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.[4][5] The city reached a population peak of 500 residents in 1914. The closing of the railway in 1935[6] 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.[7]
In 2001 Jarrell incorporated as a city. Wayne Cavalier became the first mayor for the City of Jarrell.[8][9]
Geography
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.[10]
Tornadoes
Jarrell has been affected by two major tornadoes in its history. The first one was an F3 that occurred on May 17, 1989, killing one person and injuring 28 people. Damage was incurred mainly on the southern side of town.[11]
On May 27, 1997, an F5 tornado devastated the northern side of town. The hardest-hit area was the Double Creek Estates subdivision, which was completely obliterated, with all of the homes in the neighborhood being destroyed. Twenty-seven people were killed in this tornado.[12]
Between 2012 and 2019, student enrollment more than doubled.[21] The district's middle school was built in 2014, but underwent an expansion in 2018–2019 to gain more classroom and science labs so that it could better accommodate the growing population of students. The high school is also being expanded, including the addition of a performing arts center.[22]
In 2023, Jarrell ISD formed its own ISD Police Department.[23]
Infrastructure
Jarrell sits directly along Interstate 35, with access to Ronald Reagan Boulevard.[24][25]
Emergency services are provided by the Jarrell Fire Department, operating under Williamson County ESD#5.[26]
The Jarrell Police Department was created in 2006.[9] In 2014, Chief Andres Gutierrez was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to a wire fraud/theft of honest services charge.[27]
Notable People
Preston Smith, 40th Governor of Texas: born in Corn Hill which later was absorbed by Jarrell.[28]
^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 can be of any race.[16][17]
