Editing Nacogdoches, Texas

{{distinguish|text=its sister city, [[Natchitoches, Louisiana]]}}
{{redirect|Nacogdoches|other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Nacogdoches, Texas
| settlement_type          = [[City (Texas)|City]]
| nickname                 = "The Oldest Town in Texas"
| image_skyline            = Nacogdoches TX Montage.jpg|
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = Clockwise from top: Old Stone Fort, Adolph Stern House, Nacogdoches City Hall, Nacogdoches downtown, Gladys E. Steen Dorms, Depot, Stephen F. Austin statue
| image_map                = Nacogdoches County Nacogdoches.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Nacogdoches, Texas within Nacogdoches County
| image_blank_emblem       = NacogdochesTXlogo.svg
| blank_emblem_type        = Logo
| blank_emblem_size        = 150px
<!-- 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        = [[Nacogdoches County, Texas|Nacogdoches]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = [[Council-manager government|Council-Manager]]
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Randy Johnson
| established_title1       = Incorporated (as a town)
| established_title2       = Incorporated (as a city)
| established_date1        = 1837<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/william-corner/san-antonio-de-bexar-a-guide-and-history-hci/page-18-san-antonio-de-bexar-a-guide-and-history-hci.shtml|title=Read the eBook San Antonio de Bexar; a guide and history by William Corner online for free (page 18 of 22)|first=Denis Larionov & Alexander|last=Zhulin|website=www.ebooksread.com|access-date=April 28, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323143331/http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/william-corner/san-antonio-de-bexar-a-guide-and-history-hci/page-18-san-antonio-de-bexar-a-guide-and-history-hci.shtml|archive-date=March 23, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| established_date2        = 1929<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ci.nacogdoches.tx.us/DocumentCenter/View/473 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-03-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208173716/http://ci.nacogdoches.tx.us/DocumentCenter/View/473 |archive-date=February 8, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<!-- 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           = 71.64
| area_land_km2            = 71.51
| area_water_km2           = 0.13
| area_total_sq_mi         = 27.66
| area_land_sq_mi          = 27.61
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.05
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 32147
| population_density_km2   = 459.78
| population_density_sq_mi = 1190.81
| population_demonym       = Nacogdochian
<!-- 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             = 331
| coordinates              = {{coord|31|37|48|N|94|37|43|W|region:US-TX|display=inline,title}}<ref name=gnis/>
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code              = 75961–75965
| area_code                = [[Area code 936|936]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 48-50256<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2411207<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411207}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|http://nactx.us}}
| footnotes                = 
}}

'''Nacogdoches''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|n|æ|k|ə|ˈ|d|oʊ|tʃ|ᵻ|s|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Nacogdoches, Texas.wav}} {{respell|NAK|ə|DOH|chis}}) is a city in [[East Texas]] and the [[county seat]] of [[Nacogdoches County, Texas]],<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> United States. The [[2010 United States Census|2020 U.S. census]] recorded the city's population at 32,147.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Geography Profile: Nacogdoches city, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US4850256|access-date=2022-02-18|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>  [[Stephen F. Austin State University]] is located in Nacogdoches and specializes in forestry and agriculture. Nacogdoches is also known as "The Oldest Town in Texas". Its sister city is [[Natchitoches, Louisiana]].

==History==

{{See|Antonio Gil Y'Barbo#Return to the East}}

===Early years===

Evidence of settlement in the area dates back to 10,000 years ago. Nacogdoches is on or near the site of Nevantin, the primary village of the [[Nacogdoche]] tribe of [[Caddo]] Indians.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bolton |first=Herbert Eugene |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tBEu_DCtDeQC&q=Nacogdoche&pg=PA35 |title=The Hasinais, Southern Caddoans as Seen by the Earliest Europeans |date=1987 |publisher=University of Oklahoma Press |isbn=978-0-8061-3441-3 |location=Norman}}</ref><ref name=gene>{{cite web| url=http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/tribes/nacogdoche/nacogdochehist.htm| title=Nacogdoche Indian Tribe History| publisher=Access Genealogy| access-date=September 12, 2009| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012093244/http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/tribes/nacogdoche/nacogdochehist.htm| archive-date=October 12, 2009| df=mdy-all}}</ref> 

The name, Nacogdoches, originates from the [[Caddo language|Caddo]]-speaking [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribe "Nacogdoche",<ref>Edmonds, Randlett. Nusht'uhtitiʔ Hasinay: Caddo Phrasebook. Richardson, TX: Various Indian Peoples Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-884655-00-9.</ref> and the area remained a Caddo Indian settlement until the early 19th century. In 1716, Spain established a [[Christian mission|mission]] there, [[Spanish missions in Texas#Misión Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe|Misión Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe]]{{Broken anchor|date=2024-11-23|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Spanish missions in Texas#Misión Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe|reason= }}, the first European construction in the area. The "town" of Nacogdoches got started after the French had vacated the region (1760s, following the [[French and Indian War]]), and Spanish officials decided that maintaining the mission was too costly. In 1772, they ordered all settlers in the area to move to [[San Antonio]]. Some were eager to escape the wilderness, but others had to be forced from their homes by soldiers. It was one of the original European settlements in the region, populated by Adaeseños from Fort [[Los Adaes]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crt.state.la.us/siteexplorer/ |title=Los Adaes |publisher=Louisiana Office of Tourism |access-date=August 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816012724/http://www.crt.state.la.us/siteexplorer/ |archive-date=August 16, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

[[File:Old Stone Fort, Nacogdoches, Texas.jpg|thumb|[[Old Stone Fort Museum (Texas)|Old Stone Fort Museum]], Nacogdoches, Texas]]
Colonel [[Antonio Gil Y'Barbo]], a Spanish trader, emerged as the leader of the settlers, and in the spring of 1779, he led a group back to Nacogdoches. Later that summer, Nacogdoches received designation from Spain as a ''[[pueblo]]''. Y'Barbo, as lieutenant governor of the new town, established the rules and laws for local government. He laid out streets with the intersecting [[Old San Antonio Road|El Camino Real]] (now [[Texas State Highway 21|State Highway 21]]) and  La Calle del Norte/North Street (now [[U.S. Route 59 in Texas|Business U.S. Highway 59-F]]) as the central point. On the main thoroughfare, he built a stone house for use in his trading business. The house, or [[Old Stone Fort Museum (Texas)|Old Stone Fort]] as it is known today, became a gateway from the United States to the Texas frontier.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.visitnacogdoches.org/ |title= Nacogdoches - Oldest Town in Texas |publisher= VisitNacogdoches.org |date= August 1, 2011 |access-date= August 5, 2011 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110728164158/http://www.visitnacogdoches.org/ |archive-date= July 28, 2011 |df= mdy-all }}</ref>

===1800s===

The city has been under more flags than the state of Texas, claiming nine flags. In addition to the [[six flags over Texas|Six Flags]] of Texas, it also flew under the flags of the [[Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition|Magee-Gutierrez Republic]], the [[Long Republic]], and the [[Fredonian Rebellion]]. People from the United States began moving to settle in Nacogdoches in 1820, and Texas's first English-language newspaper was published there.<ref>''The Cambridge Gazetteer of the United States and Canada''. p. 430</ref>
However, the first newspaper published (in the 1700s) was in Spanish. An edition of that newspaper is preserved and shown at the local museum.

In 1832, the [[Battle of Nacogdoches]] brought many local settlers together, as they united in their stand to support a federalist form of government. Their successful venture drove the Mexican military from East Texas.

[[File:NacDepot1.JPG|right|thumb|The recently renovated historic Nacogdoches train depot]]
[[Thomas Jefferson Rusk]] was one of the most prominent early Nacogdoches Anglo settlers. A veteran of the Texas Revolution, hero of [[battle of San Jacinto|San Jacinto]], he signed the [[Texas Declaration of Independence]] and was secretary of war during the [[Republic of Texas]]. He was president of the Texas Statehood Commission and served as one of the first two Texas U.S. Senators along with Sam Houston. He worked to establish Nacogdoches University, which operated from 1845 to 1895.<ref name="NacUni">{{cite web |author=Blake |first=Robert Bruce |date=2010-06-15 |title=NACOGDOCHES UNIVERSITY |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/kbn01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908074822/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/kbn01 |archive-date=September 8, 2015 |access-date=2015-10-28 |work=Handbook of Texas Online |publisher=[[Texas State Historical Association]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Nacogdoches County, Texas|Old Nacogdoches University Building]] was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1971.<ref name=NacUni/> Rusk suffered from depression as a result of the untimely death of his wife and killed himself on July 29, 1857.<ref name=hist>History Exhibit, Nacogdoches Visitors Bureau, Nacogdoches, Texas</ref>

[[Sam Houston]] lived in Nacogdoches for four years prior to the Texas Revolution (1836) and opened a law office downtown.  He courted Anna Raguet, daughter of one of the leading citizens, but Anna rejected him after finding that he was not divorced from his first wife [[Eliza Allen (Tennessee)|Eliza Allen]] of Tennessee.

William Goins (Goyens, Goings, Going), the son of a white mother and [[Multiracial|black]] father, operated a local inn, trucking service, and blacksmith works and maintained a plantation outside Nacogdoches on Goins Hill.  He was married to a white woman and owned slaves.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blake |first=R. B. |title=Goyens, William |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/goyens-william |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429222741/http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fgo24 |archive-date=April 29, 2012 |access-date=June 27, 2012 |website=[[Handbook of Texas]] |publisher=Texas State Historical Association}}</ref> He was appointed as an agent to trade with the [[Cherokee]]s and was prominent in providing assistance to the Texas Army during the Revolution.

[[File:Nacogdoches August 2017 31 (Sterne-Hoya House Museum and Library).jpg|right|thumb|[[Sterne–Hoya House Museum and Library|Sterne–Hoya House]] of [[Adolphus Sterne]], the first mayor of Nacogdoches, now a museum and library]]
[[Adolphus Sterne]] was a merchant of German Jewish extraction who maintained the finest home in town. His frequent visitors included Sam Houston, Thomas Rusk, [[The Bowl (Cherokee chief)|Chief Bowles]] and David Crockett, so his diary is one of the best sources for early Nacogdoches history.

Nacogdoches also contains one of the last surviving family-owned homestead plantations in East Texas, the August Tubbe Plantation,<ref name="wtblock.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.wtblock.com/WtblockJr/JohnAugustTubbe.htm|title=Rev. John August Tubbe|website=www.wtblock.com|access-date=April 28, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202040030/http://www.wtblock.com/WtblockJr/JohnAugustTubbe.htm|archive-date=December 2, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> owned and operated by the same family which established it in 1859. August Tubbe was a German-born immigrant, who with his elderly mother, left Germany in 1858 and arrived in Nacogdoches by 1859.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.giselalaudi.de/|title="JUSTINA TUBBE" von Gisela Laudi|website=www.giselalaudi.de|access-date=April 28, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911190042/http://giselalaudi.de/|archive-date=September 11, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Their lives are recounted in several books, including a historical fiction novel by Gisela Laudi entitled "I am Justina Tubbe".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.giselalaudi.de/indexENGLISH.html|title=About my book: "JUSTINA TUBBE"|website=www.giselalaudi.de|access-date=April 28, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630010254/http://giselalaudi.de/indexENGLISH.html|archive-date=June 30, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref>  Tubbe plantation is historically significant in the formation of early life in East Texas, not only in its cotton and sugarcane,<ref name="wtblock.com"/> but also because it later played an important part in milled-lumber production. Tubbe Sawmill was actually the first water-, and then steam-powered, sawmill in Nacogdoches. During renovations of the Cason-Monk buildings in the early 21st century, boards stamped with Tubbe Mill logos made dating the building possible. The estate contains one of the largest privately-owned genealogical archives pertaining to the Tubbe family in existence, providing important insight into early settlers' life during the 19th century. The family has been featured in a number of German museums including the Expo2000 in Bremerhaven Germany.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dah-bremerhaven.de/|title=Deutsches Auswandererhaus Bremerhaven|website=dah-bremerhaven.de|access-date=April 28, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319085035/http://dah-bremerhaven.de/|archive-date=March 19, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The estate and archives are privately owned and maintained by a descendant of its original founder, and are currently available for study through private appointment only. The Tubbe family is considered to be one of the "founding families" of Nacogdoches,<ref name="wtblock.com"/> making their mark in many ways spanning over 150 years. August Tubbe was responsible for not only his large {{Convert|2,000|acre|adj=on}} plantation, sawmill, and participation in Milam Masonic Lodge,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milamlodge2.com/|title=Milam Masonic Lodge 2 A.F. & A.M. Nacogdoches Texas|website=www.milamlodge2.com|access-date=April 28, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913193020/http://milamlodge2.com/|archive-date=September 13, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> but also is credited with bringing the now defunct [[Texas and New Orleans Railroad]] spur into town. Tubbe estate as a whole is now owned and managed by Thomas VonAugust Tubbe-Brown, the fifth-generation grandson of August Tubbe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/p/i/e/Laura-B-Pierson/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0046.html|title=Laura-B-Pierson - User Trees - Genealogy.com|website=www.genealogy.com|access-date=April 28, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202101009/http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/p/i/e/Laura-B-Pierson/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0046.html|archive-date=December 2, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In 1859, the first oil well in Texas began operation here, but it was never so well known as [[Spindletop]], drilled in 1901 near [[Beaumont, Texas|Beaumont]].<ref>''Cambridge Gazetteer''. p. 430</ref> Lyne Taliaferro Barret began this operation, which was interrupted by the [[American Civil War]]. However, after the war, Barret returned to Oil Springs, an area about {{Convert|13|mi}} east of Nacogdoches, to resume his project by acquiring another drilling contract in 1865. Barret struck oil on September 12, 1866, at a depth of {{Convert|106|ft}}. The well produced around 10 barrels of oil per day, but was recorded to produce a range of 8 to 40 barrels. In 1868, the [[price of oil]] dropped so low that Barret lost his financial backing, and was forced to resign from the project. The fields then lay dormant for another 20 years, until 1889, when various drilling companies had 40 wells on the site. The site was never very productive, only yielding 54 barrels in 1890. However, it remains the first and oldest [[oil well]] in Texas, with production being recorded into the 1950s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aoghs.org/states/first-texas-oil-well/ |title=First Lone Star Discovery |publisher=American Oil and Gas Historical Society |access-date=January 20, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20160120010956/http://aoghs.org/states/first-texas-oil-well/ |archive-date=January 20, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

===1900s–present===

[[File:Nacogdoches, Texas, postcard (10000467).jpg|thumb|Postcard of Main Street in Nacogdoches, c. late 1930s]]
In 1912, the [[Marx Brothers]] came to town to perform their singing act at the old Opera House (now the SFA Cole Art Center).  Their performance was interrupted by a man who came inside shouting, "Runaway mule!" Most of the audience left the building, and when they filed back in, Julius (later known as [[Groucho Marx|Groucho]]) began insulting them, saying "Nacogdoches is full of roaches!" and "The jackass is the flower of Tex-ass!" Instead of becoming angry, audience members laughed. Soon afterward, Julius and his brothers decided to try their hand at comedy instead of singing, at which they had barely managed to scrape together a living. A plaque commemorating the event is posted in downtown Nacogdoches. 

On January 4, 1946, [[Tornado outbreak of January 4–6, 1946|a violent tornado]] devastated part of the city, killing ten people and injuring 200 others. Tornado expert [[Thomas P. Grazulis]] estimated the intensity of the tornado to have been F4 on the [[Fujita scale]].

In the edition of March 8, 1950, of ''[[You Bet Your Life]]'', Marx said, "I was once pinched in Nacogdoches for playing [[euchre]] on the front porch of a hotel. It happened to be on a Sunday. You're not allowed to play euchre in Nacogdoches on a Sunday.  As a matter of fact, the way I played it they shouldn't have allowed it on Saturday, either." Marx would often mention Nacogdoches in the show if any contestant came from Texas.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

[[File:Nacogdoches August 2017 10 (Main Theater).jpg|thumb|The historic downtown Main Theater]]
In 1997, singer [[Willie Nelson]] came to Nacogdoches to perform with his friend, Paul Buskirk, a [[mandolin]] player. During his stay, Nelson recorded a number of [[jazz]] songs at Encore Studios. In 2004, he released those recordings on an album called ''[[Nacogdoches (album)|Nacogdoches]]''.

On February 1, 2003, the [[Space Shuttle Columbia|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'']] broke up during re-entry, depositing debris across Texas. Much of the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster#Recovery of debris|debris landed in the Nacogdoches area]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.physics.sfasu.edu/astro/shuttle/shuttle.html |title=The Space Shuttle Columbia |publisher=Physics.sfasu.edu |first=Dan |last=Bruton |date=February 1, 2003 |access-date=August 5, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723192040/http://www.physics.sfasu.edu/astro/shuttle/shuttle.html |archive-date=July 23, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> and much of the media coverage of the recovery efforts focused on Nacogdoches.

On September 24, 2005, [[Hurricane Rita]] struck Nacogdoches as a category-1 hurricane.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hurricanescience.org/history/storms/2000s/rita/|title=Hurricanes: Science and Society: 2005- Hurricane Rita|author=[NULL]|work=hurricanescience.org|access-date=July 29, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829051232/http://hurricanescience.org/history/storms/2000s/rita/|archive-date=August 29, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>[http://www.sfasu.edu/pubaffairs/pressreleases/january2006/24rita.asp]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719173953/http://www.sfasu.edu/pubaffairs/pressreleases/january2006/24rita.asp|date=July 19, 2008}}</ref><ref>[http://lufkinedc.com/pdfs/City%20of%20Lufkin%20AfterActionKW.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324230800/http://lufkinedc.com/pdfs/City%20of%20Lufkin%20AfterActionKW.pdf|date=March 24, 2009}}</ref>  Nacogdoches experienced the same problems [[Houston]] was having because of the unprecedented number of people evacuating the Houston-Galveston area. The city's local shelters were already overwhelmed with evacuees who had come from [[New Orleans]] because of [[Hurricane Katrina]]. Long lines at gas stations and shortages of supplies, food, and fuel were widespread. Many Houstonians took the [[Eastex Freeway]] ([[U.S. Highway 59 (Texas)|U.S. Highway 59]]) (future [[Interstate 69 (Texas)|Interstate 69]]) out of Houston to evacuate through East Texas. As a result of Hurricane Rita, U.S. Highway 59 has been designated as an evacuation route by [[TXDOT]], with all of its lanes to be used for [[contraflow lane reversal|contraflow]] traffic. Nacogdoches was designated as the north-end terminus of the contraflow/evacuation route.<ref>[http://www.texasonline.com/emergency/docs/hurr_evac_contra_brochure_us59.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324230759/http://www.texasonline.com/emergency/docs/hurr_evac_contra_brochure_us59.pdf|date=March 24, 2009}}</ref>

On September 13, 2008, [[Hurricane Ike]] struck Nacogdoches as a category-1 hurricane.

Nacogdoches hosts the Texas Blueberry Festival on the second Saturday in June.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.texasblueberryfestival.com/ |title=Nacogdoches, Texas |publisher=Texas Blueberry Festival |access-date=May 23, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129012515/http://www.texasblueberryfestival.com/ |archive-date=January 29, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The community is one of the first Texas Certified Retirement Communities.<ref>[http://www.retireintexas.org/]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603054606/http://www.retireintexas.org/|date=June 3, 2015}}</ref> The community celebrates a host of other events year round which can be found by going to [https://www.visitnacogdoches.org/ visitnacogdoches.com]

Once a [[Texas Democratic Party|Democratic]] stronghold, Nacogdoches has in recent years{{clarify|date=December 2018}} moved steadily toward the [[Republican Party of Texas|Republican Party]], being represented in the [[United States Congress]] and the [[Texas State Legislature]] by Republicans. The city, in general, is very moderate with the co-existence of students of Stephen F. Austin with a liberal left-of-center persuasion and conservative right-of-center city residents.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

Nacogdoches has been in the Texas Main Street Program since 1998.{{clarify|date=December 2018}} Nacogdoches' downtown was named the "Best Historic Venue" by ''Texas Meetings and Events'' magazine. Nacogdoches was nominated as one of the "Friendliest Towns in America" by Rand McNally and ''USA Today''.

Nacogdoches is the headquarters of the Texas Wing of the [[Civil Air Patrol]], the [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] Auxiliary.

==Geography==

Nacogdoches is about {{convert|140|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} north-northeast of [[Houston]], {{convert|180|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} southeast of [[Dallas]], and {{convert|90|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} southwest of [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|25.3|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|25.2|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}} (0.24%) is water. The city center is just north of the fork of two creeks, the LaNana and Banita.

Lake Nacogdoches is {{convert|10|mi|km|0}} west of the city.

===Climate===

{{climate chart
|Nacogdoches, Texas
|36|57|4.36
|40|62|3.87
|47|69|4.16
|55|76|4.10
|64|83|4.83
|71|90|4.11
|74|93|2.90
|73|94|3.11
|67|88|3.69
|56|79|4.04
|45|68|4.57
|38|59|4.62
|source=Weather.com / NWS
|clear=left
|units=imperial
}}

*Typically, the warmest month is August.
*The highest recorded temperature was {{convert|112|°F|1}} in 2000.
*The typical coolest month is January.
*The lowest recorded temperature was {{convert|-3|°F|1}} in 2021.
*The most precipitation usually occurs in May.

{{Weather box
|location = Nacogdoches, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1973–present)
|single line = Y
|collapsed = yes
|Jan record high F = 84
|Feb record high F = 92
|Mar record high F = 90
|Apr record high F = 94
|May record high F = 101
|Jun record high F = 108
|Jul record high F = 108
|Aug record high F = 109
|Sep record high F = 112
|Oct record high F = 98
|Nov record high F = 88
|Dec record high F = 90
|year record high F = 112

|Jan avg record high F = 76.3
|Feb avg record high F = 79.1
|Mar avg record high F = 84.2
|Apr avg record high F = 87.7
|May avg record high F = 92.3
|Jun avg record high F = 96.6
|Jul avg record high F = 100.5
|Aug avg record high F = 101.6
|Sep avg record high F = 97.4
|Oct avg record high F = 92.1
|Nov avg record high F = 83.6
|Dec avg record high F = 77.7
|year avg record high F = 102.7

|Jan high F = 57.7
|Feb high F = 62.3
|Mar high F = 69.3
|Apr high F = 76.3
|May high F = 82.8
|Jun high F = 89.0
|Jul high F = 92.6
|Aug high F = 93.3
|Sep high F = 87.8
|Oct high F = 78.2
|Nov high F = 67.8
|Dec high F = 59.5
|year high F = 76.4
|Jan mean F = 47.1
|Feb mean F = 51.0
|Mar mean F = 57.6
|Apr mean F = 64.8
|May mean F = 73.1
|Jun mean F = 80.2
|Jul mean F = 83.2
|Aug mean F = 83.2
|Sep mean F = 77.4
|Oct mean F = 66.9
|Nov mean F = 56.3
|Dec mean F = 48.5
|year mean F = 65.8
|Jan low F = 36.4
|Feb low F = 39.7
|Mar low F = 46.0
|Apr low F = 53.3
|May low F = 63.4
|Jun low F = 71.4
|Jul low F = 73.7
|Aug low F = 73.1
|Sep low F = 66.9
|Oct low F = 55.6
|Nov low F = 44.7
|Dec low F = 37.5
|year low F = 55.1

|Jan avg record low F = 21.6
|Feb avg record low F = 25.3
|Mar avg record low F = 28.7
|Apr avg record low F = 37.2
|May avg record low F = 48.3
|Jun avg record low F = 62.5
|Jul avg record low F = 67.8
|Aug avg record low F = 66.1
|Sep avg record low F = 53.8
|Oct avg record low F = 38.6
|Nov avg record low F = 28.1
|Dec avg record low F = 23.6
|year avg record low F = 19.6

|Jan record low F = 5
|Feb record low F = -3
|Mar record low F = 13
|Apr record low F = 29
|May record low F = 36
|Jun record low F = 50
|Jul record low F = 58
|Aug record low F = 55
|Sep record low F = 42
|Oct record low F = 25
|Nov record low F = 15
|Dec record low F = 3
|year record low F = -3
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 4.46
|Feb precipitation inch = 4.21
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.47
|Apr precipitation inch = 4.01
|May precipitation inch = 4.53
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.09
|Jul precipitation inch = 2.88
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.66
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.07
|Oct precipitation inch = 4.34
|Nov precipitation inch = 4.44
|Dec precipitation inch = 4.78
|year precipitation inch = 49.94
|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 = 0.0
|year snow inch = 0.1
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 10.3
|Feb precipitation days = 9.9
|Mar precipitation days = 9.7
|Apr precipitation days = 8.2
|May precipitation days = 9.4
|Jun precipitation days = 9.2
|Jul precipitation days = 7.6
|Aug precipitation days = 7.2
|Sep precipitation days = 7.6
|Oct precipitation days = 6.9
|Nov precipitation days = 8.9
|Dec precipitation days = 10.6
|year precipitation days = 105.5

|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 = 0.0
|year snow days = 0.0

|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= nws>
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=shv
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = August 21, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00416177&format=pdf
| title = Station: Nacogdoches, TX
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = August 21, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==

{{US Census population
|1850= 468
|1860= 485
|1870= 500
|1880= 333
|1890= 1138
|1900= 1827
|1910= 3369
|1920= 3546
|1930= 5687
|1940= 7538
|1950= 12327
|1960= 12674
|1970= 22544
|1980= 27149
|1990= 30872
|2000= 29914
|2010= 32996
|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|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
|2020=32147}}
According to the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], Nacogdoches had a population of 32,996. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 51.2% White, 28.4% Black, 0.5% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% reporting some other race, 2.3% reporting two or more races, and 16.8% Hispanic or Latino American.<ref>2010 general profile of population and housing characteristics of Nacogdoches from the US census</ref>

At the census of 2000,<ref name="GR2" /> 29,914 people, 11,220 households, and 5,935 families resided in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,185.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 12,329 housing units averaged 488.7 per square mile (188.7/km{{sup|2}}). The [[Race (U.S. Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 65.98% White, 25.06% African American, 1.13% Asian, 0.34% Native American, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 5.84% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 10.82% of the population.

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Nacogdoches racial composition as of 2020'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4850256&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-25 |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)
|15,446
|48.05%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|8,376
|26.06%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|96
|0.3%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|543
|1.69%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|3
|0.01%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|122
|0.38%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|1,061
|3.3%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|6,500
|20.22%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''32,147'''
|
|}
At the 2019 [[American Community Survey]]'s five year estimates program, the racial and ethnic makeup of the city was 51.0% [[Non-Hispanic whites|non-Hispanic white]], 26.1% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.3% Asian, 1.6% two or more races, and 18.8% Hispanic or Latino American of any race.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2019 ACS 5-Year Population Estimates|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4850256&tid=ACSDP5Y2019.DP05|access-date=2022-02-18|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> A year later, the 2020 census tabulated a majority non-Hispanic white population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 Race Population Totals|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4850256&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1|access-date=2022-02-18|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

Of the 11,963 households in 2019, the average family size was 3.06 and 53.2% of the total population were married. In contrast to several growing cities in Texas, the median age was 24.4 in 2019.

The median household income for the city was $54,444 from 2014 to 2019, against the statewide median household income of $64,034. Married-couple families had a median household income of $78,843 while non-family households had a median income of $22,076. Among the population, 31% of the city lived at or below the poverty line; 34% of the population aged 18 to 64 lived at or below the poverty line, and 33.9% of the population under age 18 lived at or below the poverty line.

There was a median gross rent of $771 in contrast with the statewide median gross rent of $1,091 at the 2019 American Community Survey. Among the population, there was a 37.5% homeownership rate and 2,068 vacant housing units in the city limits as of the 2020 census.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 Housing Status|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4850256&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.H1|access-date=2022-02-18|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

==Economy==

[[File:Pilgrim's Pride in Nacogdoches, TX IMG 6245.JPG|thumb|Pilgrim's Pride is the largest private employer in Nacogdoches.]]

[[File:Commercial Bank of Texas in Nacogdoches IMG_3982.JPG|thumb|Commercial Bank of Texas on North Street in downtown Nacogdoches]]

The economy of Nacogdoches is heavily dependent on Stephen F. Austin State University. Like many college towns in the United States, Nacogdoches businesses heavily depend on university students as customers and regularly employ them.<ref>{{cite web |author=Washington |first=Francesca |date=August 23, 2013 |title=Nacogdoches businesses excited SFA students are back |url=http://www.ktre.com/story/23242804/nacogdoches-business-excited-sfa-students-are-back |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115121912/http://www.ktre.com/story/23242804/nacogdoches-business-excited-sfa-students-are-back |archive-date=January 15, 2016 |access-date=July 29, 2015 |work=ktre.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ktre.com/story/20407211/nacogdoches-businesses-feeling-the-crunch-now-that-sfa-students-are-on-winter-break|title=Nacogdoches businesses feeling the crunch now that SFA students - KTRE.com - Lufkin and Nacogdoches, Texas|date=December 21, 2012|work=ktre.com|access-date=July 29, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115083501/http://www.ktre.com/story/20407211/nacogdoches-businesses-feeling-the-crunch-now-that-sfa-students-are-on-winter-break|archive-date=January 15, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Other large sectors of the local economy are healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, and lumber.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nacogdoches.org/page.php?cat=economy&id=1|title=Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce : Nacogdoches Economy|author=Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce|work=nacogdoches.org|access-date=July 29, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807201208/http://www.nacogdoches.org/page.php?cat=economy&id=1|archive-date=August 7, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

According to the city's 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref name="cafr">{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.co.nacogdoches.tx.us/Financial/Reports/CAFR%20Report%202017.pdf?v20180403153110
 |title       = Nacogdoches County Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
 |author      = Nacogdoches County
 |year        = 2017
 |access-date  = May 1, 2018
 |df          = mdy-all
}}</ref> the top employers in the city were:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! Employees 2017
! Employees 2008
! Rank 2008
|-
| 1
| [[Stephen F. Austin State University]]
| 1,659
| 1,500
| 1
|-
| 2
| [[Pilgrim's Pride]]
| 1,657
| 1,200
| 2
|-
| 3
| [[Nacogdoches Independent School District]]
| 972
| 880
| 4
|-
| 4
| [http://www.nacmem.org Nacogdoches County Hospital District]
| 874
| 650
| 5
|-
| 5
| Etech, Inc.
| 565
| 900
| 3
|-
| 6
| Nacogdoches Medical Center
| 545
| 575
| 6
|-
| 7
| [[Walmart]]
| 473
| 460
| 7
|-
| 8
| City of Nacogdoches
| 323
| 350
| 10
|-
| 9
| Nacogdoches County
| 275
| (not specified)
|
|-
| 10
| Eaton (Cooper Power Systems)
| 257
| (not specified)
|
|-
|
| NIBCO
| (not specified)
| 400
| 8
|-
|
| Foretravel Motorcoach
| (not specified)
| 350
| 9
|}

==Government==

[[File:Nacogdoches August 2017 03 (Nacogdoches City Hall).jpg|thumb|Nacogdoches City Hall]]
The management and coordination of city services is overseen by a mayor, city manager and other administrative and operational roles.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

===Local government===

'''County government'''

According to the county's most recent{{when|date=April 2022}} Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Fund Financial Statements, the county's various funds had $23.5 million in revenues, $23.6 million in expenditures, $57 million in total assets, and $15 million in total liabilities. The county had $7.3 million in investments.<ref name="cafr"/>

===State government===

Nacogdoches is represented in the [[Texas Senate]] by Republican [[Robert Nichols (Texas politician)|Robert Nichols]], District 3, and in the [[Texas House of Representatives]] by Republican [[Joanne Shofner]], District 11.{{<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lrl.texas.gov/legeleaders/members/memberdisplay.cfm?memberID=5631 | title=Legislative Reference Library &#124; Legislators and Leaders &#124; Member profile }}</ref>}}

The [[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]] operates the Nacogdoches District Parole Office in Nacogdoches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parole Division Region I |url=http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/parole/parole-directory/paroledir-rgnldisparoff1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928130938/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/parole/parole-directory/paroledir-rgnldisparoff1.htm |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |access-date=May 15, 2010 |website=[[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]]}}</ref>

===Federal government===
Nacogdoches is part of [[Texas's 17th congressional district]], which is currently represented by Republican [[Pete Sessions]].{{cn|date=October 2024}}

==Education==

[[File:Stephen F. Austin State University sign IMG 3329.JPG|thumb|Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches]]
The city of Nacogdoches is primarily served by the [[Nacogdoches Independent School District]]. Small portions of the city are also zoned into the [[Woden ISD]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48347_nacogdoches/DC20SD_C48347.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Nacogdoches County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-07-01}}</ref> School districts serving surrounding areas include [[Central Heights Independent School District|Central Heights]], [[Douglass Independent School District|Douglass]], [[Garrison Independent School District|Garrison]], [[Martinsville Independent School District|Martinsville]], [[Chireno Independent School District|Chireno]] and [[Cushing Independent School District|Cushing]] districts.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}<!--How do you define surrounding areas??-->

Nacogdoches is home to [[Stephen F. Austin State University]], which is a state institution of about 13,000 students. Stephen F. Austin is also home to the [[East Texas Historical Association]].  [[Angelina College]] operates a branch campus in Nacogdoches.

The [[Texas Legislature]] designated Nacogdoches County as being in the boundary of [[Angelina College]]'s district.<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code Sec. 130.165.  ANGELINA COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.].</ref>

==Newspaper==
''[[The Daily Sentinel (Texas)|The Daily Sentinel]]'', founded in 1899, is published and distributed in the Nacogdoches area.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.dailysentinel.com/site/about.html | publisher = The Daily Sentinel | website = dailysentinel.com | title = About Us | accessdate = April 1, 2022}}</ref>

==Points of interest==

* [[Mast Arboretum]]
* [[Millard's Crossing Historic Village]]
* [[Old Stone Fort Museum (Texas)|Old Stone Fort Museum]]

==Notable people==
{{Main category|People from Nacogdoches, Texas}} <!--Check within the main category to keep this list up to date, as new individuals from Nacogdoches may be added over time. Some notable figures might already be categorized but are not yet displayed here, as this section does not automatically update to reflect those changes-->
* [[Shirley J. Allen]], academic
* [[Oscar P. Austin]], [[Medal of Honor]] recipient
* [[Roy Blake, Sr.]], [[Texas]] legislator and businessman, and former Nacogdoches City Councillor
* [[Antonio Gil Y'Barbo]], frontier trader
* [[Sam Houston]], president of the [[Republic of Texas]]
* [[Joseph W. Kennedy]], co-discoverer of [[plutonium]]
* [[Joe R. Lansdale]], award-winning author and martial-arts expert
* [[Leslie Ludy]], author and public speaker
* [[Thomas Jefferson Rusk]], military leader and U.S. Senator
* [[Cornelia Branch Stone]], president-general of the [[United Daughters of the Confederacy]]; president, [[Press Women of Texas|Texas Woman's Press Association]]
* [[Albert Thomas (American politician)|Albert Thomas]], U.S. Representative
* [[Lera Millard Thomas]], U.S. Representative 
===Athletes===
* [[Grady Allen]], football player
* [[Brandon Belt]], baseball player
* [[Bucky Brandon]], baseball player
* [[Domingo Bryant]], football player
* [[Larry Centers]], football player
* [[Clint Dempsey]], soccer player<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soundersfc.com/post/2018/08/29/clint-dempsey-announces-retirement-professional-soccer|title = Clint Dempsey announces retirement from professional soccer &#124; Seattle Sounders}}</ref>
* [[Philip Humber]], baseball player
* [[Damion James]], basketball player
* [[Mark Moseley]], football player
* [[Bum Phillips]], football coach
* [[Greg Roberts (American football)|Greg Roberts]], football player
* [[Jeremiah Trotter]], football player
* [[Thomas Walkup]], basketball player
* [[Grayson Rodriguez]], baseball player
* [[Brandon Jones (safety)]], football player
* [[Jaxon Smith-Njigba]], football player

===Entertainers===

*[[Tony Frank (actor)|Tony Frank]], actor
*[[Kasey Lansdale]], actress and musician
*[[Bob Luman]], musician
*[[Brad Maule]], actor
*[[Ron Raines]], actor
*[[Alana Stewart]], actress, talk show host
*[[Joseph Fuller (musician)|Joseph Fuller]], musician

==See also==

{{Portal|Texas}}
*[[List of museums in East Texas]]

== Notes ==

{{notelist}}

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==

{{Sister project links 
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* {{official website|www.nactx.us}}

{{Nacogdoches, Texas}}
{{Nacogdoches County, Texas}}
{{Spanish Texas}}
{{Texas county seats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Nacogdoches, Texas| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Nacogdoches County, Texas]]
[[Category:County seats in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]