Jarrell, Texas
Jarrell is a city in Williamson County, Texas, United States. It was incorporated as a city in 2001. The total population is 984 according to the 2010 census. History. Founded in 1909 by real estate developer O.D. Jarrell, along with E. C. Haeber and B. N. Dover, the town was settled at the intersection of an old stagecoach road and the Bartlett Western Railroad that was under construction. Soon after the railroad was completed, a saloon, two stores, a post office, and a bank were built. Because of the proximity of Jarrell to the railroad, Jarrell received all  of the people and most of the buildings of nearby Corn Hill, Texas, thus killing that town. The city reached a population peak of 500 residents in 1914. The closing of the railway in 1935 and the decline of the cotton industry, however, led to a long-term recession. At one point, Jarrell had only 200 residents. After this low point, the city experienced a recovery that increased its population to 410 by 1990. Over 15 new businesses opened in Jarrell in 2009. On May 27, 1997, the town suffered heavily from the destructive F5 Jarrell Tornado, which obliterated the  Double Creek Estates subdivision, killing 27 people plus 300 cattle and horses. Education. Jarrell is served by the Jarrell Independent School District. The district currently has two elementary, one middle school and one high school. Between 2012 and 2019 student enrollment more than doubled. The district's middle school was built in 2014, but is undergoing an expansion in 2018–2019 to gain more classroom and science labs so that it can better accommodate the growing population of students. The high school is also being expanded including the addition of a performing arts center. The current superintendent for the district is  Dr. Toni M. Hicks. A native Texan, Dr. Hicks earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas State University. She began her educational career in El Paso ISD as an English as a Second Language teacher and then later as a middle school teacher in Leander ISD. While working as a full-time teacher, she completed a Master of Education from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Government. The current Mayor of Jarrell is Larry Bush. City council meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at City Hall. Jarrell Emergency services are provided by the Jarrell Fire  Department operating under Williamson County ESD#5, with Chief Mark McAdams. The City's chief of police is Roger Thompson. The Police department serves a growing population and maintains a very low crime rate. Climate. The climate in the area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Jarrell has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.