# Goldthwaite, Texas

Goldthwaite is a town and the county seat of Mills County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,738 at the 2020 census, down from 1,878 at the 2010 census.

## History

Goldthwaite existed as a small village prior to the arrival of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway in 1885. The population increased after the railway began selling lots. The town is named after George (Joe) Goldthwaite (1836–1892), an employee at the railway. Goldthwaite was once known as "The City of Windmills" because of the large number of water wells in the city—by around 1900, almost every household had one.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km$^2$), all land.

## Geography
### Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Goldthwaite has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.
Climate data for Goldthwaite, Texas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1960–present :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 88 (31) | 98 (37) | 98 (37) | 99 (37) | 104 (40) | 108 (42) | 109 (43) | 110 (43) | 108 (42) | 99 (37) | 91 (33) | 86 (30) | 110 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 77.5 (25.3) | 80.3 (26.8) | 85.4 (29.7) | 90.3 (32.4) | 94.3 (34.6) | 96.5 (35.8) | 99.8 (37.7) | 99.9 (37.7) | 96.2 (35.7) | 90.7 (32.6) | 82.8 (28.2) | 77.0 (25.0) | 101.7 (38.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 58.0 (14.4) | 61.7 (16.5) | 68.9 (20.5) | 76.2 (24.6) | 82.5 (28.1) | 89.1 (31.7) | 92.9 (33.8) | 93.3 (34.1) | 87.4 (30.8) | 78.0 (25.6) | 67.1 (19.5) | 59.3 (15.2) | 76.2 (24.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 45.5 (7.5) | 49.5 (9.7) | 56.7 (13.7) | 64.4 (18.0) | 71.9 (22.2) | 78.7 (25.9) | 81.8 (27.7) | 82.1 (27.8) | 76.3 (24.6) | 66.3 (19.1) | 55.4 (13.0) | 47.4 (8.6) | 64.7 (18.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 33.0 (0.6) | 37.4 (3.0) | 44.5 (6.9) | 52.6 (11.4) | 61.3 (16.3) | 68.3 (20.2) | 70.7 (21.5) | 70.9 (21.6) | 65.1 (18.4) | 54.7 (12.6) | 43.8 (6.6) | 35.4 (1.9) | 53.1 (11.8) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 19.1 (−7.2) | 22.1 (−5.5) | 27.4 (−2.6) | 35.7 (2.1) | 46.7 (8.2) | 60.3 (15.7) | 66.2 (19.0) | 65.0 (18.3) | 52.0 (11.1) | 37.1 (2.8) | 26.5 (−3.1) | 20.9 (−6.2) | 15.8 (−9.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 4 (−16) | 0 (−18) | 8 (−13) | 28 (−2) | 32 (0) | 50 (10) | 57 (14) | 53 (12) | 40 (4) | 24 (−4) | 12 (−11) | −7 (−22) | −7 (−22) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.70 (43) | 2.23 (57) | 2.42 (61) | 2.23 (57) | 4.21 (107) | 4.16 (106) | 1.82 (46) | 2.01 (51) | 2.51 (64) | 3.49 (89) | 2.06 (52) | 1.60 (41) | 30.44 (774) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.9 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 5.5 | 7.5 | 6.2 | 4.2 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.9 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 69.5 |
| Source 1: NOAA ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service ||||||||||||||

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Goldthwaite racial composition (NH = Non-Hispanic) :
| Race | Number | Percentage |
| White (NH) | 1,215 | 69.91% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 4 | 0.23% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 7 | 0.4% |
| Asian (NH) | 2 | 0.12% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 1 | 0.06% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 57 | 3.28% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 452 | 26.01% |
| Total | 1,738 | |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,738 people, 742 households, and 463 families residing in the city.

### 2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 1,802 people, 740 households and 466 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,047.4 inhabitants per square mile (404.4/km$^2$). There were 883 housing units at an average density of 513.2 per square mile (198.1/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 87.01% White, 0.39% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 10.82% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.42% of the population.
There were 740 households, of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.87.
Age distribution was 24.6% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 28.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.1 males.
The median household income was $26,731, and the median family income was $34,940. Males had a median income of $25,577 versus $19,602 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,591. About 12.5% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 22.2% of those age 65 or over.

## Education

Goldthwaite is served by the Goldthwaite Independent School District. Schools located in Goldthwaite included Goldthwaite Elementary School, Goldthwaite Middle School, and Goldthwaite High School. New Horizons Ranch School is located off Farm-to-Market Road 574.

## Infrastructure
### Transportation
#### Highways

* U.S. Route 84
* U.S. Route 183 (concurrent with U.S. Route 84 on the north side of the city)
* Texas State Highway 16 (concurrent with U.S. Routes 84 and 183 on the north side of the city)
* Texas Loop 15
* Farm to Market 574
* Farm to Market 2005

#### Rail

Goldthwaite is located on a BNSF Railway line connecting Temple to Sweetwater. As of 2024, the rail line is used for freight haulage only. The nearest Amtrak passenger train stop is McGregor station in McGregor, served by the Texas Eagle.

#### Air

The City of Goldthwaite owns and operates the Goldthwaite Municipal Airport, a general aviation airport with a 3,200 ft × 60 ft (975 m × 18 m) asphalt runway. The airport originally opened in 2011. In 2015, 10 T-hangars, a hangar apron, an access road, and a garage storage area for a courtesy car were constructed, and a fly-in golf program was offered in partnership with the adjacent golf course.

## Notable people

* Jody Conradt, women's basketball coach at the University of Texas at Austin.
* Barton Yarborough, actor.