Wimberley is a city in Hays County, Texas, United States. It is still predominantly a ranching area.[4] The population was 2,839 at the 2020 census.[5]

Wimberley, Texas
Downtown Wimberley
Downtown Wimberley
Location of Wimberley, Texas
Location of Wimberley, Texas
Coordinates: 29°58′50″N 98°06′23″W / 29.98056°N 98.10639°W / 29.98056; -98.10639
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyHays
Settled (as Winters' Mill)1856
Named1880
Incorporated (city)2000
Founded byPreston Justus Nielson
Named forPleasant Wimberley
Government
 • TypeMayor-council government
 • MayorGina Fulkerson[citation needed]
Area
 • Total
8.96 sq mi (23.19 km2)
 • Land8.96 sq mi (23.19 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation850 ft (260 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
2,839
 • Density360.92/sq mi (139.35/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
78676
Area code512 & 737
FIPS code48-79624[3]
GNIS feature ID2412278[2]
Websitewww.cityofwimberley.com

History

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Winters-Wimberley House, c. 1856

Wimberley started as a trading post settlement near Cypress Creek in 1848, the year Hays County was organized. After William Carvin Winters built a gristmill at the site in 1856, it took on the name "Winters' Mill". When the mill was sold in 1864 to the Cude family, its name was changed to "Cude's Mill". It was sold again in 1874 to Pleasant Wimberley and took on his name. Over the years, the mill was expanded to process lumber, shingles, flour, molasses, and cotton.

The mill is gone, but Winter's home survives and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[citation needed]

In 1880, Alfred vom Stein, a postmaster from San Marcos, applied to have a post office established in the community, calling it "Wimberleyville". The application was granted, but the name shortened to Wimberley. Although the mill was shut down in 1925, the community was established and continued to grow, eventually becoming known as a resort town and becoming popular with tourists.[6] Prior to its incorporation in May 2000,[7] it was a census-designated place (CDP).

On May 25, 2015, the town was hit by flooding during the 2015 Texas–Oklahoma floods, along the Blanco River which flows through town. The river crested at an estimated 41.5 feet (12.6 m), which was almost 30 feet (9.1 m) above flood stage.

Geography

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Wimberley is located in western Hays County 38 miles (61 km) via road southwest of Austin and 58 miles (93 km) northeast of San Antonio.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 9.0 square miles (23.2 km2), all land.[5]

Cypress Creek joins the Blanco River in Wimberley; the Blanco then empties into the San Marcos River near the city of San Marcos, 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Wimberley. Blue Hole and Jacob's Well are located along Cypress Creek.

Climate

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The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Wimberley has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[8]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
20102,626
20202,8398.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1850–1900[10] 1910[11]
1920[12] 1930[13] 1940[14]
1950[15] 1960[16] 1970[17]
1980[18] 1990[19] 2000[20]
2010[21] 2020[22]
Wimberley racial composition as of 2020[23]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 2,315 81.54%
Black or African American (NH) 10 0.35%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 8 0.28%
Asian (NH) 9 0.32%
Pacific Islander (NH) 1 0.04%
Some Other Race (NH) 15 0.53%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 94 3.31%
Hispanic or Latino 387 13.63%
Total 2,839

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,839 people, 1,428 households, and 896 families residing in the city.

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,626 people, 1,145 households, and 726 families residing in the city. There were 1,482 housing units, of which 337, or 22.7%, were vacant. 245 of the vacant units were for seasonal or recreational use. The racial makeup of the city was 93.5% white, 0.5% African American, 1.5% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 2.8% some other race, and 1.5% from two or more races. 11.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[26]

Of the 1,145 households, 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were headed by married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21, and the average family size was 2.72.[26]

In the city, 16.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.8% were from 18 to 24, 16.0% from 25 to 44, 35.4% from 45 to 64, and 26.9% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.[26]

For the period 2012–2016, the estimated median annual income for a household was $68,359, and the median income for a family was $88,958. Male full-time workers had a median income of $61,429 versus $38,611 for females. The per capita income for the city was $44,219. 8.8% of the population and 7.5% of families were below the poverty line. 17.3% of the population under the age of 18 and 3.8% of those 65 or older were living in poverty.[27]

Education

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Wimberley Public Schools are part of the Wimberley Independent School District. The district has one primary school, one elementary school, one junior high school, and two high schools (Wimberley High School and Katherine Anne Porter School, a public charter high school). Students attend Wimberley High School or Katherine Anne Porter School (HS), Scudder Primary School, Jacob's Well Elementary School and Danforth Junior High School.[28]

Notable people

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Further reading

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  • Kerbow, Dorothy Wimberley (July 1994). Wimberley, Texas: Historic Belle of the Blanco. Eakin Press Company. ISBN 978-0-89015-964-4.

References

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  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wimberley, Texas
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "Historic Cattle Trails & Cowboy Culture".
  5. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Wimberley city, Texas". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  6. ^ Kerbow, Dorothy Wimberley (February 22, 2010). "Wimberley, Texas". Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
  7. ^ "Boundary Changes". Geographic Change Notes: Texas. Population Division, United States Census Bureau. May 19, 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2008.
  8. ^ "Wimberley, Texas Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase.
  9. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  10. ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of Texas By Counties And Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  20. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ "Census Bureau profile: Fronton, Texas". United States Census Bureau. May 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  23. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  24. ^ https://www.census.gov/ [not specific enough to verify]
  25. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  26. ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1): Wimberley city, Texas". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  27. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics: 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP03): Wimberley city, Texas". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  28. ^ "Wimberley Independent School District". Wimberley Independent School District. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  29. ^ a b Dallas Morning News. "Paul Simon’s new house in Wimberley, Texas, has made him the talk of the town" by Michael Granberry. Oct 15, 2022.
  1. ^ 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.[24][25]
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