Westminster, Texas
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Westminster is a city located in northeastern Collin County, Texas. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 390.
Westminster is located at the intersection of FM 3133 and FM 2862, northeast of Mckinney, east of Anna, west of Leonard, north of Blue Ridge, and southeast of Van Alstyne.
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History
The city was first settled in 1860, and named Seven Points. It grew quickly, and by 1885 had absorbed the neighbouring communities of Prospect and Graybill. In 1888, a private school was established; the building was later sold to the Methodist Church, establishing Westminster College. The college, a preperatory school for prospective ministers, was named after Westminster, Maryland, a Methodist stronghold in an otherwise predominantly Catholic state.
Within a year, the residents of Seven Points decided to change the name of their community to Westminster. The town received a post office branch in 1899, and Westminster was incorporated after a vote of 38 to 19 against, on June 17, 1916. Around the same time, the Greenville and Whitewright Northern Traction Company built a railway line from Anna to Blue Ridge that passed through Westminster.
Economic and population growth followed afterward, and from the turn of the 20th century into the 1920s, Westminster served as a cotton market and trade center for local farmers. The population grew to a high of 600, with several businesses and a high school In 1920, however, the railroad line was abandoned, and other railroads bypassed the town.
During the Great Depression, the population of Westminster was reduced by over half (to 268), and the town never had the renewed growth of its larger neighbors (such as Van Alstyne or Melissa); most of the town's businesses had closed by World War II.
The population continued to decline until the early 1970s, when it slowly began to recover. By 1990, Westminster's population was 388.
Recent decline and disincorporation
Westminster began a noticable decline after 1988, when the Texas Board of Education, citing various deficiencies, removed the accredation from the Westminster school district. In 1989, voters abolished the district and closed its school. Most of the students in Westminster now attend school in Anna.
Since that time, the city has dealt with various problems, including unresolved conflicts and lack of adequate city leadership, as well as financial difficulties and a general sense of apathy.
With marginal sales tax revenues, and a weak property tax base, Westminster was unable to recover from various mismanagement; embezzlement of state grant money and poor record-keeping led to a massive debt that, since 1997, had left the city seeking bankruptcy. This debt, of unpaid traffic fine revenues and a misappropriated (and unused) sewer grant, totaled over $300,000 USD.
Twice, the city of Westminster sought to declare for bankruptcy; the first effort, in 2001, failed after creditors rejected a payout plan. In early 2004, the state agencies agreed to relinquish their claims, provided that Westminster disincorporate.
Since then, the issue had been a debated topic in Westminster. That summer, the city council started a petition drive to gather enough signatures to place the matter of disincorporation on the ballot for the May 2005 elections. The council then proceeded to fire the city administrator, who opposed disincorporation. Those in favor of the matter, including then-mayor Phil Goplin, stated that disincorporation would keep the city from stagnating; without any cashflow or a sewer system, it is unable to attract the development of its neighboring municipalities.
The residents of Westminster voted to abolish their town charter on May 7 2005. The disincorporation of the city of Westminster, was only the eleventh such occurrence in Texas since 1975. With the loss of its charter, the city retains its name as a community, but is officially unincorporated Collin County. Therefore, maintainance and other services of the former city are now the responsibility of the state. Through an agreement with the city's creditors, the debts are considered void.
Had Westminster remained incorporated after the election, the city's sales tax reciepts would have been withheld until half the debt was repaid. A former city mayor was running for election, in case the vote failed. Opponents of the decision worry now of the loss of Westminster's history, as well as possible annexation from neighboring Anna.
Geography
Westminster is located at 33°21'19" North, 96°26'50" West (33.355228, -96.447358)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.7 km² (1.8 mi²). 4.7 km² (1.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.55% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 390 people, 140 households, and 112 families residing in the city. The population density is 82.7/km² (214.7/mi²). There are 161 housing units at an average density of 34.2/km² (88.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 97.18% White, 0.26% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 2.05% from other races, and 0.00% from two or more races. 5.90% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 140 households out of which 32.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% are married couples living together, 11.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 20.0% are non-families. 17.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 4.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.79 and the average family size is 3.13.
In the city the population is spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 104.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $42,083, and the median income for a family is $45,000. Males have a median income of $30,938 versus $24,063 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,248. 10.4% of the population and 5.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 18.8% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.