Snyder, Texas
| Snyder, Texas | |
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| — City — | |
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| Coordinates: 32°42′56″N 100°54′52″W / 32.71556°N 100.91444°WCoordinates: 32°42′56″N 100°54′52″W / 32.71556°N 100.91444°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Scurry |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.6 sq mi (22.3 km2) |
| • Land | 8.6 sq mi (22.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,320 ft (707 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 10,783 |
| • Density | 1,256.8/sq mi (485.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 79549-79550 |
| Area code(s) | 325 |
| FIPS code | 48-68624[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1347340[2] |
| Website | http://ci.snyder.tx.us/ |
Snyder is a city in, and the county seat of, Scurry County, Texas, United States.[3] The population was 10,653 at the 2010 census.
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History [edit]
Snyder is named for merchant and buffalo hunter William Henry (Pete) Snyder, who built a trading post on Deep Creek in 1878. It soon drew fellow hunters and a small settlement grew up around the post. The nature of those early dwellings, mostly constructed of buffalo hide and tree branches, led to the communities first, if unofficial, name of "Hide Town". Another early name, "Robber's Roost" is said to owe its beginnings to the sometimes nefarious nature of a few residents and a lack of law enforcement.[4] A statue of an albino buffalo on the grounds of the Scurry County courthouse in Snyder pays homage to the towns beginnings as a buffalo trading post.
Snyder predates Scurry County itself by two years, with a town plan being drawn up in 1882 while the county wasn't organized until 1884. A population of 600 was reported in 1892, with a school, two churches, a grist mill, steam gin, two banks and two weekly newspapers being part of the community. Significant change happened in 1907 when Snyder was granted a city charter, and construction began on the Roscoe, Snyder, and Pacific Railway. The 1910 census indicated Snyder had grown to a population of 2,514. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway tracks reached Snyder in 1911, spurring further growth. Ranching and farming were the primary economic backbone of Snyder through the first half of the 20th century.
This changed in 1948 when oil was discovered in the Canyon Reef area north of town. Snyder became a boomtown as the population jumped to approximately 12,000 in just a years time. By the time the boom ended in 1951 an estimated peak popularion of 16,000 had been reached. This soon decreased to the 10,000 to 11,000 level and stabilized. Although the boom was over, oil still remained a vital part of the local economy, with the Snyder area being one of the leading oil producing areas in Texas. In 1973 the one billionth barrel of oil was pumped from the nearby oil field.
An industrial base was established in the 1960s and early 1970s, diversifying the towns economy and making it less susceptble to cycles of boom and bust. Higher education came to Snyder in 1971 with the founding of Western Texas College. A community college, Western Texas offers Associate of Arts degree programs as well as vocational program certifications. Enrollment in 2009 was over 2,500 students.
The Scurry County Coliseum in Snyder, operated by Western Texas College since 2008, is a large arena which hosts area events. Outside the Coliseum is a locomotive engine and a small restored historic village. Also located in Snyder is the Diamond M Museum. Established by local oilman and rancher Clarence T. McLaughlin, the museum houses over eighty bronze works and two hundred paintings. Among the collection are works by Peter Hurd and Andrew Wyeth.
Sims-Johnson feud [edit]
At the turn of the 20th century, Snyder was rocketed by a deadly feud between the families of Billy Johnson and Ed Sims. Gladys Johnson, daughter of banker Billy Johnson, at the age of fourteen in 1914, married Ed Sims. The young couple had two daughters but soon divorced in July 1916. Sims was thereafter shot dead by a Johnson family member. The grand jury in Lamesa failed to bring a true bill against the killer. Gladys Johnson Sims in the spring of 1917 married Texas Ranger Frank Hamer, who had lost two children from a previous marriage. The Hamers raised four children, the daughters of Gladys and Ed Sims, and two of their own, including Frank Hamer, Jr. Frank Hamer died in 1955, but Gladys lived in their home in Austin until her death in 1986 at the age of eighty-five.[5]
Geography and climate [edit]
Snyder is located on Deep Creek, a minor tributary of the Colorado River of Texas.
Snyder is approximately 90 miles (140 km) southeast of Lubbock, 80 miles (130 km) northwest of Abilene, 90 miles (140 km) northeast of Midland, and 100 miles (160 km) north of San Angelo.
On September 11, 2011, a magnitude 4.4 earthquake centered 20 km (12 miles) north-northeast of Snyder produced light-to-moderate shaking, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center.
| Climate data for Snyder, Texas (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 55.7 (13.2) |
59.8 (15.4) |
68.0 (20) |
77.1 (25.1) |
85.2 (29.6) |
90.8 (32.7) |
94.1 (34.5) |
93.1 (33.9) |
86.3 (30.2) |
76.8 (24.9) |
66.0 (18.9) |
56.1 (13.4) |
75.7 (24.3) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 28.3 (−2.1) |
31.9 (−0.1) |
39.2 (4) |
47.4 (8.6) |
58.3 (14.6) |
66.3 (19.1) |
69.6 (20.9) |
68.7 (20.4) |
61.3 (16.3) |
50.5 (10.3) |
38.2 (3.4) |
28.8 (−1.8) |
49.0 (9.4) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 0.82 (20.8) |
1.20 (30.5) |
1.59 (40.4) |
1.70 (43.2) |
2.87 (72.9) |
3.49 (88.6) |
1.98 (50.3) |
2.18 (55.4) |
2.17 (55.1) |
2.27 (57.7) |
1.14 (29) |
0.97 (24.6) |
22.39 (568.7) |
| Snowfall inches (cm) | 0.0 (0) |
0.4 (1) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.5 (1.3) |
0.7 (1.8) |
1.6 (4.1) |
| Source: NOAA[6] | |||||||||||||
Demographics [edit]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 10,783 |
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| 2010 | 10,653 | −1.2% | |
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As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 10,783 people, 4,980 households, and 2,880 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,256.8 people per square mile (485.2/km²). There were 5,013 housing units at an average density of 584.3 per square mile (225.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.00% White, 4.69% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 13.68% from other races, and 1.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.8% of the population.
There were 4,068 households out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 64 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31 016, and the median income for a family was $37,392. Males had a median income of $30 033 versus $17 609 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,647. About 13.7% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.
Government [edit]
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Snyder Distribution Center[7] in Snyder and the Price Daniel Unit[8] located 4 miles outside of Snyder.
The United States Postal Service operates the Snyder Post Office.[9]
Economy [edit]
Snyder enjoys a strong economy, driven by the oil, gas, and wind industries. The Scurry Area Canyon Reef Operators (SACROC) oilfield is among the largest and most productive in the nation. Two of the largest wind farms in the nation are located in Snyder area. There are plans to build two larger wind farms in 2013. Other important industries in Snyder include manufacturing and cotton.
Education [edit]
The Snyder Independent School District serves Snyder. The schools are Snyder Primary, Snyder Intermediate, Snyder Junior High School, Snyder Academy, and Snyder High School.
Western Texas College, a two-year West Texas Community College, is located in Snyder. WTC has been recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as the fastest growing community college in Texas. The college provides programs that qualify students for the Associate of Arts degree and programs that qualify students for the Associate of Applied Science degree. In addition, Western Texas College provides programs in correctional officer training, electrical lineman training, welding, commercial truck driving, vocational nursing, information management, and information technology management.
Students graduating from Snyder High School can attend Western Texas College for free because of the Opportunity Scholarship.
Popular culture [edit]
Snyder plays a key plot role, and is frequently mentioned, in the novel series Settling Accounts by Harry Turtledove. In the books Drive to the East, The Grapple, and In at the Death, the Confederate States of America set up a large concentration camp for the elimination of African-Americans, similar to Nazi Germany's real death camps in World War II. The camp is a few miles outside of Snyder. The town is repeatedly and heavily bombed by the United States before being overrun by US ground forces. At least one million people are killed at the camp and buried in mass graves.
Notable people [edit]
- Kevin Alejandro (born 1976), American actor who starred in Ugly Betty on ABC as Santos and Southland on TNT as Detective Nate Moretta, grew up in Snyder. Alejandro gained popularity when he was a recurring cast member of the popular HBO series True Blood. Alejandro currently stars in the CBS series Golden Boy.
- Powers Boothe (born 1948), Emmy-Award winning actor, portrayed the demonic clergyman Jim Jones in Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones, Curly Bill in Tombstone and Senator Roark in Sin City, is originally from Snyder.
- Charlene Holt, actress and model who starred in El Dorado (1966 film) as Maudie, the love interest of Robert Mitchum and John Wayne, was born in Snyder.
- Dick Jones (born 1927), American actor who starred in Buffalo Bill, Jr. in syndication in 1955, is a Snyder native. As "Dickie" Jones, he was the voice of the title character in the 1940 Disney film Pinocchio.
- Charley Lockhart, treasurer of Texas from 1931 to 1941. He received media attention nationwide for being a dwarf and was known as "the smallest elected official in the biggest state."
- Dave McGinnis, who coached the Arizona Cardinals from 2000 to 2003, graduated in 1969 from Snyder High School.
- Barry Tubb, actor who portrayed Wolfman in Top Gun, Jasper in Lonesome Dove, and directed the small film Grand Champion, was born in Snyder.
- Brad Maule, (born October 11, 1951) is an American actor best known for his longtime role as Dr. Tony Jones on the American television serial General Hospital, which he played until February 2006. Maul was bron in Rotan, Texas but graduated from Snyder High School and was a student of Jerry P. Worsham whom was the Theatre Arts Educator for several of Snyder's notable actors/actresses.
Gallery [edit]
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The Scurry County Coliseum in Snyder, operated since 2008 by Western Texas College.
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Albino buffalo statue at the Scurry County Courthouse in Snyder.
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Downtown Snyder just north of the courthouse.
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Community Bank of Snyder.
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Cogdell Memorial Hospital is located near Western Texas College in Snyder.
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First Baptist Church in downtown Snyder.
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Jesus and the Woman at the Well sculpture at Hillside Memorial Gardens Cemetery south of Snyder.
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Former Dermott School, relocated to the Coliseum grounds in Snyder.
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Ritz Theater in downtown Snyder.
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This 19th-century pioneer house, constructed by physician and Confederate veteran, J.C. Cornelius. The restored home now serves as a museum.
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.
- ^ Wiggins, Noel. "Snyder, Texas. Handbook of Texas Online". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
- ^ Bill O'Neal, "Romeo and Juliet--West Texas Style: The Johnson-Sims Feud," West Texas Historical Association annual meeting, April 1, 2011, Lubbock, Texas
- ^ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 06, 2013.
- ^ "Snyder Distribution Center." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 22, 2010.
- ^ Daniel (DL). Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on November 28, 2012.
- ^ "Post Office Location - SNYDER." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 22, 2010.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Snyder, Texas |
- City of Snyder
- Development Corporation of Snyder
- Snyder Chamber of Commerce
- Western Texas College
- Snyder Independent School District
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