Wilmer, Texas

Wilmer is a city in Dallas County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census, Wilmer had a population of 4,974. It is part of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area. Geography Wilmer is located at (32.590743, –96.682619). It is situated along Interstate 45 in southeastern Dallas County, approximately south of downtown Dallas.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.82%, is water.

History The area was initially settled by Andrew K. Gray before 1850. The settlement was originally known as Prairie Valley when the Houston and Texas Central Railroad arrived in 1872. In 1884, the post office in Prairie Valley was renamed Wilmer, after A.J. Wilmer, a conductor on the Houston and Texas Central line. The population was estimated at 100 in 1890, with several stores and businesses operation in the community. That figure had risen to over 200 by the start of World War I. A fire destroyed most of Wilmer's business district on July 4, 1929. The community's shallow wells were unable to pump the adequate amount of water needed to extinguish the blaze.

Wilmer incorporated in 1945, and its first mayor, J.H. May, was elected on a platform of installing a water system. At the time of incorporation, Wilmer had 136 homes and a population of approximately 450. In 1949, a volunteer fire department was established and a fire truck was purchased. Around the same time, Wilmer and the neighboring city of Hutchins consolidated their schools. By 1960, Wilmer was home to 1,785 residents. Throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, Wilmer continued to grow, but at a much slower rate than other communities in Dallas County. With 3,393 residents as of the 2000 census, Wilmer is currently one of the smallest incorporated cities in Dallas County.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Wilmer had a population of 4,974. The median age was 30.8 years. 29.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 7.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.7 males age 18 and over.

There were 1,485 households in Wilmer, of which 47.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.3% were married-couple households, 20.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The census counted 1,095 families residing in the city.

There were 1,604 housing units, of which 7.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%.

97.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 3.0% lived in rural areas.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 1,322 26.6% Black or African American 1,383 27.8% American Indian and Alaska Native 65 1.3% Asian 12 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 10 0.2% Some other race 1,453 29.2% Two or more races 729 14.7% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 2,691 54.1% Economy

Union Pacific's Dallas Intermodal Terminal is located partly in the city of Wilmer and partly in the city of Hutchins.UP: Dallas Intermodal Terminal The shipping facility, built by AUI Contractors, Prime Rail Interests and Halff Associates, was a 70 million U.S. dollar project. After Union Pacific (UP) chose Wilmer for its global intermodal facility, the City attracted Fortune 500 companies like Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Whirlpool, Ace Hardware and Medline. Wilmer offers easy access to all regional Interstates (I-45, I-20, I-30), U.S. Highways, and both international and general aviation airports (Lancaster, DFW International, Love Field).

Wilmer offers a low tax rate along with incentives that include City Tax Abatements, Economic Development Sales Tax Funds, City of Wilmer Sales Tax – 380 agreements, Triple Freeport Exemptions, State of Texas Programs, Dallas County Tax Abatements, Federal Programs including New Market Tax Credits, and a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ)."Wilmer Economic Development Corporation."

Education Wilmer is served by the Dallas Independent School District. - Text list As of fall 2022 the area is zoned to Eddie Bernice Johnson Elementary School, Kennedy-Curry Middle School," and Wilmer-Hutchins High School.

Dallas County residents are zoned to Dallas College (formerly Dallas County Community College or DCCCD).Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.176. DALLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.

School histories

Wilmer-Hutchins Independent School District used to serve Wilmer. Until the end of the school district, Wilmer Elementary School was located in Wilmer."Campuses." Wilmer-Hutchins Independent School District. April 5, 2002. Retrieved on September 3, 2011. "Wilmer Elementary 211 Walnut Street Wilmer, Texas 75172""Our Schools." Wilmer-Hutchins Independent School District. Retrieved on September 3, 2011. In addition, Kennedy-Curry Middle School and Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas, then under WHISD control, served Wilmer. WHISD was closed after spring 2005 with official termination in June 2006. After the closure of WHISD property values in the district increased."W-H property values increase: Schools' negative publicity had scared development, some say.." The Dallas Morning News. July 1, 2006.

From 2005 to 2009 Wilmer was served by various DISD schools.Schechter, David. "DISD reopens an old school to much excitement". WFAA. August 18, 2011. Retrieved on September 6, 2011. "When the Wilmer-Hutchins District collapsed six years ago, many of the students of the defunct district were absorbed throughout DISD, which sometimes led to long commutes." The final 12th grade class of WHISD attended South Oak Cliff High School.Gordon, Jennifer. "Wilmer -Hutchins seniors will go to South Oak Cliff High." The Dallas Morning News. Wednesday July 27, 2005. Retrieved on July 15, 2011. Other than that class, from 2005–2006 to 2010–2011, A. Maceo Smith High School served as Wilmer's high school."Building Usage in High Schools Fall 2005." Dallas Independent School District. Retrieved on September 6, 2011."Fall 2006 A. Maceo Smith High School (9-12) Attendance Zone with Wilmer-Hutchins." Dallas Independent School District. Retrieved on September 3, 2011."Fall 2010 A. Maceo Smith High School Attendance Zone with Wilmer-Hutchins — Grades 9-12." Dallas Independent School District. Retrieved on September 3, 2011.

Dallas ISD was considering opening a new Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School building, restoring the Wilmer-Hutchins High School building, and demolishing the Kennedy-Curry Middle School building as part of its 2008 bond campaign."Summary of Recommendations for 2008 Bond Program ." Dallas Independent School District. The district was scheduled to Wilmer Hutchins Elementary School in an area within the City of Dallas in 2011."New Schools-2008 Bond Program ." Dallas Independent School District. Retrieved on January 8, 2010."2008 Bond Program Program Schedule for New Schools." Dallas Independent School District. Retrieved on April 27, 2009. In November 2010 DISD announced that three schools (Wilmer Hutchins ES, Kennedy-Curry Middle School, and Wilmer-Hutchins HS) would open/re-open in the Wilmer-Hutchins area in 2011.Hobbs, Tawnell D. "Dallas school district to open 3 Wilmer-Hutchins campuses, close 2 others." The Dallas Morning News. November 24, 2010. Retrieved on July 15, 2011.

The charter school group Honors Academy previously operated Wilmer Academy, a K–8 school, in Wilmer."Contact Us ." Wilmer Academy. Retrieved on September 6, 2011. "Address: 211 South Dallas Ave. Wilmer, Texas 75172"

In 2015 the Wilmer Early Childhood Center, located on the site of the former Wilmer Elementary School, opened. A new DISD elementary school in Wilmer, named after Eddie Bernice Johnson, opened in 2020.

Government The Wilmer City Council is composed of a Mayor and five Council Members, which are elected at large on staggered two year terms. The City Council's policy-making duties include adoption of the annual tax rate, water and sewer rates, annual operating budget, and regulatory ordinances. The City Council appoints the City Administrator, City Secretary, City Attorney, Municipal Judge, and board and commission members. Meeting agendas, public hearings, legal notices, and city ordinances are published in the official newspaper, Ellis County Press."City of Wilmer website."

City Council Members Sheila Petta, Mayor Candy Madrigal, Mayor Pro-Tem Jeff Steele, Council Member Phyllis Slough, Council Member Sergio Campos, Council Member Melissa Ramirez, Council Member

Wilmer, Texas

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