Estelline, Texas
Encyclopedia
Estelline is a town in Hall County, Texas
, United States
. The population was 168 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau
estimate placed the population at 155.
and State Highway 87 in east central Hall County, approximately 14 miles southeast of Memphis
and 15 miles northwest of Childress
. The nearest major city is Amarillo
, located 102 miles northwest of Estelline.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all of it land.
and Silverton
. A post office opened in May 1892. One of the earliest businesses in the community was the Estelline Supply Company. In 1896, the Mill Iron Ranch purchased the Estelline Supply Company and established a large store and lumberyard with R.L. Biggerstaff as its manager. He established a bank in 1898, which became Estelline State Bank in 1905. A two-story school was erected in 1909. Estelline citizens voted to incorporate in 1912, when the population exceeded 1,000. During the 1920s, a permanent brick schoolhouse was built, and several nearby communities – Newlin
, Parnell, and Tell
– began sending their students to Estelline. A branch of the railroad was built from Estelline to Plainview
in 1927. The onset of the Great Depression
severely impacted the town. By 1940, the population had fallen to just over 600. That same year, several businesses were destroyed by fire. Estelline's importance as a railroad junction town declined as subsequent improvements were made to area roads. There were 258 people living in the town in 1980. The Estelline Independent School District was declared dormant in 1987 and students were sent to Memphis
schools. Estelline was home to 194 residents in 1990 and 168 in 2000.
of 2000, there were 168 people, 65 households, and 39 families residing in the town. The population density
was 228.9 people per square mile (88.9/km²). There were 93 housing units at an average density of 126.7 per square mile (49.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 77.98% White, 7.74% African American, 2.38% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 10.71% from other races
, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 50.00% of the population.
There were 65 households out of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples
living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.49.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $19,750, and the median income for a family was $34,167. Males had a median income of $22,188 versus $16,250 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $11,519. About 16.7% of families and 21.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.4% of those under the age of eighteen and 22.2% of those sixty five or over.
.
Rick Childress (named for nearby Childress, 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...
. The population was 168 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. 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...
estimate placed the population at 155.
Geography
Estelline is located at 34°32′46"N 100°26′14"W (34.546062, -100.437212). It is situated at the junction of U.S. Highway 287U.S. Route 287
U.S. Route 287 is a north–south United States highway. It is long. It serves as the major truck route between the Texas cities of Fort Worth and Amarillo...
and State Highway 87 in east central Hall County, approximately 14 miles southeast of Memphis
Memphis, Texas
Memphis is a city in Hall County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 2,479. It is the county seat of Hall County.Memphis is the birthplace of former U.S...
and 15 miles northwest of Childress
Childress, Texas
Childress is a city in Childress County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,778 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Childress County. Like the county, the city is named for George Campbell Childress, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, who was the principal author of the Texas...
. The nearest major city is Amarillo
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
, located 102 miles northwest of Estelline.
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 town has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all of it land.
History
The community was established in 1892 by brothers Elam and Math Wright. It was named after Estelle de Shields, the daughter of an early settler. The area was originally part of the Diamond Tail Ranch. With the arrival of the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway, Estelline became a shipping point for cattle driven in from PaducahPaducah, Texas
Paducah is a town in Cottle County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,498 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cottle County...
and Silverton
Silverton, Texas
Silverton is a city in Briscoe County, Texas, United States. The population was 771 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Briscoe County.-Geography:Silverton is located at ....
. A post office opened in May 1892. One of the earliest businesses in the community was the Estelline Supply Company. In 1896, the Mill Iron Ranch purchased the Estelline Supply Company and established a large store and lumberyard with R.L. Biggerstaff as its manager. He established a bank in 1898, which became Estelline State Bank in 1905. A two-story school was erected in 1909. Estelline citizens voted to incorporate in 1912, when the population exceeded 1,000. During the 1920s, a permanent brick schoolhouse was built, and several nearby communities – Newlin
Newlin, Texas
Newlin is an unincorporated community in Hall County in the U.S. state of Texas.The Newlin Cemetery is located at ....
, Parnell, and Tell
Tell, Texas
Tell is an unincorporated community in southwestern Childress County, Texas, United States, to the southwest of the city of Childress, the county seat of Childress County. Its elevation is 1,903 feet...
– began sending their students to Estelline. A branch of the railroad was built from Estelline to 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 ....
in 1927. The onset of the Great Depression
Great Depression in the United States
The Great Depression began with the Wall Street Crash of October, 1929 and rapidly spread worldwide. The market crash marked the beginning of a decade of high unemployment, poverty, low profits, deflation, plunging farm incomes, and lost opportunities for economic growth and personal advancement...
severely impacted the town. By 1940, the population had fallen to just over 600. That same year, several businesses were destroyed by fire. Estelline's importance as a railroad junction town declined as subsequent improvements were made to area roads. There were 258 people living in the town in 1980. The Estelline Independent School District was declared dormant in 1987 and students were sent to Memphis
Memphis Independent School District
Memphis Independent School District is a public school district based in Memphis, Texas .Located in Hall County, the district also serves the towns of Estelline and Lakeview...
schools. Estelline was home to 194 residents in 1990 and 168 in 2000.
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 168 people, 65 households, and 39 families residing in the town. 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 228.9 people per square mile (88.9/km²). There were 93 housing units at an average density of 126.7 per square mile (49.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 77.98% White, 7.74% African American, 2.38% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 10.71% 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 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 50.00% of the population.
There were 65 households out of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% 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, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.49.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $19,750, and the median income for a family was $34,167. Males had a median income of $22,188 versus $16,250 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 town was $11,519. About 16.7% of families and 21.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.4% of those under the age of eighteen and 22.2% of those sixty five or over.
Speed trap
Estelline has a reputation for being a prominent Texas speed trap. It has a one-person police force whose main purpose is to fill city coffers. From 2000 through 2009, Estelline had the second highest traffic fine revenue per citizen in Texas, more than 300% the per citizen revenue of third place Domino, TexasDomino, Texas
Domino is a town in Cass County, Texas, United States. The population was 52 at the 2000 census. Domino is the only town in Cass County that is wet.-Geography:Domino is located at ....
.
In popular culture
The town is also the setting of the stageplay Harvest: A Texas High Plains Trilogy, which follows the life of farmerFarmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
Rick Childress (named for nearby Childress, Texas
Childress, Texas
Childress is a city in Childress County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,778 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Childress County. Like the county, the city is named for George Campbell Childress, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, who was the principal author of the Texas...
.)