New London, Texas

On March 18, 1937, the London School Explosion killed 294 people (most were children). As a result of the disaster, Texas passed laws requiring natural gas to be mixed with a malodorant to provide early warning of any leak. Other states quickly followed. Eventually, the legal requirement for malodorant in natural gas became a legal requirement in the United States.[3]

New London is located at 32°15′22″N 94°55′54″W (32.256101, -94.931567).[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.6 square miles (22 km²), of which, 8.6 square miles (22 km²) of it is land and 0.12% is water.

At the 2000 census there were 987 people in 352 households, including 268 families, in the city. The population density was 114.3 people per square mile (44.1/km²). There were 388 housing units at an average density of 44.9/sq mi (17.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.59% White, 4.86% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 2.33% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.86%.[1]

Of the 352 households 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.2% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 22.2% of households were one person and 13.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.09.

The age distribution was 28.3% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.0 males.

The median household income was $28,984 and the median family income was $36,979. Males had a median income of $27,981 versus $15,313 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,009. About 13.5% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

The city of New London is served by the West Rusk Independent School District. A very small portion of the town is within the Overton ISD.

The 2015 historical novel Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez depicts 1930s New London.[7]

Media related to New London, Texas at Wikimedia Commons

• The Handbook of Texas Online article on New London, Texas
• New London's West Rusk Schools homepage
• Texas Bob's New London, Texas webpage
• The London Museum of New London, TX webpage
• Pictorial history of New London, Texas