| Official Name: | Kaufman, Texas |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Motto: | "Progress, Tradition"[1] |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Texas |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Kaufman |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Jeff Jordan |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [2] |
| Area Total Km2: | 23.88 |
| Area Land Km2: | 23.45 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.43 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 9.22 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 9.05 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.17 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 6797 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation M: | 140 |
| Elevation Ft: | 459 |
| Coordinates: | 32.5853°N -96.3078°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 75142 |
| Area Code: | 214, 469, 945, 972 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 48-38488[3] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1338964[4] |
Kaufman is a town in and the county seat of Kaufman County, Texas, United States.[5] [6] Its population was 6,797 at the 2020 census.[7]
Kaufman was founded as "Kings Fort", named after Dr. William P. King, who established the fort in 1840 after purchasing of land where the city is now located. The community was renamed "Kingsboro" after five years of growth. In 1852, Kingsboro was renamed "Kaufman" after the newly formed Kaufman County, which in turn was named after David S. Kaufman.[6] [8]
Kaufman was the first place that Bonnie Parker, of Bonnie and Clyde, was incarcerated.
Nearby Camp Kaufman was used as a German POW camp during World War II.[9]
U.S. Route 175, a four-lane limited-access highway, passes through the southwest side of the city, leading northwest to Dallas and southeast to Athens. Texas State Highway 34 passes through the south and east sides of the city, leading north to Terrell and southwest to Ennis. State Highway 243 leads east from Kaufman to Canton.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Kaufman has a total area of 22.1km2, of which 0.5km2, or 2.08%, is covered by water.[10]
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Kaufman has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[11]
| White (NH) | 3,266 | 48.05% | |
| Black or African American (NH) | 621 | 9.14% | |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 18 | 0.26% | |
| Asian (NH) | 63 | 0.93% | |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 5 | 0.07% | |
| Some other race (NH) | 11 | 0.16% | |
| Mixed/multiracial (NH) | 259 | 3.81% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,554 | 37.58% | |
| Total | 6,797 |
Kaufman was home to minor league baseball. The 1915 Kaufman Kings played as members of the Class D level Central Texas League before the league disbanded.
Kaufman and surrounding portions of Kaufman County are served by the Kaufman Independent School District.[12]
Honors Academy operates the Legacy Academy, a grades 6–12 charter school, in Kaufman.[13]
In addition, Kaufman Christian School, a church-run school with classes from prekindergarten to 12th grade, also serves the area.
Trinity Valley Community College operates its Health Science Center in Kaufman. (The college offers other nonmedical general-education courses at other TVCC campuses.)