Brownfield, Texas
Encyclopedia
Brownfield is a city in Terry County, Texas
, United States
. The population
was 8,940 at the 2009 census
. It is the county seat
of Terry County near Lubbock
in West Texas
.
, Brownfield has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16 km²), of which only 0.32% is water.
Brownfield lies in the center of Terry County, within the southern portion of the South Plains
and Llano Estacado
. The city rests on a windblown deposit called the Blackwater Draw Formation, which is underlain by a thick layer of caliche, referred to locally as the "Caprock." Beneath the caliche layer lies fluvial deposits called the Ogallala Formation, which contains a portion of the vast Ogallala Aquifer
. The Caprock Escarpment
, about 50 miles east, forms a rather precipitous drop of approximately 1000 feet (305 m) and exposes various geologic layers. In early days, climbing the caprock escarpment was not easy for covered wagons.
The only terrain variation lies at the south end of the city where Lost Draw carves a channel that runs across the entire county. Lost Draw formed over 10,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age
when the climate of the area was much wetter. When the vast glaciers of the north retreated, the left numerous dry river channels crisscrossing the Llano Estacado
. When settlers during the 1800 ventured across this area, they often went into these channels expecting to find water, however, unless significant rains had occurred recently, their search was in vain, with many of the parties becoming "lost", hence the name, Lost Draw.
The most notable geographic feature of Brownfield remains its red soil. The soil creates an almost iridescent red color during sunrise and sunset due to the high iron oxide content.
The most significant time of the year for weather events starts in March and runs through September when severe thunderstorms form on the Great Plains
. Massive amounts of rain, winds, hail, and a few tornadoes are to be expected at this time of year. Late thunderstorms that produce hail are significantly harmful to the local economy as it destroys the local cotton crop.
in general. Cotton fields stretch for miles, and the harvest season in October sees a frenzy of activity as harvesters (locally called cotton strippers), module makers, and module trucks are seen scurrying all over the county.
A significant haze also develops over the city as the local cotton gins go to work stripping the cotton from the burr, separating the seeds, and then compressing the cotton into 500 lb (226.8 kg) bales. The haze is actually fine cotton dust, and sometimes small drifts develop in the street resembling snow mixed with red dirt.
Peanut growing has found a toehold on the economy as have vineyards. In recent years, grape growing has shown Terry County as a prime producer of choice wine grapes. While there are currently no wineries in the county, there are several notable ones in the Lubbock area, about 30 miles northeast.
Oil production continues to form a small, but significant part of the Brownfield landscape.
of 2000, there were 9,488 people, 3,176 households, and 2,337 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,501.0 people per square mile (579.6/km²). There were 3,735 housing units at an average density of 590.9 per square mile (228.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 24.56% White, 6.59% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 14.47% from other races
, and 3.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 45.95% of the population.
There were 3,176 households out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples
living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 109.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.6 males.
Only 61.5% of the population holds a high school degree or higher, 8.9% a Bachelor degree or higher, 2.7% a Masters degree or higher. 6.1% of the population is unemployed.
The number of residents in prisons or correctional facilities is significantly above the state average.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,504, and the median income for a family was $32,076. Males had a median income of $23,637 versus $19,628 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,854. About 21.8% of families and 26.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.7% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.
Brownfield is served by a weekly newspaper, nearby stations KBXJ (FM) and KPET (AM), and the various Lubbock radio and TV stations. KKUB (AM) and KTTU-FM are licensed to Brownfield but operate primarily from offices and studios in Lubbock.
.
Brownfield High School was rated "Academically acceptable" by the Texas State Board of Education in 2010.
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
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
was 8,940 at the 2009 census
Census
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...
. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Terry County near 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...
in West Texas
West Texas
West Texas is a vernacular term applied to a region in the southwestern quadrant of the United States that primarily encompasses the arid and semi-arid lands in the western portion of the state of Texas....
.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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...
, Brownfield has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16 km²), of which only 0.32% is water.
Brownfield lies in the center of Terry County, within the southern portion of the South Plains
South Plains
South Plains is a vernacular term that refers to a region in West Texas consisting of the portion of the Llano Estacado extending south of the Texas Panhandle, centered at Lubbock. While prominent in the area of petroleum production, the South Plains is mainly an agricultural region, producing a...
and Llano Estacado
Llano Estacado
Llano Estacado , commonly known as the Staked Plains, is a region in the Southwestern United States that encompasses parts of eastern New Mexico and northwestern Texas, including the South Plains and parts of the Texas Panhandle...
. The city rests on a windblown deposit called the Blackwater Draw Formation, which is underlain by a thick layer of caliche, referred to locally as the "Caprock." Beneath the caliche layer lies fluvial deposits called the Ogallala Formation, which contains a portion of the vast Ogallala Aquifer
Ogallala Aquifer
The Ogallala Aquifer, also known as the High Plains Aquifer, is a vast yet shallow underground water table aquifer located beneath the Great Plains in the United States...
. The Caprock Escarpment
Caprock Escarpment
The Caprock Escarpment is a term used in Texas and Eastern New Mexico to describe the geographical transition point between the level elevated plains of the Llano Estacado and the surrounding rolling terrain. In Texas, the escarpment stretches around 320 km south-southwest from the northeast...
, about 50 miles east, forms a rather precipitous drop of approximately 1000 feet (305 m) and exposes various geologic layers. In early days, climbing the caprock escarpment was not easy for covered wagons.
The only terrain variation lies at the south end of the city where Lost Draw carves a channel that runs across the entire county. Lost Draw formed over 10,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
when the climate of the area was much wetter. When the vast glaciers of the north retreated, the left numerous dry river channels crisscrossing the Llano Estacado
Llano Estacado
Llano Estacado , commonly known as the Staked Plains, is a region in the Southwestern United States that encompasses parts of eastern New Mexico and northwestern Texas, including the South Plains and parts of the Texas Panhandle...
. When settlers during the 1800 ventured across this area, they often went into these channels expecting to find water, however, unless significant rains had occurred recently, their search was in vain, with many of the parties becoming "lost", hence the name, Lost Draw.
The most notable geographic feature of Brownfield remains its red soil. The soil creates an almost iridescent red color during sunrise and sunset due to the high iron oxide content.
Weather
Brownfield lies in a semi-arid temperate zone, where high winds and extreme temperature variation are the norm. The summers reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 °C) for multiple consecutive days. The winters often fall below freezing for extended periods, however snow remains unusual due to very little precipitation forming in the winter months.The most significant time of the year for weather events starts in March and runs through September when severe thunderstorms form on the Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
. Massive amounts of rain, winds, hail, and a few tornadoes are to be expected at this time of year. Late thunderstorms that produce hail are significantly harmful to the local economy as it destroys the local cotton crop.
Economics
Cotton farming remains the backbone of not only Brownfield, but the entire South PlainsSouth Plains
South Plains is a vernacular term that refers to a region in West Texas consisting of the portion of the Llano Estacado extending south of the Texas Panhandle, centered at Lubbock. While prominent in the area of petroleum production, the South Plains is mainly an agricultural region, producing a...
in general. Cotton fields stretch for miles, and the harvest season in October sees a frenzy of activity as harvesters (locally called cotton strippers), module makers, and module trucks are seen scurrying all over the county.
A significant haze also develops over the city as the local cotton gins go to work stripping the cotton from the burr, separating the seeds, and then compressing the cotton into 500 lb (226.8 kg) bales. The haze is actually fine cotton dust, and sometimes small drifts develop in the street resembling snow mixed with red dirt.
Peanut growing has found a toehold on the economy as have vineyards. In recent years, grape growing has shown Terry County as a prime producer of choice wine grapes. While there are currently no wineries in the county, there are several notable ones in the Lubbock area, about 30 miles northeast.
Oil production continues to form a small, but significant part of the Brownfield landscape.
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 9,488 people, 3,176 households, and 2,337 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 1,501.0 people per square mile (579.6/km²). There were 3,735 housing units at an average density of 590.9 per square mile (228.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 24.56% White, 6.59% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 14.47% 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 3.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 45.95% of the population.
There were 3,176 households out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% 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, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 109.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.6 males.
Only 61.5% of the population holds a high school degree or higher, 8.9% a Bachelor degree or higher, 2.7% a Masters degree or higher. 6.1% of the population is unemployed.
The number of residents in prisons or correctional facilities is significantly above the state average.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,504, and the median income for a family was $32,076. Males had a median income of $23,637 versus $19,628 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 $13,854. About 21.8% of families and 26.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.7% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.
Brownfield is served by a weekly newspaper, nearby stations KBXJ (FM) and KPET (AM), and the various Lubbock radio and TV stations. KKUB (AM) and KTTU-FM are licensed to Brownfield but operate primarily from offices and studios in Lubbock.
Education
The City of Brownfield is served by the Brownfield Independent School DistrictBrownfield Independent School District
Brownfield Independent School District is a public school district based in Brownfield, Texas .Brownfield High School was rated "Academically acceptable" by the Texas State Board of Education in 2010.-Schools:*Brownfield High School...
.
Brownfield High School was rated "Academically acceptable" by the Texas State Board of Education in 2010.
Dry county status
Several town meetings were held in 2008 to discuss the issue of selling beer and wine within Terry County. On November 4, a majority registered voters voted to legalize the sale of beer and wine in Terry County (1533 for, 1211 against).Notable persons
- George FaughtGeorge FaughtGeorge Faught is an American businessman and Republican politician from Oklahoma. Faught is the current Representative for District 14 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. House District 14 encompasses Muskogee, Fort Gibson, Braggs, Hulbert, and outlying areas...
- Member of the Oklahoma House of RepresentativesOklahoma House of RepresentativesThe Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members are responsible for introducing and voting on bills and resolutions, providing legislative oversight for state agencies, and helping to craft the...
from District 14 - Ruben Garcia, Jr.Ruben Garcia Jr.Ruben Garcia, Jr. is a former Executive Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation .Garcia was born to Mexican-American parents, Cecilia and Ruben Garcia in Brownfield, the seat of Terry County in West Texas near Lubbock...
- Former Executive Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of InvestigationFederal Bureau of InvestigationThe Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime... - Charles E. MapleCharles E. MapleCharles Edward Maple, known as Charlie Maple , was a journalist, chamber of commerce official, and state parks executive during the second half of the 20th century in the four-state region of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.-Early years, education, military:Maple was born in Oklahoma City...
(1932–2006) - journalist at the Brownfield News in the middle 1950s - Gary P. NunnGary P. NunnGary P. Nunn is a Texas Country singer/songwriter. Nunn was born in Oklahoma and moved to Brownfield, Texas as a sixth grader. He was a member of Lubbock, Texas rock band The Sparkles during the 1960s. In 1995, Nunn was inducted into the West Texas Walk of Fame, and in 2004, into the Texas Hall of...
- Texas Country musicCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer and "Ambassador of Texas Music" - Jim Rudd - Former member of the Texas House of RepresentativesTexas House of RepresentativesThe Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
- Sheryl SwoopesSheryl SwoopesSheryl Denise Swoopes is an American professional basketball player who, subsequent to being waived into free agency, signed to re-join the WNBA to play with the Tulsa Shock in 2011. She was the first player to be signed in the WNBA when it was created. She has won three Olympic Gold Medals and...
- Women's National Basketball AssociationWomen's National Basketball AssociationThe Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
star, Brownfield High School Class of 1989
See also
- Llano EstacadoLlano EstacadoLlano Estacado , commonly known as the Staked Plains, is a region in the Southwestern United States that encompasses parts of eastern New Mexico and northwestern Texas, including the South Plains and parts of the Texas Panhandle...
- Caprock EscarpmentCaprock EscarpmentThe Caprock Escarpment is a term used in Texas and Eastern New Mexico to describe the geographical transition point between the level elevated plains of the Llano Estacado and the surrounding rolling terrain. In Texas, the escarpment stretches around 320 km south-southwest from the northeast...
- West TexasWest TexasWest Texas is a vernacular term applied to a region in the southwestern quadrant of the United States that primarily encompasses the arid and semi-arid lands in the western portion of the state of Texas....
- U.S. Route 82 in TexasU.S. Route 82 in TexasIn the U.S. state of Texas, U.S. Route 82 is a U.S. Highway that begins on the New Mexico border and heads east through West Texas and Lubbock to the Arkansas border at Texarkana.- New Mexico–Texas state line to Wichita Falls :...
- Yellow House DrawYellow House DrawYellow House Draw is an ephemeral watercourse about long, heading about north of Morton, Texas, and tending generally east-southeastward across the Llano Estacado to the city of Lubbock where it joins Blackwater Draw to form Yellow House Canyon at the head of the North Fork Double Mountain Fork...
- Yellow House CanyonYellow House CanyonYellow House Canyon is a canyon that is about long, heading in Lubbock, Texas, at the junction of Blackwater Draw and Yellow House Draw, and trending generally southeastward to the edge of the Llano Estacado about east of Slaton, Texas; it forms one of three major canyons along the east side of...
- Double Mountain Fork Brazos RiverDouble Mountain Fork Brazos RiverThe Double Mountain Fork Brazos River is an ephemeral, sandy-braided stream about long, heading on the Llano Estacado of West Texas about southeast of Tahoka, Texas, flowing east-northeast across the western Rolling Plains to join the Salt Fork, forming the Brazos River about west-northwest of...