Friona, Texas
Encyclopedia
Friona is a city in Parmer County, Texas
, United States
. The population was 3,854 at the 2000 census. Friona was established in 1906, originally called Frio the Spanish
word for cold.
In 2007, the Texas State Legislature declared Friona the "Cheeseburger
Capital of Texas". The city began holding the "Cheeseburger Cook-Off and Festival" in 2006. Aside from this annual event, there are only 3 fast food locations at which you can actually order a cheeseburger in Friona. These locations consist of the “Tasty Cream”, “Sonic”, and “Fast Stop”.
The city motto is unique: "The Biggest Small Town in Texas."
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 3,854 people, 1,271 households, and 983 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,794.8 people per square mile (1,078.3/km²). There were 1,399 housing units at an average density of 1,014.5 per square mile (391.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.47% White, 1.30% African American, 0.75% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 33.81% from other races
, and 2.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 57.86% of the population.
There were 1,271 households out of which 44.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples
living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.48.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,964, and the median income for a family was $36,863. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $19,299 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,635. About 14.1% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.
, Friona was the first school in Texas to integrate black students.
The city of Friona's education is served by Friona Independent School District
.
The local high school mascot is a chieftain. The school colors are red and white. The girl's team mascot is a squaw.
The junior high boy's team mascot is a brave. The junior high girl's team mascot is a maiden.
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 was 3,854 at the 2000 census. Friona was established in 1906, originally called Frio the Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
word for cold.
In 2007, the Texas State Legislature declared Friona the "Cheeseburger
Cheeseburger
A cheeseburger is a hamburger with cheese that has been added to it. Traditionally, the cheese is placed on top of the patty, but the burger can include many variations in structure, ingredients, and composition...
Capital of Texas". The city began holding the "Cheeseburger Cook-Off and Festival" in 2006. Aside from this annual event, there are only 3 fast food locations at which you can actually order a cheeseburger in Friona. These locations consist of the “Tasty Cream”, “Sonic”, and “Fast Stop”.
The city motto is unique: "The Biggest Small Town in Texas."
Geography
Friona is located at 34°38′20"N 102°43′18"W (34.638987, -102.721571).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 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
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 3,854 people, 1,271 households, and 983 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 2,794.8 people per square mile (1,078.3/km²). There were 1,399 housing units at an average density of 1,014.5 per square mile (391.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.47% White, 1.30% African American, 0.75% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 33.81% 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 2.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 57.86% of the population.
There were 1,271 households out of which 44.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% 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, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.48.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,964, and the median income for a family was $36,863. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $19,299 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 $13,635. About 14.1% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education
In 1954 after Brown vs. The Board Of EducationBrown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 , was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which...
, Friona was the first school in Texas to integrate black students.
The city of Friona's education is served by Friona Independent School District
Friona Independent School District
Friona Independent School District is a public school district based in Friona, Texas .Located in Parmer County, a small portion of the district extends into Deaf Smith County....
.
The local high school mascot is a chieftain. The school colors are red and white. The girl's team mascot is a squaw.
The junior high boy's team mascot is a brave. The junior high girl's team mascot is a maiden.
Notable residents
- Baker Eldon "Red Dog" Duggins (February 28, 1925 - February 26, 2007) was an educator, coachCoach (sport)In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
, junior high school principal, and high schoolHigh schoolHigh school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
counselorSchool counselorA school counselor is a counselor and an educator who works in elementary, middle, and high schools to provide academic, career, college access, and personal/social competencies to K-12 students...
for the Friona Independent School District from 1955 until his retirement in 1985. A native of Cordell, Oklahoma, Duggins was a United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
MarineUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, having won the Purple HeartPurple HeartThe Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
. He was named Friona's "Man of the Year" in 1964, when his high school girls basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team won the state championship with a 35-0 record.
- Watson Whaley (December 3, 1909 - May 17, 2008) had until his death been the oldest living graduate of Friona High School, Class of 1929. A native of Hollene in Curry CountyCurry County, New MexicoCurry County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. The population was approximately 45,044 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Clovis. It is named in honor of George Curry, territorial governor of New Mexico from 1907 to 1910...
, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, Whaley was a farmerFarmerA farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
and owned a construction company which did concreteConcreteConcrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
work on grain elevators. He and his late wife, the former Alice Louise Wiley (1920–1982), were involved with the Girl Scouts of America and built the Girl Scout hut in Friona. He was survived by two daughters and is interred at Friona Cemetery.