Editing Junction, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Junction, Texas
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = Land of Living Waters,<ref>[http://www.cityofjunction.com/ City of Junction, Texas] - Official site.</ref> Front Porch of the West<ref name="Texas Escapes">{{cite web | url = http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Junction/Junction_Texas.htm | title = Junction, Texas | publisher = Texas Escapes Online Magazine | date =  | accessdate = 2009-06-05}}</ref>
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = Junction, TX, City Hall IMG_4325.JPG
| imagesize          = 250px
| image_caption      = Junction City Hall
| pushpin_map        = USA Texas#USA
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Junction, Texas
| image_map1         = Kimble County Junction.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  = [[Kimble County, Texas|Kimble]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = 
| 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|accessdate=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 5.96
| area_land_km2      = 5.94
| area_water_km2     = 0.02
| area_total_sq_mi   = 2.30
| area_land_sq_mi    = 2.29
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.01
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 2451
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
<!-- 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       = 1709
| coordinates        = {{coord|30|29|43|N|99|46|17|W|region:US-TX|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 76849
| area_code          = [[Area code 325|325]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 48-38248<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2410156<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410156}}</ref>
| blank2_name        = [[U.S. Routes]]
| blank2_info        = [[File:US 83.svg|20px|link=U.S. Route 83 in Texas]][[File:US 290.svg|25px|link=U.S. Route 290 in Texas]][[File:US 377.svg|25px|link=U.S. Route 377 in Texas]]
| blank3_name        = [[Interstate Highway System|Interstates]]
| blank3_info        = [[File:I-10 (TX).svg|20px|link=Interstate 10 in Texas]]
| website            = {{URL|cityofjunction.com}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Junction''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Kimble County, Texas]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |accessdate=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archivedate=2011-05-31 }}</ref> Its population was 2,451 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name=":0" />

==History==
[[File:Old Rock Store Junction Texas 2023.jpg|left|thumb|A former general store, built in 1879, still stands on the square in Junction.]]

The community was founded in 1876 after the organization of Kimble County earlier that year.<ref name="Texas Handbook"/> The original town site was named "Denman" after Marcellus Denman, who had surveyed and platted the new community. The name was quickly changed to "Junction City". In late 1876, Junction City won the designation of county seat from the unsuccessful and flood-prone settlement of Kimbleville. By 1879, a drugstore, livery stable, sawmill, and a few general stores were active in the community. Around 300 people were living in Junction City in 1882. The ''West Texas'', Kimble County's first newspaper, began publishing in 1882. The county courthouse and its records were lost to a fire in 1884. A second, two-story brick and stone courthouse was partially destroyed in an 1888 fire, but was repaired and remained in use until 1929, when the present courthouse was constructed. In 1894, Junction City became known simply as "Junction".<ref name="Texas Handbook"/> Infrastructure improvements marked the decade of the 1890s. Businessman Ernest Holekamp provided the city's first waterworks with a canal dug from the South Llano to Junction in 1895. A dam was built in 1896 on the South Llano River to provide power and water to the city and irrigation to surrounding lands.

The population stood at 536 in 1900. Four Mile Dam, a more permanent and extensive dam, was completed in 1904. Junction continued to grow rapidly, with around 800 residents living in the community in 1910. That figure had grown to 1,250 by 1920. By the late 1920s, citizens felt the need for the benefits of a municipal government.<ref name="Kimble Chamber 1">{{cite web | url = http://www.junctiontexas.net/junctionbeginning.html | title = Junction - A New Beginning | publisher = Kimble County Chamber of Commerce | date =  | accessdate = 2009-06-06}}</ref> On August 27, 1927, H.O. Denman and 152 others presented an incorporation petition to Kimble County Judge J.B. Randolph. In the election, 390 votes were cast: 274 (70%) "For Incorporation" and 116 (30%) "Against Incorporation". A city officers' election took place on October 13, 1927, with Ernest Holekamp elected as Junction's first mayor.<ref name="Kimble Chamber 1"/>

During the mid-1920s, highway connections from Junction to Menard and [[San Angelo, Texas|San Angelo]] were made available. A sewer system was built in 1929. In the 1930 census, the city recorded 1,415 residents. Junction was the chief shipping and commercial center of Kimble County, as well as a tourist resort and hunting center. A new municipal building and fire station were opened in 1939 and 1940, respectively. In the mid-1940s, the cedar-oil business enhanced the economy, but the city's growth slowed.<ref name="Texas Handbook"/> Throughout the latter half of the 20th century and into the 21st, Junction's population continued to hover around 2,600.

==Geography==
Junction is located approximately {{convert|115|mi}} northwest of [[San Antonio]] and {{convert|140|mi}} west of [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] in central Kimble County. It lies near the western and of the Texas Hill Country, which grades into the southernmost parts of the West Texas Rolling Plains, to the west of Junction.

Highways include:
* [[Interstate 10 in Texas|Interstate 10]]
* [[U.S. Route 83 in Texas|U.S. Route 83]]
* [[U.S. Route 377#Texas|U.S. Route 377]] 
* U.S. 377

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Junction has a total area of {{convert|6.0|km2|order=flip|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|0.02|km2|order=flip|2}}, or 0.26%, is covered by water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Junction city, Texas |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4838248 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213061230/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4838248 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |accessdate=May 9, 2019 |work=American FactFinder |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> The city is named for its location at the confluence of the North and South [[Llano River]]s.<ref name="Texas Handbook">{{cite web | url = https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hgj05 | title = Junction, Texas | publisher = [[The Handbook of Texas]] online | date =  | accessdate = 2009-06-06}}</ref>

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], Junction has a [[humid subtropical climate]], ''Cfa'' on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=13237&cityname=Junction%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Junction, Texas]</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Junction, Texas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1897–present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed   = yes
|Jan record high F = 90
|Feb record high F = 98
|Mar record high F = 100
|Apr record high F = 104
|May record high F = 114
|Jun record high F = 111
|Jul record high F = 109
|Aug record high F = 112
|Sep record high F = 108
|Oct record high F = 104
|Nov record high F = 93
|Dec record high F = 91

|Jan avg record high F = 80.0
|Feb avg record high F = 82.7
|Mar avg record high F = 88.5
|Apr avg record high F = 93.6
|May avg record high F = 98.9
|Jun avg record high F = 100.9
|Jul avg record high F = 102.0
|Aug avg record high F = 102.8
|Sep avg record high F = 98.0
|Oct avg record high F = 93.0
|Nov avg record high F = 84.4
|Dec avg record high F = 79.8
|year avg record high F = 104.4

|Jan high F = 62.0
|Feb high F = 66.0
|Mar high F = 73.2
|Apr high F = 81.0
|May high F = 86.7
|Jun high F = 92.8
|Jul high F = 95.6
|Aug high F = 95.8
|Sep high F = 89.0
|Oct high F = 81.0
|Nov high F = 69.8
|Dec high F = 62.5
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 45.8
|Feb mean F = 49.9
|Mar mean F = 57.5
|Apr mean F = 65.1
|May mean F = 73.1
|Jun mean F = 79.9
|Jul mean F = 81.9
|Aug mean F = 81.6
|Sep mean F = 74.8
|Oct mean F = 65.2
|Nov mean F = 54.4
|Dec mean F = 46.5
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 29.5
|Feb low F = 33.8
|Mar low F = 41.8
|Apr low F = 49.2
|May low F = 59.5
|Jun low F = 66.9
|Jul low F = 68.3
|Aug low F = 67.5
|Sep low F = 60.5
|Oct low F = 49.5
|Nov low F = 38.9
|Dec low F = 30.4
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 14.4
|Feb avg record low F = 17.2
|Mar avg record low F = 21.5
|Apr avg record low F = 29.5
|May avg record low F = 41.6
|Jun avg record low F = 56.1
|Jul avg record low F = 61.1
|Aug avg record low F = 58.9
|Sep avg record low F = 45.8
|Oct avg record low F = 30.6
|Nov avg record low F = 20.7
|Dec avg record low F = 15.4
|year avg record low F = 11.5

|Jan record low F = -4
|Feb record low F = -5
|Mar record low F = 5
|Apr record low F = 21
|May record low F = 29
|Jun record low F = 38
|Jul record low F = 49
|Aug record low F = 44
|Sep record low F = 32
|Oct record low F = 21
|Nov record low F = 9
|Dec record low F = -11

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.90
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.28
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.04
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.96
|May precipitation inch = 2.73
|Jun precipitation inch = 2.56
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.52
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.89
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.73
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.87
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.35
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.19
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 3.5
|Feb precipitation days = 3.9
|Mar precipitation days = 4.8
|Apr precipitation days = 3.6
|May precipitation days = 4.8
|Jun precipitation days = 3.9
|Jul precipitation days = 4.1
|Aug precipitation days = 4.4
|Sep precipitation days = 4.6
|Oct precipitation days = 4.1
|Nov precipitation days = 3.9
|Dec precipitation days = 4.0

|Jan snow inch = 0.1
|Feb snow inch = 0.0
|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 = 0.2
|Dec snow inch = 0.1
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.1
|Feb snow days = 0.0
|Mar snow days = 0.0
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.2
|Dec snow days = 0.0

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00414670&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Junction 4SSW, TX
|access-date = July 1, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=sjt
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS San Angelo
|access-date = July 1, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1890 = 449
| 1930 = 1415
| 1940 = 2086
| 1950 = 2471
| 1960 = 2441
| 1970 = 2654
| 1980 = 2593
| 1990 = 2654
| 2000 = 2618
| 2010 = 2574
| 2020 = 2451
| 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|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Junction racial composition'''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4838248&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-19 |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>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</ref><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)
|1,563
|63.77%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|5
|0.2%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|9
|0.37%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|32
|1.31%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|1
|0.04%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|8
|0.33%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|48
|1.96%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|785
|32.03%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''2,451'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 2,451 people, 1,091 households, and 661 families residing in the city.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, 2,618 people, 1,028 households, and 699 families resided in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,145.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 1,222 housing units averaged 534.5 per square mile (206.0/km<sup>2</sup>). The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 86.13% White, 0.04% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 11.12% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 28.99% of the population.

Of the 1,028 households, 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were not families. About 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the city, the population was distributed as 28.2% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,833, and for a family was $30,865. Males had a median income of $24,096 versus $18,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,971. About 16.4% of families and 21.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 30.9% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Downtown Junction, TX IMG 4330.JPG|thumb|A view of downtown Junction, with the defunct Texan Theater at the left]]

Major celebrations in Junction include the Billie Sale and Parade held in August, and the annual Kimble Kow Kick, which takes place in September.<ref name="Texas Handbook"/>

The Kimble County Historical Museum contains documents, tools, and other relics from the days of early settlers and military artifacts. The [[O.C. Fisher]] Museum, housed in the Kimble County Library, contains an exact duplicate of the [[Washington, DC]], office of the long-time congressman who represented the Junction area.

==Parks and recreation==
Junction is home to several parks, including the {{convert|2,600|acre|km2|adj=on}} [[South Llano River State Park]]. The city also has eight swimming pools, golf and tennis courts, and abundant hotel/motel options due mainly to its location along the heavily traveled Interstate 10 corridor.<ref name="Kimble Chamber 2"/> The [[Fort McKavett State Historic Site]] is also located near Junction.

==Government==
The city of Junction is a "Type A" General Law municipality under Texas law. The local government is headed by an elected mayor and five-member city council.

The Junction Economic Development Corporation, Tourism Board, and Chamber of Commerce are given the task of attracting jobs and visitors to Junction while supporting local business establishments.<ref name="Kimble Chamber 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.junctiontexas.net/about.htm |title=About Junction |publisher=Kimble County Chamber of Commerce |accessdate=2009-06-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617221302/http://www.junctiontexas.net/about.htm |archivedate=2009-06-17 }}</ref>

==Education==
Public education in the city of Junction is provided by the [[Junction Independent School District]]. The district supports an elementary, middle, and [[Junction High School|high school]] housed on a single campus at 1700 College Street.

Junction is home to the [[Texas Tech University Center at Junction]], a satellite school of [[Texas Tech University]] in [[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]]. The center is situated on a {{convert|410|acre|km2|adj=on}} campus, and offers a broad spectrum of programs in both the undergraduate and graduate disciplines.<ref name="Kimble Chamber 2"/>

==Infrastructure==
[[File:Pedernales Electric Coop, Junction, TX IMG 4329.JPG|thumb|The [[Pedernales Electric Cooperative]] office in Junction]]
Notable highways serving the city include Interstate 10, U.S. Route 83, and U.S. Route 377.<ref name="Kimble Chamber 2"/>

Kimble County Airport consists of a {{convert|5000|ft|m|adj=on}} paved runway. Commercial service is available to and from [[Mathis Field]] in San Angelo.

Electric power for the city of Junction is provided by [[American Electric Power|AEP/West Texas Utilities]], while member-owned [[Pedernales Electric Cooperative|Pedernales Electric]] distributes power to rural Kimble County.

A four-member police force and county sheriff officers serve the community. The 30-member volunteer fire department, as well as the Kimble County Ranch Fire Association, has firefighting personnel and equipment. Ambulance and rescue services are also provided.<ref name="Kimble Chamber 2"/>

==Notable people==

* [[Les Cox]], former [[Major League Baseball]] player
* [[Clinton Manges]], [[South Texas]] businessman<ref>{{cite magazine
 |title=The Man in the Black Hat |magazine=[[Texas Monthly]] |date=June 1984 |accessdate=2013-09-09
  |first=Paul |last=Burka 
  |url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/story/man-black-hat
  |quote=His family moved south to Junction, where his grandfather renovated mattresses; young Clinton rode with him from ranch to ranch to pick up old bedding.}}</ref>
* [[Andrew Murr]]  current [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of the [[Texas House of Representatives]]
* [[Coke Stevenson]], [[governor of Texas]] from 1941 to 1947, was a native of Junction.

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

==External links==
{{commons category|Junction, Texas}}
*[http://www.cityofjunction.com Official website]
*[http://www.junctiontexas.net/ Kimble County Chamber of Commerce]
*{{Handbook of Texas|id=hgj05|name=Junction, Texas}}

{{Kimble County, Texas}}
{{Texas county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Kimble County, Texas]]
[[Category:County seats in Texas]]
[[Category:1876 establishments in Texas]]