Sulphur Springs, Texas | |
---|---|
City | |
Sulphur Springs in 2015
|
|
Motto(s): "Just Play. Have Fun. Celebrate." | |
Location of Sulphur Springs, Texas |
|
Coordinates: 33°8′3″N 95°36′7″W / 33.13417°N 95.60194°WCoordinates: 33°8′3″N 95°36′7″W / 33.13417°N 95.60194°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Texas |
County | Hopkins City Type: Rural/City |
Government | |
• Type | Council-Manager |
• City Council |
Mayor John A. Sellers Mayor Pro Tem Oscar Aguilar Craig Johnson Clay Walker Freddie Taylor Emily Glass Dan Froneberger |
• City Manager | Marc Maxwell |
Area | |
• Total | 21.0 sq mi (54.5 km2) |
• Land | 17.9 sq mi (46.3 km2) |
• Water | 3.2 sq mi (8.2 km2) |
Elevation | 502 ft (153 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 15,449 |
• Density | 814.8/sq mi (314.6/km2) |
Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
• Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
ZIP codes | 75482-75483 |
Area code(s) | 903 |
FIPS code | 48-70904 |
GNIS feature ID | 1348056 |
Website | SulphurSpringsTX.org |
Sulphur Springs is a city in Hopkins County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 15,449. It is the county seat of Hopkins County. Sulphur Springs is located along the western edge of Northeast Texas.
Sulphur Springs derives its modern name from the fact that when the area was first settled, springs of sulfur water were abundant. Long before the first European-American settlers arrived, Native American tribes had occupied the areas around the springs and used them for their therapeutic value.
The settlers also gathered around the springs. The town developed around this area from the late 1840s.
Eli Bib, one of the first European-American settlers, ran a store from his cabin, selling staples, whiskey, persimmon beer, and slabs of ginger cake. In 1849, Dr. and Mrs. Davis moved into the area. Dr. Davis envisioned the spot as a future city. In 1850 the residents organized the area's first church, the Methodist Episcopal. Construction of the church was completed in 1853. In 1852, the Presbyterian Church was organized. At that time, the population of the village was 441. In order to serve the growing group of people, commodities began to be brought in from nearby Jefferson. New stores were established.
The village became a city in 1854 when the first United States post office was established. The city's name was originally Bright Star. Mail to and from the city was delivered by the Pony Express. On May 18, 1871, the legislature moved the county seat of Hopkins county from Tarrant to Sulphur Springs, and the name "Bright Star" was removed from the postal directory.