Whitehouse is a city in Smith County, Texas, United States. Situated just southeast of Tyler, Texas, it has experienced steady growth, reaching a population of 8,257 in the 2020. As part of the Tyler metropolitan area, Whitehouse benefits from its proximity to the economic and cultural opportunities of the region while maintaining its own strong civic identity. The city is home to the Whitehouse Independent School District, known for its high academic standards, and features a mix of residential neighborhoods, parks, and businesses. With its strategic location along major transportation routes, Whitehouse continues to attract residents and businesses.
History
Early history
thumb|The Welcome to Whitehouse sign is built from rock used in the old "rock school house." The school house and other public works were built during the [[Great Depression by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The sign itself was made and donated by local resident Lynn Canfield.]]
The community was founded long before the city was officially incorporated by James Calhoun Hill (auctioneer in 1846 for Tyler land grants). The community was named in 1845, but was not incorporated until 1953. The school district (WISD) preceded incorporated municipal government and was largely responsible for the eventual formation of the city.
Residents of Whitehouse were predominantly farmers or worked in support of agriculture until transportation innovations following World War II led to other employment options. Many streets and subdivisions in the community are named for these early agricultural and commercial leaders.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 8,257 people, 2,844 households, and 2,352 families residing in the city. The median age was 34.3 years, 30.3% of residents were under the age of 18, and 13.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 82.4 males.
95.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 4.7% lived in rural areas.
There were 2,844 households in Whitehouse, of which 46.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 57.0% were married-couple households, 10.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 17.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 6,544 || 79.3%
|-
| Black or African American || 645 || 7.8%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 32 || 0.4%
|-
| Asian || 171 || 2.1%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 3 || 0.0%
|-
| Some other race || 211 || 2.6%
|-
| Two or more races || 651 || 7.9%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 789 || 9.6%
|}
2000 census
As of the census
- Dylan Cantrell (born 1994), American football player
- Patrick Mahomes (born 1995), American football player
- Nathaniel Moran (born 1974), U.S. representative for Texas