Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By simmons on August 22, 2015

Palestine ( PAL-e-steen) is a city in Anderson County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 18,712.[3] It is the county seat.[4] Palestine was named for Palestine, Illinois, by Daniel Parker.[5]

The largest employer is the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which employs more than 3,900. Another 1,600 work at two Wal-Mart distribution centers. Other significant employers include a thriving medical and healthcare sector that tends to the large population of retirees.

Palestine entered the news in February 2003, as one of the East Texas towns that received much of the debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, where seven astronauts were killed.[6]

Palestine is also home to the NASA Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (renamed after the shuttle crash), which has flown 1,700 high-altitude balloons for universities and research agencies.

In 1846, the Texas Legislature created Palestine to serve as seat for the newly established Anderson County. James R. Fulton, Johnston Shelton and William Bigelow were hired by the first Anderson County commissioners to survey the surrounding land and lay out a town site, consisting of a central courthouse square and the surrounding 24 blocks.[7] Predating the town was a temporary trading post in operation since at least 1843.[8] It grew significantly following the arrival of the railroad in the 1870s.[9] It had a population of over 10,000 by 1898.[10]

Palestine is located near the center of Anderson County at 314529N 953819W / 31.75806N 95.63861W / 31.75806; -95.63861 (31.757925, -95.638473).[11] Several numbered highways converge on the city, including U.S. Highways 79, 84, and 287, plus Texas State Highways 19 and 155. Dallas is 110 miles (180km) to the northwest, and Houston is 150 miles (240km) to the south. Tyler is 47 miles (76km) to the northeast.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.6 square miles (50.7km2), of which 19.4 square miles (50.2km2) is land and 0.19 square miles (0.5km2), or 1.06%, is water.[3]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 17,598 people, 6,641 households, and 4,582 families residing in the city. The population density was 994.3 people per square mile (383.9/km). There were 7,668 housing units at an average density of 433.2 per square mile (167.3/km). The racial makeup of the city was 64.60% White, 24.77% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 7.90% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.88% of the population.

There were 6,641 households out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 18.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,497, and the median income for a family was $36,806. Males had a median income of $28,331 versus $20,662 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,514. About 16.6% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.

According to the city's most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city's various funds had $12.6 million in revenues, $11.8 million in expenditures, $6.2 million in total assets, $0.7 million in total liabilities, and $4.2 million in cash in investments.[14]

Palestine is represented in the Texas Senate by Republican Robert Nichols, District 3, and in the Texas House of Representatives by Republican Byron Cook, District 8.

At the national level, the two U.S. senators from Texas are Republicans John Cornyn and Ted Cruz; Palestine is part of Texas' US Congressional 5th District, currently represented by Republican Jeb Hensarling.

With almost 3,500 students the Palestine Independent School District is the largest school district in Palestine.[15] The district comprises:

Located on the western edge of the city is the Westwood Independent School District. It is home to approximately 1,700 students.[16] It consists of a primary, elementary, junior high and high school campus.

Westwood Independent School District

Landmark School, a 9-12 charter school of Honors Academy, is in Palestine.[17]

Innovation Academy, charter school of The University of Texas at Tyler, began in 2012 with grades 3-6. Grades 7-12 will be added at the rate of one per year. Location: NW Loop 256 @ Highway 287N.

A small portion of remote area of the City is also within the Elkhart ISD.

Trinity Valley Community College operates TVCC-Palestine just north of the city limits at the intersection of US 287 and State Highway 19. In addition to offering academic transfer courses the Palestine campus offers vocational-technical programs in vocational nursing, cosmetology, mid-management, computer science, criminal justice, business and office technology, fire science, legal assistant, emergency medical technician and paramedic programs and also trains correctional officers for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Continuing education and adult education courses are also offered.[18]

The University of Texas at Tyler also operates a campus in the city. A new $9.6 million 50-acre (200,000m2) campus opened in 2010, fall semester.[19] The UT Tyler Palestine Campus currently offers courses in Nursing, Business, Education, Health and Kinesiology and History.[20]

The Dogwood Trails Festival occurs each spring over the last two weekends of March and the first weekend in April.[21]

The Dogwood Jamboree is held every two months at the Palestine Civic Center. The country and western concert is hosted by Pastor Dan Manuel and a variety of country and western artists. Each performance always features new talent, young, older and in between. The newest addition to the Dogwood Jamboree features talent competition developing young artists under the age of eighteen. Attendees come from all over the nation and from foreign countries to see the performances.

The Palestine Visitor Information Center at the entrance to the downtown district is located in a former railroad depot.

A glimpse of downtown Palestine

The Texas Theatre hosts community events.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 503 North Queen Street in downtown Palestine

The rest is here:
Palestine, Texas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Category: Jewish American Heritage Month
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