Dalhart, Texas
| Dalhart, Texas | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
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| Motto: "The XIT City"[1] | |
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| Coordinates: 36°3′39″N 102°31′7″W / 36.06083°N 102.51861°WCoordinates: 36°3′39″N 102°31′7″W / 36.06083°N 102.51861°W | |
| 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 (2010) | |
| • Total | 7,930 |
| • 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[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1355552[3] |
| Website | http://www.dalhart.org/ |
Dalhart is a city in Dallam and Hartley counties in the U.S. state of Texas, and the county seat of Dallam County.[4] The population was 7,930 at the 2010 census.
Contents |
History[edit]
Founded in 1901, Dalhart is named for its location on the border of Dallam and Hartley counties; its name combines the first syllables of Dallam and Hartley counties.[5][6] The City was founded at the site of a Railroad junction, which heavily contributed to its early growth.
Dalhart was in the center of the Dust Bowl, an area adversely affected by a long period of drought and dust storms during the Great Depression of the 1930s. It was here that Tex Thornton operating on the now debunked concussion theory coaxed today's inflation adjusted equivalent of $1 million from the locals on claims he could fire rocket-powered explosives into the clouds and cause rain.[7]
At the Dallam County Courthouse, Dalhart honors the memory of James R. Fox, Jr. (March 16, 1919—March 11, 1943), who flew supplies to China for Pan American Airways, then a joint Chinese and American company, during World War II through the treacherous Hump Route. Fox and his two Chinese copilots were killed when their Douglas C-52 cargo plane crashed. In 2002, the Peoples Republic of China made a bronze bust in Fox's honor and presented it to Dalhart.[8]
Geography[edit]
Dalhart is located at 36°3′39″N 102°31′7″W / 36.06083°N 102.51861°W (36.060856, -102.518656)[9]. 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 sits at the intersection of U.S. Highway 87, 385, and 54. Two miles south of Dalhart is Rita Blanca Canyon, site of Rita Blanca Lake State Park.
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 (932 km) from Austin [1], but is 263 miles (423 km) from Santa Fe, New Mexico[2], 343 miles (552 km) from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma[3], 348 miles (560 km) from Denver, Colorado[4], 448 miles (721 km) from Cheyenne, Wyoming[5], 461 miles (742 km) from Topeka, Kansas[6], and 540 miles (870 km) from Lincoln, Nebraska[7].
As the "crow flies," Dalhart is 491 miles (790 km) from Austin, but 201 miles (323 km) from Santa Fe, New Mexico, 281 miles (452 km) from Oklahoma City, 289 miles (465 km) from Denver, Colorado, 375 miles (604 km) from Cheyenne, Wyoming, 434 miles (698 km) from Topeka, Kansas, and 458 miles (737 km) from Lincoln, Nebraska.[8]
The city also has an impressively prodigious cattle feed lot in its outskirts, which contains thousands upon thousands of cows.
Climate[edit]
Dalhart experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with cool, dry winters and hot, wetter summers.
| Climate data for Dalhart Municipal Airport | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 47.9 (8.8) |
52.7 (11.5) |
60.3 (15.7) |
68.1 (20.1) |
76.6 (24.8) |
86.3 (30.2) |
90.0 (32.2) |
87.7 (30.9) |
80.3 (26.8) |
70.4 (21.3) |
57.5 (14.2) |
48.6 (9.2) |
68.87 (20.48) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 33.5 (0.8) |
38.0 (3.3) |
45.0 (7.2) |
53.2 (11.8) |
62.6 (17) |
72.2 (22.3) |
76.4 (24.7) |
74.6 (23.7) |
66.7 (19.3) |
55.6 (13.1) |
42.9 (6.1) |
34.5 (1.4) |
54.6 (12.56) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 19.0 (−7.2) |
23.3 (−4.8) |
29.7 (−1.3) |
38.2 (3.4) |
48.6 (9.2) |
58.1 (14.5) |
62.8 (17.1) |
61.5 (16.4) |
53.1 (11.7) |
40.8 (4.9) |
28.2 (−2.1) |
20.4 (−6.4) |
40.31 (4.62) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 0.52 (13.2) |
0.40 (10.2) |
1.08 (27.4) |
1.35 (34.3) |
2.72 (69.1) |
2.27 (57.7) |
3.11 (79) |
2.99 (75.9) |
1.56 (39.6) |
1.32 (33.5) |
0.71 (18) |
0.54 (13.7) |
18.57 (471.6) |
| Source: NOAA (normals, 1971-2000) [10] | |||||||||||||
Demographics[edit]
As of the census[2] 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 per square mile (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.
Economy[edit]
Dalhart's economy is centered around agribusiness, including farming, ranching, feedlot operations, large scale pig farms, and, more recently a cheese processing plant. Dalhart is also home to a state prison.
During the peak operating period of the XIT Ranch, the land was in native grass. Some land was diverted into dry farmland, but there was insufficient rain to make it productive. 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, credited to Texas panhandle farmer Frank Zybach in 1949,[11] was introduced and was found to be ideal for the area's rolling sandy soils. About the same time frame, large feedlots were built due to the low-humidity climate. This created a good market for corn.
Arts and culture[edit]
Annual cultural events[edit]
Dalhart is also known as the "XIT City" because of its relationship with the historic XIT Ranch.[1] The ranch was a 3,000,000-acre (12,000 km2) 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 rodeo as well as Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association events, three nights of live music, and a variety of other offering to celebrate the occasion. The Empty Saddle Monument, located at the crossroads of Dalhart, was constructed in 1940 at the request of Bobby Dycke, the wife of a ranch hand, to recognize the contribution of the XIT cowboys to the history of the region.
The Muscle Car Party Weekend is held each year in May, and includes a classic car show, bicycle drag races and dinner and dance. The events is sponsored by the Dalhart Cruzers Car Club and each year the club raffles a classic car.[1][12]
Education[edit]
The Dalhart Independent School District serves the city of Dalhart. The district has an elementary school, intermediate school, junior high school and high school. Students attend Dalhart High School.[13][14]
Media[edit]
The Dalhart Texan was established in 1901, and is published in Dalhart. The newspaper is currently published twice a week and has been owned by the Hogue Family for the past sixty consecutive years. Susan Hogue Clay is the present owner and publisher.[6][15]
Infrastructure[edit]
Prison system[edit]
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Dalhart Unit prison is located in unincorporated Hartley County, near Dalhart.[16]
Gallery[edit]
-
Welcome sign at Dalhart, Texas -
Downtown streets are made of brick in Dalhart. -
Founded on December 11, 1902, the Dalhart Texan newspaper is published Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on Denrock Street in Dalhart. -
Closeup of Veterans Memorial in Dalhart -
Historical marker at Dallam County Courthouse honors James R. Fox, Jr. (1919–43), of Dalhart for his unique World War II service. -
The XIT Museum operates across the street from the Dallam County Courthouse in Dalhart.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Dalhart Chamber of Commerce". Dalhart Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ "Profile for Dalhart, Texas, TX". ePodunk. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ a b "Dalhart, Texas". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ "Texas Trails: Tex Thorton, the Firefighter and Rainmaker". Country World Online Edition. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
- ^ Historical marker at Dallam County Courthouse, Dalhart, Texas
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Climatography of the United States NO.81". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
- ^ NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (April 28, 2012). "NASA's Landsat Satellites See Texas Crop Circles — Of the Irrigation Kind" (news story). ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 28, 2912. "Retrieved from ScienceDaily (Apr. 28, 2012) — A water-rich polka dot pattern ...."
- ^ "Dalhart Cruzers to have 6th annual Muscle Car Weekend". Dalhart Texan. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ "Dalhart Independent School District". Dalhart Independent School District. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ "Dalhart Independent School District". Geat Schools, Inc. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ "Dalhart Texan". Dalhart Texan. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ "Dalhart Unit." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on June 4, 2010.
Further reading[edit]
- Timothy Egan, The Worst Hard Time (Mariner Books, 2006). ISBN 0-618-34697-X
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Dalhart, Texas |
- City of Dalhart
- Dalhart Chamber of Commerce
- XIT Rodeo & Reunion
- Dalhart Online Magazine: TexasViews.net
- The Dalhart Texan, local newspaper
- Dalhart Independent School District
- Texas State Historical Association: Dalhart, Texas
- City-Data.com
- ePodunk: Profile for Dalhart, Texas
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