Cactus, Texas
Encyclopedia
Cactus is a city in Moore County, Texas
, United States
, along U.S. Route 287
. The population was 2,538 at the 2000 census
.
"Cactus Texas", a song by Waylon Jennings
, is a sketch of Cactus in more innocent days http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/getsome.org/guitar/olga/cowpie/j/jennings_waylon/cactus_texas.crd.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²), all of it land. Cactus is located 54 miles north of Amarillo ,and Cactus is also located 13 miles north of Dumas.
of 2000, there were 2,538 people, 660 households, and 570 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,243.9 people per square mile (480.4/km²). There were 820 housing units at an average density of 401.9 per square mile (155.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 24.43% White, 0.55% African American, 0.87% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 71.24% from other races
, and 2.64% from two or more races. mexican or Latino of any race were 96.10% of the population. Many are decedents from Mexico.
There were 660 households out of which 67.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% were married couples
living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.5% were non-families. 8.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.85 and the average family size was 4.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 42.7% under the age of 18, 13.9% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 10.3% from 45 to 64, and 2.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 118.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,611, and the median income for a family was $26,250. Males had a median income of $21,384 versus $18,110 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $8,340. About 21.4% of families and 22.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
.
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...
, along U.S. Route 287
U.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...
. The population was 2,538 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
"Cactus Texas", a song by Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
, is a sketch of Cactus in more innocent days http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/getsome.org/guitar/olga/cowpie/j/jennings_waylon/cactus_texas.crd.
Geography
Cactus is located at 36°2′46"N 102°0′8"W (36.046124, -102.002251).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 square miles (5.2 km²), all of it land. Cactus is located 54 miles north of Amarillo ,and Cactus is also located 13 miles north of Dumas.
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 2,538 people, 660 households, and 570 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 1,243.9 people per square mile (480.4/km²). There were 820 housing units at an average density of 401.9 per square mile (155.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 24.43% White, 0.55% African American, 0.87% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 71.24% 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 2.64% from two or more races. mexican or Latino of any race were 96.10% of the population. Many are decedents from Mexico.
There were 660 households out of which 67.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% 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, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.5% were non-families. 8.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.85 and the average family size was 4.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 42.7% under the age of 18, 13.9% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 10.3% from 45 to 64, and 2.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 118.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,611, and the median income for a family was $26,250. Males had a median income of $21,384 versus $18,110 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 $8,340. About 21.4% of families and 22.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The City of Cactus is served by the Dumas Independent School DistrictDumas Independent School District
Dumas Independent School District is a public school district based in Dumas, Texas .In addition to Dumas, the district serves the city of Cactus and most of rural Moore County....
.
- Cactus Elementary School
- Dumas Junior High School
- Dumas High School
Tornado
On April 21, 2007, Cactus was hit by an EF2 tornado. In all, there were 16 reports of tornadoes across the Texas Panhandle on that Saturday evening, including one in Tulia that damaged several businesses and injured three people. But Cactus suffered comparably greater damage. City and Moore County officials, including Cactus City Manager Jeff Jenkins, estimated about one-third of Cactus either was damaged or destroyed. The tornado injured 14 people, said Trooper Wayne Beighle of the Texas Department of Public Safety. "I am shocked no one was killed," said Charles Morehead, a special projects manager for West Texas Gas. Morehead said the devastation in Cactus was akin to that which he saw in Higgins as a child. A tornado swept through the town, killing about 50 people on April 9, 1947. It remains the most destructive tornado in Texas Panhandle history. The tornado was a mile wide when it struck the city of Cactus. Buildings were flattened, power was knocked out to thousands and debris was scattered for miles after the tornado.External links and further reading
- "U.S. Raids 6 Meat Plants in ID Case", article New York Times by Julia Preston, December 13, 2006