Honey Grove is a city in
Fannin County, Texas, United States. Honey Grove bills itself as "The Sweetest Town in Texas". The population was 1,715 at the
2020 census, up from 1,668 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Honey Grove is in central
North Texas
North Texas is a term used primarily by residents of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex to refer to a geographic area of Texas, generally considered to include the area south of Oklahoma, east of Abilene, Texas, Abilene, west of Paris, Texas, Par ...
, in eastern Fannin County, east of
Bonham, the
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...
, north of
Greenville, east of
Sherman, and northeast of the central business district of
Dallas
Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...
. Honey Grove was developed on flat to gently rolling terrain with scattered trees. The city is at an elevation ranging from about above sea level.
U.S. Highway 82 and
State Highway 56 traverse the city from east to west, and State Roads 34, 100, and 824 run north and south. Bonham is the closest major economic center. Its climate produces an annual average daily maximum temperature of 75.1 °F, and an average annual rainfall is . It is also a part of the
Texoma region.
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city has a total area of , of which are land and , or 1.40%, is covered by water.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the
2020 United States census, there were 1,715 people, 798 households, and 496 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the census
of 2000, 1,746 people, 693 households, and 451 families were residing in the city. The population density was . The 814 housing units averaged 308.4/sq mi (119.0/km
2). The
racial makeup of the city was 78.87% White, 16.32% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.58% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 5.90% of the population.
Of the 693 households, 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were not families. About 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city, the population was distributed as 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,859, and for a family was $37,266. Males had a median income of $27,560 versus $22,050 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the city was $14,701. About 12.4% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.
History
David Crockett discovered the area of Honey Grove when he camped there on his way to join the
Texas Army at
San Antonio
San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...
in 1836. Crockett sent many letters back to
Tennessee
Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...
, telling of an area with an abundance of honey-filled trees, hence the town's name. In 1837, Samuel Erwin became the first settler of the place. B. S. Walcott contributed much to the town's development, by planning the city's landscape and later on by selling building lots. In 1873, Honey Grove was officially established.
Samuel Erwin and Davy Crockett, old friends from
Kentucky
Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...
, were instrumental in the founding of Honey Grove. Samuel Augustus Erwin has a large gravestone marker in Honey Grove, stating: "
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
-born Samuel Erwin was married in 1819 in Tennessee to Sally Rodgers Crisp (1795–1860), in a ceremony performed by local magistrate David Crockett. First settler in the Honey Grove area, Erwin arrived here in 1837 and surveyed land grants for other pioneers. A surveyor by profession, he platted the town site for his friend B.S. Wolcott in 1848. He was the town's first postmaster and one of Fannin County's earliest Justices of the Peace."
The Crockett Park Monument, in the same area, indicates that Honey Grove was named by Crockett, but he died before it could become a town. It states that one of his old friends, Sam Erwin, became the founder of the settlement. The monument reads in part that Crockett traveled by riverboat, horseback, and on foot, entering Texas along the
Red River, camping at a site half a mile northeast of today's park, where he found wild bees and honey in hollow trees, and called the campsite a "honey grove". He is said to have told friends he would settle here later, but he died a few weeks later in the cause of Texan liberty, at
the Alamo.
In 2007, Honey Grove was also a temporary filming location for an episode of ''
One Tree Hill'', in which the local high school won a contest the CW and Sunkist promoted. Fans submitted videos in hopes their town would be selected. Mark Schwahn, the creator of ''One Tree Hill'', ultimately chose Honey Grove High School as the winner. The cast from ''One Tree Hill'', who filmed with Honey Grove High School, included
Chad Michael Murray
Chad Michael Murray (born August 24, 1981) is an American actor, writer, and former model. He played the lead role of Lucas Scott in The WB/ CW teen drama series '' One Tree Hill'' (2003–09, 2012), and recurring roles as Tristin DuGray on '' ...
,
Sophia Bush
Sophia Anna Bush (born July 8, 1982) is an American actress. She starred as List of One Tree Hill characters#Brooke Davis, Brooke Davis in The WB/The CW, CW drama series ''One Tree Hill (TV series), One Tree Hill'' (2003–2012), and as Erin Li ...
,
Hilarie Burton,
James Lafferty, and
Bethany Joy Lenz.
Honey Grove Texas was also included in the series, A Woman of Independent Means. Starring Sally Field and Tony Goldwyn.
Government
Honey Grove is a type A, general law municipality whose government consists of a mayor and five aldermen. The mayor presides over council meetings, is signatory for the city, and is recognized as the ceremonial and governmental head of the city for most purposes.
Education
The city of Honey Grove is served by the
Honey Grove Independent School District. In 2009, the district built a new high school, track, and gymnasium.
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 divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
, Honey Grove has a
humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...
, ''Cfa'' on climate maps.
Climate Summary for Honey Grove, Texas
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Notable people
* Tyler Bryant
Tyler Dow Bryant (born February 24, 1991) is an American guitarist from Paris, Texas. He is best known as the lead guitarist and vocalist of the rock band Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown.
Early and personal life
Bryant got his first guitar at th ...
, member of Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown
* Bill Erwin, actor
* John Underwood, former NFL player
* Mule Wilson, former NFL player
* Robert G. "Bob" Goss (1898-1978), former police chief of Kilgore, and Texas Ranger
Photo gallery
Image:Honey Grove Post Office (1 of 1).jpg, Post Office
Image:Downtown Honey Grove7 (1 of 1).jpg, Downtown Honey Grove
Image:Downtown Honey Grove4 (1 of 1).jpg, Downtown Honey Grove
Image:Downtown Honey Grove6 (1 of 1).jpg, Downtown Honey Grove
Image:Honey Grove City Hall (1 of 1).jpg, City Hall
Image:Honey Grove High School 1939 (1 of 1).jpg, High School 1939
Image:Downtown Honey Grove3 (1 of 1).jpg, Downtown Honey Grove
References
External links
City of Honey Grove official website
Honey Grove Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control
Cities in Texas
Cities in Fannin County, Texas