Shallowater, Texas
Encyclopedia
Shallowater is a city in Lubbock County, Texas
, United States
. Shallowater is on U.S. Route 84
and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line, twelve miles northwest of Lubbock, Texas
. Population was 2,086 according to the 2000 census. It is part of the Lubbock
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.
As early as 1909 J. C. (Jim) Bowles, whose ranch was adjacent to the site of what is now Shallowater, persuaded Bob Crump, a member of a ranching family, to help form a townsite company and attract a railroad to go through the area. Land was purchased for the townsite on May 18, 1909. A school was built at that time. After Santa Fe railroad officials received a bonus from rancher George W. Littlefield
of the Yellow House Ranch, negotiations were finally completed. The originators of the plan, and other interested individuals, formed the Ripley Townsite Company, which was named after a Santa Fe railroad official and was incorporated on May 22, 1909. The company decided to name the new town Shallowater to attract settlers. On June 26, 1913, a celebration was held to note the founding of the town and completion of the railroad. By the time the town was established, the ranching industry in the area was waning and many of the large ranches were being divided into smaller lots for farmers. Cotton became an important cash crop. During the 1920s Shallowater grew rapidly, and the town had a hotel, a lumberyard, and various filling stations, grocery stores, cotton gins, drugstores, barbershops, garages, blacksmith shops, and other businesses. Several churches and schools were also built. A county park with a clubhouse was established, a public well was constructed, and a real depot building was built to replace the boxcar the town had been using for years. From 1920 to 1922 the railroad station was known as Pacita. In 1928 the town had an estimated population of 250. In 1955 Shallowater was incorporated with a mayor-council form of city government, and during the 1960s the town had five churches, a school, a bank, a library, and a newspaper. The community in 1970 had thirty businesses, including one of the largest hatcheries in the county. The population of Shallowater was 1,001 in 1960 and 1,339 in 1970. In the late 1980s Shallowater had a post office, seventeen businesses, and a population of 2,107. It was a farm marketing center with processing and storing facilities. In 1990 its population was 1,708.
of 2000, there were 2,086 people, 745 households, and 590 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,272.7 people per square mile (875.4/km²). There were 784 housing units at an average density of 854.2 per square mile (329.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.99% White, 0.67% African American, 0.86% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 6.42% from other races
, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.20% of the population.
There were 745 households out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.1% were married couples
living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.8% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,750, and the median income for a family was $44,491. Males had a median income of $32,383 versus $21,964 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,752. About 8.6% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
. Shallowater is home to the 2004 Boys and Girls State Championship basketball teams.
First Baptist Church (www.firstshallowater.org),
New Hope Community Church,
First United Methodist (www.shallowaterumc.org), St. Philip Catholic Church, and the
Twelfth Street Church of Christ.
Each church has its own system of beliefs and practices, but the churches meet once a year for a community Thanksgiving service.
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...
. Shallowater is on U.S. Route 84
U.S. Route 84
U.S. Route 84 is an east–west United States highway. It started as a short Georgia-Alabama route in the original 1926 scheme, but now extends all the way to Colorado. The highway's eastern terminus is a short distance east of Midway, Georgia, at an intersection with I-95. The road continues...
and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line, twelve miles northwest of Lubbock, Texas
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...
. Population was 2,086 according to the 2000 census. It 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
Shallowater is located at 33°41′21"N 101°59′42"W (33.689082, -101.995103).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 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.
History
George W. Littlefield
George Washington Littlefield was a Confederate officer, cattleman, banker, and regent of the University of Texas. Born in Mississippi, Littlefield moved to Texas with his family as a boy.-Early life:George W...
of the Yellow House Ranch, negotiations were finally completed. The originators of the plan, and other interested individuals, formed the Ripley Townsite Company, which was named after a Santa Fe railroad official and was incorporated on May 22, 1909. The company decided to name the new town Shallowater to attract settlers. On June 26, 1913, a celebration was held to note the founding of the town and completion of the railroad. By the time the town was established, the ranching industry in the area was waning and many of the large ranches were being divided into smaller lots for farmers. Cotton became an important cash crop. During the 1920s Shallowater grew rapidly, and the town had a hotel, a lumberyard, and various filling stations, grocery stores, cotton gins, drugstores, barbershops, garages, blacksmith shops, and other businesses. Several churches and schools were also built. A county park with a clubhouse was established, a public well was constructed, and a real depot building was built to replace the boxcar the town had been using for years. From 1920 to 1922 the railroad station was known as Pacita. In 1928 the town had an estimated population of 250. In 1955 Shallowater was incorporated with a mayor-council form of city government, and during the 1960s the town had five churches, a school, a bank, a library, and a newspaper. The community in 1970 had thirty businesses, including one of the largest hatcheries in the county. The population of Shallowater was 1,001 in 1960 and 1,339 in 1970. In the late 1980s Shallowater had a post office, seventeen businesses, and a population of 2,107. It was a farm marketing center with processing and storing facilities. In 1990 its population was 1,708.
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 2,086 people, 745 households, and 590 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 2,272.7 people per square mile (875.4/km²). There were 784 housing units at an average density of 854.2 per square mile (329.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.99% White, 0.67% African American, 0.86% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 6.42% 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 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.20% of the population.
There were 745 households out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.1% 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, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.8% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,750, and the median income for a family was $44,491. Males had a median income of $32,383 versus $21,964 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 $16,752. About 8.6% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The City of Shallowater is served by the Shallowater Independent School DistrictShallowater Independent School District
Shallowater Independent School District is a public school district based in Shallowater, Texas that serves students in northwestern Lubbock County....
. Shallowater is home to the 2004 Boys and Girls State Championship basketball teams.
Religion
The City of Shallowater is served by five churches:First Baptist Church (www.firstshallowater.org),
New Hope Community Church,
First United Methodist (www.shallowaterumc.org), St. Philip Catholic Church, and the
Twelfth Street Church of Christ.
Each church has its own system of beliefs and practices, but the churches meet once a year for a community Thanksgiving service.