Muenster, Texas
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Muenster is a city located in Cooke County, Texas on US 82. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 1,556.
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History
In 1887 the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad constructed a line from Gainesville to Henrietta that passed through the site that would become Muenster. The town was subsequently founded in 1889 by German Catholic settlers Carl and Emil Flusche, who invited other German Catholics to join them. The town was originally to be called Westphalia, but since a town of that name already existed in Texas, Muenster was selected instead in honor of Münster, the capital of Westphalia.
Many residents still spoke German in day-to-day life up until the Second World War, after which the language was no longer taught in the schools and steadily declined in use.
With more than 90% of the population German Catholic, the town did manage to preserve many German customs, and still produces traditional foods at the local meat market and bäckerei. There is an annual festival in April, Germanfest (http://www.germanfest.net/index.htm), which includes lots of beer, BBQ, German food, music, and bike and footraces. A Christkindlmarkt is also held each year on Thanksgiving weekend.
Geography
TXMap-doton-Muenster.PNG
Location of Muenster, Texas
Muenster is located at 33°39'3" North, 97°22'32" West (33.650937, -97.375659)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.4 km² (1.3 mi²). 3.3 km² (1.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.77% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 1,556 people, 588 households, and 401 families residing in the city. The population density is 465.7/km² (1,209.3/mi²). There are 628 housing units at an average density of 188.0/km² (488.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 97.62% White, 0.00% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.71% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. 2.19% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 588 households out of which 35.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% are married couples living together, 7.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% are non-families. 28.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 17.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.57 and the average family size is 3.20.
In the city the population is spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $39,125, and the median income for a family is $48,000. Males have a median income of $29,688 versus $22,697 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,638. 5.4% of the population and 4.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 5.7% of those under the age of 18 and 8.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External links
- Handbook of Texas Online, Muenster (http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/MM/hjm19.html)
- Germanfest (http://www.germanfest.net/index.htm)