Editing Coldspring, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Coldspring, Texas
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = Coldspring TX Houses along Byrd Avenue DSC 6238 ad.JPG
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = Byrd Ave, Coldspring, Texas
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = 
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Coldspring, Texas
| image_map1               = SanJacinto County Coldspring.svg
| mapsize1                 = 250px
| map_caption1             = Location of Coldspring<br/>within San Jacinto County, Texas
| pushpin_map              = Texas#USA
| pushpin_map_alt          = 
| pushpin_map_caption      = 
| pushpin_label            = Coldspring
| pushpin_label_position   = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Texas}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[San Jacinto County, Texas|San Jacinto]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = <!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 4.82
| area_land_km2            = 4.81
| area_water_km2           = 0.01
| area_total_sq_mi         = 1.86
| area_land_sq_mi          = 1.86
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 819
| population_density_km2   = 194

<!-- General information -->| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset               = -6
| timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -5
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 110
| elevation_ft             = 361
| coordinates              = {{coord|30|35|17|N|95|8|0|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 77331
| area_code                = [[Area code 936|936]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 48-15892<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 1384227<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| website                  = 
| footnotes                = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 502
}}
'''Coldspring''' is a city in [[San Jacinto County, Texas]], United States. It is the [[county seat]] of San Jacinto County,<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=2011-05-31 }}</ref> which is named after the [[San_Jacinto_River_(Texas)|river]] that traverses it and shares its name with the [[Battle of San Jacinto|battle]] that gave Texas its independence. The population was 819 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].

==History==
The history of Coldspring is linked to Stephen F. Austin's first colony in Texas, which established, among other locales, San Jacinto County.  Austin's original colony extended to the Trinity River watershed (roughly along [[Texas State Highway 156|Texas 156]] toward [[Point Blank, Texas|Point Blank]]).  After receiving a commission from the Mexican government to settle the town, Joseph Vehlein, a German immigrant to Mexico, deeded {{convert|640|acre|km2}} to Robert Rankin, an American Revolutionary officer.  This acreage included the site of Coldspring.

The settlement of Cold Springs (old spelling) began around 1850.  In 1848, there had existed only a nearby trading post called "Coonskin" (later, "Fireman's Hill").

Coldspring had developed into a bustling county-seat town by 1915, but disaster struck on March 30, 1915 when the wooden courthouse burned, thus removing the economic foundation of the town.  Plans for a new courthouse were made, and the present building was completed in 1918.  The townspeople then moved their buildings to be closer to the new courthouse.<ref>Billie Trapp and Hilde Faulkner, "The History of Our Church," https://web.archive.org/web/20120306225218/http://www.coldspringmethodist.org/History_of_Our_Church.html.  Retrieved 2010-05-25</ref>

In 1983, San Jacinto County sheriff James Cecil "Humpy" Parker was convicted of six [[civil rights]] abuses of suspects using the form of torture called [[waterboarding]] and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/03/19/Sheriff-admits-he-tortured-prisoners-strip-searched-innocent-motorists/3074416898000/|title=Sheriff admits he tortured prisoners; strip-searched innocent motorists |publisher=United Press International |date=1983-03-19 |access-date=2019-03-13}}</ref> However, he served fewer than five before his medical release due to [[brain cancer]]; he died in 1994. Parker's son and deputy, Gary, was convicted in 1984 of [[conspiracy (civil)|conspiracy]] to violate suspects' rights. These incidents were incorporated into a [[novel]] by Steven Sellers,
''Terror on Highway 59'' in 1984, which in turn was made into a [[made-for-television]] movie, ''Terror on Highway 91'' (1989), starring 
[[Ricky Schroder]].

==Geography==

Coldspring is located at {{Coord|30|35|17|N|95|8|0|W|type:city}} (30.588194, –95.133262).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>  [[Houston]], the fifth largest [[Metropolitan_statistical_area#Ranking|metropolitan center]] in the United States, is approximately {{convert|55|mi|km}} to Coldspring's south.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.8|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 439
|1970= 488
|1980= 569
|1990= 538
|2000= 691
|2010= 853
|2020= 819
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Coldspring racial composition as of 2020'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4815892&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br> (NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|512
|62.52%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|204
|24.91%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|4
|0.49%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|6
|0.73%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|5
|0.61%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|27
|3.3%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|61
|7.45%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''819'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 819 people, 387 households, and 197 families residing in the city.

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000,  691 people, 263 households, and 180 families were living in the city. The population density was {{convert|375|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 313 housing units averaged 170 per square mile (65.7/km{{sup|2}}). The [[Race (U.S. Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 66.28% White, 31.40% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.58% Asian, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.18% of the population.

Of the 263 households, 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 20.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were not families. About 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44, and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city, the population was distributed as 27.8% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,083, and the median income for a family was $30,729. Males had a median income of $31,667 versus $23,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,777. About 19.7% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Culture==
The [[town square]] hosts antique stores, art studios, and restaurants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coldspringtexas.org/index_files/coldspring.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415193057/http://www.coldspringtexas.org/index_files/coldspring.htm|archive-date=2012-04-15 |title=About Coldspring |publisher=Coldspring / San Jacinto County Chamber of Commerce |date=2012-04-15 |access-date=2015-03-01}}</ref> More than 35 historical markers are placed throughout the town.  Also of historical significance are the Historic Heritage Center, Old Town Coldspring, the 1887 Jail Museum, and the oldest continuously active [[History_of_Methodism_in_the_United_States|Methodist Church]] in Texas, which had been established in 1848.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.coldspringmethodist.org/our-history/|title=History of our Church|publisher=Coldspring Methodist Church|access-date=April 27, 2024}}</ref>

About 25 golf courses are within a {{convert|50|mi|km|adj=on}} radius of Coldspring.  Nearby, [[Lake Livingston]] and [[Sam Houston National Forest]]'s [[Sam_Houston_National_Forest#Camping|Double Lake Recreational Area]] offer opportunities for camping, hiking, fishing, and water skiing.

==Education==
The City of Coldspring is served by the [[Coldspring-Oakhurst Consolidated Independent School District]].<!--UNI 14520--><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48407_san_jacinto/DC20SD_C48407.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: San Jacinto County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-11-15}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48407_san_jacinto/DC20SD_C48407_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==References==

<references />

{{notelist}}

{{Commons category|Coldspring, Texas}}
{{Portal|Texas}}
{{San Jacinto County, Texas}}
{{Texas}}
{{Texas county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in San Jacinto County, Texas]]
[[Category:County seats in Texas]]
[[Category:Greater Houston]]