Lamesa, Texas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lamesa, Texas | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Dawson |
| Area | |
| - Total | 4.8 sq mi (12.4 km²) |
| - Land | 4.8 sq mi (12.4 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 2,992 ft (912 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 9,952 |
| - Density | 2,080.8/sq mi (803.4/km²) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 79331 |
| Area code(s) | 806 |
| FIPS code | 48-41164[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1339590[2] |
Lamesa (pronounced "la-MEE-sa", "la-MEE-suh") is the seat of Dawson County, Texas, United States. [3] Located south of Lubbock on the Llano Estacado, Lamesa was founded in 1903. Most of the economy is based on cattle and cotton. The Preston E. Smith prison unit, named for the former Texas governor, is located just outside of Lamesa.[4]
A branch of Howard College, a community college in Big Spring, is located in Lamesa.
Preston Smith, a Democrat, served as governor from 1969-1973. He grew up in Lamesa and graduated from Lamesa High School in 1928. He was born in Williamson County and launched his successful business and political career from Lubbock.
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[edit] Notable residents
Though he is usually associated with Lubbock, where he graduated from Monterey High School, the actor Barry Corbin was born in Lamesa in 1940. He co-starred in the NBC series Boone in the 1983-1984 season and thereafter on CBS's Northern Exposure, which ran from 1990-1995. In 2001, he had a role in Tom Selleck's Turner Network Television film, Crossfire Trail based on a Louis L'Amour novel. Corbin's father, Kilmer Blaine Corbin (1919-1993)[5] was a judge and a Democratic member of the Texas State Senate from 1949-1957.[6]
J.E. Airhart, a former 30-year member of the Dawson County Commissioners Court, died in 2007. Airhart, a farmer and rancher who served as a county commissioner from 1955-1985, worked to obtain the county livestock and fair barn, the Dawson County general aviation airport, and numerous highway improvements. He was instrumental in the successful negotiation of rights-of-way for U.S. Highway 87 north to O'Donnell and south to Ackerly.[7]
Larry D. Johnson (1959-2008) was until the time of his death the Lubbock County Precinct 2 constable. He was a Lamesa native and a 1977 graduate of Lamesa High School. He was also a reserve officer for the Slaton Police Department.[8]
[edit] Geography
Lamesa is located at (32.734439, -101.958190).[9]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²), all of it land.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 9,952 people, 3,696 households, and 2,679 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,080.8 people per square mile (803.9/km²). There were 4,270 housing units at an average density of 892.8/sq mi (344.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 41.9% White Non-Hispanic, 4.2% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 19.51% from other races, and 2.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 52.96% of the population.
There were 3,696 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,362, and the median income for a family was $31,556. Males had a median income of $26,393 versus $16,826 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,211. About 18.1% of families and 21.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.4% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
The City of Lamesa is served by the Lamesa Independent School District, which includes Lamesa High School, and Lamesa Middle School, whose school mascots are the Golden Tornadoes and the Whirlwinds, respectively.
[edit] Trivia
- The La Entrada al Pacifico is an international trade corridor that begins in Topolobampo, Mexico, runs through Midland-Odessa and ends in Lamesa (According to the legal definition).
- According to legend, it was in Lamesa that chicken fried steak was first created. However, it is much more likely that the dish is a variation on the wienerschnitzel, brought to Texas by its significant population of German immigrants.[citation needed]
[edit] Media
The city is served by a weekly newspaper (The Lamesa Press Reporter) and by local and area radio stations KPET (AM 690), KBKN (FM), KTXC (FM), and KYMI (FM). The cable TV system is operated by Northland Cable TV. Other signals are received from stations in Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, and other area towns. Television signals are provided by ABC, CBS. NBC, PBS, Fox and CW stations in Lubbock and the Permian basin (Midland-Odessa).[10]
[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.
- ^ Texas Department of Criminal Justice Retrieved on 2007-11-08
- ^ http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi
- ^ Barry Corbin Official Site Retrieved on 2007-11-08
- ^ Airhart Obituary, Lubbockonline.com Retrieved on 2007-11-08
- ^ http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/041508/obi_268513310.shtml
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ FCC Retrieved on 2007-11-08
[edit] External links
- Lamesa, Texas is at coordinates Coordinates:
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