Editing Commerce, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Commerce, Texas
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|population_demonym       = Commercite
|nickname                 = "The 'Merce"{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}
|image_skyline            = A&M-Commerce view..jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = View of the [[East Texas A&M University]] campus
<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = TXMap-doton-Commerce.PNG
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Commerce, Texas
|image_map1               = Hunt County Commerce.svg
|mapsize1                 = 250px
|map_caption1             =
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{flag|United States}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Texas}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Hunt County, Texas|Hunt]]
| subdivision_type3       = Region
| subdivision_name3       = [[Texas Blackland Prairies]]
<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Teddy Reel<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ketr.org/show/blacklands-cafe/2022-03-17/commerce-council-cancels-may-7-election-teddy-reel-will-be-mayor | title=Commerce Council Cancels May 7 Election; Teddy Reel Will be Mayor }}</ref>
|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_total_km2           = 21.77
|area_land_km2            = 21.58
|area_water_km2           = 0.19
|area_total_sq_mi         = 8.41
|area_land_sq_mi          = 8.33
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.07
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_total         = 9090
|population_density_km2   = 417.54
|population_density_sq_mi = 1080.85
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 535
|coordinates              = {{coord|33|14|42|N|95|53|40|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code              = 75428-75429
|area_code                = [[Area codes 903 and 430|903, 430]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 48-16240<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              = 2410211<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410211}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|commercetx.org}}
}}
'''Commerce''' is a city in [[Hunt County, Texas|Hunt County]], [[Texas]], United States, situated on the eastern edge of [[North Texas]] and the western edge of [[East Texas]], in the heart of the [[Texas Blackland Prairies]]. The town is {{convert|45|mi}} south of the Texas/[[Oklahoma]] border. Commerce is the second-largest city in Hunt County, with a population of 9,090 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref>url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/commercecitytexas</ref> The city is home to [[East Texas A&M University]], a four-year university of more than 12,000 students that has been in the town since 1894. Commerce is one of the smallest [[college town]]s in Texas.

==History==
{{see also|History of East Texas A&M University}}
[[File:1920 Locust yearbook p. 219 (Federal Building).jpg|thumb|left|Commerce's Federal Building in 1920]]

The town of Commerce was formed when two merchants named William Jernigan and Josiah Jackson established a [[trading post]] and mercantile store where the present-day downtown area is. The rural area just to the northeast was an open prairie originally known as Cow Hill. The town was established in 1872 and named "Commerce" due to the thriving economic activity among the cotton fields and ideal farm and ranch lands between the Middle and South Sulphur rivers on the rich, black gumbo prairie in northeast Hunt County. The town incorporated in 1885. Two years later, a railroad was built through Commerce to transport merchandise from [[Fort Worth]], and nine years later, William L. Mayo, a college educator, moved East Texas Normal College from the [[northeast Texas]] town of [[Cooper, Texas|Cooper]] to Commerce after the original school in Cooper was destroyed in a fire. Mayo continued as president of the college, now known as East Texas A&M University, until his death in 1917 and is buried on the campus grounds.

[[File:Bois d'Arc Bash 2015 21 (vendors).jpg|thumb|left|Bois d'Arc Bash 2015]]

Commerce was named the "Bois d'Arc Capital of Texas" (pronounced "bow-dark") by the Texas Legislature because of its location in the geographic center of the indigenous range of the [[Maclura pomifera|bois d'arc tree]]. The second largest bois d'arc tree in Texas, "Big Max", recognized by the National Forests Famous and Historic Trees, is located within the city limits. Held every September, the annual Bois d'Arc Bash pays homage to the native trees which played a vital part in the frontier days, providing foundations, fences and weapons of the Native Americans. The Bash celebrates with arts & crafts vendors, food, parade, kids' game area, pageant, wine, musical entertainment, 5K run, and car & truck show.

==Geography==
[[File:Texas A&M University–Commerce March 2016 003 (Gee Lake and Performing Arts Center).jpg|thumb|left|Garvin Lake of [[East Texas A&M University]]]]
Commerce is located in northeastern Hunt County and is {{convert|66|mi}} northeast of Dallas,<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Commerce,+TX/Dallas,+TX/@32.9751927,-96.6303116,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x864bc627808bc8e1:0x6ed54e16281b2ca1!2m2!1d-95.8999656!2d33.2470567!1m5!1m1!1s0x864c19f77b45974b:0xb9ec9ba4f647678f!2m2!1d-96.8002704!2d32.7790911!3e0 Google Maps driving directions]</ref> {{convert|53|mi}} southeast of [[Sherman, Texas|Sherman]], {{convert|38|mi}} southwest of [[Paris, Texas|Paris]], and {{convert|20|mi}} northwest of [[Sulphur Springs, Texas|Sulphur Springs]]. [[Greenville, Texas|Greenville]], the Hunt [[county seat]], is {{convert|15|mi}} southwest of Commerce via [[Texas State Highway 224|Highway 224]] or {{convert|18|mi}} via Highway 24 and I-30.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Commerce has a total area of {{convert|20.7|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|20.5|km2|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|0.2|km2|order=flip|1}}, or 0.94%, are water. The Middle [[Sulphur River]], part of the [[Red River of the South|Red River]] watershed, runs past the north side of Commerce and forms part of its northern border.

=== Climate ===
Commerce's climate is part of the [[humid subtropical]] region. The temperature varies greatly throughout the year. Commerce has hot, humid and dry summers, typical of much of Texas, and above average spring temperatures. Commerce has cooler fall and winter temperatures, with higher wind chills due to its northern location and location on a natural prairie. During the spring is the strongest part of the storm season as thunderstorms are very common and tornadoes have been known to form in and around the area.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1890 = 810
| 1900 = 1800
| 1910 = 2818
| 1920 = 3842
| 1930 = 4267
| 1940 = 4699
| 1950 = 5889
| 1960 = 5789
| 1970 = 9534
| 1980 = 8136
| 1990 = 6825
| 2000 = 7669
| 2010 = 8078
| 2020 = 9090
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 9467
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US4816240|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=March 30, 2022}}</ref>
}}

<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Census.gov |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Commerce racial composition'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4816240&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-22 |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)
|4,518
|49.7%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|2,482
|27.3%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|91
|1.0%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|254
|2.79%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|67
|0.74%
|-
|Some other race (NH)
|41
|0.45%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/multi-racial]] (NH)
|651
|7.16%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|986
|10.85%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''9,090'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 9,090 people, 2,853 households, and 1,620 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,080.85|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,589 housing units at an average density of {{convert|426.75|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,853 households, out of which 18.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, and 36.5% had a female householder with no spouse present. The average family size was 3.34.

Age demographic: 6.5% under the age of 5, 18.9% under the age of 18, and 81.1% over the age of 18. People aged 65 or older make up 8.1% of the population. The median age was 23.9 years.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,946, and the median income for a family was $52,188. About 32.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 33.6% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
Due to being a rural [[college town]] with proximity to Dallas, Commerce has an economy that remained steady for years, with gradual increases with new businesses opening and others being renovated. Most of the bigger businesses of the town surround the local university, and the university's student body is bigger than the town itself. The downtown area is approximately one mile from the university and is the hub for town festivities. The downtown area includes bars, dining, a fashion retailer, an office supplies retailer, a thrift shop, real estate offices, tax preparation offices, an insurance agency, the Chamber of Commerce, banks, and loft-style living.

===Healthcare===
Commerce is home to [[Hunt Regional Medical Center]], a Level IV Emergency Room and Trauma Center. The hospital was once part of the Dallas-based Presbyterian Health System, but changed hands around 2010. The main medical center is in nearby Greenville, and Commerce also has three primary care physicians' offices, one chiropractor, a prenatal clinic, two dental offices, and a [[physical therapy]] center.

===Employment===
[[File:Commerce August 2015 43 (Walmart).jpg|thumb|[[Walmart]] location in Commerce]]

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of employees
|-
|1
|[[East Texas A&M University]]
|900
|-
|2
|Walmart
|251
|-
|3
|[[Commerce Independent School District|Commerce ISD]]
|250
|-
|4
|[[Legacy Housing]]
|178
|-
|5
|City of Commerce
|85
|-
|6
|[[Ben E. Keith Company]]
|84
|}<ref>[http://commercetx.org/wp-content/uploads/2011-audit1.pdf/ 2011 Commerce CAFR]{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Education==

[[File:TAMUC Campus.PNG|thumb|Aerial shot of [[Texas A&M University-Commerce|TAMUC]]]]

===Primary and secondary education===

The city is served by the [[Commerce Independent School District]]. CISD currently operates the following schools:

* Commerce Elementary (Pre-K–2)
* AC Williams Elementary (3–5)
* Commerce Middle School (6–8)
* [[Commerce High School (Commerce, Texas)|Commerce High School]] (9–12)

===Post-secondary education===

Commerce is home to [[East Texas A&M University]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tamuc.edu/|title=Texas A&M University-Commerce|access-date=24 March 2016}}</ref> (formerly known as East Texas State University), a fully accredited and ranked university that offers over 100 different majors, with an enrollment of 12,302 students, 7,808 undergraduates, and 4,494 graduate students. East Texas A&M was founded in 1889 at its original location in [[Cooper, Texas]], but moved to Commerce after burning down in 1894. The university is ranked #1 in the state of Texas for teaching education and 13th in the nation,{{Citation needed|date=March 2018}} in addition to having a highly ranked graduate school. The university also remains as the fifth longest continuous operating university in the state of Texas.

The [[Texas Legislature]] designated [[Paris Junior College]] as the junior college for students in most of Hunt County, including Commerce.<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code Sec. 130.195.  Paris Junior College District Service Area.]</ref> PJC has campuses in Paris (40 miles away), Greenville (15 miles away), and Sulphur Springs (25 miles away).

==Sports==

===High school sports===
[[File:North Lamar vs. Commerce football 2015 07 (Commerce on offense).jpg|thumb|The [[Commerce High School (Commerce, Texas)|Commerce Tigers]] football team in action against the [[North Lamar High School|North Lamar Panthers]] in 2015]]

[[Commerce High School (Commerce, Texas)|Commerce High School]] is the only high school in Commerce. They are known as the Commerce Tigers and compete at the 3A level in [[University Interscholastic League|UIL]] sports. The Tigers compete in football (boys), volleyball (girls), basketball (boys and girls), softball (girls), baseball (boys), track and field (boys and girls), cross country (boys and girls), powerlifting (boys and girls), tennis (boys and girls), and golf (boys and girls). The football team has two state titles from 1999 and 2001. Commerce-Norris High School (defunct) won the state championship for basketball in 1964.

===Collegiate sports===
[[File:VB vs AMK-5731 (10161221526).jpg|thumb|left|The [[East Texas A&M Lions]] [[East Texas A&M Lions women's volleyball|volleyball]] team in 2013]]

The [[East Texas A&M Lions]] compete in [[NCAA Division I]] [[NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision|FCS]] and are a member of the [[Southland Conference]]. The East Texas A&M Lions compete in [[East Texas A&M Lions football|football (men)]], [[East Texas A&M Lions women's volleyball|volleyball (women)]], basketball ([[East Texas A&M Lions men's basketball|men]] and [[East Texas A&M Lions women's basketball|women)]], [[East Texas A&M Lions women's soccer|soccer (women)]], [[East Texas A&M Lions softball|softball (women)]], golf (men and women), track and field (men and women), and cross country (men and women). Football is very popular among the university as well as the town, as fans from surrounding cities including [[Greenville, Texas|Greenville]] and [[Sulphur Springs, Texas|Sulphur Springs]] will come out to support the East Texas A&M Lions football team, and the average attendance at football games is over 6,000. The East Texas A&M Lions have earned numerous conference titles in nearly every sport that they compete in. They have also earned six national titles: men's basketball (1954–1955), men's golf (1965), football (1972, [[2017 NCAA Division II football season|2017]]), and men's tennis (1972, 1978).

Beginning in 2022, the athletics programs at East Texas A&M University will begin a four-year transition period to [[NCAA Division I]] and will join the [[Southland Conference]] in all sports effective July 1, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lionathletics.com/news/2021/9/28/general-texas-am-university-commerce-accepts-invitation-to-southland-conference.aspx|title = Texas A&M University-Commerce Accepts Invitation to Southland Conference| date=28 September 2021 }}</ref>

==Media==
[[File:KETR 40th Anniversary (16884480319).jpg|thumb|left|KETR's 40th anniversary celebration in April 2015]]
[[KETR]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ketr.org/|title=88.9 KETR – Your Station|access-date=24 March 2016}}</ref> serves as the radio station for the city of Commerce, [[East Texas A&M University]], [[Hunt County, Texas|Hunt County]], and surrounding cities. The station was founded in 1975 at the A&M-Commerce campus where it still remains today. KETR is a 100,000 watt radio station that can reach up to 75 miles away, the radio frequency is 88.9 [[Frequency Modulation|FM]] in honor of the year 1889 which is the year the university was founded. The station provides news, music, and sports for its listeners. In fact the station has two [[NPR]] talk shows. Commerce High School football games are broadcast on KETR, as well as [[East Texas A&M Lions]] football and basketball games. [[KGVL]] in nearby Greenville also has a strong presence due to the proximity of the two cities. Commerce is served by the Dallas/Fort Worth Television Stations on local cable and also regular programming. Commerce residents have three newspapers that serve the city, [[The Dallas Morning News]] (daily), The Greenville [[Herald-Banner]] (daily), and the Commerce Journal (weekly). East Texas A&M University also has its own student-led newspaper, The East Texan (weekly).

==Attractions==

===Northeast Texas Children's Museum===
[[File:Commerce August 2015 40 (Northeast Texas Children's Museum).jpg|thumb|The Northeast Texas Children's Museum in Commerce]]

The city of Commerce is home to the Northeast Texas Children's Museum. The museum provides playful and creative learning experiences for children. There are many hands-on exhibits and programs that cater to children aged 2 through 10. Many school districts from the [[Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex]] and the [[Northeast Texas]] area visit the museum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://netxcm.com|title=Northeast Texas Children's Museum|access-date=24 March 2016}}</ref>

===Jim Chapman Lake===
[[Image:Cooper Lake State Park Texas swimming hole.jpg|thumb|A swimming area at Cooper Lake State Park]]

[[Jim Chapman Lake]] (formerly known as Cooper Lake) is located roughly 25 minutes east of Commerce, between [[Cooper, Texas|Cooper]] and [[Sulphur Springs, Texas|Sulphur Springs]]. Boating, swimming, and fishing are available at Jim Chapman Lake. [[Cooper Lake State Park]] is located along the northern shore of the lake. The park contains several picnic areas, campgrounds and a large swimming area on Jim Chapman Lake. The park also contains several hiking and equestrian trails.<ref name="Lake History">{{cite web |author=Staff |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>

==Transportation==
[[File:1920 Locust yearbook p. 218 (Commerce, Texas map).jpg|thumb|1920 map of Commerce and surroundings]]

Commerce is served by the following highways:
* [[Image:Texas 11.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 11]] – An east–west route through Commerce that connects with [[Sulphur Springs, Texas|Sulphur Springs]] and [[Winnsboro, Texas|Winnsboro]] to the east, and [[Wolfe City, Texas|Wolfe City]], [[Whitewright, Texas|Whitewright]] and [[Sherman, Texas|Sherman]] to the west. Runs concurrent with Loop 178 along the south side of the university on a street known locally as "Culver Street" and then runs concurrent with Highway 24 before heading west towards Wolfe City.
* [[Image:Texas 24.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 24]] – Major north–south route that runs through the city of Commerce and the University. It connects with [[Campbell, Texas|Campbell]] and [[Interstate 30]] to the south and with [[Cooper, Texas|Cooper]] and [[Paris, Texas|Paris]] to the north. Most of the major businesses of Commerce line Highway 24. It is the only highway in Commerce that has a [[frontage road]]. It is a four-lane [[Dual carriageway|divided highway]].
*[[Image:Texas 50.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 50]] – Serves the northwest part of Commerce, particularly the area by Commerce Municipal Airport. Connects with [[Ladonia, Texas|Ladonia]] to the north. Formerly, the highway ran concurrent with Highway 24 from Interstate 30; this portion of the highway was reassigned in 2009.<ref>[http://www.dot.state.tx.us/about_us/commission/2009_meetings/documents/minute_orders/sep24/20c.pdf TxDOT September 2009 meeting]</ref> 
* [[Image:Texas 224.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 224]] – Is the Commerce-to-Greenville route, as it is the only highway that directly connects the two largest cities in Hunt county. It also goes through [[Neylandville, Texas|Neylandville]] before reaching its terminus in [[Greenville, Texas|Greenville]].
* [[Image:Texas Loop 178.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway Loop 178]] – a 3/4 loop that runs a semi-circle around Commerce. It runs concurrent with Highway 11 along Culver Street south of the university before the junction with Highway 24, and after the junction it continues west towards Highway 224.
*[[Image:Texas FM 71.svg|20px]] [[Texas Farm to Market Road 71]] – Serves the northeast rural area of Commerce and continues into [[Hopkins County, Texas|Hopkins County]], going through some of the smaller rural communities.
* [[Image:Texas FM 2874.svg|20px]] [[Texas Farm to Market Road 2874]] – Heads toward some unincorporated parts of Hunt County from a Junction with highway 224.
* [[Image:Texas FM 3218.svg|20px]] [[Texas Farm to Market Road 3218]] – Serves the southeast area of Commerce, running through a small industrial and rural area. It also passes by a few Commerce ISD schools.
* [[Image:Business plate.svg|20px]]<br /> [[Image:Texas 224.svg|20px]] Business 224–A business route of highway 224 through Commerce along Live Oak Street, Main Street and Park Street.
* [[Image:Business plate.svg|20px]]<br /> [[Image:Texas 11.svg|20px]] Business 11–A business route of highway 11 through Commerce along Maple Street, Park Street, and Wolfe City Drive, this route was formerly a part of Highway 11 before it was rerouted to run concurrent with Loop 178 and Highway 24.

Commerce is the proposed terminus in the third and final stage for the proposed Blacklands Turnpike, a toll road that would run from far northeastern [[Dallas County, Texas|Dallas County]], through [[Collin County, Texas|Collin]] and [[Rockwall County, Texas|Rockwall]] counties, as a faster way to get from Dallas to the major cities in Hunt County.

Commerce is served by [[Commerce Municipal Airport]].

Public transit called "The Connection" serves Commerce and all of Hunt County. The Connection operates Monday through Friday from 7 am to 7 pm. Reservations must be made one day in advance. The transit charges $2 ($4 round trip) if the passenger is traveling to a place within the same community or city, and $3 ($6 round trip) if the passenger is traveling from one city or community to another within Hunt County. The Connection will also take Hunt County residents to [[Dallas]] as a round trip only: passengers are charged $34, and a minimum of three passengers is required.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.connectioninfo.org/transportation.htm|title=SCRPT – Transportation|website=www.connectioninfo.org|access-date=2016-05-28}}</ref>

==Notable landmark==
[[File:Texas A&M University–Commerce March 2016 139 (Whitley Residence Hall).jpg|thumb|Samuel H. Whitley Hall of East Texas A&M]]

The most notable landmark of the city of Commerce is Samuel H. Whitley Hall, a 12-story building on the East Texas A&M campus. It is the tallest building between [[Dallas]] and [[Texarkana]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thetravelinggene.blogspot.com/2012/02/what-is-there-to-do-in-commerce-and.html|title=Mary Clark, Traveler: What Is There To do in Commerce and Cooper, Texas?|access-date=24 March 2016}}</ref> The building is named in honor of former university president Samuel Whitley, who served from 1924 to 1946. The {{convert|146|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} building serves as a [[dormitory]] for traditional [[freshmen]] on campus.

==Notable people==
* [[George C. Butte]], Republican candidate for governor of Texas
* [[Claire Chennault]], World War II Lieutenant General in the Army Air Corps
* [[Ben Kweller]], rock musician who penned a song called "Commerce, TX"
* [[Larry Lemanski]], director of the Biomedical Institute for Regenerative Research at Texas A&M-Commerce
* [[Samuel T. Rayburn]], graduated from East Texas Normal College, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
* [[Adam Kelly Ward]], convicted murderer of code enforcement officer Michael Walker in 2005; executed in March 2016
* [[Wade Wilson (American football)|Wade Wilson]], former All-Pro NFL quarterback and former quarterbacks coach for the [[Dallas Cowboys]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Commerce, Texas}}
* [http://commercetx.org/ City of Commerce official website]
* [http://www.commerceisd.org/ Commerce Independent School District]
* [http://tamuc.edu/ Texas A&M University-Commerce]
* [http://lionathletics.com/ A&M-Commerce Lions]
* [http://ketr.org/ KETR]

{{Commerce, Texas}}
{{Hunt County, Texas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Hunt County, Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1872]]
[[Category:1872 establishments in Texas]]