Harker Heights now boasts a population of more than 30,000 people -- a milestone for the city.
The population estimate is based on Census data that is cross-referenced with water and building permit information, according to City Manager David Mitchell. The latest numbers suggest the city exceeded the 30,000 threshold in April.
"This milestone brings no changes to the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction or to the city's operations," Harker Heights said in a statement. "It is simply a measure of the city's progress and growth."
Harker Heights was founded in 1960, as a result of work by Pinckney R. Cox and Harley Kern. The "Harker" part of the city's name is actually a shortening of Harley Kern's name, the city said. He died in 1957, just a few years before the city's founding, so the name was meant to pay tribute to his efforts in the community.
At the time of the city's founding, it had 600 residents living on 950 acres. Today, Harker Heights has grown to 9,000 acres, according to a press release.
"The City of Harker Heights continues to strive to be a destination of choice for residents and businesses," Mitchell said in the release. "We are proud of this new milestone and we look forward to doing everything in our power to provide outstanding service to our citizens."
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