Kendleton, Texas

Kendleton is a city in western Fort Bend County, Texas southwest of Sugar Land, Texas. It was established by emancipated slaves after the American Civil War. The population was 380 at the 2010 census,[5] down from 466 at the 2000 census. As of 2011, Darryl Humphrey was the mayor of the city.

"Kendleton" redirects here. For the Kendleton meteorite of 1939, see meteorite falls.

Kendleton, Texas
City
Water tower
Water tower
Location of Kendleton, Texas
Location of Kendleton, Texas
Coordinates: 29°26′52″N 95°59′59″W
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyFort Bend
Area
[1]
 • Total1.10 sq mi (2.86 km2)
 • Land1.10 sq mi (2.85 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
95 ft (29 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total380
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
454
 • Density413.10/sq mi (159.47/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
77451
Area code979
FIPS code48-38848[3]
GNIS feature ID1339029[4]
Websitehttp://www.kendletontx.net/

History

What is now Kendleton was a part of William E. Kendall's plantation. In the 1860s Kendall divided his property into various small farms and sold the plots to African Americans who were former slaves. The community of the farms became known as Kendleton.

In 1882 the New York, Texas and Mexican Railway Company established a railroad track between Rosenberg and Victoria, which passed through Kendleton. In 1884 a post office opened. In 1890 Kendleton had 25 inhabitants and a general store. In 1896 the community had two additional general stores and two churches; one was Baptist and one was Methodist. In 1900 116 people lived in Kendleton. In 1933 Kendleton had 36 residents. By the late 1940s Kendleton had about 100 residents. In the 1960s and 1970s the population fluctuated between 150 and 200 people. In 1973 voters approved the incorporation of Kendleton as a city. After incorporation the population increased to over 600. In 1990 Kendleton had 496 residents. In 2000 Kendleton had 466 residents. According to the Handbook of Texas, area residents estimated that about 2,200 people lived in Kendleton and surrounding areas.[6]

Geography
Map of Kendleton

Kendleton is located in western Fort Bend County at 29°26′52″N 95°59′59″W (29.447872, –95.999806).[7] Its western boundary is the San Bernard River, the Fort Bend/Wharton County line.

U.S. Route 59, a four-lane divided highway, runs through the city, closely bypassing the original town center which is now served by Texas State Highway Loop 541. Farm to Market Road 2919 runs north from Kendleton to East Bernard. Via US 59 the city is 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Rosenberg and 6 miles (10 km) northeast of Hungerford.[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Kendleton has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.9 km2), of which 0.004 square miles (0.01 km2), or 0.45%, is water.[5]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1980606—
1990496−18.2%
2000466−6.0%
2010380−18.5%
2019 (est.)454[2]19.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
City hall

2020 census
Kendleton city, Texas – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[10] Pop 2020[11] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 15 13 3.95% 3.79%
Black or African American alone (NH) 314 219 82.63% 63.85%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 0 0 0.00% 0.00%
Asian alone (NH) 0 1 0.00% 0.29%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 0 0.00% 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 0 10 0.00% 2.92%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 5 5 1.32% 1.46%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 46 95 12.11% 27.70%
Total 380 343 100.00% 100.00%

2000 census

At the 2000 census,[3] there were 466 people, 178 households and 116 families residing in the city. The population density was 437.9 inhabitants per square mile (169.1/km2). There were 209 housing units at an average density of 196.4 per square mile (75.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 12.45% White, 78.97% African American, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 5.15% from other races, and 3.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.24% of the population.

There were 178 households, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples living together, 21.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 33.1% 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 2.62, The average family size was 3.27.

Age distribution was 29.4% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 77.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.3 males.

The median household income was $21,563, and the median family income was $35,795. Males had a median income of $34,167 versus $21,964 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,196. About 14.6% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 28.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure
Post office

The United States Postal Service A post office opened in Kendleton in 1884,[6] shortly after Kendleton's founding.[12] Kendleton Post Office is located at 13635 Willie Melton Boulevard. Benjamin F. Williams was the first postmaster[13] and also served in the state legislature. In July 2011 the USPS announced that the post office may close.[14] The nearest available post office to Kendleton is over 10 miles (16 km) from the city. Darryl Humphrey, the mayor of Kendleton, criticized the proposed closing. Cindy Horswell and Megan Ryan of the Houston Chronicle said that Humphrey "feels like his community will be erased from society if the post office is removed, too."[12]

Fort Bend County does not have a hospital district. OakBend Medical Center serves as the county's charity hospital which the county contracts with.[15]

Education

Public schools

Kendleton is served by the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (LCISD).[16] Students are zoned to Beasley Elementary School in Beasley,[17] Wright Junior High School (grades 6-8),[18] and Randle High School.[19]

Historically the Kendleton area schools served Kendleton and surrounding communities. In 1903 the school system had 202 African-American students in three schools, and 12 White students in two schools.[6] Previously primary school students attended the Kendleton Independent School District (KISD)'s Powell Point Elementary School, located Powell Point, an unincorporated area north of Kendleton. In 1985 LCISD began serving secondary school students in the KISD territory, while primary school students went to Powell Point.[20]

On March 25, 2010, Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Robert Scott announced that he was closing the Kendleton Independent School District. The closing is effective July 1, 2010. Kendleton ISD will be merged with Lamar Consolidated Independent School District. Commissioner Scott's statement was, "While it saddens me to close a school district, years of effort, including reconstituting its school, have failed to turn this district around. I believe students would be ill-served if Kendleton is allowed to continue to operate. The Texas Education Agency pledges to work with the citizens of Kendleton and Lamar Consolidated to make this transition as smooth as possible." As a result of the closure, students at Powell Point were rezoned to Beasley and Wessendorf. LCISD, for a two-year period, will operate its head start program at Powell Point.[21] In July 2011 mayor Darryl Humphrey said that his community was still recovering from the closing of Pilot Point Elementary.[12]

Previously Kendleton was zoned to Wessendorff Middle School, Lamar Junior High School, and Lamar Consolidated High School of LCISD.[22][23] Wright and Randle opened in 2021.[24]

Colleges and universities

The designated community college for LCISD is Wharton County Junior College.[25]

Bay Ridge Christian College was located north of Kendleton in an unincorporated section of Fort Bend County.[26]

Parks and recreation

Fort Bend County owns and operates the Bates M. Allen Park, located just outside the city limits of Kendleton. The 235-acre (0.95 km2) park includes a canoe ramp, a fishing pier, grills, a historical site, a lake, an observation deck, two pavilions, a play area, a sand volleyball court, tables, toilet facilities, walking trails and wetlands.[27]

In 2023 the county stated it would add a memorial to African-American settlements, which would mean much of the park would be revamped. The cost would be $4,000,000.[28]

  • Church of God on FM 2919 in Kendleton
    Church of God on FM 2919 in Kendleton
  • Marker explains the US Supreme Court case Terry v. Adams
    Marker explains the US Supreme Court case Terry v. Adams
  • Union Pacific railroad crossing at Loop 541 and FM 2919
    Union Pacific railroad crossing at Loop 541 and FM 2919
  • Marker on Loop 541 gives the history of Kendleton
    Marker on Loop 541 gives the history of Kendleton
  • Loop 541 after the US 59 exit to the northeast of Kendleton
    Loop 541 after the US 59 exit to the northeast of Kendleton

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Kendleton city, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  6. "Kendleton, Texas." Handbook of Texas. Retrieved on July 23, 2011.
  7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. Google Maps highway directions
  9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kendleton city, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  11. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kendleton city, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  12. Horswell, Cindy and Megan Ryan. "South Texas post office closures 'heart breaking' for many." Houston Chronicle. July 26, 2011. Retrieved on July 27, 2011.
  13. "Post Office Location - KENDLETON Archived 2012-07-23 at archive.today." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
  14. "Expanded Access study list Archived 2011-09-25 at the Wayback Machine." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on July 24, 2011.
  15. Knipp, Bethany (November 2, 2016). "Fort Bend County lacks hospital district". Community Impact Newspaper. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  16. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Fort Bend County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2022. - Compare with LCISD boundary maps.
  17. "Board Approved Attendance Zones In effect starting 2022-2023 School Year" (PDF). Lamar Consolidated Independent School District. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  18. "Randle-Wright Board Approved Zones 9-17-2020" (PDF). Lamar Consolidated Independent School District. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  19. "High School Attendance Zones" (PDF). Lamar Consolidated Independent School District. Retrieved September 21, 2022. - Compare with the Census map.
  20. "Regular Board Meeting Lamar Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees Thursday, April 15, 2010 7:00 PM." Lamar Consolidated Independent School District. Retrieved on May 25, 2018. p. 35 (PDF p. 35/89). "Lamar CISD has provided educational services to Kendleton students in grades 7-12 since 1985."
  21. Pollock, B.J. "It'll be a long bus ride for Kendleton pupils Archived 2011-11-28 at the Wayback Machine." Ultimate Fort Bend (Houston Chronicle). July 27, 2010. Retrieved on October 16, 2011.
  22. "Lamar CISD Attendance Zones Archived 2011-08-12 at the Wayback Machine." (Direct file link Archived 2011-08-12 at the Wayback Machine) Lamar Consolidated Independent School District. Retrieved on July 2, 2010. Also see the high school attendance zones prior to the 2021 openings of Wright JHS and Randle HS
  23. Block map of Kendleton and school district map of the 2010 U.S. Census. Note that Kendleton ISD existed previously but sent secondary students to Lamar CISD (see page 35 of this document)
  24. Washington, Chad (November 19, 2020). "Randle High School to be Lions, wear silver and black". Fort Bend Herald. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  25. Texas Education Code Sec. 130.211. WHARTON COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. - Both the former Kendleton ISD and Lamar Consolidated ISD are in the Wharton College district.
  26. "Bay Ridge Christian College". Archived from the original on July 20, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
  27. "County Owned Parks". Fort Bend County. Retrieved on October 11, 2009.
  28. Brown, Ashley (February 28, 2023). "Fort Bend County to invest in new African-American memorial park to honor one of first freedmen's towns in Texas". Houston Public Media. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
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