According to findjobdescriptions.com, Merkel, Texas is a small city located in Taylor County, in the heart of central Texas. The geography of the city is relatively flat with few hills and no large bodies of water. The climate is generally mild and temperate, with hot summers and mild winters. Merkel has a rich history that dates back to its founding in 1885 by German settlers who arrived via train from San Antonio. Throughout its history, Merkel has been an agricultural center due to its fertile soil and ideal climate for growing crops such as cotton and corn.
Politically, Merkel is a predominantly Republican-leaning city with conservative values. It has a mayor-council form of government and features several local businesses that contribute to the economy. Education is also important here with two public schools, two private schools, one college preparatory school, and one community college all located within the city limits.
Merkel’s most notable landmark is the historic City Hall building which was built in 1924 and still stands today as a symbol of the town’s rich history. Other notable landmarks include the Taylor County Courthouse which was built in 1891 and still serves as an important government building for the county; St Mary’s Episcopal Church which was founded in 1887; and The Merkel Civic Center which hosts various events throughout the year such as concerts, art shows, farmer’s markets, etc. All these landmarks make Merkel a great place to visit or live!
Population: 2,637. Estimated population in July 2020: 2,592 (-1.7% change)
Males: 1,236 (46.9%), Females: 1,401 (53.1%)
Taylor County
Zip code: 79536
Median resident age: 36.2 years
Median household income: $29,083
Median house value: $34,300
Races in Merkel:
- White Non-Hispanic (82.8%)
- Hispanic (14.2%)
- Other race (6.3%)
- Two or more races (2.2%)
- American Indian (1.5%)
- Black (1.1%)
(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)
Ancestries: United States (21.8%), Irish (9.8%), English (6.8%), German (5.7%), Scotch-Irish (1.3%).
Elevation: 1870 feet
Land area: 2.0 square miles
Population
Merkel, Texas is a small town located in Taylor County. According to the 2019 census, the population is estimated to be 2,160 people. The median age is 32 years old and the median household income is $44,731. The racial makeup of Merkel is 86.9% White, 8.4% Hispanic or Latino, 1.3% African American, 0.8% Asian and 0.6% from other races. Around 21 percent of the population consists of people aged 65 years or over and the gender ratio is almost equal with 49 percent male and 51 percent female population.
Merkel has a thriving economy with many businesses located in town including convenience stores, banks, restaurants, gas stations, auto repair shops and more. It also boasts a variety of recreational activities such as swimming pools and parks with playgrounds for children to enjoy. Education opportunities are also present in Merkel with both public and private schools available for students to attend. Merkel Independent School District serves the majority of Merkel’s students while Abilene Christian University provides higher education options for locals as well as visitors from around the area. In addition to these educational opportunities Merkel also has an active library that offers various programs throughout the year for both adults and children alike including story time events and book clubs.
For population 25 years and over in Merkel
- High school or higher: 72.9%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.3%
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.7%
- Unemployed: 4.3%
- Mean travel time to work: 21.0 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Merkel town
- Never married: 19.5%
- Now married: 60.5%
- Separated: 0.3%
- Widowed: 8.9%
- Divorced: 10.8%
3.0% Foreign born (1.8% Latin America, 1.0% Europe).
Population change in the 1990s: +116 (+4.6%).
Hospitals
Hospitals/medical centers near Merkel:
- ABILENE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL (about 15 miles; ABILENE, TX)
- ABILENE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (about 17 miles; ABILENE, TX)
- ANSON GENERAL HOSPITAL (about 22 miles; ANSON, TX)
Airports
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Merkel:
- DYESS AFB (about 12 miles; ABILENE, TX; Abbreviation: DYS)
- ABILENE REGIONAL (about 25 miles; ABILENE, TX; Abbreviation: ABI)
- SAN ANGELO REGIONAL/MATHIS FIELD (about 84 miles; SAN ANGELO, TX; Abbreviation: SJT)
Other public-use airports nearest to Merkel:
- ELMDALE AIRPARK (about 26 miles; ABILENE, TX; Abbreviation: 6F4)
- HAMLIN MUNI (about 28 miles; HAMLIN, TX; Abbreviation: 14F)
- AVENGER FIELD (about 31 miles; SWEETWATER, TX; Abbreviation: SWW)
Amtrak station near Merkel:
- 20 miles: ABILENE (GREYHOUND STA., 535 CEDAR ST.) – Bus Station
Colleges and Universities
College/University in Merkel:
- ACTION CAREER TRAINING (Location: 273 CR 287; Private, for-profit)
Colleges and Universities
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Merkel:
- HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY (about 20 miles; Abilene, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,026)
- ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (about 21 miles; ABILENE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 4,380)
- ANGELO STATE UNIVERSITY (about 88 miles; SAN ANGELO, TX; Full-time enrollment: 5,477)
- TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY (about 127 miles; STEPHENVILLE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 6,068)
- MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY (about 140 miles; WICHITA FALLS, TX; Full-time enrollment: 4,619)
- MIDLAND COLLEGE (about 147 miles; MIDLAND, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,800)
- TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY (about 148 miles; LUBBOCK, TX; Full-time enrollment: 22,439)
Schools
Public high school in Merkel:
- MERKEL H S (Students: 417; Location: 300 ASH; Grades: 09 – 12)
Public primary/middle schools in Merkel:
- MERKEL MIDDLE (Students: 327; Location: 300 ASH; Grades: 06 – 08)
- MERKEL EL (Students: 296; Location: 300 ASH; Grades: PK – 03)
- TYE EL (Students: 213; Location: 300 ASH; Grades: PK – 05)
- MERKEL INT (Students: 116; Location: 300 ASH; Grades: 04 – 05)
Libraries
Library in Merkel:
- MERKEL PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $11,658; Location: 100 KENT ST; 9,385 books; 10 audio materials; 19 serial subscriptions)