Editing Cooper, Texas (section)

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Cooper Lake State Park Texas swimming hole.jpg|thumb|right|A swimming area on [[Cooper Lake (Texas)|Cooper Lake]]: The lake is the most popular attraction in the area.|alt=A swimming area on a lake]] 
[[File:Cooper October 2015 3 (Chiggerfest).jpg|thumb|Chiggerfest in 2015]]
Since its founding, Cooper has been the center of attractions for Delta County. The city has several small schools and churches.<ref name="Delta County"/> In 1955, the construction of Cooper Lake was authorized. In 1986, major work on the lake began and it was finished in 1991.<ref name="Lake History">{{cite web |publisher=[[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] |url=https://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/cooper/Information/History.asp |title=History of Jim Chapman Lake/Cooper Dam |work=Jim Chapman Lake/Cooper Dam |date=March 6, 2007 |access-date=February 11, 2013}}</ref> The lake is now the most popular tourist attraction in the area. Boating, swimming and fishing are available at Cooper Lake. The main fish stocked in the lake are catfish, largemouth bass and crappie.<ref name="Cooper Lake State Park"/> Along the north shore of the lake is the Doctor's Creek Unit of [[Cooper Lake State Park]]. The park contains several picnic areas, campgrounds and a large swimming area on Cooper Lake. It also contains several hiking and equestrian trails.<ref name="Cooper Lake State Park"/> On the eastern edge of the lake near the Cooper Lake Dam is the Wildlife Observation Deck, a large birdwatching platform.<ref name="Wildlife Deck">{{cite web |publisher=United States Army Corps of Engineers |url=https://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/cooper/Recreation/Parks/Corpsparks.asp |title=Corps parks at Jim Chapman Lake/Cooper Dam |work=Jim Chapman Lake/Cooper Dam |date=July 19, 2007 |access-date=February 11, 2013}}</ref> Along the west and northwest shores of the lake is the Cooper Wildlife Management Area. The park was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and protects four unique habitat types. These are wetland, Blackland Prairie, Upland Post Oak and Bottomland Hardwood. The park contains several hiking trails, as well as birdwatching stations and wildlife viewing areas. The park allows fishing and hunting to visitors if they have a proper license.<ref name="WMA">{{cite web |publisher=United States Army Corps of Engineers |url=https://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/cooper/Recreation/Hunting.asp |title=Hunting at Jim Chapman Lake/Cooper Dam |work=Jim Chapman Lake/Cooper Dam |date=August 22, 2011 |access-date=February 11, 2013}}</ref>

Cooper hosts the annual Chiggerfest. The event, held every October, is a social gathering for the region. The two-day event begins with an open-air concert in Historic Cooper Square. Other events include a [[5K race|5K run/walk]] and smashing a car. The festival includes numerous street vendors and a children's area.<ref name="Chiggerfest">{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Jessica |date=October 24, 2011 |url=http://www.theeasttexan.com/cooper-hosts-annual-chiggerfest-1.2662955#.URghMWeaRRw |title=Cooper hosts annual Chiggerfest |newspaper=The East Texan |publisher=[[Texas A&M University–Commerce]] |access-date=February 11, 2013}}</ref> Patterson Memorial County Library is also located in Cooper, as well as a {{convert|15|acre|adj=on}} municipal park and numerous recreational and community centers,<ref name="Delta County"/> including the historic McKinney Home, the house of Dr. John and May McKinney, which was built in 1912 and later restored by their descendant, the author Susan Albright Hyde.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ketr.org/post/coopers-dollhouse-turns-100|title=Cooper's 'Dollhouse' turns 100|date=November 22, 2013 }}</ref>