Groesbeck, Texas

The city of Groesbeck was dedicated as a township by Houston and Texas Central Railroad in 1869. It was named for Abram Groesbeeck, a railroad director.[3] The difference in spelling between the person and town is a result of the Post Office directives for simpler spelling.[4] Development of its city government began in 1871. Groesbeck became the county seat of Limestone county in 1873, and is home to the "Million Dollar Courthouse." Old Fort Parker Historical Site on north side of Groesbeck is preserved to tell the story of Cynthia Ann Parker, who was captured by Comanches, and became the mother of Quannah Parker, the last Comanche chief. The last legal execution in Limestone County occurred on April 12, 1895, when Richard Burleson, who had been convicted of murdering James Garrett McKinnon, was hanged in front of the courthouse in Groesbeck.[5]

Groesbeck is located at 31°31′22″N 96°31′56″W (31.522907, -96.532125).[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²), of which, 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²) of it is land and 0.27% is water.

The community is located at the junction of State Highways 14 and 164.

Groesbeck is the closest town to historic Old Fort Parker. See Fort Parker massacre. The Fort holds an annual Christmas event at the site of old Fort Parker every December. The original fort has been re-built on the original site to exact specifications.

At the 2010 census, 4,328 people, 1,286 households, and 864 families lived in the city. The population density was 989 people per square mile (382/km²). The 1,473 housing units averaged 336.8 per square mile (130/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.36% White, 20.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.03% Asian, 11.3% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 20.9%.[9]

Of the 1,286 households, 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were not families. About 29.2% of households were one person and 13% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.6 and the average family size was 3.25.

The age distribution was 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 19 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% 65 or older. The median age was 34.4 years.

The City of Groesbeck is a type A general-law city. Melvin O'Docharty has served the mayor since 2014. The five city council members are David Hernandez (Mayor pro tem). Arleen Taveras, Bob Zeman, Kim Harris, and Matthew Daley.

The main source of water is the Navasota River.

The city of Groesbeck has one public library, located at 601 W. Yeagua St., also known as Hwy. 164.

The city of Groesbeck is served by the Groesbeck Independent School District, which includes five different schools: Preschool, H.O.Whitehurst, Enge Washington, Groesbeck Middle School, and Groesbeck High School.

• Actor Joe Don Baker was born in Groesbeck in 1936.
• Physician Larry Dossey was born Groesbeck in 1940.
• R&B singer and songwriter Clay Hammond was born in Groesbeck in 1936.
• National Football League players Kenneth Sims, Frankie Smith, and Lenoy Jones played for Groesbeck High School.
• Author Garland Roark (Wake of the Red Witch)
• John Westbrook, the first African American to play football in the Southwest Conference, was born in Groesbeck in 1947.
• John E. Hatley, a former master sergeant in the United States Army, is serving a 40-year sentence in the Fort Leavenworth Disciplinary Barracks for the murder of four Iraqi detainees.

• Groesbeck Goats Football History Site
• Local newspaper
• Additional Groesbeck information
• Old Fort Parker Historical Site