Dumas, Texas
Encyclopedia
Dumas is a city in Moore County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,747 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Moore County. Located approximately fifty miles north of Amarillo
, the city is named for
its founder, Louis Dumas (1856–1923). Dumas Avenue, the main thoroughfare, is also United States Highways 287 and 87. The actor Chris Cooper
, a native of Kansas City
, Missouri, indicated that his parents were Texan-born and that his maternal great-grandfather was Louis Dumas.
Window on the Plains Museum
, which offers exhibits on Moore County and the Texas Panhandle
, is located on South Dumas Avenue, the main thoroughfare. Dumas is home to Moore County Airport
, a general aviation airport 2-miles west of the central business district.
The Dumas government claims, with some documentation, that the song "I'm a Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas" was written about the city. Composed in the late 1920s by Phil Baxter
(a native Texan who lived for a time in Dumas) and Carl Moore
, the song has also sometimes been claimed by Dumas
in Desha County
in southeastern Arkansas.
Dumas is the home of veteran Republican
State Representative
David A. Swinford
and the birth place of Joe "King" Carrasco
.
On May 18, 2010, a multi-vortex supercell formed and spawned 2 large cone tornadoes just a few miles from the city.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13.5 km²), of which, 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.39%) is water.
, and 2.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32.74% of the population.
There were 4,755 households out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.6% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the city the population was spread out with 32.3% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,147, and the median income for a family was $39,652. Males had a median income of $30,833 versus $19,967 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,180. About 8.7% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.
serves Dumas.
Four separate elementary schools serve separate sections of Dumas:
Dumas Independent School District also serves Cactus.
All Dumas and Cactus children attend Dumas Junior High School and Dumas High School.
Amarillo College
, a two-year fully accredited community college, has a branch campus in Dumas.
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 Moore County. Located approximately fifty miles north of 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...
, the city is named for
its founder, Louis Dumas (1856–1923). Dumas Avenue, the main thoroughfare, is also United States Highways 287 and 87. The actor Chris Cooper
Chris Cooper (actor)
Christopher W. "Chris" Cooper is an American film actor. He became well known in the late 1990s. He has appeared in supporting performances in several major Hollywood films, including The Bourne Identity, American Beauty, Capote, The Town, The Kingdom, Syriana, October Sky, Seabiscuit, and...
, a native of Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Missouri, indicated that his parents were Texan-born and that his maternal great-grandfather was Louis Dumas.
Window on the Plains Museum
Window on the Plains Museum
Window on the Plains Museum offers displays of ranching, farming, industrial, business, and family life exhibits of the Texas Panhandle during the late 19th and 20th centuries. It is located in Dumas, the seat of Moore County, at 1820 South Dumas Avenue on the common United States Highways 287 and 87...
, which offers exhibits on Moore County and the Texas Panhandle
Texas Panhandle
The Texas Panhandle is a region of the U.S. state of Texas consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. The panhandle is a rectangular area bordered by New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east...
, is located on South Dumas Avenue, the main thoroughfare. Dumas is home to Moore County Airport
Moore County Airport (Texas)
Moore County Airport , is located in Dumas, Texas, United States.-Facilities and aircraft:Moore County Airport is situated on on 306 acres in Dumas, Texas, 2-miles west of the central business district, and contains two runways. The primary 1/19, is paved with asphalt, measuring 6,001 x 100 ft...
, a general aviation airport 2-miles west of the central business district.
The Dumas government claims, with some documentation, that the song "I'm a Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas" was written about the city. Composed in the late 1920s by Phil Baxter
Phil Baxter
Phil Baxter was an American songwriter, singer and band leader. Born on September 5, 1896 in Navarro County, Texas, he graduated from Daniel Baker College. He is perhaps best known for his novelty song, "Piccolo Pete", a notable hit for Ted Weems and His Orchestra...
(a native Texan who lived for a time in Dumas) and Carl Moore
Carl Moore
Carl Moore is a Barbadian jazz critic, journalist, radio broadcaster and former head of the Barbados Broadcasting Association.- References :...
, the song has also sometimes been claimed by Dumas
Dumas, Arkansas
Dumas is a city in Desha County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,706 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Dumas is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
in Desha County
Desha County, Arkansas
Desha County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 13,008. The county seat is Arkansas City. Desha County is Arkansas's 40th county, formed on December 12, 1838, and named for Captain Benjamin Desha who fought in the War of...
in southeastern Arkansas.
Dumas is the home of veteran Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
State Representative
Texas House of Representatives
The 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...
David A. Swinford
David Swinford
David Anthony Swinford is an agricultural consultant from the Texas Panhandle and a former member of the Texas House of Representatives...
and the birth place of Joe "King" Carrasco
Joe Carrasco
Joe "King" Carrasco is a Tex-Mex "new wave" musical artist, based in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He is most widely known as part of "Joe 'King' Carrasco and the Crowns".-History:...
.
On May 18, 2010, a multi-vortex supercell formed and spawned 2 large cone tornadoes just a few miles from the city.
Geography
Dumas is located at 35°51′45"N 101°58′1"W (35.862478, -101.966931).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 5.2 square miles (13.5 km²), of which, 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.39%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,747 people, 4,755 households, and 3,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,681.0 people per square mile (1,034.6/km²). There were 5,119 housing units at an average density of 998.3 per square mile (385.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.09% White, 0.72% African American, 0.59% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 26.73% from other racesRace (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 2.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32.74% of the population.
There were 4,755 households out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.6% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the city the population was spread out with 32.3% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,147, and the median income for a family was $39,652. Males had a median income of $30,833 versus $19,967 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,180. About 8.7% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.
Education
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....
serves Dumas.
Four separate elementary schools serve separate sections of Dumas:
- Green Acres Elementary School
- Hillcrest Elementary School
- Morningside Elementary School
- Sunset Elementary School
Dumas Independent School District also serves Cactus.
- Cactus Elementary School CactusCactus, TexasCactus 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 .-Geography:...
, Texas
All Dumas and Cactus children attend Dumas Junior High School and Dumas High School.
Amarillo College
Amarillo College
Amarillo College is a two-year fully accredited community college in Amarillo, Texas with over 10,000 students that was established in 1929 as Amarillo Junior College...
, a two-year fully accredited community college, has a branch campus in Dumas.