Editing Lockhart, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Lockhart, Texas
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| nickname                 = Barbecue Capital of Texas
| image_skyline            = Caldwell County Courthouse 2018a.jpg
| image_caption            = [[Caldwell County Courthouse (Texas)|Caldwell County Courthouse]]
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = 
| image_map                = Caldwell County Lockhart.svg
| map_caption              = Location of Lockhart, Texas
<!-- 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        = [[Caldwell County, Texas|Caldwell]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes     = Home rule city
| government_type          = Council – Manager
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = 
| established_title        = Incorporated
| established_date         = 1852
<!-- Area -->
| 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_sq_mi         = 15.64
| area_land_sq_mi          = 15.61
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.02
| area_total_km2           = 40.50
| area_land_km2            = 40.44
| area_water_km2           = 0.06
| unit_pref                = Imperial
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 14379
| population_density_sq_mi = 905.15
| population_density_km2   = 349.49
| population_demonym       = Lockhartisan or Lockhartizen
<!-- 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             = 541
| coordinates              = {{coord|29|52|25|N|97|40|00|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 78644
| area_code                = [[Area code 512|512]] & [[Area code 737|737]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 48-43240<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              = 2410853<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410853}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|www.lockhart-tx.org|lockhart-tx.org}}
| footnotes                = 
| official_name            = 
}}
[[File:Downtown Lockhart, TX IMG 9187.JPG|200px|right|thumb|A view of downtown Lockhart]]
[[File:First Lockhart (TX) National Bank IMG 9190.JPG|200px|right|thumb|First Lockhart National Bank building across from the county courthouse]]
'''Lockhart''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Caldwell County, Texas]], United States.<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}}</ref> According to the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 14,379.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4843240| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Lockhart city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=July 7, 2015| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213052633/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4843240| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Lockhart Texas.JPG|thumb|left|200px|Another view of downtown Lockhart]]
The city of Lockhart is named after [[Byrd Lockhart]], an assistant surveyor of [[Green DeWitt]] and reportedly the first Anglo to set foot in Caldwell County. Lockhart was the site of a victory of the Texans over the [[Comanche]], at the [[Battle of Plum Creek]] in 1840. Lockhart was originally called "Plum Creek", but the name was later changed to Lockhart.

The town's economic growth began with the arrival of the railroad in the late 19th century, when the town became a regional shipping center for local [[cotton]]. Following the arrival of the railroad, immigrants arrived in Lockhart and opened various businesses.

Lockhart has several claims to fame. In 1999, the [[Texas Legislature]] proclaimed Lockhart the "Barbecue Capital of Texas";<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/capitals.html|title=Official Capital Designations|access-date=19 May 2016}}</ref> Lockhart has four major [[Barbecue in Texas|barbecue restaurants]]. The Dr. Eugene Clark Library is the oldest operating [[public library]] in Texas. Lockhart was also the subject of an article by the architectural historian and critic Colin Rowe and architect John Hejduk, first published in ''[[Architectural Record]]'' in 1957 and republished in the collection of his writings ''As I Was Saying'' (1996). Rowe and Hejduk see Lockhart as a "curiously eloquent" example of a Victorian post-frontier American town.

Lockhart has played host to many film sets, as this quaint, small town is located just {{Convert|30|mi}} south of [[Austin, Texas|Austin]]. The 1996 [[Christopher Guest]] comedy film ''[[Waiting for Guffman]]'' and the 1993 drama ''[[What's Eating Gilbert Grape]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108550/locations|title=What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)|work=IMDb|access-date=19 May 2016}}</ref> were filmed partly in Lockhart, including the historic courthouse and the town square. The city's [[Walmart]] store was featured in the 2000 film ''[[Where the Heart Is (2000 film)|Where the Heart Is]]''. From 2014-2017, the city was the primary filming location for the second and third seasons of the acclaimed [[HBO]] supernatural drama show [[The_Leftovers_(TV_series)|The Leftovers]], with the town square and courthouse featured prominently in several pivotal scenes.

On July 30, 2016, a hot air balloon [[2016 Lockhart hot air balloon crash|struck a power line and caught on fire]], killing all 16 people on board when it crashed near the unincorporated community of [[Maxwell, Texas|Maxwell]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/hot-air-balloon-carrying-16-people-crashes-texas-41015210|title=Officials: No Apparent Survivors in Texas Balloon Crash|publisher=ABC News|access-date=2016-07-31}}</ref>

==Geography==

Lockhart is located near [[central Texas]], {{convert|30|mi}} south of downtown [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] on [[U.S. Route 183 in Texas|U.S. Highway 183]]. It is {{convert|70|mi}} northeast of [[San Antonio]] and {{convert|156|mi}} west of [[Houston]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|40.4|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.1|km2|order=flip|2|abbr=on}}, or 0.14%, is covered by water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

===Climate===

Climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year.  The [[Köppen climate classification]] subtype for this climate is [[humid subtropical climate]], ''Cfa''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=482514&cityname=Lockhart%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Lockhart, Texas Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|work=Weatherbase|access-date=19 May 2016}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 560
|1880= 718
|1890= 1233
|1900= 2306
|1910= 2945
|1920= 3731
|1930= 4367
|1940= 5018
|1950= 5573
|1960= 6084
|1970= 6489
|1980= 7953
|1990= 9205
|2000= 11615
|2010= 12698
|2020= 14379
|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> <br />2010-2020<ref name="QuickFacts">{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts: Lockhart city, Texas |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lockhartcitytexas/PST045221 |access-date=13 February 2022 |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Lockhart racial composition as of 2020'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4843240&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-24 |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)
|5,314
|36.96%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|931
|6.47%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|41
|0.29%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|96
|0.67%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|2
|0.01%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|54
|0.38%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|340
|2.36%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|7,601
|52.86%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''14,379'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 14,379 people, 4,503 households, and 2,944 families residing in the city.

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, 11,615 people, 3,627 households, and 2,691 families were residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,032.7 people per sq mi (398.6/km{{sup|2}}). The 3,871 housing units averaged 344.2 per sq mi (132.9/km{{sup|2}}). The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 65.42% White, 12.68% African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 18.00% from other races, and 2.82% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 47.41% of the population.

Of the 3,627 households, 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were not families. About 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81, and the average family size was 3.28.

In the city, the age distribution was 26.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,762, and for a family was $41,111. Males had a median income of $29,329 versus $20,923 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $13,621. About 12.2% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.

== Culture ==
Lockhart is known as the "barbecue capital" of Texas.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Brett |date=3 July 2023 |title=Texas Barbecue Is the Best It Has Ever Been. Here’s Why. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/03/dining/texas-bbq.html |website=[[New York Times]]}}</ref> 
Annually the [https://www.find-it-in-lockhart.com/chisholm-trail-roundup-lockhart Chisholm Trail Roundup] is held in June of each year.

==Government==
Lockhart is served by a seven-person city council. The mayor and two council members are elected at large. The remaining four council members are elected from single-member districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lockhart-tx.org/web98/citygovernment/default.asp|title=The City of Lockhart|access-date=19 May 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150124204336/http://www.lockhart-tx.org/web98/citygovernment/default.asp|archive-date=24 January 2015}}</ref>
*Mayor – Lew White
*City Council At-Large – Angie Gonzales-Sanchez
*City Council At-Large – Brad Westmoreland
*City Council District 1 – Juan Mendoza
*City Council District 2 – David Bryant
*City Council District 3 – Kara McGregor
*City Council District 4 – Jeffry Michelson

==Education==
Lockhart is served by the [[Lockhart Independent School District]] and is home to the [[Lockhart High School (Texas)|Lockhart High School]] Lions.

The city has a museum, the Southwest Museum of Clocks and Watches.

==Movies shot in Lockhart==
The following are some of the films that have been shot in whole or in part in Lockhart:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://post-register.com/films-in-lockhart/|title=Films in Lockhart|access-date=19 May 2016}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* (2024) 1923
* (2020) Walker
* (2015) ''[[The Leftovers (TV series)|The Leftovers]]'' (HBO television series)
* (2014) ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction]]''
* (2013) ''[[Joe (2013 film)|Joe]]''
* (2012) ''The Woodsman''
* (2012) ''A Splice of Life''
* (2011) ''[[Bernie (2011 film)|Bernie]]''
* (2011) ''Hombre & Tierra''
* (2011) ''Abrupt Decision''
* (2010) ''[[Temple Grandin (film)|Temple Grandin]]''
* (2010) ''Altitude Falling''
* (2009) ''Secret at Arrow Lake''
* (2008) ''[[Stop-Loss (film)|Stop-Loss]]''
* (2008) ''Le grand Voyage de Giovanni''
* (2007) ''The Trunk''
* (2007) ''Theft''
* (2006) ''[[The Garage (2006 film)|The Garage]]''
* (2006) ''Angora Ranch''
* (2004) ''[[Ball & Chain]]''
* (2003) ''[[Rolling Kansas]]''
* (2003) ''Screen Door Jesus''
* (2003) ''[[Secondhand Lions]]''
* (2002) ''Lone Star State of Mind''
* (2001) ''[[Waking Life]]''
* (2000) ''[[Where the Heart Is (2000 film)|Where the Heart Is]]''
* (1999) ''[[A Slipping-Down Life]]''
* (1999) ''6 Miles of 8 Feet''
* (1998) ''[[The Faculty]]''
* (1998) ''[[The Newton Boys]]''
* (1998) ''To Live Again''
* (1998) ''[[Olympia (1998 film)|Olympia]]''
* (1998) ''[[Home Fries (film)|Home Fries]]''
* (1997) ''[[The Only Thrill]]''
* (1996) ''For the Love of Zachary''
* (1996) ''[[Waiting for Guffman]]''
* (1996) ''[[Tornado!]]''
* (1995) ''[[She Fought Alone]]''
* (1995) ''Texas Justice''
* (1995) ''[[The Big Green]]''
* (1995) ''Deadly Family Secrets''
* (1993) ''[[A Perfect World]]''
* (1993) ''O'Dill and Evett Go to the Edge of the World''
* (1993) ''[[Flesh and Bone (film)|Flesh and Bone]]''
* (1993) ''[[What's Eating Gilbert Grape]]''
* (1992) [[Bed of Lies (film)|''Bed of Lies'']]
* (1992) ''[[Ned Blessing: The True Story of My Life|Ned Blessing]]''
* (1991) ''[[Hard Promises (1992 film)|Hard Promises]]''
* (1986) ''The Red Headed Stranger''
* (1981) ''[[Deadly Blessing]]''
* (1981) ''[[Raggedy Man]]''
* (1980) ''[[Honeysuckle Rose (film)|Honeysuckle Rose]]''
* (1976) ''[[A Small Town in Texas]]''
* (1975) ''[[The Great Waldo Pepper]]''
* (1972) ''[[The Getaway (1972 film)|The Getaway]]''
* (1965) ''[[Baby the Rain Must Fall]]''
{{div col end}}

==Significant historic buildings==
*Dr. Eugene Clark Library, the "oldest continuously operating library in the state that’s housed in its original building" <ref>{{cite web |last1=Walsh |first1=S. Kirk |title=Lockhart's Library Is the Oldest in Texas Still in Its Original Building |url=https://texashighways.com/travel-news/lockharts-library-oldest-in-texas-still-in-original-building/ |website=Texas Highways |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |access-date=10 January 2024}}</ref>  
*[[Caldwell County Courthouse (Texas)|Caldwell County Courthouse]]

==Notable people==
<!-- should have a Wikipedia article to be included -->

* [[Scott H. Biram]], musician
* [[Lily Cahill]], actress
* [[John Cyrier]], state representative for District 17; Lockhart native
* [[Willie Ellison]], professional football player
* [[Maud A. B. Fuller]], educator, missionary and community leader<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ffu17|title=Fuller, Maud Anna Berry|last=Craig|first=Algerene Akins|date=2010|website=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=20 February 2018}}</ref>
* [[Billy Grabarkewitz]], Major League Baseball player
* [[James McMurtry]], musician
* [[Primo Miller]], football player
* [[Robert Schwarz Strauss]], politician and diplomat

== Gallery ==
<gallery class="center">>
Image:Emmanuel episcopal church 2011.jpg|Emmanuel Episcopal Church, completed in 1856, is the oldest known unaltered church building in use by Protestants in Texas.
Image:First christian church lockhart 2013.jpg|First Christian Church, c. 1898
File:St. Mary's Catholic Church, Lockhart, TX IMG_9174.JPG|St. Mary's [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic Church]] in Lockhart
File:First United Methodist Church, Lockhart, TX IMG_9173.JPG|First [[United Methodist Church]] of Lockhart
File:Southwest Museum of Cl;ocks, Lockhart, TX IMG_9196.JPG|Entrance to Southwest Museum of Clocks and Watches in downtown Lockhart
Image:Eugene clark library 2013.jpg|Dr. Eugene Clark Library, c. 1899
Eugene Clark Library Lockhart interior 2018.jpg|Interior of the Dr. Eugene Clark Library
Image:Lockhart post office 2014.jpg|United States Post Office in Lockhart, constructed in 1936
</gallery>

== References ==

{{Reflist|30em}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.lockhart-tx.org/ City of Lockhart official website]
* [http://www.lockhartchamber.com/ Lockhart Chamber of Commerce]
* [https://www.find-it-in-lockhart.com/  Find-It-In-Lockhart.com]
* {{Cite web |last=DailyXtreme |title=DailyXtreme - Action And Adventure Sports News |url=https://dailyxtreme.com/news/find-it-in-lockhart-connects-residents-and-visitors-to-toprated-lockhart-businesses/498545 |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=dailyxtreme.com |language=en}}

{{Caldwell County, Texas}}
{{Greater Austin}}
{{Texas county seats}}
{{Texas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Caldwell County, Texas]]
[[Category:County seats in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Greater Austin]]