Shepherd is a city in San Jacinto County,

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

, United States. The population was 2,105 at the 2020 census.

Historical information

Texas Historical Marker #7672, erected in 1970, located west of FM 222 on SH 150 in Shepherd, gives a brief background for the town. Exact text on the marker is as follows: Originated in vicinity of Old Drew's Landing, a Trinity River port for settlers bringing in goods and shipping cotton, tobacco, and other products to markets. An early nearby community was Big Creek. Into these pioneer settlements came Houston East & West Texas Railroad investors, including Benjamin A. Shepherd (1814-1891) of Houston, who in 1875 platted townsite here, naming it for himself. The town square was on west side of H. E. & W. T., which was completed beyond this point in 1879. The Shepherd Post Office opened Dec. 22, 1879, with Jack B. Noble as postmaster. A pioneer physician was Dr. William Herbert Beazley (1837-1919); Mrs. Jessie Fain operated an early hotel; Mrs. Jane Langham taught first public-school session, in Methodist church building. James Ephraim Tribe, a native of Canada, came here in 1895, was a carpenter, coffin maker, millwright, and wheelwright. A Baptist, he built a church edifice for that faith in 1896. Distinguished native son Robert Scott Lovett (1860-1932), became president of Southern Pacific and Union Pacific railroads and rendered outstanding civilian service to the nation during World War I. Once a center for the lumbering industry, Shepherd remains an important market town of southeast Texas.

2023 petroleum plant explosion

On November 8, 2023, a petroleum processing plant exploded in Shepherd. Shelter-in-place orders were issued within a radius, which was later lowered to . One employee was injured, with minor burns.

US 59 U.S. Route 59 (US 59) is a north–south U.S. highway (though it was signed east–west in parts of Texas). A latecomer to the U.S. Highway System, US 59 is now a border-to-border route, part of the NAFTA Corridor Highway System. It par ...

was closed.

Geography

Shepherd is located at (30.491363, –94.999595). 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 is land and 0.16% is water. Shepherd is located along

US Route 59 U.S. Route 59 (US 59) is a north–south U.S. highway (though it was signed east–west in parts of Texas). A latecomer to the U.S. Highway System, US 59 is now a border-to-border route, part of the NAFTA Corridor Highway System. It par ...

which is planned to be upgraded to

Interstate 69 Interstate 69 (I-69) is an Interstate Highway in the United States currently consisting of eight unconnected segments. The longest segment runs from Evansville, Indiana, northeast to the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan, and includ ...

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,105 people, 684 households, and 510 families residing in the city.

2010 census

The population was 2,319 people in the 2010 United States census. Shepherd is the 642nd most populated city in the state of Texas out of 1,752 cities. In 2010, the median household income of Shepherd residents was $27,131. Shepherd households made slightly more than Chilton households ($27,115) and Bedias households ($27,112) However, 25.7% of Shepherd residents live in poverty. The median age for Shepherd residents was 36.3 years old.

2000 census

In the 2000 census, there were a reported 744 households, and 520 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 853 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 76.44%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 18.53%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.84% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 0.05%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 1.58% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 5.52% of the population. There were 744 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.17. In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.9% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $28,906, and the median income for a family was $33,138. Males had a median income of $29,327 versus $19,615 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 $13,115. About 17.5% of families and 19.8% 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 24.5% of those under age 18 and 21.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The City of Shepherd is served by the Shepherd Independent School District.

Notable people

* Ernest Bailes, politician *

Amber Holcomb Amber Nicole Holcomb (born March 17, 1994) is an American singer, who came in fourth place on the twelfth season of ''American Idol.'' Early life Amber Nicole Holcomb was born on March 17, 1994, in Houston, Texas. Holcomb starting singing at th ...

, American Idol season 12 finalist * Tyler Kolek, Minor League Baseball pitcher *

Stephen Kolek Stephen James Kolek (born April 18, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024. Career Kolek attended Shepherd High School in Shepherd, Texas. He enr ...

, pitcher for the San Diego Padres * Bert Long Jr., artist * Jonathan Marshall, American football defensive tackle * Travian Smith, American football linebacker

References

External links

{{authority control Cities in San Jacinto County, Texas Cities in Texas Greater Houston