Panhandle, Texas
| Panhandle, Texas | |
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| — Town — | |
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| Motto: People of Pride & Purpose | |
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| Coordinates: 35°20′51″N 101°22′55″W / 35.34750°N 101.38194°WCoordinates: 35°20′51″N 101°22′55″W / 35.34750°N 101.38194°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Carson |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Dan Looten |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.1 sq mi (5.5 km2) |
| • Land | 2.1 sq mi (5.5 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,458 ft (1,054 m) |
| Population (2009) | |
| • Total | 2,425 |
| • Density | 1,216.6/sq mi (469.7/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 79068 |
| Area code(s) | 806 |
| FIPS code | 48-54960[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1364746[2] |
Panhandle is a town in Carson County, Texas, United States, and the county seat. The population was 2,452 at the 2010 census[3]. Panhandle is part of the Amarillo, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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History [edit]
Panhandle derives its name from its location in the Texas Panhandle. Originally named Carson City, it was later changed to Panhandle City.[4]
In 1887, Panhandle obtained a post office, and in 1888 the town was planned as the terminus of the Panhandle and Santa Fe Railway. At that time the town was surrounded by several large cattle ranches. Soon after the community acquired a bank, a mercantile store, a wagonyard, a school, a newspaper, and three saloons.[4]
In 1888, Carson County was organized, and Panhandle became the county seat.[4]
Temple Lea Houston (1860–1905), the eighth and last child of politician Sam Houston, built a home near Panhandle. In 1881, Temple Lea Houston was named district attorney for the 35th Judicial District, and was elected to the Texas State Senate in 1884, two years before he met the minimum age requirement of twenty-six. Houston was known for favoring legislation popular with frontiersmen.[5]
Panhandle was scandalized in 1897 after George E. Morrison, a preacher at the Methodist Episcopal Church, poisoned his wife Minnie with a strychnine-laced apple so he could marry his mistress Miss Annie Whittlesey of Topeka, Kansas. Morrison was sentenced to die in the gallows at Vernon, Texas, his last words being "Jesus, Lover of My Soul".[6]
The town voted to incorporate in 1909, with a mayor-council government.
The town’s population grew in the 1920s when Panhandle became the center of a natural gas field.
A new county courthouse was completed in 1950.
Panhandle continued to thrive in the 1980s as a regional marketing and shipping center for cattle, wheat and petroleum products.[4]
The Carson County Square House Museum is located inside the oldest house in Panhandle, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Demographics [edit]
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,589 people, 945 households, and 719 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,216.6 people per square mile (469.3/km²). There were 1,014 housing units at an average density of 476.5 per square mile (183.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.16% White, 0.66% African American, 0.77% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 3.86% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.96% of the population.
There were 945 households out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,686, and the median income for a family was $50,735. Males had a median income of $38,155 versus $25,329 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,640. About 4.0% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.
Geography and climate [edit]
Panhandle is located at 35°20′51″N 101°22′55″W / 35.34750°N 101.38194°W (35.347409, -101.381997)[7].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2), all of it land.
| Climate data for Panhandle, Texas (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 49.9 (9.9) |
53.9 (12.2) |
62.7 (17.1) |
71.9 (22.2) |
80.0 (26.7) |
87.9 (31.1) |
92.8 (33.8) |
91.0 (32.8) |
83.8 (28.8) |
72.7 (22.6) |
60.3 (15.7) |
48.7 (9.3) |
71.3 (21.8) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 22.2 (−5.4) |
25.2 (−3.8) |
31.8 (−0.1) |
40.2 (4.6) |
50.4 (10.2) |
59.6 (15.3) |
64.0 (17.8) |
62.9 (17.2) |
55.1 (12.8) |
43.6 (6.4) |
31.8 (−0.1) |
22.6 (−5.2) |
42.4 (5.8) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 0.61 (15.5) |
0.64 (16.3) |
1.39 (35.3) |
1.77 (45) |
2.79 (70.9) |
3.59 (91.2) |
2.51 (63.8) |
2.80 (71.1) |
2.20 (55.9) |
1.94 (49.3) |
0.92 (23.4) |
0.76 (19.3) |
21.92 (556.8) |
| Snowfall inches (cm) | 3.9 (9.9) |
3.1 (7.9) |
2.0 (5.1) |
0.5 (1.3) |
0.1 (0.3) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.3 (0.8) |
1.7 (4.3) |
4.1 (10.4) |
15.8 (40.1) |
| Source: NOAA[8] | |||||||||||||
Education [edit]
The Town of Panhandle is served by the Panhandle Independent School District.
References [edit]
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d Anderson, H. Allen. "PANHANDLE, TX". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2013.
- ^ Texas Historical Commission, Historical marker on Temple Houston, Square House Museum, Panhandle, Texas
- ^ "WILBARGER COUNTY, TEXAS EXECUTION NEWS STORIES". Genealogy Trails.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 05, 2013.
External links [edit]
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