Wilmer, Texas

Geography

Wilmer is located at (32.590743, –96.682619). It is situated along Interstate 45 in southeastern Dallas County, approximately 14 mi south of downtown Dallas.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.7 sqkm, of which 16.5 sqkm is land and 0.1 sqkm, or 0.82%, is water.

History

The area was initially settled by Andrew K. Gray before 1850. The settlement was originally known as Prairie Valley when the Houston and Texas Central Railroad arrived in 1872. In 1884, the post office in Prairie Valley was renamed Wilmer, after A.J. Wilmer, a conductor on the Houston and Texas Central line. The population was estimated at 100 in 1890, with several stores and businesses operation in the community. That figure had risen to over 200 by the start of World War I. A fire destroyed most of Wilmer's business district on July 4, 1929. The community's shallow wells were unable to pump the adequate amount of water needed to extinguish the blaze.

Wilmer incorporated in 1945, and its first mayor, J.H. May, was elected on a platform of installing a water system. At the time of incorporation, Wilmer had 136 homes and a population of approximately 450. In 1949, a volunteer fire department was established and a fire truck was purchased. Around the same time, Wilmer and the neighboring city of Hutchins consolidated their schools. By 1960, Wilmer was home to 1,785 residents. Throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, Wilmer continued to grow, but at a much slower rate than other communities in Dallas County. With 3,393 residents as of the 2000 census, Wilmer is currently one of the smallest incorporated cities in Dallas County.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,974 people, 1,576 households, and 1,095 families residing in the city.

Economy

Union Pacific's Dallas Intermodal Terminal is located partly in the city of Wilmer and partly in the city of Hutchins. The shipping facility, built by AUI Contractors, Prime Rail Interests and Halff Associates, was a 70 million U.S. dollar project. After Union Pacific (UP) chose Wilmer for its global intermodal facility, the City attracted Fortune 500 companies like Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Whirlpool, Ace Hardware and Medline. Wilmer offers easy access to all regional Interstates (I-45, I-20, I-30), U.S. Highways, and both international and general aviation airports (Lancaster, DFW International, Love Field).

Wilmer offers a low tax rate along with incentives that include City Tax Abatements, Economic Development Sales Tax Funds, City of Wilmer Sales Tax – 380 agreements, Triple Freeport Exemptions, State of Texas Programs, Dallas County Tax Abatements, Federal Programs including New Market Tax Credits, and a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ).

Education

Wilmer is served by the Dallas Independent School District. As of fall 2022 the area is zoned to Eddie Bernice Johnson Elementary School, Kennedy-Curry Middle School, and Wilmer-Hutchins High School.

Dallas County residents are zoned to Dallas College (formerly Dallas County Community College or DCCCD).

School histories

Wilmer-Hutchins Independent School District used to serve Wilmer. Until the end of the school district, Wilmer Elementary School was located in Wilmer. In addition, Kennedy-Curry Middle School and Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas, then under WHISD control, served Wilmer. WHISD was closed after spring 2005 with official termination in June 2006. After the closure of WHISD property values in the district increased.

From 2005 to 2009 Wilmer was served by various DISD schools. The final 12th grade class of WHISD attended South Oak Cliff High School. Other than that class, from 2005–2006 to 2010–2011, A. Maceo Smith High School served as Wilmer's high school.

Dallas ISD was considering opening a new Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School building, restoring the Wilmer-Hutchins High School building, and demolishing the Kennedy-Curry Middle School building as part of its 2008 bond campaign. The district was scheduled to Wilmer Hutchins Elementary School in an area within the City of Dallas in 2011. In November 2010 DISD announced that three schools (Wilmer Hutchins ES, Kennedy-Curry Middle School, and Wilmer-Hutchins HS) would open/re-open in the Wilmer-Hutchins area in 2011.

The charter school group Honors Academy previously operated Wilmer Academy, a K–8 school, in Wilmer.

In 2015 the Wilmer Early Childhood Center, located on the site of the former Wilmer Elementary School, opened. A new DISD elementary school in Wilmer, named after Eddie Bernice Johnson, opened in 2020.

Government

The Wilmer City Council is composed of a Mayor and five Council Members, which are elected at large on staggered two year terms. The City Council's policy-making duties include adoption of the annual tax rate, water and sewer rates, annual operating budget, and regulatory ordinances. The City Council appoints the City Administrator, City Secretary, City Attorney, Municipal Judge, and board and commission members. Meeting agendas, public hearings, legal notices, and city ordinances are published in the official newspaper, Ellis County Press.

City Council Members

• Sheila Petta, Mayor
• Candy Madrigal, Mayor Pro-Tem
• Jeff Steele, Council Member
• Phyllis Slough, Council Member
• Sergio Campos, Council Member
• Melissa Ramirez, Council Member

Notes

References

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. (2007-10-25). "US Board on Geographic Names". [[United States Geological Survey]].
4. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Wilmer city, Texas". [[United States Census Bureau]].
5. (2011-02-12). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
6. "Wilmer, Texas". Texas Escapes Online Magazine.
7. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Wilmer city, Texas". [[United States Census Bureau]].
8. "Wilmer, Texas". [[The Handbook of Texas]] online.
9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
10. "Explore Census Data".
11. https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific. (August 2022)
12. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin".
13. [http://www.uprr.com/customers/intermodal/featured/dallas/index.shtml UP: Dallas Intermodal Terminal]
14. "[http://wilmeredc.com/ Wilmer Economic Development Corporation]."
15. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dallas County, TX". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
16. "Eddie Bernice Johnson STEM Academy". [[Dallas Independent School District]].
17. "Kennedy-Curry Middle School". [[Dallas Independent School District]].
18. "Wilmer-Hutchins High School". [[Dallas Independent School District]].
19. [https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.176. DALLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]
20. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20020405161231/http://wilmerhutchins.ednet10.net/campuses.htm Campuses]." [[Wilmer-Hutchins Independent School District]]. April 5, 2002. Retrieved on September 3, 2011. "Wilmer Elementary 211 Walnut Street Wilmer, Texas 75172"
21. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20060208150611/http://wilmerhutchins.ednet10.net/Our%20Schools/our_schools.html Our Schools]." [[Wilmer-Hutchins Independent School District]]. Retrieved on September 3, 2011.
22. "[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-31429319_ITM W-H property values increase: Schools' negative publicity had scared development, some say.]." ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]''. July 1, 2006.
23. Schechter, David. "[http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Wilmer-Hutchins--128037573.html DISD reopens an old school to much excitement]". ''[[WFAA]]''. August 18, 2011. Retrieved on September 6, 2011. "When the Wilmer-Hutchins District collapsed six years ago, many of the students of the defunct district were absorbed throughout DISD, which sometimes led to long commutes."
24. Gordon, Jennifer. "[http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2005/07/25/daily28.html Wilmer -Hutchins seniors will go to South Oak Cliff High]." ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]''. Wednesday July 27, 2005. Retrieved on July 15, 2011.
25. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20060604044200/http://www.dallasisd.org/eval/schoolinfo/2005high-usage.pdf Building Usage in High Schools Fall 2005]." [[Dallas Independent School District]]. Retrieved on September 6, 2011.
26. "[http://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/Domain/89/schoolinfo/highzones2006/Smith2006.pdf Fall 2006 A. Maceo Smith High School (9-12) Attendance Zone with Wilmer-Hutchins]." [[Dallas Independent School District]]. Retrieved on September 3, 2011.
27. "[http://www.dallasisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001475/Centricity/Domain/89/schoolinfo/highzones2010/Smith2010.pdf Fall 2010 A. Maceo Smith High School Attendance Zone with Wilmer-Hutchins — Grades 9-12]." [[Dallas Independent School District]]. Retrieved on September 3, 2011.
28. "[http://www.dallasisd.org/bond2008/pdf/SummaryofRecommendations.pdf Summary of Recommendations for 2008 Bond Program] {{Webarchive. link. (April 11, 2008 ." ''[[Dallas Independent School District]]''.)
29. "[http://www.dallasisd.org/bond2008/pdf/NewSchoolsNames.pdf New Schools-2008 Bond Program] {{Webarchive. link. (May 9, 2010 ." [[Dallas Independent School District]]. Retrieved on January 8, 2010.)
30. "[http://www.dallasisd.org/bond2008/pdf/Bond2008newschools.pdf 2008 Bond Program Program Schedule for New Schools]." ''[[Dallas Independent School District]]''. Retrieved on April 27, 2009.
31. Hobbs, Tawnell D. "[http://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/headlines/20101124-dallas-school-district-to-open-3-wilmer-hutchins-campuses-close-2-others.ece Dallas school district to open 3 Wilmer-Hutchins campuses, close 2 others]." ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]''. November 24, 2010. Retrieved on July 15, 2011.
32. link. (April 2, 2012 ." Wilmer Academy. Retrieved on September 6, 2011. "Address: 211 South Dallas Ave. Wilmer, Texas 75172")
33. (2015-07-30). "DISD Opens New Early Childhood Centers To Delight Of Parents". [[KTVT]].
34. "Home". Wilmer Early Childhood Center.
35. (2003-10-08). "Our Schools". [[Wilmer Hutchins Independent School District]].
36. Belt, Mollie. (2020-09-10). "Eddie Bernice Johnson Elementary School opens in Wilmer". [[Dallas Examiner]].
37. "[http://www.cityofwilmer.net/CityCouncil.html City of Wilmer website]."