About Center
Center is a close-knit town in eastern Texas with an estimated population of 5,231.
Center holds the status of an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 7.99 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 655 residents per square mile.
📰 Center News Today
- Migrant kids are often being held in a South Texas detention center five times longer than a court order allows The Texas Tribune · Aug 12
- New Amazon Data Center Stokes Worry It Would Be the Most Polluting Power Plant in the U.S. The New York Times · Aug 10
- Facing an estimated 474 GW of interconnection requests, Texas hits pause on data centers Utility Dive · Aug 5
- Rural Texas conservatives love free markets but not when it comes to data centers The Washington Post · Aug 12
- Data-Center Backlash Leads to New Land Rush in Texas Oil Patch WSJ · Aug 9
Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.
What Makes Center Unique
- One of 6 places in the US named Center — but the Texas one has a character all its own.
- Positioned in eastern Texas, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
- Part of the fabric of Texas — one of 1,863 recognized communities statewide.
Why People Love It Here
- Big enough for services and schools, small enough to feel like home.
- Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 5,231.
- Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 15 miles.
🍽️ Where to Eat in Center
- Chinese buffet
- Margaritas — mexican
- Piney Woods Seafood and Streak House
- Pizza Hut — pizza
- Rancho Grande
- T/R'S Steaks and More — buffet
Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🎡 Fun Things to Do
- Shelby County Museum · Museum
Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.
🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Center
Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.
🏫 Schools in Center
- CENTER EL
- CENTER H S
- CENTER MIDDLE
- EXCELSIOR EL
- F L MOFFETT PRI
- ROUGHRIDER ACADEMY
Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.
⚡ Quick Facts
StateTexas
TypeCity
Population (2024)5,231
Rank in state#372 of 1,224
Land area7.99 sq mi
Density655/sq mi
Coordinates31.7931, -94.1803