Dublin, Texas


Dublin is a city located in southwestern Erath County in Central Texas, United States. The population was 3,654 at the time of the 2010 census, down from 3,754 at the 2000 census.
The town is the former home of the world's oldest Dr Pepper bottling plant. The plant was for many years the only U.S. source for Dr Pepper made with real cane sugar, instead of less expensive high fructose corn syrup. Contractual requirements limited the plant's distribution range to a radius of Dublin, an area encompassing Stephenville, Tolar, Comanche and Hico.
Dublin was the southern terminus of the Wichita Falls and Southern Railroad, one of the properties of Frank Kell, Joseph A. Kemp, and later Orville Bullington of Wichita Falls. The line was abandoned in 1954.
Dublin was the boyhood home of legendary golfer Ben Hogan, who was born on August 13, 1912, at the hospital in nearby Stephenville. Hogan lived in Dublin until 1921, when he and his family relocated to Fort Worth.
American jurist and 1924 Texas Republican gubernatorial nominee George C. Butte married and resided in Dublin for several years and is interred there at Live Oak Cemetery.
Dublin is the birthplace of Lt. Col. George Andrew Davis, Jr., who was awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 10 February 1952, near the Sinuiju-Yalu River area in North Korea. Davis ranks sixteenth on the list of most highly decorated U.S. military personnel of all time who received the Medal of Honor.
In 2005, Governor Rick Perry signed a bill that designated Dublin as the official Irish Capital of Texas. Thus Dublin is known to be home to many people of Irish American descent.

Geography

Dublin is located in southwestern Erath County. U.S. Route 377 bypasses the city on the west, leading northeast to Stephenville, the county seat, and southwest to Comanche. Texas State Highway 6 passes through the center of Dublin as Blackjack Street, leading southeast to Hico and west to De Leon. Fort Worth is to the northeast, and Waco is to the southeast.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Dublin has a total area of, all land.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The Köppen Climate System describes the weather as humid subtropical, and uses the abbreviation Cfa.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,754 people, 1,309 households, and 920 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,102.4 people per square mile. There were 1,507 housing units at an average density of 442.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 80.42% White, 0.24% African American, 0.91% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 16.25% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 29.62% of the population.
There were 1,309 households, out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 32.4% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,397, and the median income for a family was $27,880. Males had a median income of $27,798 versus $16,786 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,724. About 28.1% of families and 31.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.1% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

Local media

The local newspaper is The Dublin Citizen. Local television stations that provide coverage for Dublin and surrounding areas come from the Dallas/Fort Worth and Waco/Temple/Killeen metropolitan areas. Local radio stations include KSTV-FM, KEQX and KTRL, all licensed to Dublin or Stephenville, with studios in Erath County.

Education

The city is served by the Dublin Independent School District and is home to the Dublin Lions. The Sound of Dublin Marching Band was awarded a Division 1 for the first time in school history in 2010-2011 school year when they attended the Regional UIL Competition held in Glen Rose, TX. In 2011-2012 the Sound of Dublin High School Marching band was again awarded a Division 1. That was also the second time in school history that they were awarded the Sweepstakes Award for making a Division 1 in all 3 categories of UIL Requirements.

Events

There is a Dr. Pepper Birthday celebration every year in June complete with the charity 10-2-4K run and the "Tour de Pepper" bicycle race. In addition, Dublin has an annual St. Patrick's Day Festival in March.
Following legal disputes, Dr Pepper Snapple split ties with the Dublin bottling company after 120 years of service. The newly renamed Dublin Bottling Works has become an independent company and continues to hold the birthday celebration every June.

Notable people