabriel River (Texas)|San Gabriel River]], a 100-man volunteer fire department, imported and local entertainment, and an annual fair made noteworthy news items by 1900.

Since 1900, Taylor's population growth has averaged roughly 128 new residents per year, based on an estimated population of 1100 in 1900.  Between 2000 and 2010, the population grew 11.9%, from 13,575 to 15,191,<ref>[http://taylortx.gov/documents/Community_Profile/taylor_census_demographics_2000_-_2010.PDF] {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> about 1.2% per year.

On September 9 and 10, 1921, eighty-seven people in and around Taylor were killed in flooding of the San Gabriel River and [[Brushy Creek (San Gabriel River tributary)|Brushy Creek]] after {{convert|39.7|in}} of rain fell in 36 hours on Williamson County.