Hamlin, Texas

File:Downtown Hamlin, TX IMG 6239.JPG

Downtown Hamlin near sunset

Hamlin is a city in Jones and Fisher Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. Its population was 1,831 at the 2020 census.<ref name=":0" /> The Jones County portion of Hamlin is part of the Abilene, Texas metropolitan area.

History

The city was named for W. H. Hamlin, a railroad official of the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway.<ref name="marker">Template:Cite web</ref> The Orient reached Hamlin in 1906<ref name="marker"/> and was followed by the Texas Central Railroad within a few years and by the Abilene and Southern Railroad in 1910. The arrival of the railroad was announced in 1902, and the first train arrived in 1906. The county's first gypsum plant was constructed Template:Convert outside of Hamlin in 1903. Business boomed with the rail service, and the town included gins, a cottonseed oil mill, and a number of other businesses. Oil was discovered in 1928, which also contributed to the economy.<ref name="marker"/> The Hamlin Herald was first published in 1906<ref name="marker"/> and is still in print.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hamlin later gained its first and only hospital, Hamlin Memorial Hospital, in 1948; it is operated by Hamlin Hospital District and owns Hamlin Medical Clinic.

Geography

Hamlin is located in northwestern Jones County. The city limits extend west into Fisher County, although no people lived in this portion as of 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert, or 0.20%, is covered by water.<ref name="Census 2010">Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

U.S. Route 83 passes through the center of Hamlin as Central Avenue, leading north Template:Convert to Aspermont and southeast Template:Convert to Anson, the Jones County seat. Abilene is Template:Convert to the southeast. Texas State Highway 92 crosses Hamlin as Lake Drive, leading east Template:Convert to Stamford and west 20 miles to Rotan.

Demographics

2020 census

Hamlin racial composition<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
(NH = Non-Hispanic)Template:Efn

Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	1,054	57.56%
Black or African American (NH)	109	5.95%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	9	0.49%
Asian (NH)	15	0.82%
Some Other Race (NH)	6	0.33%
Mixed/multiracial (NH)	48	2.62%
Hispanic or Latino	590	32.22%
Total	1,831

As of the 2020 United States census, 1,831 people, 730 households, and 528 families lived in the city.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2" /> 2,248 people, 924 households, and 623 families resided in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. The 1,090 housing units averaged Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 79.58% White, 6.23% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 11.48% from other races, and 1.73% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 20.69% of the population.

Of the 924 households, 29.5% had children under 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were not families. About 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was distributed as 25.7% under 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 78.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,873, and for a family was $33,667. Males had a median income of $25,887 versus $16,350 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,308. About 13.7% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under 18 and 21.2% of those 65 or over.

Education

The city is served by the Hamlin Independent School District and is home to the Hamlin High School Pied Pipers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Hamlin has a semiarid climate, BSk on climate maps.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>