Bristol, Texas

{{short description|Census-designated place in Ellis County, Texas, United States}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Bristol | settlement_type = Census-designated place | nickname = The Bluebonnet Capitol of Texas! | image_skyline = Bristol School 1 Wiki (1 of 1).jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = Bristol School, April 2023 | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Texas | pushpin_label = Bristol  | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{USA}} | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Texas}} | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Ellis  | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | established_title = | established_date =  | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = <ref>[https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt U.S. Census] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |date=2012-01-25 }}</ref> | area_total_sq_mi = 5.88 | area_land_sq_mi = 5.78 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.10 | area_total_km2 = | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent = | area_note =  | population_as_of = 2010 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 668 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_density_sq_mi = auto  | timezone = Central | utc_offset = -6 | timezone_DST = Central | utc_offset_DST = -5 | elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> | elevation_ft = 489 | coordinates = {{coord|32|27|18|N|96|34|02|W|region:US-TX|display=inline,title}}  | postal_code_type = ZIP code | postal_code = 75119 | area_codes = 214, 469, 945, 972 | blank_name = GNIS feature ID | blank_info = 2586912<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2586912}}</ref> | blank1_name = | blank1_info = | website = | footnotes = | other_name = Formerly Heelstring and Brockville }}

'''Bristol''' is a census-designated place in Ellis County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census, Bristol had a population of 714.<ref name="Census2020PLLede">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N&for=place%3A10336&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=March 12, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> ==Geography== Bristol is located along Farm to Market Road 660 in northeastern Ellis County, approximately six miles northeast of Palmer and eighteen miles northeast of Waxahachie.<ref name="Texas_Handbook">{{cite web | url = http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hnb78 | title = Bristol, Texas | publisher = The Handbook of Texas online | date = | accessdate = January 9, 2016}}</ref> It is part of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of {{convert|5.88|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|5.78|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.10|sqmi|km2}} is water. FM 660 connects Bristol to the towns of Ennis, Palmer, and Ferris, and Union Hill Rd connects Bristol to Crip.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Bristol CDP, Texas |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=January 9, 2016 }}</ref>

==History== The area was first settled in the 1840s by Joshua Brock of Missouri. The community was first called Brockville and a post office operated under that name from 1854 to 1869. The name Brockville was a result of Joshua Brock who was the town's first postmaster general. Later, the community was unofficially known as Heelstring. The town itself was located on the banks of the Trinity River. This area is commonly referred to as the, "River Bottoms", by local residents. The town was destroyed by a fire in the late 1800's and relocated to the current location.<ref name="Texas_Handbook"/>

Years later, Captain Steven Mills came to the area and opened a store. Having done business in Bristol, England, he named the store Bristol and the community eventually adopted the name.<ref name="GenWeb">{{cite web | url = http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txellis/ghost-towns/bristol.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121023125855/http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txellis/ghost-towns/bristol.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = October 23, 2012 | title = Bristol | publisher = Ellis County TXGenWeb | accessdate = January 9, 2016 }}</ref> By 1890, Bristol had grown into a farming community of approximately 200 residents. The population peaked at around 300 in the early 1930s and declined thereafter. The community continues to serve as a supply and service center for area farmers and local beef ranches.<ref name="GenWeb"/>

In 2010, Bristol was defined as a census-designated place (CDP) by the U.S. Census Bureau. The boundaries include the original community of Bristol and surrounding areas.

Today the community holds several events including the monthly Bristol Opry, 4 July Celebration, Easter Bunny Breakfast, and Thanksgiving Dinner.

==Demographics== {{US Census population |2010=668 |2020=714 |align-fn=center |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=United States Census Bureau|access-date=}}</ref> 1850–1900<ref name=1900CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of Texas By Counties And Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/49-population-tx.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1910<ref name=1910CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1910 Census of Population - Supplement for Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-tx-p1.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1920<ref name=1920CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-tx-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1930<ref name=1930CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch10.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1940<ref name=1940CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch09.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1950<ref name=1950CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-46.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1960<ref name=1960CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/33255142v1p45ch02.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1970<ref name=1970CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/00496492v1p45s1ch02.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1980<ref name=1980CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1980/volume-1/texas/1980a_txab-01.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 1990<ref name=1990CensusTX>{{Cite web|title=1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cph-2/cph-2-45.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2000<ref name=2000CensusTX>{{Cite web|title=2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-45.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusTX>{{Cite web|title=2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-45.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/> }}

Bristol first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. census.<ref name=2010CensusTX/>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Bristol CDP, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bristol CDP, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US4810336&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> !{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bristol CDP, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US4810336&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> !% 2010 !{{partial|% 2020}} |- |White alone (NH) |544 |style='background: #ffffe6; |526 |81.44% |style='background: #ffffe6; |73.67% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |18 |style='background: #ffffe6; |26 |2.69% |style='background: #ffffe6; |3.64% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |3 |style='background: #ffffe6; |0 |0.45% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00% |- |Asian alone (NH) |1 |style='background: #ffffe6; |5 |0.15% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.70% |- |Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) |0 |style='background: #ffffe6; |0 |0.00% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00% |- |Other race alone (NH) |1 |style='background: #ffffe6; |0 |0.15% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |2 |style='background: #ffffe6; |28 |0.30% |style='background: #ffffe6; |3.92% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |99 |style='background: #ffffe6; |129 |14.82% |style='background: #ffffe6; |18.07% |- |'''Total''' |'''668''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''714''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

===2010 census=== At the 2010 United States census<ref>[https://www.census.gov/ U.S. Census Bureau]. Retrieved January 9, 2016.</ref> there were 668 people, 239 households, and 188 families residing in the CDP. The racial makeup of the city was 91.2% White (81.4% Non-Hispanic White), 0.4% Native American, 2.8% African American, 0.1% Asian, 4.8% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.8% of the population.

==Education== The community’s first school was housed in a multi-purpose building erected in 1870. The Bristol Rural School District was established in 1877. Youth from throughout the area attended the Bristol schoolhouse built in 1886 and 1913. A new brick school containing five classrooms and an auditorium and stage was completed by the U.S. Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1939. 130 pupils attended the 9-grade, 6-teacher school in 1940-41. In the 1940 school year it was recorded that Bristol High School had a basketball and baseball team as well as a 4-H club.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Bristol Schools Yearbook 1940 |date=1940 |publisher=Bristol Schools }}</ref> The school served the area until 1955. In 1957 its facilities and grounds were deeded to the Bristol Cemetery Association. Today the school is used as a community center for the town.

Currently, the Ennis Independent School District, Ferris Independent School District, and Palmer Independent School District each serve portions of the Bristol CDP.<ref name=CensusSDMap2020Ellis>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48139_ellis/DC20SD_C48139.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ellis County, TX|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-09-26}}</ref>

==Cemeteries== The small town has three cemeteries, the largest and currently used is the Bristol Cemetery located in town and administered by the Bristol Cemetery Association. Two of the older cemeteries is the Hefley Pioneer Cemetery located on Slate Rock Road and Union Hill Cemetery located on Union Hill Road. Union Hill served as a burial spot for Union soldiers during the Civil War. Both historical cemeteries are maintained by local volunteers.

==See also== {{portal|Texas}} * List of census-designated places in Texas

==References== -The History of Ellis County (Pub. 1970 on the postmaster edit.) {{reflist|22em}}

==External links== {{commons category-inline|Bristol, Texas}}

Category:Census-designated places in Ellis County, Texas Category:Census-designated places in Texas Category:Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex