Dalhart, Texas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dalhart, Texas | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Counties | Dallam, Hartley |
| Area | |
| - Total | 4.3 sq mi (11.1 km²) |
| - Land | 4.3 sq mi (11.1 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 3,983 ft (1,214 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 7,237 |
| - Density | 1,686.1/sq mi (651.0/km²) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 79022 |
| Area code(s) | 806 |
| FIPS code | 48-18524[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1355552[2] |
Dalhart is a city in Dallam and Hartley Counties in the U.S. state of Texas, and the county seat of Dallam County.[3] The population was 7,237 at the 2000 census. Founded in 1901, Dalhart is named for its location on the border of Dallam and Hartley counties.
The city of Dalhart is known by many Texans as a gateway to the Colorado Rockies. The city's position in the northwestern corner of the Texas Panhandle makes it a pivotal resting place for weary travelers coming from or going to the mountains.
Two miles south of Dalhart is Rita Blanca Canyon, site of Rita Blanca Lake State Park.
Dalhart is also known as the XIT City because of its relationship with the historic XIT Ranch. The ranch was a 3,000,000-acre plot of land traded in exchange for the construction of the Texas State Capitol in Austin. The ranch was dissolved in 1912, but its history is celebrated with the city's XIT Museum and the XIT Rodeo and Reunion. Held annually on the first full Thursday through Sunday weekend of August, the event includes the world's largest free barbecue, junior and PRCA rodeo events, three nights of live music, and a variety of other events to celebrate the occasion.
Dalhart was in the center of the Dust Bowl, a region adversely affected by a long period of drought and dust storms in the 1930s.
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[edit] Geography
Dalhart is located at (36.060856, -102.518656)[4].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²).None of the area is covered with water.
Dalhart is located closer to six other state capitals than to Texas' capital of Austin. In surface mileage (over major highways), Dalhart is 579 miles from Austin[1], but is 263 miles from Santa Fe, New Mexico[2], 343 miles from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma[3], 348 miles from Denver, Colorado[4], 448 miles from Cheyenne, Wyoming[5], 461 miles from Topeka, Kansas[6], and 540 miles from Lincoln, Nebraska[7].
As the "crow flies," Dalhart is 491 miles from Austin, but 201 miles from Santa Fe, New Mexico, 281 miles from Oklahoma City, 289 miles from Denver, Colorado, 375 miles from Cheyenne, Wyoming, 434 miles from Topeka, Kansas, and 458 miles from Lincoln, Nebraska.[8]
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 7,237 people, 2,779 households, and 1,939 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,686.1 people per square mile (651.3/km²). There were 3,101 housing units at an average density of 722.5/sq mi (279.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.44% White, 1.46% African American, 0.79% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 9.96% from other races, and 2.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.80% of the population.
There were 2,779 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,897, and the median income for a family was $39,193. Males had a median income of $29,521 versus $19,899 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,530. About 8.5% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 19.5% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Economy
Dalhart's economy is centered around agribusiness, including farming, ranching, feedlot operations, large scale pig farms, and, more recently, relocated California dairies. The construction of a cheese processing plant near the city by California based Hilmar Cheese Company will add an estimated three hundred jobs to the local economy and require additional dairies to meet the daily needs of the plant. The Hilmar plant itself is employing 120 people, of which about 30 were relocated from their original facility. Dalhart is also home to a state prison facility.
Originally, (Xit Ranch Days) all the land was in native grass, then some was broken out into dry farmland, but there was not enough rain to make it productive. Then a few irrigation wells were drilled in areas where the soil was not sandy and was level enough for row irrigation. Later center pivot irrigation entered and was perfect for the rolling sandy soils. About the same time frame, big feedlots were built due to the low-humidity climate. This created a good market for corn.
In the early 1970s a young Realtor, Mike Justice. moved to Dalhart and realized the abundance of water for irrigation, local market and climate for corn, and low taxes. He launched an advertising campaign to sell an idea to Corn Belt farmers. They could trade one acre for three or four acres in Dalhart, and he showed them how to trade and defer the capital gain taxes. Some 150 farm families hence sold their farms and relocated their families to Dalhart. Each brought from $500,000 to 5 million dollars to the economy. The new residents came from as far away as Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Canada, and the Netherlands.
[edit] Education
The Dalhart Independent School District serves the city of Dalhart.
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
Timothy Egan, The Worst Hard Time (Mariner Books, 2006). ISBN 0-618-34697-X
[edit] External links
- City of Dalhart
- Dalhart Chamber of Commerce
- XIT Rodeo & Reunion
- Dalhart Online Magazine: TexasViews.net
- The Dalhart Texan
- Dalhart Police Department
- Dalhart, Texas is at coordinates Coordinates:
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