Farm to Market Road 400
Encyclopedia
Farm to Market Road 400 (FM 400) is a farm to market road
located in Lynn, Lubbock, Hale
, and Swisher
counties in the Llano Estacado
of Texas
.
city limits. The route travels to the northeast through rural areas of Lynn County, passing to the west of Tahoka Lake and through Wilson
along that city's 10th Street before entering Lubbock County. In Slaton
, FM 400 turns to the north and crosses near the southern city limits before entering that city's downtown, where it is concurrent with along 9th Street for 2.4 miles (3.9 km). The route leaves Slaton and continues north along Vetch Avenue, passing to the east of Slaton Airport, then descending into and climbing out of Yellow House Canyon
, to the east of the community of Ransom Canyon
. The next major intersection is just east of Idalou
, with . Continuing north, FM 400 crosses into Hale County, approximately 9 miles (14.5 km) east of Abernathy
. It has a concurrency of about 2 miles (3.2 km) with FM 37 and passes through the farming community of Happy Union before entering Plainview
, where it is known as Date Street. The highway crosses and then briefly turns to the east along 24th Street before resuming its northward journey. FM 400 has a brief concurrency with FM 788 in northern Hale County; after the two routes separate, FM 400 enters Swisher County, and reaches its northern terminus at east of Kress
.
northward to the Hale County
line. That same year saw an extension northward, into Hale County and to a junction with west of Petersburg
. The road was lengthened, this time to the south, in 1948, from Idalou to a county road just north of the Slaton
Airport. In 1949, a southern section of FM 400 was designated, replacing . This southern section was in Lynn County, and ran southward from the Lubbock County line through Wilson to . This created a gap in the routing of FM 400 in and around Slaton; this gap would be closed in 1951, when the two sections of FM 400 were both extended to connect with at two different points in Slaton. The route was extended northward to Plainview
in 1950. It was extended north to the Swisher County
line in 1953. That same year, it extended north to ; this created the concurrency with , which TxDOT officially considers a gap in that route's mileage. The route designation was amended in 1965 after the US 84 freeway bypass south of Slaton was constructed; the old location of US 84 was renumbered Loop 251, which would eventually be redesignated as Business US 84 in 1991.
Farm to Market Road
In the United States, a farm-to-market road or ranch-to-market road is a state road or county road which serves to connect rural or agricultural areas to market towns...
located in Lynn, Lubbock, Hale
Hale County, Texas
Hale County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 36,602. It was organized in 1888, and is named for Lt. John C. Hale, a hero of the Battle of San Jacinto. The seat of the county is Plainview. It is home of the noted former Hale County Judge, Judge Bill...
, and Swisher
Swisher County, Texas
Swisher County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 8,378. Its seat is Tulia. The county is named for James G. Swisher, a soldier of the Texas Revolution and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence...
counties in 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...
of 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...
.
Route description
The southern terminus of FM 400 is at an interchange with north of the TahokaTahoka, Texas
Tahoka is a city in and the county seat of Lynn County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,910 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tahoka is located at ....
city limits. The route travels to the northeast through rural areas of Lynn County, passing to the west of Tahoka Lake and through Wilson
Wilson, Texas
Wilson is a city in Lynn County, Texas, United States. The population was 532 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wilson is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
along that city's 10th Street before entering Lubbock County. In Slaton
Slaton, Texas
Slaton is a city in Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,109 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area.Slaton is named for Lubbock rancher and banker O.L. Slaton, Sr...
, FM 400 turns to the north and crosses near the southern city limits before entering that city's downtown, where it is concurrent with along 9th Street for 2.4 miles (3.9 km). The route leaves Slaton and continues north along Vetch Avenue, passing to the east of Slaton Airport, then descending into and climbing out of Yellow House Canyon
Yellow House Canyon
Yellow 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...
, to the east of the community of Ransom Canyon
Ransom Canyon, Texas
Ransom Canyon is a town in Lubbock County of West Texas, United States. The population was 1,011 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. The next major intersection is just east of Idalou
Idalou, Texas
Idalou is a city in Lubbock County, Texas, United States. It is located 7 miles northeast of Lubbock near the intersection of Farm to Market Road 400 and US 62/US 82/SH 114. The population was 2,157 at the 2000 census...
, with . Continuing north, FM 400 crosses into Hale County, approximately 9 miles (14.5 km) east of Abernathy
Abernathy, Texas
Abernathy is a city in Hale and Lubbock counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 2,839 at the 2000 census, but had dropped to 2,764 according to a 2009 estimate....
. It has a concurrency of about 2 miles (3.2 km) with FM 37 and passes through the farming community of Happy Union before entering Plainview
Plainview, Texas
Plainview is a city in and the county seat of Hale County, Texas, United States. The population was 22,336 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Plainview is located at ....
, where it is known as Date Street. The highway crosses and then briefly turns to the east along 24th Street before resuming its northward journey. FM 400 has a brief concurrency with FM 788 in northern Hale County; after the two routes separate, FM 400 enters Swisher County, and reaches its northern terminus at east of Kress
Kress, Texas
Kress is a city in Swisher County, Texas, United States. The population was 826 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Kress is located at ....
.
History
FM 400 was originally designated in 1945; its original routing was exclusively in Lubbock County, from IdalouIdalou, Texas
Idalou is a city in Lubbock County, Texas, United States. It is located 7 miles northeast of Lubbock near the intersection of Farm to Market Road 400 and US 62/US 82/SH 114. The population was 2,157 at the 2000 census...
northward to the Hale County
Hale County, Texas
Hale County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 36,602. It was organized in 1888, and is named for Lt. John C. Hale, a hero of the Battle of San Jacinto. The seat of the county is Plainview. It is home of the noted former Hale County Judge, Judge Bill...
line. That same year saw an extension northward, into Hale County and to a junction with west of Petersburg
Petersburg, Texas
Petersburg is a city in Hale County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,262 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Petersburg is located at ....
. The road was lengthened, this time to the south, in 1948, from Idalou to a county road just north of the Slaton
Slaton, Texas
Slaton is a city in Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,109 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area.Slaton is named for Lubbock rancher and banker O.L. Slaton, Sr...
Airport. In 1949, a southern section of FM 400 was designated, replacing . This southern section was in Lynn County, and ran southward from the Lubbock County line through Wilson to . This created a gap in the routing of FM 400 in and around Slaton; this gap would be closed in 1951, when the two sections of FM 400 were both extended to connect with at two different points in Slaton. The route was extended northward to Plainview
Plainview, Texas
Plainview is a city in and the county seat of Hale County, Texas, United States. The population was 22,336 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Plainview is located at ....
in 1950. It was extended north to the Swisher County
Swisher County, Texas
Swisher County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 8,378. Its seat is Tulia. The county is named for James G. Swisher, a soldier of the Texas Revolution and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence...
line in 1953. That same year, it extended north to ; this created the concurrency with , which TxDOT officially considers a gap in that route's mileage. The route designation was amended in 1965 after the US 84 freeway bypass south of Slaton was constructed; the old location of US 84 was renumbered Loop 251, which would eventually be redesignated as Business US 84 in 1991.