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Center, Texas

12 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1953 and the latest in 1992. It stands in the Center census division. It lies in ZIP code area 75935. The Survey maps it on the Center quadrangle. 5,221 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 371 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Center within Shelby County

On record in Center

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 2 records

Population over time

2 figures

Center grew from 5,193 to 5,221 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
20105,193
20205,221+28 (+1%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

7 surveys from 12 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

36 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 36 fires within 5 miles of Center between 1992 and 2018, burning about 176 acres in total. 2 started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning25
Missing data/not specified/undetermined4
Natural2
Misuse of fire by a minor2
Equipment and vehicle use2
Smoking1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
8 September 1995Debris and open burning2.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
8 September 1993Debris and open burning15 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
29 September 1995Debris and open burning9.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
28 September 1992Misuse of fire by a minor1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
19 September 2013Debris and open burningunder an acreTexas A & M Forest Service13.09.19F1
12 September 1992Misuse of fire by a minor1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
10 September 1993Debris and open burning20 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
6 August 1998Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Shelby County

Storms near this place

60 of 127 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Center in 127 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 61 thunderstorm wind, 36 hail, 22 flash flood, 5 lightning. The reports record 1 injury. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
January 2020Tornado (EF1)Center1 hurt, $500,000An EF-1 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 100 mph touched down just west of Highway 7 on the southwest side of Center and continued on an east-northeast path for roughly 6 miles. The tornado cut through a few neighborhoods on the south side of Center, where numerous trees were snapped or uprooted across the path through the town, resulting in roof and structural damage to many homes as trees fell through them. The most extensive damage occurred in the Lakewood subdivision just off of Highway 7, where one minor injury occurred as a fallen pine tree heavily damaged the roof of a home. In addition, a handful of other homes farther east along Ballard Street sustained significant damage from falling trees. There was also damage to homes farther east near Martin Luther King Drive, where a few homes sustained minor structural roof damage due to winds alone. On Loop 500 East on the southeast side of town, there was additional structural damage due to mainly wind, although a few of the damaged homes were likely vacant and already in a heavy state of disrepair before the tornado. It then continued into much more rural areas on the eastern outskirts of Center, resulting in scattered tree and very low-end structural damage until reaching County Road 3047. Here, a majority of the chicken houses had some of their roof paneling removed with a few of the houses having most of the roof paneling torn off along with additional structural damage. It was at this point where the most concentrated damage was found. The tornado then lifted shortly after crossing County Road 3047.
July 2014LightningCenter$250,000The Center Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire at 1134 CR 2230 in Center Texas at 5:30pm. The caller reported lightning struck the house and ignited a fire. Upon arrival on scene, the Center Fire Department reported the flames were in the attic of the home and spreading quickly. The fire department called in the assistance of the Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department for the need of another tanker truck.|Firefighters fought the blaze as the storm continued to rage and lightning could be seen as well as thunder being heard. Rain poured down but failed to help extinguish any of the fire due to heavy winds blowing and fueling the flames. ||The fire department did lose a ladder to the blaze which was leaned against the end of the house to give crews better access to the attic area. Fire weakened the brick structure and a portion of a brick wall fell causing damage to the ladder. No firefighters were on the ladder when the wall fell.
May 2015Thunderstorm WindCenter$130,000An NWS Storm survey team determined that storm damage on the southwest side of Center, Texas was consistent with that of straight line wind damage. Scattered trees were downed on mainly the west side of town near FM. 138. Five homes suffered moderate to major damage.
August 2009Thunderstorm WindCenter$60,000Two trees were downed on a house and car in town and the winds ripped railroad crossing signs down.
August 2002LightningCenter$60,000Lightning struck a home causing a fire that did considerable damage to the residence.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindCenter$40,000Several trees were downed throughout the county. A tree was also downed on a law office in town. Most of the damage appeared to be on the east side of Center, Texas. Two large trees fell onto a residents fence in town. Another tree fell on Shelbyville Street. A radio station was also knocked of the air when a large tree fell across power lines on San Augustine Street.
August 2000Thunderstorm WindCenter$38,000Roof blown off a home 9 miles west of Center along Hwy 7. Also numerous trees and power lines down.
March 2002LightningCenter$15,000no account filed
February 1998Thunderstorm WindCenter$10,000Winds blew out windows of local businesses while trees and powerlines fell leading to numerous blackouts throughout the area.
September 1994Thunderstorm WindCenter$5,000Trees were blown down by high winds.
April 1994Thunderstorm WindCenter$5,000Trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds.
May 1995Thunderstorm WindCenter$2,000High winds blew down trees and power lines.
March 1996LightningCenter$2,000no account filed
September 2005Flash FloodCenter$1,0008.46 inches of rainfall fell across Center, Texas as a result of Hurricane Rita. The excessive heavy rainfall led to widespread flooding through the city with numerous roads underwater.
September 2005Flash FloodCenter$1,000Flooding was reported across Hwy 96 just south of Center as the outer feeder bands of Hurricane Rita moved northward into east central Texas.
July 2010LightningCenter$100A lightning strike caught trees on fire just outside the Center, Texas city limits.
June 2025HailCenter-Golf ball size hail reported near Highway 7 just southwest of Center.
January 2024Flash FloodCenter-Flooding was reported around the Lout Town Food and Feed Store near the intersection of Texas State Highway 87 and Highway 139.
March 2024Thunderstorm WindCenter-Trees downed on Highway 7 West and in the Lakewood Subdivision near Center.
June 2024Flash FloodCenter-Flash flooding reported around the Wulf Creek subdivision in Center.
June 2024Flash FloodCenter-Flash flooding reported with high water across Highway 96 and Highway 87 just north of Center.
June 2024Flash FloodCenter-Flash flooding reported with Highway 96 at Southview Circle covered in high water.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindCenter-Numerous trees and power lines downed across Shelby County.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindCenter-Trees downed across several roadways in Shelby County.
July 2024Flash FloodCenter-Flash flooding reported with high watering covering Highway 2026 in Center.
April 2022Flash FloodCenter-High water covered Highway 7 just outside of the Center city limits.
September 2022Flash FloodCenter-Multiple streets were flooded in Center. Several vehicles were stalled in high water.
April 2017Thunderstorm WindCenter-Several trees were blown down in Center.
April 2017HailCenter-Quarter size hail fell in Center.
April 2017HailCenter-Ping pong ball size hail fell in Center, per KSLA-TV.
August 2017Flash FloodCenter-FM 138 over Bush Creek was covered in high water.
April 2015HailCenter-Quarter size hail was reported 6 miles northeast of Center, Texas.
June 2015Flash FloodCenter-Excessive heavy rainfall resulted in the closure of Hwy. 96 with traffic being rerouted. Hwy. 87 and Hwy. 7E also had high water over them in several locations.
January 2013Flash FloodCenter-Portions of Hwy. 96 and FM. 138 in Center, Texas were blocked and closed due to high water.
March 2013Thunderstorm WindCenter-A few trees were downed near Center, Texas.
December 2012Thunderstorm WindCenter-Trees were downed west of Center, Texas.
December 2012Thunderstorm WindCenter-Trees were downed on Hwy. 7 and Hwy. 96 near Center, Texas.
April 2012Thunderstorm WindCenter-Trees were downed on Hwy. 87 south in Center, Texas.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindCenter-Trees were downed on Hwy. 138 outside of Center, Texas.
March 2010Thunderstorm WindCenter-Powerlines were downed just west of Center, Texas.
March 2009Thunderstorm WindCenter-Four trees were downed across Hwy. 7. The road was closed until 10 pm.
March 2009Thunderstorm WindCenter-Numerous trees and powerlines were downed across Shelby County.
May 2009Thunderstorm WindCenter-Trees and powerlines were downed in a few locations across Center, Texas.
October 2009Flash FloodCenter-Excessive heavy rainfall resulted in the closure of Hwy. 59 to all traffic from Tenaha to Timpson, Texas. Traffic was diverted to Hwy. 87 but it became closed from high water as well.
February 2008HailCenter-Hail fell for about two minutes covering the ground.
February 2008Thunderstorm WindCenter-Sheriff's office reported a tree down which fell across a powerline rsulting in power outages.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindCenter-Trees...tree limbs and power lines were downed. Winds were estimated by a trained spotter.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindCenter-Tree limbs and power lines were downed throughout town.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindCenter-Several trees were downed across the county.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindCenter-Trees and power lines downed across the entire county.
June 2006Thunderstorm WindCenter-Large pine trees were downed by high winds...taking out powerlines and blocking Hwy 87.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindCenter-Power transformer was blwon down in Neuville resulting in a fire.
November 2006Thunderstorm WindCenter-Numerous trees and powerlines were downed across the entire county. The most damage was observed near Timpson on Hwy 87 and southwest of Center on Hwy 7.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindCenter-Trees and power lines were downed alll throughout the county.
August 2005Thunderstorm WindCenter-A few trees downed near Neuville.
August 2005Thunderstorm WindCenter-Trees downed on Hwy 417 3 miles east of Shelbyville.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindCenter-Trees were downed on Cnty Rd. 1012.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindCenter-Trees were downed on Hwy 87.
April 2004HailCenter-Hail fell in Shelbyville.
June 2004Thunderstorm WindCenter-Trees blown down across the county.

Every storm recorded in Shelby County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Lamar3.5 miles12
Webb3.6 miles12
Sardis4.5 miles13
North Jericho4.6 miles12
Short5.4 miles11
James5.5 miles13
Shelbyville5.8 miles13
Folsom5.8 miles11

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on CenterAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q681708The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1354185. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.