Electra, Texas
Encyclopedia
Electra is a city in Wichita County
, Texas
, United States
. It is part of the Wichita Falls, Texas
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The United States Census Bureau counted Electra's population as 3,168 at the 2000 census and estimated it to be 2,891 as of 2006. Electra claims the title of Pump Jack
Capital of Texas, a title made official by the state in 2001, and has celebrated an annual Pump Jack Festival since 2002.
Water can be scarce in this region of Texas, so Waggoner started drilling for water for the towns new residents. Most of these drilling sites were befouled by crude oil, which made the water unfit for drinking. Three years later, a developer from Fort Worth named Solomon Williams bought the land from Waggoner. Sooner thereafter, he annexed nearby land, subdivided the land, and placed advertisements in national media trying to increase the population. His efforts were successful, and the town grew from a population of 500 to 1,000 between 1907 and 1910. In 1911, the Electra Independent School District
was created.
A fateful day in Electra's history was April 1, 1911, when the Clayco gusher successfully drilled for oil. Word spread quickly and the population increased fourfold over a period of months. Fortunately there was already some infrastructure built in the town to handle the new residents.
While in 1936, Electra had well over 6,000 residents, by the 1960s the population had decreased to a bit over 5,000. The Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area was growing and many people moved away. By 2000, Electra's population dropped to just over 3,000.
The Waggoner family, still today, owns much of the same land they did in the beginning and still drill for oil in those parts.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 3,168 people, 1,279 households, and 860 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,299.0 people per square mile (501.3/km²). There were 1,529 housing units at an average density of 626.9 per square mile (241.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.66% White, 4.58% African American, 1.10% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 4.29% from other races
, and 2.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.68% of the population.
There were 1,279 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples
living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,022, and the median income for a family was $30,116. Males had a median income of $25,610 versus $17,292 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,213. About 17.8% of families and 20.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.3% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
, which is composed of 210 square miles (543.9 km²).
There are three public schools. B.M. Dinsmore Elementary School has 225 students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade. Electra Junior High has 172 students in grades five through eight. Electra High School has 149 students enrolled in ninth through twelfth grades. Electra High School's athletic teams are called the Tigers. The student/teacher ratio at each of the schools is 14:1, 13:1, and 9:1, respectively.
Wichita County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 131,664 people, 48,441 households, and 32,891 families residing in the county. The population density was 210 people per square mile . There were 53,304 housing units at an average density of 85 per square mile...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is part of the Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States, United States. Wichita Falls is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay and Wichita counties. According to the U.S. Census estimate of 2010,...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Wichita Falls metropolitan area
The Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in North Texas that covers three counties - Archer, Clay, and Wichita. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 151,524 .-Counties:*Archer*Clay*Wichita-Places with 1,000 to 25,000 people:*Archer...
. The United States Census Bureau counted Electra's population as 3,168 at the 2000 census and estimated it to be 2,891 as of 2006. Electra claims the title of Pump Jack
Pumpjack
A pumpjack is the overground drive for a reciprocating piston pump in an oil well....
Capital of Texas, a title made official by the state in 2001, and has celebrated an annual Pump Jack Festival since 2002.
History
Daniel Waggoner started a ranch in present-day Electra in 1852. Around thirty years later, the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway was built, and its railroad tracks ran through the area. In 1885, Waggoner's son, W.T. Waggoner, successfully lobbied railroad executives to build a railroad station at the site. By this time, the Waggoner ranch covered a half-million acres. Up until this time, the town was called Waggoner, but following the building of the station and a post office in 1889, it was dubbed Beaver Switch, after the nearby Beaver Creek. The opening of 56000 acres (226.6 km²) of land north of the railroad station brought more farmers to the area. The town was renamed again in 1907, this time after Waggoner's daughter Electra.Water can be scarce in this region of Texas, so Waggoner started drilling for water for the towns new residents. Most of these drilling sites were befouled by crude oil, which made the water unfit for drinking. Three years later, a developer from Fort Worth named Solomon Williams bought the land from Waggoner. Sooner thereafter, he annexed nearby land, subdivided the land, and placed advertisements in national media trying to increase the population. His efforts were successful, and the town grew from a population of 500 to 1,000 between 1907 and 1910. In 1911, the Electra Independent School District
Electra Independent School District
Electra Independent School District is a public school district based in Electra, Texas . In 2007, the district received a rating of "Academically Acceptable" from the Texas Education Agency....
was created.
A fateful day in Electra's history was April 1, 1911, when the Clayco gusher successfully drilled for oil. Word spread quickly and the population increased fourfold over a period of months. Fortunately there was already some infrastructure built in the town to handle the new residents.
While in 1936, Electra had well over 6,000 residents, by the 1960s the population had decreased to a bit over 5,000. The Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area was growing and many people moved away. By 2000, Electra's population dropped to just over 3,000.
The Waggoner family, still today, owns much of the same land they did in the beginning and still drill for oil in those parts.
Geography
Electra is located at 34°1′51"N 98°55′2"W (34.030809, -98.917281).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 2.4 square miles (6.3 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 3,168 people, 1,279 households, and 860 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 1,299.0 people per square mile (501.3/km²). There were 1,529 housing units at an average density of 626.9 per square mile (241.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.66% White, 4.58% African American, 1.10% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 4.29% 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 2.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.68% of the population.
There were 1,279 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% 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, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,022, and the median income for a family was $30,116. Males had a median income of $25,610 versus $17,292 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 $13,213. About 17.8% of families and 20.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.3% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The City of Electra is served by the Electra Independent School DistrictElectra Independent School District
Electra Independent School District is a public school district based in Electra, Texas . In 2007, the district received a rating of "Academically Acceptable" from the Texas Education Agency....
, which is composed of 210 square miles (543.9 km²).
There are three public schools. B.M. Dinsmore Elementary School has 225 students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade. Electra Junior High has 172 students in grades five through eight. Electra High School has 149 students enrolled in ninth through twelfth grades. Electra High School's athletic teams are called the Tigers. The student/teacher ratio at each of the schools is 14:1, 13:1, and 9:1, respectively.
Notable residents
- Ace ReidAce ReidAce Reid was the creator of the cartoon Cowpokes and Western humorist. Cowpokes, at one time, ran in over 400 weekly newspapers across the United States. He produced many popular cartoon books and calendars during his lifetime.He was born on March 10, 1925 at Lelia Lake, Donley County, Texas ....
- Cowpokes Cartoons. Artist and humorist. Grew up and lived in Electra until 1943 when he joined the Navy.
External links
- Electra Official Website
- Events in Electra, The Pump Jack Capital Association
- Electra ISD, Electra Independent School District