Ransom Canyon, Texas
| Ransom Canyon, Texas | |
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| Coordinates: 33°31′54″N 101°40′53″W / 33.53167°N 101.68139°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Lubbock |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.9 sq mi (2.4 km2) |
| • Land | 0.8 sq mi (2.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,104 ft (946 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 1,011 |
| • Density | 1,213.1/sq mi (468.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 79364, 79366 |
| Area code(s) | 806 |
| FIPS code | 48-60672[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1377218[2] |
| Website | www.ci.ransom-canyon.tx.us |
Ransom Canyon is a town in Lubbock County of West Texas, United States. The population was 1,011 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Ransom Canyon has some unusually designed homes, including the Lawson Rock House and the Steel House, both designed by Robert R. Bruno (1945-2008). The steel house was featured on an episode of Texas Country Reporter with Bob Phillips shortly before Bruno's death.
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The Lawson Rock House in Ransom Canyon
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Robert Bruno's Steel House overlooking the rim at Ransom Canyon.
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[edit] History
Ransom Canyon lies in the south eastern part of famed Yellow House Canyon, which is in the upper tributary of the Double Mountain Fork of the Brazos River. Because of its gradual upward climb, this great canyon was easily traversed and, therefore served as a popular entry to, and exit from, the vast Staked Plains (Llano Estacado) of West Texas and Eastern New Mexico.
In 1629, Father Salas of Santa Fe came down the canyon to San Angelo and back again: Captains Martin and Castillo followed the same route from Santa Fe in 1650. Indian tribes, buffalo hunters, Colonel Mackenzie and his cavalry, cowboys with their cattle herds ... these and many others have used the canyon with its fresh water springs as an avenue through history.
Ransom Canyon derives its name from the older designation, Cañon de Rescate, "Canyon of Ransom"; for it was in this region that Spanish and Anglo traders negotiated with the Comanches for the return of the hostages.
Ransom Canyon was developed from 576 acres which was the last acreage of "Johnston Ranch". The original ranch contained about 165 sections or more than 100,000 acres. Most of it was sold off many years ago, but the Headquarters Section was owned by members of the Johnston family until 1961 when the dream of a town was conceived.
The Headquarters Ranch House and the Cowboy Bunk House (and bath house) were sheltered under the huge cottonwood trees on East Lake Shore Drive. Water for the bath house was supplied directly from the spring that is still flowing there.
The spring at the upper end of Brookhollow is shown on the oldest maps as "Pig Squeal" spring. No doubt wild hogs were trapped in this box canyon, hence the name.
Indian relics are still found, and at least one Indian burial site has been found in rocky ledges on the west side.
[edit] Geography
The town of Ransom Canyon is located within Yellow House Canyon, at the eastern edge of the Llano Estacado. Yellow House Canyon was carved by the North Fork of the Double Mountain Fork of the Brazos River. This stream has been dammed multiple times to form Buffalo Springs Lake and Lake Ransom Canyon.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2), of which, 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (11.70%) is water.
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Lake Ransom Canyon
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Gust-front dust cloud moving across the Llano Estacado toward Ransom Canyon
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,011 people, 404 households, and 338 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,213.1 people per square mile (470.3/km²). There were 412 housing units at an average density of 494.4/sq mi (191.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.25% White, 0.40% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 2.57% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.85% of the population.
There were 404 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.0% were married couples living together, 3.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.1% were non-families. 14.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 36.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $78,427, and the median income for a family was $85,944. Males had a median income of $50,000 versus $34,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $45,675. None of the families and 0.6% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 0.7% of those over 64.
[edit] Education
Ransom Canyon is served by the Roosevelt and Slaton Independent School Districts.
[edit] See also
- Yellow House Canyon
- Buffalo Springs, Texas
- Llano Estacado
- Caprock Escarpment
- Double Mountain Fork Brazos River
- Yellow House Draw
[edit] References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Robert Bruno Steel House
- [1][page 49]
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Coordinates: 33°31′54″N 101°40′53″W / 33.531731°N 101.681524°W
