Meridian (pronounced muh-REE-dee-uhn by locals) is a city and 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 ...
of
Bosque County
Bosque County ( ) is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,235. Its county seat is Meridian, while Clifton is the largest city and the cultural/financial center of ...
in
central Texas
Central Texas is a region in the U.S. state of Texas surrounding Austin and roughly bordered by San Saba to Bryan and San Marcos to Hillsboro. Central Texas overlaps with and includes part of the Texas Hill Country and corresponds to a p ...
, United States.
It is forty-seven miles northwest of
Waco
Waco ( ) is the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States. It is situated along the Brazos River and I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin. The city had a 2020 population of 138,486, making it the 22nd-most populous city in the st ...
. The population was 1,493 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Meridian is located at (31.92, –97.66).
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
An economy is an area of th ...
, the city has a total area of , of which , or 0.85%, is water.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the
Köppen Climate Classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, nota ...
system, Meridian has a
humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
Climate Summary for Meridian, Texas
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Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,396 people, 673 households, and 427 families residing in the city.
2000 census
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 in ...
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), 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 ...
was 689.3 people per square mile (266.5/km). There were 600 housing units at an average density of 277.4/sq mi (107.3/km). The racial makeup of the city was 83.43% White
White is the lightness, 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 diffuse reflection, reflect and scattering, scatter all the ...
, 5.37% African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...
, 0.27% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 8.18% from other races, and 2.68% from two or more races. Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, 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 viceroyalties for ...
or Latino of any race were 23.00% of the population.
There were 515 households, out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% 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, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.7% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,750, and the median income for a family was $40,625. Males had a median income of $30,179 versus $20,227 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 city was $17,258. About 10.8% of families and 14.4% of the population were 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 ...
, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 27.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Meridian is served by the Meridian Independent School District and is home to Meridian High School.
Notable people
* Torrence Allen
Torrence Allen (born March 31, 1991) is an American former professional football wide receiver. He was born in Clifton, Texas, and attended Meridian High School in Meridian, Texas. He graduated from West Texas A&M University. As a senior, he w ...
, NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the maj ...
player played for the San Diego Chargers from 2014 to 2017
* Earle Bradford Mayfield, U.S. senator
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and powe ...
from Texas from 1923 to 1929, practiced law in Meridian early in his career
* Frank Pollard, NFL player played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1980s
Photo gallery
Image:Downtown Meridian IOOF Wiki (1 of 1).jpg, Downtown Meridian
Image:Lumpkin House Meridian Wiki (1 of 1).jpg, Lumpkin-Woodruff House
Image:Bosque County Courthouse Meridian 1886 Wiki (1 of 1).jpg, Bosque County Courthouse
References
External links
Meridian Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control
Cities in Texas
County seats in Texas
Cities in Bosque County, Texas