Yantis, Texas

Yantis is a town in Wood County, Texas, United States. The population was 388 at the 2010 census. The town is surrounded on three sides by Lake Fork Reservoir. It is located at the intersection of State Highway 154 and Farm to Market Road 17 approximately 12 miles north of the county seat of Quitman in northwestern Wood County.HistoryThe area that became Yantis was reportedly settled initially by Harry M. Matthews as early as 1860. By 1870, a gristmill and cotton gin in the area were being operated by J. Singleton. The community was served by the Quitman post office until 1885 when it received its own post office. the town was named for its first postmaster, George R. Yantis. George Yantis also ran a gristmill and gin in the community around 1890.By 1896, the area had its own justice, bailiff, sheriff, two churches, and five schools. By 1914, the town had a phone connection and 21 businesses including Yantis State Bank. Population peaked in the 1930s at 500. The discovery of the Yantis Oilfield in 1947 did not have a lasting impact on the community. Yantis incorporated as a municipality in the late 1960s.GeographyYantis is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.9 square miles, all land.DemographicsAs of the census of 2000, there were 321 people, 144 households, and 84 families residing in the town. The population density was 171.9 people per square mile (66.3/km²). There were 165 housing units at an average density of 88.3 per square mile (34.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.33% White, 0.31% Native American, 1.56% from other races, and 2.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.03% of the population.