Lefors, Texas
Encyclopedia
Lefors is a town in Gray County, Texas
, United States
. It is part of the Pampa, Texas
Micropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 559 at the 2000 census.
Other settlers soon moved into the area, and in 1892 a post office was opened at Lefors with Thut as postmaster. (Postal officials required that the F be lowercased.) Four years later a combination school and church building was built. When Gray County was organized on May 27, 1902, Lefors was elected county seat. A two-story frame courthouse was built for less than $2,500, and Thut, who became the first county treasurer, erected a hotel. Perry LeFors served as the town's first constable. The population reached 150 in 1910, and despite its small size and the lack of a railroad, the town managed for a time to remain the county seat.
When the oil boom hit the county during the 1920s, three oil pools were discovered in the vicinity. Lefors profited from the boom, especially in real estate, the boom resulted in the establishment of an independent school district and the bringing of electricity and other modern utilities to the town.
By 1931 Lefors had incorporated, and in 1932 the town finally got a railroad, when the Fort Worth and Denver extended its line from Pampa. The population increased to 809 by 1940. Several Protestant denominations established churches in the community.
Eight people died when an early Spring snow storm stranded about 100 people in around fifty-five automobiles on the road between Pampa and Lefors on April 7-8, 1938. After between ten and twelve inches of snow fell in the Panhandle, with 50-mile an hour winds creating drifts of five to twenty-feet tall, men with farm tractors and heavy oil field equipment had to come to the rescue of the snowed in travelers, which included two school buses rescued by the army.
The town suffered a flood in 1961, unemployment from the closure of several area carbon black
plants in 1964, and a tornado in 1975. The town was nicknamed "Ghost Town" by its residents because of its small population and unoccupied run-down homes. Its population decreased dramatically.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land.
Lefors is on the North Fork of the Red River and State Highway 273, twelve miles southeast of Pampa in central Gray County
of 2000, there were 559 people, 231 households, and 154 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,416.5 people per square mile (553.4/km²). There were 290 housing units at an average density of 734.9 per square mile (287.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.32% White, 0.18% African American, 1.25% from other races
, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.19% of the population.
There were 231 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples
living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $27,500, and the median income for a family was $38,594. Males had a median income of $28,611 versus $21,071 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,165. About 8.3% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
. However some Lefors children go to the Pampa Independent School District
, in Pampa, 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 Pampa, Texas
Pampa, Texas
Pampa is a city in Gray County, Texas, United States. The population was 17,887 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gray County.Pampa is the principal city of the Pampa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Gray and Roberts counties....
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Pampa micropolitan area
The Pampa Micropolitan Statistical Area is a micropolitan area in the Texas Panhandle that covers two counties – Gray and Roberts. As of the 2000 census, the μSA had a population of 23,631 ....
. The population was 559 at the 2000 census.
History
Lefors was founded in 1888 by Travis Leach, Perry LeFors, Henry Thut, and Henry B. Lovett. The town was named for Perry LeFors, who traveled with his father to the Panhandle in 1878 and later became foreman of the Diamond F Ranch, part of the White Deer Lands (Francklyn Land and Cattle Company). The first homestead (1882) on the future townsite was that of Travis Leach, a rancher and surveyor, whose log cabin served as a stagecoach stop on the mail route from Fort Elliott and Mobeetie to Tascosa. Henry B. Lovett, a former buffalo hunter, and Henry Thut, a Swiss immigrant whose sister-in-law, Emma Lang, married LeFors, also settled in the vicinity during the 1880s. George Henry Saunders had a ranch camp headquarters nearby.Other settlers soon moved into the area, and in 1892 a post office was opened at Lefors with Thut as postmaster. (Postal officials required that the F be lowercased.) Four years later a combination school and church building was built. When Gray County was organized on May 27, 1902, Lefors was elected county seat. A two-story frame courthouse was built for less than $2,500, and Thut, who became the first county treasurer, erected a hotel. Perry LeFors served as the town's first constable. The population reached 150 in 1910, and despite its small size and the lack of a railroad, the town managed for a time to remain the county seat.
When the oil boom hit the county during the 1920s, three oil pools were discovered in the vicinity. Lefors profited from the boom, especially in real estate, the boom resulted in the establishment of an independent school district and the bringing of electricity and other modern utilities to the town.
By 1931 Lefors had incorporated, and in 1932 the town finally got a railroad, when the Fort Worth and Denver extended its line from Pampa. The population increased to 809 by 1940. Several Protestant denominations established churches in the community.
Eight people died when an early Spring snow storm stranded about 100 people in around fifty-five automobiles on the road between Pampa and Lefors on April 7-8, 1938. After between ten and twelve inches of snow fell in the Panhandle, with 50-mile an hour winds creating drifts of five to twenty-feet tall, men with farm tractors and heavy oil field equipment had to come to the rescue of the snowed in travelers, which included two school buses rescued by the army.
The town suffered a flood in 1961, unemployment from the closure of several area carbon black
Carbon black
Carbon black is a material produced by the incomplete combustion of heavy petroleum products such as FCC tar, coal tar, ethylene cracking tar, and a small amount from vegetable oil. Carbon black is a form of amorphous carbon that has a high surface-area-to-volume ratio, although its...
plants in 1964, and a tornado in 1975. The town was nicknamed "Ghost Town" by its residents because of its small population and unoccupied run-down homes. Its population decreased dramatically.
Geography
Lefors is located at 35°26′20"N 100°48′13"W (35.438787, -100.803721).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 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land.
Lefors is on the North Fork of the Red River and State Highway 273, twelve miles southeast of Pampa in central Gray County
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 559 people, 231 households, and 154 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 1,416.5 people per square mile (553.4/km²). There were 290 housing units at an average density of 734.9 per square mile (287.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.32% White, 0.18% African American, 1.25% 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 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.19% of the population.
There were 231 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% 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, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $27,500, and the median income for a family was $38,594. Males had a median income of $28,611 versus $21,071 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 $13,165. About 8.3% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The Town of Lefors is served by the Lefors Independent School DistrictLefors Independent School District
Lefors Independent School District is a public school district based in Lefors, Texas .The district has one school that serves students in grades pre-kindergarten through twelve....
. However some Lefors children go to the Pampa Independent School District
Pampa Independent School District
Pampa Independent School District is a public school district based in Pampa, Texas .Located in Gray County, the district extends into portions of Roberts County. The school district has 3,446 students for 2010-2011 school year according to the district profile on the Texas Education Agency's...
, in Pampa, Texas
Pampa, Texas
Pampa is a city in Gray County, Texas, United States. The population was 17,887 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gray County.Pampa is the principal city of the Pampa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Gray and Roberts counties....