Editing Mason, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Mason, Texas
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = Gem of the Hill Country
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = Mason County Courthouse.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Mason County Courthouse prior to 2021 fire
| image_map          = TXMap-doton-Mason.PNG
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Mason, Texas
| image_map1         = Mason County Mason.svg
| mapsize1           = 250px
| map_caption1       = Location of the City of Mason
<!-- 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  = [[Mason County, Texas|Mason]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = Mayor/council
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = City administrator
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = May 20th 1861
<!-- 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     = 9.55
| area_land_km2      = 9.46
| area_water_km2     = 0.08
| area_total_sq_mi   = 3.69
| area_land_sq_mi    = 3.65
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.03
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 2121
| 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       = 1529
| coordinates        = {{coord|30|45|05|N|99|14|35|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 76856
| area_code          = [[Area code 325|325]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 48-46968<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        = 2411048<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411048}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|http://mason.tx.citygovt.org}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Mason''' is a city in, and the [[county seat]] of, [[Mason 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>  The city is an agricultural community on Comanche Creek southwest of Mason Mountain, on the [[Edwards Plateau]] and part of the [[Llano Uplift]]. Its population was 2,121 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name=":0" />

==History==

The first settler is thought to have been Peter  S. Parker in 1846. The settlement of Mason grew up around [[Fort Mason (Texas)|Fort Mason]], which was established by the [[United States War Department]] as a front-line defense against [[Kiowa]], [[Lipan Apache people|Lipan Apache]], and [[Comanche]], on July 6, 1851. George W. Todd established a Fort Mason post office March 8, 1858, which became consigned to the civilian settlement on June 26, 1858.<ref>{{cite web | title=Loyal Valley Postmasters | publisher=Jim Wheat | url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txpost/mason.html | access-date=2 December 2010}}Jim Wheat</ref>
The protection and commercial possibilities of the fort drew settlers. W. C. Lewis opened a general store that served soldiers and settlers. In 1860, James E. Ranck opened a second store and later became known as "the Father of Mason". Ben F. Gooch and he began leasing {{convert|5,000|acre|km2}} of land to cotton sharecroppers. Mason was voted the county seat in 1861.<ref name="Mason, Texas">{{cite web|last=Rhoades|first=Alice J|title=Mason, Texas|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hjm06|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=2 December 2010}}</ref>

After the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], returning Confederate veterans and German ranchers clashed in 1875 over cattle rustling and other crimes. The resulting killings were known as the "HooDoo Wars". In the midst of the war, Loyal Valley homeowner Tim Williamson<ref name="The Mason County Hoo Doo War, 1874-1902 (A.C. Greene Series)"/> was murdered by a dozen masked vigilantes, who accused him of cattle theft. Williamson's adopted son, [[Texas Rangers Division|Texas Ranger]] [[Scott Cooley]],<ref name="The Mason County Hoo Doo War, 1874-1902 (A.C. Greene Series)">{{cite book | last1 = Johnson | first1 =David | last2=Miller | first2=Rick | title = The Mason County ""Hoo Doo"" War, 1874–1902 (A.C. Greene Series)  | publisher =University of North Texas Press | year = 2009  | isbn = 978-1-57441-262-8}}</ref> sought revenge. Cooley and his desperadoes, which included [[Johnny Ringo]],<ref name="John Ringo, King of the Cowboys: His Life and Times from the Hoo Doo War to Tombstone, Second Edition (A. C. Greene)">{{cite book | last1 = Johnson | first1 =David | last2=Parsons | first2=Chuck | title = John Ringo, King of the Cowboys: His Life and Times from the Hoo Doo War to Tombstone, Second Edition (A. C. Greene)  | publisher =University of North Texas Press | year = 2008  | isbn =978-1-57441-243-7}}</ref> created a reign of terror over the area. During this episode, Ringo committed his first murder, that of James Cheyney.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Mason County Hoo Doo Wars | publisher=TexFiles | author=Hadeler, Glenn | url=http://www.texfiles.com/texashistory/hoodoowar.htm | access-date=2 December 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100512150122/http://www.texfiles.com/texashistory/hoodoowar.htm | archive-date=12 May 2010 | url-status=dead }} TexFiles</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Johnny Ringo and the Hoo Doo War | url=http://www.johnnyringo.com/jrtexas.html | access-date=30 April 2010}}</ref>

The first courthouse and jail were built in 1869 of stone walls lined with post oak timbers. After the Hoo Doo War, a new two-story red sandstone jail was built in 1898 by L.T. Noyes of [[Houston]]. Noyes was a contractor with Diebold Safe and Lock Company.<ref>{{cite book|last=Blackburn|first=Edward A|title=Wanted: Historic County Jails of Texas |year=2005|publisher=TAMU Press|isbn=978-1-58544-308-6|pages=225–226}}</ref>  A courthouse was built in 1875 and burned down in 1877. A new courthouse was built in 1878 and burned down in 1900. The current granite courthouse was erected in 1909 by architect E. H. Hosford and Co. in the Classic Revival style.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mason County Courthouse|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasHillCountryTowns/MasonTexas/MasonCountyCourthouseMasonTexas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=2 December 2010}}</ref> It burned down in 2021, but courthouse records and most furniture had been removed prior to the fire to prepare for a renovation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mason County Courthouse|date=February 5, 2021|url=https://www.kxan.com/news/local/historic-mason-county-courthouse-destroyed-in-overnight-fire/|access-date=5 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hilley-Sierzchula|first=Emily|date=2021-02-05|title=State Fire Marshal's Office Investigating Mason County Courthouse Blaze|url=http://www.hillcountrypassport.com/mason/article/31375/state-fire-marshals-office-investigating-mason-cou|access-date=2021-02-06|website=Mason County News|language=en}}</ref>

On October 3, 1918, 18 months after [[United States Congress]] declared war on [[Germany]], the Mason County Council of Defense drew up a resolution to abandon the use of the German language in the county. Most county residents are of German heritage.<ref name="Mason County, Texas">{{cite web|last=Rhoades|first=Alice J|title=Mason County, Texas|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcm04|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=5 April 2011}}</ref>

The Broad Street Bridge, a reinforced-concrete truss and the only one of its kind in Texas, was built across the Comanche Creek in 1918. The span is 102&nbsp;ft long and composed of two 51-ft spans supported by concrete abutments with a pier at the center. The bridge was slated for replacement by the Texas Department of Transportation, but funding was cancelled.<ref>{{cite web|title=2007 Texas' Most Endangered Places |url=http://www.preservationtexas.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=15|publisher=Preservation Texas|access-date=2 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Broad Street Bridge|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasBridges/Mason-Texas-Broad-Street-Bridge.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=2 December 2010}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 3.7&nbsp;square miles (9.5&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}), all  land.

===Largest topaz===
The largest gem-quality topaz found in North America came from Mason County,<ref>{{cite book|last=Swanson|first=Eric R|title=Geo-Texas: A Guide to the Earth Sciences|year=1995|publisher=TAMU Press|isbn=978-0-89096-682-2|pages=88–89}}</ref> weighing almost {{convert|3|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. It had been kept in the [[Smithsonian Institution]], and was transferred to Mason's Museum on the Square.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mason Square Museum |url=https://www.masonsquaremuseum.org/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610125704/http://masonsquaremuseum.org/www.masonsquaremuseum.org/index.html |archive-date=2017-06-10 |access-date=2025-05-18 |website= |language=en-US}}</ref>{{Non-primary source needed|date=May 2025}}

===Climate===
Mason experiences a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and a generally mild winter.

{{Weather box
|location = Mason, Texas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1957–present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed   = yes
|Jan record high F = 90
|Feb record high F = 100
|Mar record high F = 98
|Apr record high F = 101
|May record high F = 108
|Jun record high F = 111
|Jul record high F = 111
|Aug record high F = 109
|Sep record high F = 108
|Oct record high F = 102
|Nov record high F = 93
|Dec record high F = 88

|Jan avg record high F = 80.6
|Feb avg record high F = 83.5
|Mar avg record high F = 88.5
|Apr avg record high F = 93.3
|May avg record high F = 97.3
|Jun avg record high F = 100.3
|Jul avg record high F = 101.9
|Aug avg record high F = 102.3
|Sep avg record high F = 98.2
|Oct avg record high F = 92.5
|Nov avg record high F = 85.3
|Dec avg record high F = 80.1
|year avg record high F = 104.3

|Jan high F = 61.1
|Feb high F = 65.3
|Mar high F = 71.5
|Apr high F = 79.5
|May high F = 85.5
|Jun high F = 92.5
|Jul high F = 95.5
|Aug high F = 95.8
|Sep high F = 89.7
|Oct high F = 80.6
|Nov high F = 69.9
|Dec high F = 63.0
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 47.3
|Feb mean F = 51.4
|Mar mean F = 58.4
|Apr mean F = 65.6
|May mean F = 73.6
|Jun mean F = 80.3
|Jul mean F = 83.1
|Aug mean F = 83.1
|Sep mean F = 76.8
|Oct mean F = 66.9
|Nov mean F = 56.7
|Dec mean F = 49.3
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 33.6
|Feb low F = 37.5
|Mar low F = 44.8
|Apr low F = 51.7
|May low F = 61.7
|Jun low F = 68.0
|Jul low F = 70.8
|Aug low F = 70.4
|Sep low F = 63.8
|Oct low F = 53.2
|Nov low F = 43.5
|Dec low F = 35.6
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 19.1
|Feb avg record low F = 22.8
|Mar avg record low F = 26.2
|Apr avg record low F = 35.1
|May avg record low F = 46.0
|Jun avg record low F = 58.7
|Jul avg record low F = 64.3
|Aug avg record low F = 63.0
|Sep avg record low F = 50.1
|Oct avg record low F = 36.4
|Nov avg record low F = 26.3
|Dec avg record low F = 20.8
|year avg record low F = 16.4

|Jan record low F = 6
|Feb record low F = 3
|Mar record low F = 11
|Apr record low F = 25
|May record low F = 36
|Jun record low F = 46
|Jul record low F = 54
|Aug record low F = 51
|Sep record low F = 36
|Oct record low F = 26
|Nov record low F = 14
|Dec record low F = 3

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.32
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.88
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.15
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.30
|May precipitation inch = 4.21
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.80
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.30
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.01
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.03
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.58
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.94
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.38
|year precipitation inch = 28.90

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 5.2
|Feb precipitation days = 5.5
|Mar precipitation days = 6.2
|Apr precipitation days = 5.3
|May precipitation days = 7.7
|Jun precipitation days = 6.1
|Jul precipitation days = 4.9
|Aug precipitation days = 4.4
|Sep precipitation days = 6.1
|Oct precipitation days = 5.3
|Nov precipitation days = 4.8
|Dec precipitation days = 5.3

|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 = 0.0
|Dec snow inch = 0.1
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.0
|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 = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.1

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00415650&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: Mason, TX
|access-date = July 3, 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 3, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1870 = 296
| 1880 = 575
| 1950 = 2456
| 1960 = 1910
| 1970 = 1806
| 1980 = 2153
| 1990 = 2041
| 2000 = 2134
| 2010 = 2114
| 2020 = 2121
| 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>
}}

===2020 census===

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Mason racial composition'''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4846968&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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/en.html|title=Census.gov|website=Census.gov}}</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)
|1,394
|65.72%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|3
|0.14%
|-
|Some other race (NH)
|9
|0.42%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/multiracial]] (NH)
|52
|2.45%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|663
|31.26%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''2,121'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], 2,121 people, 817 households, and 463 families resided in the city.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, 2,134 people, 914 households, and 585 families resided in the city. The population density was {{convert|579.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 1,103 housing units averaged 299.6/sq&nbsp;mi (115.7/km{{sup|2}}). The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 58.1% White, 0.19% African American, 0.61% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 8.25% from other races, and 2.76% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 30.04% of the population.

Of the 914 households, 28.0% had children under 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were not families. About 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.30, and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was distributed as 24.3% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,344, and for a family was $39,310. Males had a median income of $26,736 versus $14,461 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,525. About 15.9% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 19.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
The city of Mason is served by the [[Mason Independent School District]] and home to the [[Mason High School (Texas)|Mason High School]] Punchers and Cowgirls.

==Infrastructure==
*[[U.S. Highway 87 (Texas)|U.S. Highway 87]]
*[[Texas State Highway 29]]
*[[Ranch to Market Road 1871]]
*[[Ranch to Market Road 386]]

==Notable people==

* [[Jacob Bickler]] (1849–1902) German immigrant, founder of two Austin academies
* [[Fred Gipson]] (1908–1973), author of ''[[Old Yeller]]''
* [[Herman Lehmann]] (1859–1932) German immigrant, captured as a child by Native Americans
* [[Anna Mebus Martin]] (1820–1864) businesswoman and rancher
* [[Rebecca Tobey]] (born 1948), American artist of animal sculptures
* [[Hugh Wolfe]] (1912–2010), football player

==See also==
*[[Central Texas Electric Cooperative]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=20em}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat|Mason, Texas}}
* [http://www.masontxcoc.com/ Mason Chamber of Commerce]

{{Mason County, Texas}}
{{Texas}}
{{Texas county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Mason County, Texas]]
[[Category:County seats in Texas]]