Ferris, Texas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Ferris, Texas
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
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image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Ferris, Texas

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mapsize1 = 250px
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Texas
subdivision_type2 = Counties
subdivision_name2 = Ellis, Dallas

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
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established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 8.0
area_land_km2 = 8.0
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 3.1
area_land_sq_mi = 3.1
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 2175
population_density_km2 = 270.2
population_density_sq_mi = 699.8

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 142
elevation_ft = 466
latd = 32 |latm = 32 |lats = 7 |latNS = N
longd = 96 |longm = 40 |longs = 1 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 75125
area_code = 972
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 48-25752GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1335757GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Ferris is a city in Dallas and Ellis Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 2,175 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Ferris is located at coor dms|32|32|7|N|96|40|1|W|city (32.535144, -96.667038)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.1 km²), all of it land. Most of the city lies within Ellis County, with only a small portion in Dallas County.

History

Settlement of the area began in the early 1870s. On September 28, 1874, a local family deeded approximately 100 acres of land to four trustees for the establishment of a town and railway station. [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txellis/towns/joanna.htm The Story of Ferris, Texas] – Ellis County TXGenWeb.] Judge Justus Wesley Ferris of Waxahachie handled the transaction and the community was named for him. Within ten years, Ferris had a population of 300 with a post office, gristmills, cotton gins, four churches, and a school. [http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/FF/hjf3.html Ferris, Texas] – Handbook of Texas.]

On September 18, 1882, an election was held to incorporate the community. A total of 47 votes were cast – 34 (72%) in favor of incorporation and 13 (28%) against. The results were verified by the Ellis County Judge on September 30 and Ferris officially became a town. By 1900, the town was home to 904 residents. In 1910, that number had increased to 1,233 residents.

Fifty businesses, including six brick plants that benefitted from the area's mineral rich soil, were operating in 1914. The population rose to 1,586 by 1925 but declined during the 1930s and 1940s as a result of the Great Depression and World War II. [http://www.texasescapes.com/CentralTexasTownsNorth/Ferris-Texas.htm Ferris, Texas] – Texas Escapes Online Magazine.]

Ferris thrived during the early post-war years. Four brick plants operated during the 1950s and was known locally as the "Brick Capital of the Nation". Ferris also has a second nickname – "The City that Bricked the World" – which is still commonly used to date. In 1952, the population had risen to 1,734 and 1,807 by 1964.

The expansion of the Dallas–Fort Worth Metropolitan Area and the construction of Interstate 45 aided the growth of Ferris in the latter half of the twentieth century. Although the number of businesses decreased during the 1980s, the population continued to grow. It stood at 2,212 in 1990 and 2,175 in 2000. A July 1, 2007 United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 2,498.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,175 people, 688 households, and 502 families residing in the city. The population density was 699.8 people per square mile (270.0/km²). There were 741 housing units at an average density of 238.4/sq mi (92.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.68% White, 22.39% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 7.45% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.54% of the population.

There were 688 households out of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.61.

In the city the population was spread out with 32.0% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,573, and the median income for a family was $43,641. Males had a median income of $32,227 versus $24,423 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,104. About 8.1% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Pupils in Ferris are served by the Ferris Independent School District.

Some areas in Dallas County not within the Ferris city limits but with Ferris addresses are served by the Dallas Independent School District. The areas were served by the Wilmer-Hutchins Independent School District until it closed for good during the 2005-2006 school year.

References

External links

* [http://cityofferristexas.org/ City of Ferris] - Official site.
* [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/FF/hjf3.html Handbook of Texas Online article on Ferris]
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/search/?q=FPL&t=institution Read the Ferris Wheel newspaper] , 1896-1897, hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History]