Abernathy, Texas
Encyclopedia
Abernathy is a city in Hale
and Lubbock counties in the U.S. state
of Texas
. The population was 2,839 at the 2000 census, but had dropped to 2,764 according to a 2009 estimate.
The Hale County portion of Abernathy is part of the Plainview
Micropolitan Statistical Area, while the Lubbock County portion is part of the Lubbock
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 2,839 people, 996 households, and 800 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,402.0 people per square mile (928.9/km²). There were 1,081 housing units at an average density of 914.6 per square mile (353.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.15% White, 2.47% African American, 0.77% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 18.63% from other races
, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 43.15% of the population.
There were 996 households out of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples
living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.6% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,377, and the median income for a family was $35,399. Males had a median income of $25,635 versus $21,198 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,919. About 9.6% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
The developers of the town sites along the new railroad wanted to organize a town on a section four miles (6 km) north of the present town of Abernathy. The owners, who lived in Wisconsin, were contacted. They thought there might be gold on the land and refused to sell. Therefore, the last section south in Hale County was chosen as the town site.
Originally owned by John Y. Ligon, J.C. Roberds had purchased the section that was to become the Abernathy town site from E.S. and W.L. Stanfield. When the South Plains Investment Company was formed by J.C. Roberds, Dr. M.C. Overton, and Monroe Abernathy, Mr. Roberds deeded the section to the firm and became the president of the firm. Dr. Overton was secretary and Mr. Abernathy was treasurer.
On June 18, 1909, the official survey of the town site was recognized by Gov. T.M. Campbell. The town site was platted on July 8, 1909, and was named for M.C. Abernathy. Mr. Monk was the resident agent for the company and a small frame office building was built. Lots and blocks were sold from there.
Since there were already several buildings in Bartonsite and none in Abernathy, the founding fathers here contracted with J.J. Barton to move some of the buildings to Abernathy. In the late summer of 1909 the move began. Buildings were placed on rollers. The latest equipment-steam driven tractors- hooked on. The exodus began to huff and puff toward the new town. The tractors did not move but about three or four miles per hour, so it was a long trip. A two-story yellow hotel, a lumberyard, blacksmith shop, and three or four residences were some of the approximately ten buildings moved.
The first train came to Abernathy in the early fall of 1909. This was not a regular train, but some cars added to the work train. It was a great day for all the settlers in the area.
The depot was constructed in 1909. C.E. Stout was the first local agent for the Santa Fe.
The section where the town of Abernathy was being developed was fenced and gates had to be opened when entering and leaving town. The streets and block corners were laid off with 2 x 4 stubs. These stubs denoted streets for the next few years, until a grader finally came in to run ditches.
Town residents had free range on the section and their milk cows and horses and mules were turned loose to graze. The stock would stray out of the section and range cattle would come into town when someone happened to leave the gates open. The ladies had to stand guard at their clotheslines to keep the livestock from ruining their laundry. When a load of feed was brought to town, the cattle and horses had to be chased away until it was unloaded in stack lots or barns. Trains running through the town section frequently hit the livestock.
Behind most of the houses were outhouses, barns, and windmills. Nearly every home had its own windmill, although a few families hauled water. Generally, gardens and cow lots were integral parts of each household.
Although the City of Abernathy was founded in 1909, it was not incorporated until 1924. An election was called for September 12, 1924. The first Mayor was F.W. Struve, and Aldermen elected were R.M. Hardesty, N.C. Hix, Sam W. Smith, T.B. Stone, and E.B. Lindsey.
Hale County, Texas
Hale County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 36,602. It was organized in 1888, and is named for Lt. John C. Hale, a hero of the Battle of San Jacinto. The seat of the county is Plainview. It is home of the noted former Hale County Judge, Judge Bill...
and Lubbock counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. The population was 2,839 at the 2000 census, but had dropped to 2,764 according to a 2009 estimate.
The Hale County portion of Abernathy is part of the Plainview
Plainview, Texas
Plainview is a city in and the county seat of Hale County, Texas, United States. The population was 22,336 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Plainview is located at ....
Micropolitan Statistical Area, while the Lubbock County portion is part of the Lubbock
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Lubbock metropolitan area
The Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in the South Plains region of Texas, USA, that covers two counties - Lubbock and Crosby. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 249,700...
.
Geography
Abernathy (elev. 3350) is located at 33°49′55"N 101°50′42"W (33.831842, -101.845079). Most of the city is located in Hale County; roughly 25% of the city extends southward into Lubbock County.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,839 people, 996 households, and 800 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,402.0 people per square mile (928.9/km²). There were 1,081 housing units at an average density of 914.6 per square mile (353.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.15% White, 2.47% African American, 0.77% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 18.63% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 43.15% of the population.
There were 996 households out of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.6% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,377, and the median income for a family was $35,399. Males had a median income of $25,635 versus $21,198 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $13,919. About 9.6% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
History
Santa Fe Railroad wanted to follow a straight line from Plainview to Lubbock. A straight-line survey was run and it went east of the present site of Abernathy. This route did not please the residents of Hale Center, which had been established since the 1890s. They influenced Santa Fe to come southwest out of Plainview to serve them and from there the Santa Fe followed an approximate straight line into Lubbock.The developers of the town sites along the new railroad wanted to organize a town on a section four miles (6 km) north of the present town of Abernathy. The owners, who lived in Wisconsin, were contacted. They thought there might be gold on the land and refused to sell. Therefore, the last section south in Hale County was chosen as the town site.
Originally owned by John Y. Ligon, J.C. Roberds had purchased the section that was to become the Abernathy town site from E.S. and W.L. Stanfield. When the South Plains Investment Company was formed by J.C. Roberds, Dr. M.C. Overton, and Monroe Abernathy, Mr. Roberds deeded the section to the firm and became the president of the firm. Dr. Overton was secretary and Mr. Abernathy was treasurer.
On June 18, 1909, the official survey of the town site was recognized by Gov. T.M. Campbell. The town site was platted on July 8, 1909, and was named for M.C. Abernathy. Mr. Monk was the resident agent for the company and a small frame office building was built. Lots and blocks were sold from there.
Since there were already several buildings in Bartonsite and none in Abernathy, the founding fathers here contracted with J.J. Barton to move some of the buildings to Abernathy. In the late summer of 1909 the move began. Buildings were placed on rollers. The latest equipment-steam driven tractors- hooked on. The exodus began to huff and puff toward the new town. The tractors did not move but about three or four miles per hour, so it was a long trip. A two-story yellow hotel, a lumberyard, blacksmith shop, and three or four residences were some of the approximately ten buildings moved.
The first train came to Abernathy in the early fall of 1909. This was not a regular train, but some cars added to the work train. It was a great day for all the settlers in the area.
The depot was constructed in 1909. C.E. Stout was the first local agent for the Santa Fe.
The section where the town of Abernathy was being developed was fenced and gates had to be opened when entering and leaving town. The streets and block corners were laid off with 2 x 4 stubs. These stubs denoted streets for the next few years, until a grader finally came in to run ditches.
Town residents had free range on the section and their milk cows and horses and mules were turned loose to graze. The stock would stray out of the section and range cattle would come into town when someone happened to leave the gates open. The ladies had to stand guard at their clotheslines to keep the livestock from ruining their laundry. When a load of feed was brought to town, the cattle and horses had to be chased away until it was unloaded in stack lots or barns. Trains running through the town section frequently hit the livestock.
Behind most of the houses were outhouses, barns, and windmills. Nearly every home had its own windmill, although a few families hauled water. Generally, gardens and cow lots were integral parts of each household.
Although the City of Abernathy was founded in 1909, it was not incorporated until 1924. An election was called for September 12, 1924. The first Mayor was F.W. Struve, and Aldermen elected were R.M. Hardesty, N.C. Hix, Sam W. Smith, T.B. Stone, and E.B. Lindsey.