Weimar ( or, by many non-locals, ) is a city in Colorado County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,076 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Texas-German belt region and was founded and named by German emigrants after the city of Weimar, Germany.
In 1873, the town was founded in anticipation that the Galveston, Harrisburg, & San Antonio Railroad was going to build through the site. It was originally named "Jackson" after D.W. Jackson, a native Georgian and landowner, but subsequently was called "Weimar" in tribute to the German city of Weimar.
Located on Interstate 10 and US 90 between San Antonio, Austin, and Houston, Weimar is a small community of predominantly Czech and German descendants.
History
Weimar was founded in 1873 in anticipation that the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway was going to build through the site. The community was first called "Jackson", after D. W. Jackson, a native Georgian and area landowner who donated land for the railroad right-of-way and the townsite. The populace subsequently chose the name "Weimar"; an early record states that Thomas W. Pierce, who authorized Jackson to sell lots at the site, had visited Weimar, Germany, and was favorably impressed.
The Weimar post office was established in 1873. The town was incorporated in 1875. After beginning with a few hundred townspeople, Weimar had by its tenth birthday achieved a population over 1,000. As it grew, Weimar established itself as a center of trade for pecans, poultry, and dairy products. By 1877, the town was large enough to make its first city map. In 1888, Weimar witnessed the origin of the first town newspaper, The Weimar Mercury, which currently remains in publication.
A strong history of baseball exists in Weimar. Veterans Park (Strickland Field) was ahead of its time when it was built in 1948, and was the first lighted baseball field between San Antonio and Houston. Veterans Park remains a state-of-the-art baseball stadium, having hosted a Babe Ruth League World Series Tournament in 2005.
Weimar is where Norman J. Sirnic and Karen Sirnic were murdered by serial killer Angel Maturino Resendiz on May 2, 1999. Their parsonage was adjacent to the train tracks.
Throughout the 20th century, Weimar enjoyed a slow yet steady growth in population, increasing on average by 250 persons every ten years. Business establishments held their numbers steady at around 70. After a high population of 2,400 in 1976, the town declined slightly in the following decade. In 1980, the population was 2,128. In 1990, the population of Weimar was 2,052, and in 2000, it was 1,981.
Geography
Weimar is located in western Colorado County at (29.702348, –96.779950). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.
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2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Weimar had a population of 2,076. The median age was 40.9 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.0 males age 18 and over.
There were 824 households in Weimar, of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.3% were married-couple households, 15.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 1,206 || 58.1%
|-
| Black or African American || 358 || 17.2%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 16 || 0.8%
|-
| Asian || 7 || 0.3%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0.0%
|-
| Some other race || 237 || 11.4%
|-
| Two or more races || 252 || 12.1%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 594 || 28.6%
|}
2000 census
As of the census
Education
The city is served by the Weimar Independent School District, which consists of a kindergarten, an elementary school, a junior high school, and a high school.
Additionally, a private Catholic school, St. Michael's of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria in Texas, offers education for students from kindergarten through junior high.
The designated community college for Weimar ISD is Wharton County Junior College.
References
External links
- City of Weimar official website