Corsicana, Texas
Corsicana is a city in Navarro County, Texas, United States. It is located on Interstate 45, some 58 mi south of downtown Dallas. The population was 23,770 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Navarro County.
History
Founded in 1848, Corsicana was named by José Antonio Navarro after the Mediterranean island of Corsica, the birthplace of his father. He had died when Navarro and his many siblings were young. The first school opened shortly afterwards in 1849.Women's groups have had a strong role throughout the history of the city. They established the Corsicana Female Literary Institute, a school which operated from 1857 through 1870. The first public library in Corsicana opened in 1901 by effort of the women's clubs of the city. A 1905 library matching gift by Andrew Carnegie gave the library a permanent home and its first full-time, professionally trained librarian. The library today is housed in a dedicated building downtown and boasts more than 52,283 books, 6,306 audio materials, 783 video materials, and 122 serial subscriptions.
The Corsicana Jewish community dates from 1871; they established the 1898 Moorish Revival Temple Beth-El, Corsicana. Few Jewish residents live here today, and the congregation sold the temple. The Historical Society has adapted the temple for use as a community center.
The Corsicana YMCA was founded in 1884, and has grown with patron funding. In its earliest days, it was supported by George Taylor Jester, a wealthy dry goods and cotton distributor, banker, and politician. He served as lieutenant governor of Texas, and his son Beauford H. Jester served as governor.
The oil field in this area was accidentally discovered in 1894 by water prospectors hired by the Corsicana Water Development authority. It was the first commercially significant oilfield find in Texas. An even larger oil field, the Powell oil field, was discovered in 1923 a few miles east of Corsicana. Another significant area oil and gas find occurred in 1956. Each oil and gas discovery brought another development boom to the city.
During World War II, an airman flying school called Corsicana Air Field trained thousands of pilots.
Geography
is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which are land and is water.
Corsicana is home to the Lake Halbert dam and recreational park, and is less than 15 mi from Richland Chambers Reservoir, with recreational fishing, public boat ramps, and of treed and green shorelines. Richland Chambers Reservoir is the third-largest lake by surface area and the eighth-largest reservoir by water volume in Texas.
Climate
Corsicana has a moderate humid subtropical climate. The range of low-high average temperatures in January, April, July, and October is 34/55, 53/75, 73/95, and 55/79 degrees Fahrenheit.Corsicana rainfall averages per year. Leafy oak, pecan, magnolia, and walnut trees are common, and grasses grow tall and green. Rain is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, with small wetter peaks in May and October.
Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 23,770 people, 8,490 households, and 5,966 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,048.3 people per square mile. There were 9,491 housing units at an average density of 460.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 58.1% White, 20.9% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 1.3% Pacific Islander, 16% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.1% of the population.There were 8,490 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them in 2010. Data from the census of 2000 showed that 48.6% of households were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 27.3% 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 2.64 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city, the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,203, and the median income for a family was $33,078. Males had a median income of $27,516 versus $19,844 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,001. About 17.4% of families and 22.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.4% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.
The housing stock in 2007 consisted of 12,313 houses and condominiums. About two-thirds were owner-occupied, and one-third rented. The median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos in 2007 was $87,955. The median amount of real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2007 was $912.
Arts and entertainment
Today's downtown supports an active performing arts community, with year-round live theater, art exhibits, and music performances in a corner of downtown anchored by the Warehouse Living Arts Center and the Palace Theater.There is also an art contest that was started in 2018.Downtown also features the historic State National Bank building, several coffeeshops and eateries, an art gallery, and several bric-à-brac outlets, and many brick-faced storefronts of historical interest.
A green park a short walk from the county courthouse downtown, has meandering creeks and walking, jogging and bike trails. Other amenities include lighted tennis courts, a children's play area with a retired fire truck, spray park, and designated skate area. At one end of the community park is the town YMCA, with a year-round indoor pool, basketball courts, cardio- and free-weight equipment, and instructor-led fitness workshops.
The town has several museums: Pioneer Village, located by Jester Park, offers reconstructed buildings and artifacts from the early historical period of the area. There is a museum dedicated to Lefty Frizzell, a Nashville singer born in town during the late 1920s.
The Cook Education Center, located on the Navarro College campus, is a multi-facted venue offering event space, gift shop, a planetarium, Civil War museum, and Western Art gallery. The planetarium is among the largest in Texas, featuring a dome and 200 seats. The planetarium offers narrated astronomical shows and 70 mm film for nominal admission.
The center is also home to the Pearce Collections Museum which boasts a collection of Civil War memorabilia and a Western Art gallery featuring a number of renowned western artists. The Cook Education Center hosts the annual Navarro College Foundation fundraiser Elegance, which benefits scholarship programs for Navarro College students. The Navarro College Performing Arts Department stages several musical recitals and two staged plays a year at the Dawson Auditorium on the west side of town.
Cinergy Cinemas & Entertainment opened a complex in 2011 near the intersection of highways 287 and 45 containing 8 theaters, mini bowling, a go-kart track, and an arcade/game room. In 2015, the location was sold to Schulman Theaters and is now branded as Schulman's Movie Bowl Grille-Corsicana.
The Navarro County Exposition Center on West State Highway 22 hosts many horse shows year-round.
Government and infrastructure
The Texas Youth Commission and later the Texas Department of Juvenile Justice formerly operated the Corsicana Residential Treatment Center in the city.Economy
, today a ductile and gray iron foundry, was started in 1866 to make parts for the owner's cotton gin. Wolf Brand Chili, a national brand named for the owner's pet wolf, Kaiser Bill, started in 1895 as a downtown by-the-bowl lunch wagon. Wolf Brand Chili was made in Corsicana until 1986. Corsicana is best known as the home of the Collin Street Bakery, which has been making fruitcakes since 1896.Today's economy no longer relies on oil and gas. Major employers include Russell Stover Candies and Collin Street Bakery, Guardian Industries, Corsicana Bedding, Kohl's and Home Depot distribution centers, Navarro Regional hospital, Trinity/Mother Francis Health System, and the Texas State Home. There are several 24/7 pharmacies, grocery stores and chain department stores scattered about the town. College Park Mall is an enclosed shopping mall which primarily houses a Beall's clothing store. Additionally, a 24-hour Wal-Mart Supercenter is located on the southwestern edge of the town.
Corsicana was the home of Tradewest, a coin-arcade and video game company founded in 1986. Tradewest was known for such Nintendo Entertainment System classics as "Double Dragon" and "Battletoads". Tradewest later became Williams Entertainment in 1994, then Midway Home Entertainment after an acquisition from WMS Industries. The Corsicana offices were closed by Midway in late 2002.
Schools
Corsicana is home to Navarro College, which offers Associate degrees and is also a satellite facility of Texas A&M University-Commerce, through which students can receive bachelor's and graduate degrees. Navarro College came to international prominence in 2020 owing to its dominant coed cheerleading team, which was featured that year in a Netflix docuseries centering on the team's preparation for the NCA National Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida. The cheerleading squad is currently coached by Monica Aldama, who, since 2000, has led the Bulldogs to 14 championships in their division, as well as 5 "Grand National" designations.The Corsicana Independent School District has an enrollment of over 6,500 students. Five Corsicana Independent School District schools have been lauded by the Texas Education Agency as Recognized campuses in the ratings released recently.
Bowie, Fannin, Carroll and Navarro Elementaries and Drane Intermediate School all achieved Recognized status.
Collins Middle School and Corsicana High School were rated Academically Acceptable by the TEA. The Corsicana ISD received Academically Acceptable status from the state.
Corsicana also has one private school, James L. Collins Catholic School, for grades K-8. Founded in 1953 by a bequest from its namesake benefactor, the school today has an enrollment of 270 students.