Hereford
City
Hereford welcome sign on U.S. Highway 385
Hereford welcome sign on U.S. Highway 385
Nickname(s): 
Beef Capital of the World;
The Town Without a Toothache;
Most Conservative Town in America
Location of Hereford, Texas
Location of Hereford, Texas
Coordinates: 34°49′22″N 102°23′55″W / 34.82278°N 102.39861°W / 34.82278; -102.39861
CountryUnited States of America
StateTexas
CountyDeaf Smith
Government
Area
[1]
 • Total6.30 sq mi (16.32 km2)
 • Land6.30 sq mi (16.32 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[2]
3,819 ft (1,164 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total14,972
 • Density2,376.51/sq mi (917.40/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
79045
Area code806
FIPS code48-33320 [3]
GNIS feature ID2410747[2]
Websitewww.hereford-tx.gov

Hereford (/ˈhɜːrfərd/ HUR-furd[4]) is a city in and county seat of Deaf Smith County, Texas, United States. It is 48 miles southwest of Amarillo. Its population was 14,972 at the 2020 census. It is the only incorporated locality named "Hereford" in the country.[5]

Hereford's local water supply contains an unusually high level of naturally occurring fluoride. Because fluoride is used to protect against tooth decay, Hereford earned the title "The Town Without a Toothache".

It is also known as the "Beef Capital of the World" because of the large number of cattle feedlots in the area. The city is named for the Hereford breed. The local economy is affected significantly by growth in the dairy and ethanol industries.

The area is known for its semiarid climate, with heavy farming and ranching throughout the area sustained by irrigation from the Ogallala Aquifer and the saltier Santa Rosa Aquifer beneath it.

Hereford is home to the headquarters of the Deaf Smith Electric Cooperative, which serves Deaf Smith, Castro, Parmer, and Oldham Counties.[6]

A rich Western heritage includes the Las Escarbadas ranch house of the XIT Ranch, once located southwest of Hereford. The restored historic structure can now be seen at the National Ranching Heritage Center at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. The Deaf Smith County Historical Museum at 400 Sampson Street in Hereford offers indoor and outdoor exhibits on the settlement of West Texas.

Hereford was once known as the "Windmill City"[7] due to its many windmills supplying fresh water from the Ogallala Aquifer.

In December 2015, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer voted Hereford not only the "most conservative" city in Texas, but also in the United States, in terms of political contributions. Other West Texas communities in the most conservative lineup are Childress (number 9), Dalhart (number 8), and Monahans (number five). Princeton in Collin County north of Dallas was ranked number two. In contrast, Vashon Island, Washington, was named the "most liberal" city in the nation regarding political donations.[8]

History

Hereford in 1909

Hereford was founded as "Blue Water" in 1899 after the Pecos and Northern Texas Railway connected Amarillo to Farwell. After a town already named Blue Water was discovered, residents renamed the town "Hereford" in honor of the cattle of the local ranchers and the city, Hereford, in the United Kingdom.[9]

During World War II, a prisoner-of-war camp existed there for Italian prisoners of war. It was dismantled in 1947.

In 1975, popular high school teacher Wayne Woodward was fired for his efforts to establish a local branch of the American Civil Liberties Union. Mr. Woodward won a subsequent legal suit, that gained national attention, against the Hereford Independent School District. The events were documented in the 2022 book You Will Never Be One of Us by Timothy P. Bowman.[10][11][12]

Geography

Hereford is located in southeastern Deaf Smith County and on the Llano Estacado. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.9 square miles (15.4 km2), all land.[13]

U.S. Highway 60 passes through the city as 1st Street, leading northeast 48 miles (77 km) to Amarillo and southwest 57 miles (92 km) to Clovis, New Mexico. U.S. Highway 385 (25 Mile Avenue) runs north–south through the city, leading north 30 miles (48 km) to Interstate 40 at Vega and south 20 miles (32 km) to Dimmitt.

Climate

Hereford's climate is classified as a steppe climate (BSk) using the 2006 map of Köppen climate classification, meaning it is semiarid.[14] Hereford was named as the "coolest" city in Texas with an average summer temperature of 73 °F or 22.8 °C.[15]

Climate data for Hereford, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1905–1912, 1936–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 84
(29)		 85
(29)		 98
(37)		 99
(37)		 103
(39)		 111
(44)		 109
(43)		 107
(42)		 102
(39)		 97
(36)		 87
(31)		 80
(27)		 111
(44)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 71.0
(21.7)		 76.2
(24.6)		 84.3
(29.1)		 89.5
(31.9)		 96.0
(35.6)		 102.1
(38.9)		 101.4
(38.6)		 99.2
(37.3)		 95.8
(35.4)		 89.3
(31.8)		 79.7
(26.5)		 71.4
(21.9)		 104.1
(40.1)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 51.1
(10.6)		 55.5
(13.1)		 64.3
(17.9)		 72.4
(22.4)		 81.1
(27.3)		 90.2
(32.3)		 92.4
(33.6)		 90.7
(32.6)		 83.5
(28.6)		 72.6
(22.6)		 60.3
(15.7)		 51.1
(10.6)		 72.1
(22.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) 36.8
(2.7)		 40.4
(4.7)		 48.3
(9.1)		 56.1
(13.4)		 65.7
(18.7)		 75.4
(24.1)		 78.6
(25.9)		 77.1
(25.1)		 69.7
(20.9)		 57.9
(14.4)		 45.8
(7.7)		 37.4
(3.0)		 57.4
(14.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 22.5
(−5.3)		 25.3
(−3.7)		 32.4
(0.2)		 39.7
(4.3)		 50.3
(10.2)		 60.6
(15.9)		 64.8
(18.2)		 63.5
(17.5)		 55.8
(13.2)		 43.3
(6.3)		 31.3
(−0.4)		 23.8
(−4.6)		 42.8
(6.0)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 9.3
(−12.6)		 11.1
(−11.6)		 18.4
(−7.6)		 26.5
(−3.1)		 36.9
(2.7)		 51.4
(10.8)		 59.0
(15.0)		 56.9
(13.8)		 43.7
(6.5)		 28.2
(−2.1)		 16.6
(−8.6)		 8.9
(−12.8)		 4.2
(−15.4)
Record low °F (°C) −15
(−26)		 −17
(−27)		 1
(−17)		 14
(−10)		 16
(−9)		 40
(4)		 51
(11)		 44
(7)		 31
(−1)		 15
(−9)		 0
(−18)		 −12
(−24)		 −17
(−27)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.64
(16)		 0.45
(11)		 1.22
(31)		 1.09
(28)		 2.09
(53)		 3.34
(85)		 2.34
(59)		 3.04
(77)		 1.86
(47)		 1.85
(47)		 0.69
(18)		 0.72
(18)		 19.33
(491)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 3.2
(8.1)		 1.7
(4.3)		 1.9
(4.8)		 0.7
(1.8)		 0.1
(0.25)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.6
(1.5)		 2.5
(6.4)		 3.6
(9.1)		 14.3
(36)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 2.8 3.2 4.3 4.8 6.4 7.6 6.9 8.3 5.7 5.2 3.7 3.6 62.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 1.7 1.2 1.0 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.9 1.8 7.2
Source: NOAA[16][17]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1900532—
19101,750228.9%
19201,696−3.1%
19302,45844.9%
19402,5845.1%
19505,207101.5%
19606,75229.7%
197013,41498.7%
198015,85318.2%
199014,745−7.0%
200014,597−1.0%
201015,3705.3%
202014,972−2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[18]

2020 census

Hereford racial composition[19]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[lower-alpha 1]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 2,757 18.41%
Black or African American (NH) 98 0.65%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 39 0.26%
Asian (NH) 32 0.21%
Some Other Race (NH) 39 0.26%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 129 0.86%
Hispanic or Latino 11,878 79.33%
Total 14,972

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,972 people, 4,776 households, and 3,593 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, 15,370 people resided in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 71.7% Hispanic or Latino, 26.3% White, 0.9% Black, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% from some other race, and 0.5% from two or more races.

2000 census

As of the census[3] of 2000, 14,597 people, 4,839 households, and 3,730 families resided in the city. The population density was 2,600.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,004.2/km2). The 5,323 housing units averaged 948.4 per square mile (366.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 69.86% White, 1.76% African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 24.77% from other races, and 2.41% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 61.37% of the population.

Of the 4,839 households, 42.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were not families. About 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.44.

In the city, the population was distributed as 34.0% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,599, and for a family was $33,387. Males had a median income of $26,488 versus $18,920 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,787. About 19.4% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.9% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The first public school was opened in 1900.[22] Today, Hereford's seven public schools serve around 4,000 students and are directed by the Hereford Independent School District.[23]

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hereford, Texas
  3. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. ↑ Spotlight on CRC Member: Deaf Smith Electric Cooperative. Cooperative Response Center.
  7. ↑ Hereford Economic Development Corporation (August 20, 2020). ""The Windmill City"". Hereford, Texas.
  8. ↑ Daniel DeMay (December 17, 2015). "The most liberal and most conservative cities in the US". The Connecticut Post. Bridgeport, Connecticut. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Hereford, TX".
  10. ↑ Bynum, Katherine; Woodward, Wayne (June 9, 2016). "Oral History Interview with Wayne Woodward, June 9, 2016". texashistory.unt.edu. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Woodward v. Hereford Independent Sch. Dist., 421 F. Supp. 93 (N.D. Tex. 1976)". Justia Law. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  12. ↑ Paul., Bowman, Timothy (July 28, 2022). You Will Never Be One of Us : a Teacher, a Texas Town, and the Rural Roots of Radical Conservatism. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-9133-1. OCLC 1334105884.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Hereford city, Texas". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  14. ↑ M. Kottek; J. Grieser; C. Beck; B. Rudolf; F. Rubel (2006). "World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated" (GIF). Meteorol. Z. 15 (3): 259–263. Bibcode:2006MetZe..15..259K. doi:10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130. Retrieved August 26, 2009.
  15. ↑ "These Are the 10 Best Places to Live in Texas".
  16. ↑ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  20. ↑ https://www.census.gov/
  21. ↑ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  22. ↑ The Handbook of Texas Online, retrieved 2009-12-30
  23. ↑ Hereford ISD, retrieved 2009-12-30
  1. ↑ Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[20][21]
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