Kirvin is a town in

Freestone County Freestone County is a county in the east-central part of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 19,435. Its county seat is Fairfield. The county was created in 1850 and organized the next year. History Native Ame ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

, United States. The population was 129 at the 2010 census.

Geography

Kirvin is located in northwestern Freestone County at (31.766996, –96.330074). It is northwest of Fairfield, the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

, and east of Wortham. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the town of Kirvin has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2000, there were 122 people, 41 households, and 28 families residing in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was 303.0 people per square mile (117.8/km²). There were 51 housing units at an average density of 126.6 per square mile (49.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 85.25%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 8.20%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 4.92% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 1.64% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 4.92% of the population. There were 41 households, out of which 43.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.64. In the town, the population was spread out, with 33.6% under the age of 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males. The median income for a household in the town was $36,250, and the median income for a family was $42,500. Males had a median income of $35,625 versus $13,125 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the town was $12,320. There were 3.6% of families and 5.8% of the population living below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 5.0% of under eighteens and 14.3% of those over 64.

History

On May 6, 1922, three local African-American men were lynched in Kirvin by being mutilated and then burned alive for the alleged murder of a 17-year-old white girl, Eula Ausley. Their names were Snap Curry, Mose Jones and Johnny Cornish. Some 500 local Kirvin townsfolk, including the victim's grandfather, took part in the killings. Evidence now points to the innocence of at least two of the three victims. During the next month, there were several more instances of lynching by hanging of other black men in the area. Ausley is buried in the Shanks Memorial Cemetery in Kirvin, on 950 just east of FM 80. A book by Monte Akers titled ''Flames After Midnight: Murder, Vengeance, and the Desolation of a Texas Community'' was written about the incident. Two white men who were suspects in the Ausley killing were never charged-despite bloody tracks from the murder scene to their house.The Norfolk Hour May 6, 1922
/ref>

Education

Kirvin is served by the Wortham Independent School District.

References

{{authority control Towns in Freestone County, Texas Towns in Texas