Kendleton, Texas

What is now Kendleton was a part of William E. Kendall's plantation. In the 1860s Kendall divided his property into various small farms and sold the plots to African Americans who were former slaves. The community of the farms became known as Kendleton.

In 1882, the New York, Texas and Mexican Railway Company established a railroad track between Rosenberg and Victoria, which passed through Kendleton. In 1884, a post office opened. In 1890, Kendleton had 25 inhabitants and a general store. In 1896, the community had two additional general stores and two churches; one was Baptist and one was Methodist. In 1900, 116 people lived in Kendleton. In 1933, Kendleton had 36 residents. By the late 1940s, Kendleton had approximately 100 residents. In the 1960s and 1970s, the population fluctuated between 150 and 200 people. In 1973, voters approved the incorporation of Kendleton as a city. After incorporation, the population increased to over 600. In 1990, Kendleton had 496 residents. In 2000, Kendleton had 466 residents. According to the Handbook of Texas, area residents estimated that about 2,200 people lived in Kendleton and surrounding areas."[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hlk05 Kendleton, Texas]." Handbook of Texas. Retrieved on July 23, 2011.

File:KendletonTXMap.gif

Kendleton is located in western Fort Bend County at {{Coord|29|26|52|N|95|59|59|W|type:city}} (29.447872, –95.999806).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}} Its western boundary is the San Bernard River, the Fort Bend/Wharton County line.

U.S. Route 59, a four-lane divided highway, runs through the city, closely bypassing the original town center which is now served by Texas State Highway Loop 541. Farm to Market Road 2919 runs north from Kendleton to East Bernard. Via US 59 the city is {{convert|15|mi}} southwest of Rosenberg and {{convert|6|mi|0}} northeast of Hungerford.[https://maps.google.com Google Maps highway directions]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Kendleton has a total area of {{convert|2.9|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.01|sqkm|order=flip|3}}, or 0.45%, is water.{{Cite web |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Kendleton city, Texas |url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4838848 |access-date=August 29, 2016 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{US Census population

| 1980 = 606

| 1990 = 496

| 2000 = 466

| 2010 = 380

| 2020 = 343

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}
2020 Census{{cite web |date=May 2023 |title=Census Bureau profile: Kendleton, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Kendleton%20city,%20Texas |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2024}}

}}

File:KendletonTXCityhall.jpg

At the 2000 census, there were 466 people, 178 households and 116 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|437.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 209 housing units at an average density of {{convert|196.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 12.45% White, 78.97% African American, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 5.15% from other races, and 3.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.24% of the population.

There were 178 households, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples living together, 21.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62, The average family size was 3.27.

Age distribution was 29.4% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 77.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.3 males.

The median household income was $21,563, and the median family income was $35,795. Males had a median income of $34,167 versus $21,964 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,196. About 14.6% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 28.6% of those age 65 or over.

File:KendletonPO.jpg

The United States Postal Service

A post office opened in Kendleton in 1884, shortly after Kendleton's founding.Horswell, Cindy and Megan Ryan. "[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7670889.html South Texas post office closures 'heart breaking' for many]." Houston Chronicle. July 26, 2011. Retrieved on July 27, 2011. Kendleton Post Office is located at 13635 Willie Melton Boulevard. Benjamin F. Williams was the first postmaster"[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/37142?p=1&s=TX&service_name=post_office&z=Kendleton Post Office Location - KENDLETON] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120723000830/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/37142?p=1&s=TX&service_name=post_office&z=Kendleton |date=2012-07-23 }}." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008. and also served in the state legislature. In July 2011 the USPS announced that the post office may close."[http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/expandedaccess/states/texas.htm Expanded Access study list] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925012630/http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/expandedaccess/states/texas.htm |date=2011-09-25 }}." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on July 24, 2011. The nearest available post office to Kendleton is over {{convert|10|mi|km}} from the city. Darryl Humphrey, the mayor of Kendleton, criticized the proposed closing. Cindy Horswell and Megan Ryan of the Houston Chronicle said that Humphrey "feels like his community will be erased from society if the post office is removed, too."

Fort Bend County does not have a hospital district. OakBend Medical Center serves as the county's charity hospital which the county contracts with.{{cite web|last=Knipp|first=Bethany|url=https://communityimpact.com/news/2016/11/02/fort-bend-county-lacks-hospital-district/|title=Fort Bend County lacks hospital district|newspaper=Community Impact Newspaper|date=2016-11-02|accessdate=2021-10-18}}

Kendleton is served by the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (LCISD).{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48157_fort_bend/DC20SD_C48157.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Fort Bend County, TX|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2022-09-21}} - Compare with LCISD boundary maps. Students are zoned to Beasley Elementary School in Beasley,{{cite web|url=https://www.lcisd.org/docs/default-source/general-information/zoning/beasley-and-bowie-zoning/bowie-and-beasley-board-approved.pdf?sfvrsn=76eae7e0_2|title=Board Approved Attendance Zones In effect starting 2022-2023 School Year|publisher=Lamar Consolidated Independent School District|accessdate=2022-09-21}} Wright Junior High School (grades 6-8),{{cite web|url=https://www.lcisd.org/docs/default-source/general-information/zoning/randle-wright-zoning/board-approved-0917/randle-wright-board-approved-attendance-boundary-zones-9-17-20.pdf?sfvrsn=4aae13e0_2|title=Randle-Wright Board Approved Zones 9-17-2020|publisher=Lamar Consolidated Independent School District|accessdate=2022-09-21}} and Randle High School.{{cite web|url=https://www.lcisd.org/docs/default-source/students-parents-documents/district-map/lamar-cisd-high-school-attendance-zones.pdf?sfvrsn=e8f453e0_8|title=High School Attendance Zones|publisher=Lamar Consolidated Independent School District|accessdate=2022-09-21}} - Compare with the Census map.

Historically the Kendleton area schools served Kendleton and surrounding communities. In 1903 the school system had 202 African-American students in three schools, and 12 White students in two schools. Previously primary school students attended the Kendleton Independent School District (KISD)'s Powell Point Elementary School, located Powell Point, an unincorporated area north of Kendleton. In 1985 LCISD began serving secondary school students in the KISD territory, while primary school students went to Powell Point."[https://secure.lcisd.org/Administration/BoardofTrustees/BoardBooks/images/2010April_Board_Book.pdf Regular Board Meeting Lamar Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees Thursday, April 15, 2010 7:00 PM]." Lamar Consolidated Independent School District. Retrieved on May 25, 2018. p. 35 (PDF p. 35/89). "Lamar CISD has provided educational services to Kendleton students in grades 7-12 since 1985."

On March 25, 2010, Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Robert Scott announced that he was closing the Kendleton Independent School District. The closing is effective July 1, 2010. Kendleton ISD will be merged with Lamar Consolidated Independent School District. Commissioner Scott's statement was, "While it saddens me to close a school district, years of effort, including reconstituting its school, have failed to turn this district around. I believe students would be ill-served if Kendleton is allowed to continue to operate. The Texas Education Agency pledges to work with the citizens of Kendleton and Lamar Consolidated to make this transition as smooth as possible." As a result of the closure, students at Powell Point were rezoned to Beasley and Wessendorf. LCISD, for a two-year period, was to operate its head start program at Powell Point.Pollock, B.J. "[http://ultimatefortbend.com/stories/8143--it-ll-be-a-long-bus-ride-for-kendleton-pupils It'll be a long bus ride for Kendleton pupils] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128225417/http://ultimatefortbend.com/stories/8143--it-ll-be-a-long-bus-ride-for-kendleton-pupils |date=2011-11-28 }}." Ultimate Fort Bend (Houston Chronicle). July 27, 2010. Retrieved on October 16, 2011. In July 2011 mayor Darryl Humphrey said that his community was still recovering from the closing of Powell Point Elementary.

Previously Kendleton was zoned to Wessendorff Middle School, Lamar Junior High School, and Lamar Consolidated High School of LCISD."[http://beta.lcisd.org/Schools/DistrictMap.aspx Lamar CISD Attendance Zones] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812094046/http://beta.lcisd.org/Schools/DistrictMap.aspx |date=2011-08-12 }}." ([http://beta.lcisd.org/Files/DistrictMap/Lamar.swf Direct file link] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812093856/http://beta.lcisd.org/Files/DistrictMap/Lamar.swf |date=2011-08-12 }}) Lamar Consolidated Independent School District. Retrieved on July 2, 2010. [https://www.lcisd.org/docs/default-source/general-information/zoning/randle-wright-zoning/20200615-meeting/randle-wright-current-zones.pdf?sfvrsn=afc116e0_2 Also see the high school attendance zones prior to the 2021 openings of Wright JHS and Randle HS][https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st48_tx/place/p4838848_kendleton/DC10BLK_P4838848_001.pdf Block map of Kendleton] and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st48_tx/c48157_fort_bend/DC10SD_C48157_001.pdf school district map] of the 2010 U.S. Census. Note that Kendleton ISD existed previously [https://web.archive.org/web/20180525114938/https://secure.lcisd.org/Administration/BoardofTrustees/BoardBooks/images/2010April_Board_Book.pdf but sent secondary students to Lamar CISD (see page 35 of this document)] Wright and Randle opened in 2021.{{cite web|last=Washington|first=Chad|url=https://www.fbherald.com/news/randle-high-school-to-be-lions-wear-silver-and-black/article_9319656c-2b2d-11eb-8617-b32a5aec1dd9.html|title=Randle High School to be Lions, wear silver and black |newspaper=Fort Bend Herald|date=2020-11-19|accessdate=2022-09-21}}

The designated community college for LCISD is Wharton County Junior College.[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code Sec. 130.211. WHARTON COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.] - Both the former Kendleton ISD and Lamar Consolidated ISD are in the Wharton College district.

Bay Ridge Christian College was located north of Kendleton in an unincorporated section of Fort Bend County.{{Cite web |url=http://www.bayridgecc.com/directions.htm |title=Bay Ridge Christian College |access-date=2008-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720010813/http://www.bayridgecc.com/directions.htm |archive-date=2008-07-20 |url-status=dead }}

Fort Bend County owns and operates the Bates M. Allen Park, located just outside the city limits of Kendleton. The {{convert|235|acre|km2|adj=on}} park includes a canoe ramp, a fishing pier, grills, a historical site, a lake, an observation deck, two pavilions, a play area, a sand volleyball court, tables, toilet facilities, walking trails and wetlands.[http://www.co.fort-bend.tx.us/getSitePage.asp?sitePage=5720 "County Owned Parks"]. Fort Bend County. Retrieved on October 11, 2009.

In 2023 the county stated it would add a memorial to African-American settlements, which would mean much of the park would be revamped. The cost would be $4,000,000.{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Ashley|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2023/02/28/444867/fort-bend-county-to-invest-in-new-african-american-memorial-park-to-honor-one-of-first-freedmens-towns-in-texas/|title=Fort Bend County to invest in new African-American memorial park to honor one of first freedmen’s towns in Texas|publisher=Houston Public Media|date=2023-02-28|accessdate=2023-03-01}}

File:Kendleton TX Vista.JPG|Church of God on FM 2919 in Kendleton

File:Kendleton TX Civil Rights Marker.JPG|Marker explains the US Supreme Court case Terry v. Adams

File:Kendleton TX Loop 541 at FM 2919.JPG|Union Pacific railroad crossing at Loop 541 and FM 2919

File:Kendleton TX Historic Marker.JPG|Marker on Loop 541 gives the history of Kendleton

File:Kendleton TX Loop 541.JPG|Loop 541 after the US 59 exit to the northeast of Kendleton

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• [https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hlk05 Kendleton, Texas] – Handbook of Texas

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Category:Cities in Texas

Category:Cities in Fort Bend County, Texas

Category:Greater Houston

Category:Populated places in Texas established by African Americans