Camp Swift, Texas

{{short description|Military facility and census-designated place in Bastrop County, Texas, United States}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Camp Swift, Texas | settlement_type = Census-designated place | image_skyline = View of the Main Entrance at Camp Swift Texas, August 6, 1944.jpg | imagesize = 250px | image_caption = Main entrance to the Camp Swift facility of the 10th Mountain Division during World War II  | | image_map = Bastrop CampSwift.svg | mapsize = 300px | map_caption =  | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Texas | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Bastrop  | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | established_title = | established_date =  | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 31.4 | area_land_km2 = 31.2 | area_water_km2 = 0.2 | area_total_sq_mi = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi =  | population_as_of = 2020 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 7943 | population_density_km2 = auto  | timezone = Central (CST) | utc_offset = -6 | timezone_DST = CDT | utc_offset_DST = -5 | elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> | elevation_ft = 456 | coordinates = {{coord|30|11|19|N|97|17|36|W|region:US-TX|display=inline,title}} | postal_code_type = Zip Code | postal_code = 78602 | area_code = | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 48-12334<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 2407948<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2407948}}</ref> | website = | footnotes = }}

'''Camp Swift''' is a census-designated place (CDP) in Bastrop County, Texas, United States. Its population was 7,943 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4812334| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212201703/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4812334| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Camp Swift CDP, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=April 9, 2014}}</ref> Camp Swift began as a United States Army training base built in 1942. It is named after Major General Eben Swift.

==History== The Army signed a $25 million contract in January 1942 to build a training camp on 56,000 acres north of Bastrop, Texas. The contract stipulated the project was to be completed in 108 working days. About 2700 buildings were built during World War II, but none of those remain on the site today. At the end of the war, they were sold or donated, and relocated. The gymnasium was relocated to Whitney, Texas. It is still in use today by the school district.

During World War II, German prisoners of war began arriving and at peak numbered 10,000. At the same time, the camp held 90,000 GIs, making it "one of the largest army training and trans-shipment camps in Texas" according to Krammer.<ref name="Krammer">{{cite book|last1=Krammer|first1=Arnold|title=Nazi Prisoners of War in America|date=1979|publisher=Stein and Day|location=New York|isbn=0812825713|page=[https://archive.org/details/naziprisonersofw00kram/page/90 90,260]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/naziprisonersofw00kram/page/90}}</ref>

In December 1942, Sgt Walter Springs was gunned down by a White military police officer following a dispute as Springs was reporting to Camp Swift. Springs was shot in the back, but the case remains largely unsolved to this day. A memorial scholarship in his honor has been active at his alma mater, Regis University, for most of the period since 1952 and has the backing of former NBA All Star Chauncey Billups.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Reed|first=Byron|date=2021-05-17|title=Regis University restarting scholarship named for Walter Springs|url=https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/regis-university-walter-springs-scholarship/73-5d591dc8-8bd8-46c4-b38d-394237b304f0|access-date=2021-06-06|website=KUSA.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

The 10th Mountain Division trained at Camp Swift in 1944. The 2nd Infantry Division trained there mid-1945 to early 1946. The camp also trained nurses under battlefield conditions. The camp trained some 300,000 soldiers before the war ended.

After World War II, most of the land was returned to its former owners. The U.S. government retained 11,700 acres as a military reservation and a smaller parcel for FCI Bastrop.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/camp-swift |title=Camp Swift |access-date=2024-01-29 |archive-date=2023-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811213356/https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/camp-swift }}</ref>

The Texas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, the auxiliary of the Air Force, has held its encampment, a one-week, high-intensity simulated military training program for cadet (leaders in training) members in Camp Swift since 2011. <ref>https://www.capmembers.com/cadet_programs/activities/encampment/winter-2016-encampments/{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Current Operations== thumb|right|Camp Swift military reservation The United States Army Corps of Engineers,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://esearch.bastropcad.org/Property/View/50108 |title=Property Details |access-date=2024-01-29 |archive-date=2024-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130005430/https://esearch.bastropcad.org/Property/View/50108 }}</ref> currently owns Camp Swift, but it is managed by the Texas Military Forces headquartered on Camp Mabry in Austin. It serves as a training center for the National and State Guard, active armed forces, law enforcement, JROTC, and the Civil Air Patrol Texas Wing. The camp is the primary emergency staging area for Central Texas.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Crowell|first1=Ed|title=Camp Swift|journal=Texas Co-op Power|date=December 2014|pages=26, 27}}</ref> and the primary site for pre-mobilization training for the Texas Army National Guard.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aec.army.mil/application/files/7615/9369/4200/CampSwift.pdf |title=REPI Program Project Profile Camp Swift |access-date=2024-01-29 |archive-date=2024-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130004852/https://aec.army.mil/application/files/7615/9369/4200/CampSwift.pdf }}</ref>

Beginning in 2007, Camp Swift became home to the 136th Combat Arms Training Regiment and Texas National Guard Training Center of Excellence.<ref name="Camp Swift">{{cite web |url=https://tmd.texas.gov/camp-swift |title=Camp Swift |access-date=2024-01-29 |archive-date=2023-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106192735/https://tmd.texas.gov/camp-swift }}</ref> The 136th Regiment conducts military occupational specialty qualification courses, Noncommissioned Officer Education System courses, Officer Candidate School, Warrant Officer Candidate School, and other specialty courses.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://premium.globalsecurity.org/military//agency/army/136rti.htm |title=136th Regiment (Combat Arms) (Regional Training Institute) |access-date=2024-01-29 |archive-date=2024-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130002304/https://premium.globalsecurity.org/military//agency/army/136rti.htm }}</ref>

Camp Swift has educational facilities and classrooms, a gas chamber, an airborne drop zone, rifle and pistol ranges, helicopter landing sites, and a land navigation course.<ref name="Camp Swift"/>

==Geography== Camp Swift is located north of the center of Bastrop County.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is about {{convert|37|mi}} east of Austin and {{convert|7|mi|0}} north of Bastrop. Texas State Highway 95 forms the western edge of the community, connecting Bastrop to the south with Elgin to the north.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of {{convert|31.4|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.2|km2|disp=flip|2}}, or 0.65%, is covered by water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1990=2681 |2000=4731 |2010=6383 |2020=7943 |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|access-date=July 13, 2024|archive-date=March 30, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250330000710/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-tx-p1.pdf|url-status=dead}}</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> }}

Camp Swift first appeared as a census designated place in the 1990 U.S. census.<ref name=1990CensusTX/>

===2020 census=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Camp Swift 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 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Camp Swift CDP, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US4812334&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !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) – Camp Swift CDP, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US4812334&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</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) – Camp Swift CDP, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US4812334&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !% 2000 !% 2010 !{{partial|% 2020}} |- |White alone (NH) |2,459 |2,731 |style='background: #ffffe6; |2,476 |51.98% |42.79% |style='background: #ffffe6; |31.17% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |398 |657 |style='background: #ffffe6; |457 |8.41% |10.29% |style='background: #ffffe6; |5.75% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |25 |47 |style='background: #ffffe6; |30 |0.53% |0.74% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.38% |- |Asian alone (NH) |12 |30 |style='background: #ffffe6; |22 |0.25% |0.47% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.28% |- |Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) |2 |7 |style='background: #ffffe6; |0 |0.04% |0.11% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00% |- |Other race alone (NH) |1 |11 |style='background: #ffffe6; |37 |0.02% |0.17% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.47% |- |Multiracial (NH) |42 |91 |style='background: #ffffe6; |139 |0.89% |1.43% |style='background: #ffffe6; |1.75% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |1,792 |2,809 |style='background: #ffffe6; |4,782 |37.88% |44.01% |style='background: #ffffe6; |60.20% |- |'''Total''' |'''4,731''' |'''6,383''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''7,943 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

As of the 2020 United States census, 7,943 people, 1,444 households, and 1,025 families were residing in the CDP.

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2" /> 4,731 people, 1,127 households, and 849 families resided in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|396.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 1,231 housing units had an average density of {{convert|103.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 73.28% White, 8.84% African American, 1.16% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 13.11% from other races, and 3.30% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 37.88% of the population.

Of the 1,127 households, 40.1% had children under 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were not families. About 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.40.

In the CDP, the age distribution was 22.6% under 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 42.5% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 185.9 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 224.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $41,833 and for a family was $44,352. Males had a median income of $30,572 versus $25,044 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $12,829. About 9.2% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under 18 and 25.7% of those 65 or over.

==Government and infrastructure== Federal Correctional Institution Bastrop, a prison of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), is in Camp Swift.<ref name=CampSwiftMapwprison>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st48_tx/place/p4812334_camp_swift/DC20BLK_P4812334.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Camp Swift CDP, TX|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2022-12-03|page=1 (PDF p. 2/3)|quote=Federal Correctional Institution Bastrop}}</ref>

==Education== Camp Swift is served by the Bastrop Independent School District.<ref>"[http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st48_tx/place/p4812334_camp_swift/DC10BLK_P4812334_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Camp Swift CDP, TX]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on January 23, 2017.</ref><ref name=Zonemap>"[http://www.bisdtx.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=327782&type=d&pREC_ID=734880 District Boundary/Attendance Maps]" ([https://archive.today/20170123065627/http://www.bisdtx.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=327782&type=d&pREC_ID=734880 Archive]). Bastrop Independent School District. Retrieved on January 23, 2017. The zone map shows most of Camp Swift as being within the Lost Pines Elementary zone with a segment in the Mina zone. "Bastrop feeder pattern: Bastrop High School, Bastrop Middle School, Bastrop Intermediate School,[...]Lost Pines Elementary,[...]"</ref> Most residents are zoned to Lost Pines Elementary School,<ref>"[https://d2ct263enury6r.cloudfront.net/37fbLZO9GV7JGAE7BotUOtjdL447eUsykP6CiBs7Ml9eVPH5.pdf Lost Pines Elementary Attendance Boundary]." Bastrop Independent School District. Retrieved on January 23, 2017.</ref> while a small southern section is zoned to Mina Elementary School.<ref>"[https://d2ct263enury6r.cloudfront.net/kvppM96kkR7YCZjTdGCALQHmcnbPI9LW4pDl0bJJlMfH1wpt.pdf Mina Elementary Attendance Boundary]." Bastrop Independent School District. Retrieved on January 23, 2017.</ref> All residents are zoned to Bastrop Intermediate School, Bastrop Middle School, and Bastrop High School.<ref>"[https://d2ct263enury6r.cloudfront.net/Z42KTiUJUG8wn8RKwwCM4o9YT4XTQ4Q3qOZ5zFWZQsmvxJ8n.pdf Bastrop ISD Attendance Boundaries]." Bastrop Independent School District. Retrieved on January 23, 2017.</ref>

==References== {{reflist|22em}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Camp Swift}} * {{Handbook of Texas|id=qbc27|name=Camp Swift}} * [https://tmd.texas.gov/camp-swift Camp Swift page on the Texas Military Department website]

Category:Census-designated places in Bastrop County, Texas Category:Census-designated places in Texas Category:Census-designated places in Greater Austin Category:Texas Military Department Category:Texas Military Forces