Editing Henrietta, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Henrietta
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|image_skyline            = Clay Co Courthouse Henrietta, TX.JPG  
|imagesize                = 250px 
|image_caption            = [[Clay County, Texas|Clay County]] [[Courthouse]] 
|image_map                = TXMap-doton-Henrietta.PNG
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Henrietta, Texas
|image_map1               = Clay County Henrietta.svg
|mapsize1                 = 250px
|map_caption1             =
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Texas]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Clay County, Texas|Clay]]
<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =
<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 9, 2024}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 13.49
|area_land_km2            = 13.22
|area_water_km2           = 0.26
|area_total_sq_mi         = 5.21
|area_land_sq_mi          = 5.11
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.10
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=160XX00US4833284 |title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2020 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Henrietta city, Texas |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=February 9, 2024}}</ref>
|population_total         = 3111
|population_density_km2   = 235.29
|population_density_sq_mi = 609.40
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_est           = 
<!-- 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             = 915
|coordinates              = {{coord|33|48|53|N|98|11|33|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 76365
|area_code                = [[Area code 940|940]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 48-33284<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              = 2410743<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410743}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|www.cityofhenrietta.com}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Henrietta''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Clay County, Texas|Clay County]], [[Texas]], United States.<ref name="NACO">{{cite web|url=http://explorer.naco.org/index.html|title=NACo County Explorer|author=National Association of Counties|access-date=February 9, 2024}}</ref> It is part of the [[Wichita Falls metropolitan area|Wichita Falls metropolitan statistical area]]. The population was 3,111 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]], a decline of 30 from the [[2010 United States Census|2010]] tabulation of 3,141.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/popcity12010.html|title=2010 Census: Population of Texas Cities Arranged in Alphabetical Order|publisher=www.tsl.state.tx.us|access-date=April 11, 2013}}</ref>

==History==
[[Image:U.S. Highway 287 sign, TX IMG 7074.JPG|150px|left|thumb|[[U.S. Route 287]] has long been a key traffic artery in Henrietta.]]
[[Image:Hanging exhibt at Clay County 1890 Jail Museum, IMG 6830.JPG|200px|right|thumb|[[Hanging]] exhibit at the Clay County 1890 Jail Museum in Henrietta, though no executions were conducted at the old jail.]]
[[Image:Sleeping guard exhibit at Clay County 1890 Jail Museum in Henrietta, TX IMG 6835.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Sleeping guard exhibit at Clay County 1890 Jail Museum]]
[[Image:A glimpse of Henrietta, TX IMG 6841.JPG|200px|right|thumb|A portion of Henrietta]]
[[Image:First Baptist Church of Henrietta, TX IMG 6842.JPG|200px|right|thumb|The First [[Baptist]] Church at 208 S. Graham Street in Henrietta was originally established in 1876. In 2013, the church had more than 1,300 members.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fbchenrietta.org/120779 |title=About Us, First Baptist Church Henrietta |publisher=fbchenrietta.org |access-date=April 11, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822104334/http://fbchenrietta.org/120779 |archive-date=August 22, 2013 }}</ref>]]
Henrietta is one of the oldest settled towns in north central Texas. It sits at the crossroads of [[U.S. Route 287 in Texas|U.S. Highway 287]], [[U.S. Route 82 in Texas|U.S. Highway 82]], [[State Highway 148 (Texas)|State Highway 148]], and [[Farm to Market Road 1197]] in north central Clay County.

Clay and [[Montague County, Texas|Montague]] counties were separated in 1857 from [[Cooke County, Texas|Cooke County]] to the east, and Henrietta was named as the county seat. The etymology of the town remains a mystery, though several explanations have been offered. According to an article about the Seiberling family [using Google Search "Seiberling family in Henrietta, Texas"], the town name stems from Henrietta Buckler Seiberling, born in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky and raised in Texas. She married John Frederick (Fred) Seiberling (1888-1962). It was in Texas that he met Henrietta McBrayer Buckler of El Paso, Texas. They were married in Ohio. Fred had been sent to settle unrest along the Mexican border when he was part of the 134th Field Artillery Regiment, 37 Division B. Fred and Henrietta were very involved in starting Alcoholics Anonymous, especially Henrietta, although she was not an alcoholic. Regardless of the origin of its name, Henrietta became the center of gravity for the fledgling county. In 1860, as the only town in the county, it had 109 residents, 10 houses, and a general store. It sat at the far western edge of [[Anglo]] expansion in north-central Texas, but [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] remained a viable threat to current and future settlers. In 1862, Henrietta opened its post office. In the early 1860s, there were continuous attacks from local tribes. By late 1862, Henrietta was abandoned, and white settlers returned east to Cooke and Montague counties. Remaining structures were burned. Anglos continued to attempt resettlement, and in 1865 after the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], a group attempting resettlement was massacred. A number of [[Quakers]] attempted to reoccupy the former townsite, but its members were either killed or fled. In 1870, fifty soldiers and [[Kiowa people|Kiowa]] Indians fought a battle in the ruins of Henrietta.

After the battle, white settlers returned to Henrietta, this time permanently. In 1874, the post office reopened, and Henrietta quickly became the economic hub of north-central Texas. In 1882, the [[Fort Worth and Denver Railway]] reached Henrietta on its southern side, and in 1887, Henrietta became the westernmost terminus for the [[Gainesville, Henrietta, and Western Railway]].

In 1895, the [[Wichita Falls Railway]], one of the properties of [[Joseph A. Kemp]] and [[Frank Kell]], linked Henrietta with [[Wichita Falls, Texas|Wichita Falls]]; sold in 1911, this {{convert|18|mi|adj=on}} segment was operated thereafter by the [[Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad]], known as the Katy. This particular track was abandoned in 1970. MK&T then built in Wichita Falls a station, offices, a roundhouse, and three switching tracks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fke14|title=Brian Hart, "Joseph Alexander Kemp"|publisher=tshaonline.org|access-date=April 16, 2013}}</ref>

After heavy lobbying by businessmen, Henrietta became a logistical supply point for various operations in north-central Texas, including mining in [[Foard County, Texas|Foard]] and [[Archer County, Texas|Archer]] counties. The Southwestern Railway Company in 1910 completed a rail linking Henrietta with [[Archer City, Texas|Archer City]].

[[Image:Former St. Elmo Hotel, Henrietta, TX IMG 6839.JPG|200px|left|thumb|An antiques shop occupies part of the building which once housed the St. Elmo Hotel, long ago destroyed in a fire.]]
[[Image:U.S. Post Office,  Henrietta, TX IMG 6838.JPG|200px|left|thumb|The [[U.S. Post Office]] is located in the southeastern corner of Courthouse Square in Henrietta.]]

Though it had been settled earlier, Henrietta did not incorporate until 1881. The Clay County courthouse was built in 1884 and is still in use. By 1890, the population had reached 2,100, and the town boasted a 400-seat opera house, five churches, a new jailhouse, and a school. From 1893 to 1895, it had a college—Henrietta Normal College—for the training of teachers. It remained the economic hub of the county at the turn of the 20th century.

The St. Elmo Hotel, established about 1895 in Henrietta,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stoppingpoints.com/texas/photo.cgi?markernum=5030&cnty=clay&img=0|title=St. Elmo Hotel, 1895 Photo|publisher=stoppingpoints.com|access-date=April 7, 2013}}</ref> had among its guests [[Quanah Parker]], who married two of his wives there, and [[U.S. President]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]], when he toured the North Texas area. When the top floors of the hotel burned, the facility closed and never reopened. A portion of the lower floor now houses an antiques store.

The growth of Henrietta waned in the 20th century as Wichita Falls grew rapidly into the most prosperous economic center in the area. The Southwestern Railway line was abandoned in 1920, and the [[Gainesville, Henrietta, and Western Railway]] line closed in 1969. By 1990, the population remained under 3,000. In 2000, it topped 3,000 for the first time since the 1970 census. In many ways, Henrietta is a "bedroom community" for Wichita Falls but is still the largest city in Clay County.

The play ''Texas'' presented during summers at the [[Palo Duro Canyon]] near [[Amarillo, Texas|Amarillo]] is loosely based on the history of Henrietta.

The 1995 film, ''[[The Stars Fell on Henrietta]],'' produced by [[Clint Eastwood]] and David Valdez, and starring [[Robert Duvall]], [[Brian Dennehy]] and [[Billy Bob Thornton]], depicts the Texas oil rush of the 1930s and is set in Henrietta.<ref>[http://imdb.com/title/tt0114534/ ''The Stars Fell on Henrietta'' (1995)]</ref>

==Geography==

Henrietta is located near the center of Clay County {{convert|20|mi}} southeast of [[Wichita Falls, Texas|Wichita Falls]], {{convert|28|mi}} northwest of [[Bowie, Texas|Bowie]], and {{convert|95|mi}} northwest of [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Henrietta has a total area of {{convert|13.5|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|13.2|km2|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.3|km2|order=flip|1}}, or 1.96%, is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020"/>

===Climate===
{{Weather box   <!-- Infobox begins -->
| single line = Y
| location    = Henrietta, Texas (1991–2020)
<!-- Average high temperatures -->
| Jan high F  =54.8
| Feb high F  =58.1
| Mar high F  =67.8
| Apr high F  =75.7
| May high F  =83.1
| Jun high F  =91.1
| Jul high F  =96.5
| Aug high F  =96.3
| Sep high F  =88.2
| Oct high F  =78.1
| Nov high F  =65.6
| Dec high F  =56.0
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
| Jan mean F  =41.8
| Feb mean F  =45.1
| Mar mean F  =54.1
| Apr mean F  =61.7
| May mean F  =70.9
| Jun mean F  =79.1
| Jul mean F  =83.9
| Aug mean F  =82.9
| Sep mean F  =75.3
| Oct mean F  =64.6
| Nov mean F  =52.4
| Dec mean F  =43.7
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
| Jan low F  =28.9
| Feb low F  =32.1
| Mar low F  =40.3
| Apr low F  =47.6
| May low F  =58.8
| Jun low F  =67.1
| Jul low F  =71.3
| Aug low F  =69.5
| Sep low F  =62.4
| Oct low F  =51.2
| Nov low F  =39.1
| Dec low F  =31.4
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
| precipitation colour    =  green
| Jan precipitation inch  =1.69
| Feb precipitation inch  =1.84
| Mar precipitation inch  =2.59
| Apr precipitation inch  =2.71
| May precipitation inch  =4.69
| Jun precipitation inch  =3.59
| Jul precipitation inch  =1.80
| Aug precipitation inch  =3.07
| Sep precipitation inch  =2.59
| Oct precipitation inch  =3.55
| Nov precipitation inch  =2.24
| Dec precipitation inch  =1.67
<!-- Snowfall -->
| Jan snow inch  =0.3
| Feb snow inch  =0.1
| Mar snow inch  =0.0
| Apr snow inch  =0.0
| May snow inch  =0.0
| Jun snow inch  =0.0
| Jul snow inch  =0.0
| Aug snow inch  =0.0
| Sep snow inch  =0.0
| Oct snow inch  =0.0
| Nov snow inch  =0.3
| Dec snow inch  =0.2
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
| source = NOAA<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&station=USC00414093 |title=NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access |publisher=NOAA |access-date=2025-04-05 }}</ref>
}}<!-- Infobox ends -->

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 2100
|1900= 1614
|1910= 2104
|1920= 2563
|1930= 2020
|1940= 2391
|1950= 2813
|1960= 3062
|1970= 2897
|1980= 3149
|1990= 2896
|2000= 3264
|2010= 3141
|2020= 3111
|estyear=
|estimate= 
|estref= 
|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"
|+'''Henrietta racial composition as of 2020'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4833284&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-20 |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)
|2,727
|87.66%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|21
|0.68%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|24
|0.77%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|29
|0.93%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|13
|0.42%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|131
|4.21%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|166
|5.34%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''3,111'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 3,111 people, 1,287 households, and 817 families residing in the city.

==Education==
The city is served by the [[Henrietta Independent School District]]. South of town between Henrietta and [[Jacksboro, Texas|Jacksboro]], students attend [[Midway Independent School District (Clay County, Texas)|Midway Independent School District]].

==Transportation==
* [[Image:US 287.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 287 in Texas|U.S. Highway 287]] west to [[Wichita Falls, Texas|Wichita Falls]]; east-southeast to [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]]
* [[Image:US 82.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 82 in Texas|U.S. Highway 82]] west to [[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]]; east to [[Nocona, Texas|Nocona]]
* [[Image:Texas 148.svg|25px]] [[State Highway 148 (Texas)|State Highway 148]] south to [[Jacksboro, Texas|Jacksboro]]; north to [[Petrolia, Texas|Petrolia]]
* [[Image:Texas FM 1197.svg|25px]] [[Farm to Market Road 1197]] north to [[Hurnville, Texas|Hurnville]]
* [[Image:Texas FM 2847.svg|25px]] [[Farm to Market Road 2847]] southwest to [[Farm to Market Road 2606|FM 2606]], Lake Arrowhead, and [[Halsell, Texas|Halsell]]

==Climate==
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Henrietta has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=390414&cityname=Henrietta%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Henrietta, Texas]</ref>

==Notable people==

* [[Charline Arthur]] (1929–1987), boogie woogie and blues musician<ref name="neeley">{{cite journal|last=Neely|first=Emily|year=2003|title=Charline Arthur: The Unmaking of a Honky-Tonk Star|journal=Southern Cultures|volume=8|issue=3|pages=86–96|url=http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/scu/summary/v008/8.3neely.html}}</ref>
* [[Finis Alonzo Crutchfield Jr.]] (1916–1986), United Methodist Church bishop, born in Henrietta<ref>[https://www.chicagotribune.com/1987/12/02/a-faithful-secret/ Emily Yoffe, "A Faithful Secret - Death From Aids Brought Bishop`s Life To Light." Texas Monthly. December 2, 1987. Retrieved March 11, 2015.]</ref>
* [[Frank N. Ikard]], [[United States House of Representatives|congressman]] from [[Texas's 13th congressional district]] from 1951 to 1961, born in Henrietta in 1914

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [[Abilene Trail]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Henrietta, Texas}}
* [http://www.cityofhenrietta.com City of Henrietta official website]
* [http://www.claycountyleader.com/ ''The Clay County Leader''], local newspaper
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/search/?q=%22United+States+-+Texas+-+Clay+County+-+Henrietta%22&t=dc.coverage See historic photos of Henrietta] from the Clay County Historical Society, hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History]

{{Clay County, Texas}}
{{Texas}}
{{Texas county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Clay County, Texas]]
[[Category:County seats in Texas]]
[[Category:Wichita Falls metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1857 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1857]]