Whitesboro is a city in Grayson County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,074 at the 2020 census. Whitesboro is named for its founder, Ambrose B. White.
It is part of the Sherman-Denison metropolitan area.
History
Native Americans had hunted in the area.
The area was once known as "Wolf Path". The first settler in the area was Robert Diamond, but the settlement of Wolf Path began with the arrival of Ambrose B. White and his family in 1848. The Butterfield Overland Mail route used White's Westview Inn as the "Diamond Station" on its trail from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Coast from 1858 to 1861. A post office, under the name "Whitesborough", began operations there in 1860.
After the Civil War, Whitesborough grew into a frontier town where female residents were prohibited from leaving their homes on Saturday nights because shootings were so common. Whitesborough had a population of 500, saloons, several stores, and other businesses when it was incorporated on June 2, 1873. By 1879, it had a bank, a newspaper, and train service from Denison on a line from the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad. In 1887, it altered the spelling of its name to "Whitesboro".
In 1903, racial tensions were high in Whitesboro after an "Anti-White Man's Club" left a note threatening to poison local wells and "foully treat" and murder "some white girl". Later that year, a black male was held by police for identification following an alleged attempted rape of a white Whitesboro woman. A large mob broke into the man's cell and attempted to hang him from a tree; he was rescued by police. The mob then fired guns toward homes occupied by blacks, and ordered them to leave town, resulting in the large exodus of a once majority black town.
It was suspected that threats made from the "Anti-White man's club" were fabricated notes from white residents of Whitesboro created in order to create fake hysteria and further racial tensions.
Whitesboro is located in western Grayson County. US 82 passes through the northern side of the city, and US 377 passes through the eastern side. US 82 leads east to Sherman, the county seat, and west to Gainesville, while US 377 leads north to the Oklahoma state line on the Red River and south to Denton.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Whitesboro has a total area of , of which , or 0.18%, are water.
Historical Markers Source: City of Whitesboro Younger Sullivan House Bennett Richardson House Diamond Horse Ranch Sanborn Ranch Mary Florence Cowell (Chapter A P.E.O.)
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Whitesboro had a population of 4,074. The median age was 37.9 years. 26.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 85.3 males age 18 and over.
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 1,619 households in Whitesboro, of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.5% were married-couple households, 15.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 1,765 housing units, of which 8.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.9%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 3,309 81.2% Black or African American 33 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native 43 1.1% Asian 30 0.7% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 177 4.3% Two or more races 482 11.8% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 483 11.9%
Parks and Recreation The City of Whitesboro operates a Parks and Recreation Department that provides community programs, youth sports leagues, and recreational facilities. Programs include basketball, baseball, softball, and seasonal camps.
Facilities Source:
Jimmie O. Rector Community Center (which offers event space, recreational amenities and Public pool) Westside Youth Center Charles E. Baum Gymnasium (Owned by Whitesboro ISD) Trolinger Park Godwin Park Whitecotton Park Center Street Park Tot Lot Park Cherry Street Park
Education The city is served by the Whitesboro Independent School District.
The City of Whitesboro operates the Whitesboro Public Library.
Media Whitesboro is home to the Whitesboro News Record that serves all of western Grayson County as the local news source.
Infrastructure
U.S. Route 82 U.S. Route 377 Business U.S. Route 377 Texas State Highway 56 Farm to Market Road 901
Notable people
Rayford Barnes (1920–2000), actor Etta Gray (1880–1970), physician Lydia Starr McPherson (1827–1903), founded Whitesboro Democrat newspaper in the late 1870s Jared L. Patterson, member of the Texas House of Representatives Ray Renfro, professional football player Grizzly Smith, professional wrestler
See also List of cities in Texas
References
External links
Whitesboro Chamber of Commerce