Bonham, Texas


Bonham is a city in and the county seat of Fannin County, Texas, United States. Its population was 10,408 at the 2020 census. James Bonham sought the aid of James Fannin at the Battle of the Alamo. Bonham is part of the Texoma region in northern Texas and southern Oklahoma.

History

One of Texas's oldest cities, Bonham dates to 1837, when Bailey Inglish built a two-story blockhouse, named Fort Inglish, about from the current downtown. Inglish and other acquaintances settled there in the summer of 1837, and the settlement was named "Bois d'Arc". The Congress of the Republic of Texas named the city Bloomington in 1843, but renamed it Bonham in honor of James Butler Bonham, a defender of the Alamo. On February 2, 1848, Bonham was incorporated as a city. A 1936 statue of Bonham by Texas sculptor Allie Tennant is on the courthouse grounds.
After connecting to the Texas and Pacific Railway, the city began to grow, and by 1885, the city had six churches, three colleges, two public schools, three weekly newspapers, a sawmill, two grain mills, a power plant, and about 2,300 inhabitants. In 1890, streetcars and an ice plant were added, and the Texas Power and Light Company, the area's utility provider, began service. In 1925, the city was connected to natural gas lines.
In 1898, 1911–1914, and 1921–1922, Bonham hosted minor league baseball. The Bonham Boosters and other Bonham teams played as members of the Class D Texas-Oklahoma League and the independent Southwestern League. Bonham teams featured a different moniker each season. Baseball Hall of Fame member Kid Nichols was the manager of the 1914 Bonham Sliders.
During the Second World War, a training camp and an aviation school for the United States Army Air Forces were in the vicinity of Bonham, as was a prisoner-of-war camp for German soldiers. Parts of the camp, about 0.5 miles north of US 82, can still be visited today.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Bonham has a total area of, all land.

Climate

Bonham's climate is characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Bonham has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Bonham had a population of 10,408, 3,073 households, and 1,696 families. The population density was, and there were 3,400 housing units.
74.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 25.2% lived in rural areas.
The median age was 37.5 years, 17.9% of residents were under the age of 18, and 16.8% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 158.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 170.5 males age 18 and over.
Of the 3,073 households, 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 39.2% were married-couple households, 21.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 3.05.
Of the 3,400 housing units, 9.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 53.6% were owner-occupied and 46.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.4%.
RacePercent
White68.5%
Black or African American14.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native1.1%
Asian0.8%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander0.1%
Some other race8.7%
Two or more races6.2%
Hispanic or Latino 17.6%

2010 census

In the city, the age distribution was 21.0% under 18, 9.0% from 28 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. The median income for a household in the city was $43,793, and for a family was $52,334. Males had a median income of $26,035 versus $21,897 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,874. About 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line.

Education

The city is served by the Bonham Independent School District. The city's high school is Bonham High School.
Grayson County College operated a branch campus in Bonham until 2012.

Infrastructure

Highways in the Bonham area include U.S. Route 82, Texas State Highway 78, Texas State Highway 56, and Texas State Highway 121.

Notable people