Slaton, Texas
Encyclopedia
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. (1867–1946).
in Slaton, which until 1969 offered passengers meals and hospitality through the Fred Harvey Company. The company advertised for "Young women, 18 to 30 years of age, of good moral character, attractive and intelligent, as waitresses in the Havey Eating Houses on the Santa Fe Railroad in the West."
Other ATSF depots were in Amarillo
, Brownwood
, Gainesville
, Temple
, El Paso
, and Clovis
, New Mexico
. After the passenger services ended, the railroad used the depot, located at 400 Railroad Avenue, for offices, training rooms, train crew staging areas, and storage, but abandoned the building in the late 1980s. The railroad still passes by the depot. The remaining structure, known as the Harvey House, was marked for demolition, but a citizens' committee launched a nearly two-decade
effort to preserve and restore the building. The former depot, which calls itself "The Jewel on the Plains", can be rented for parties with catered meals and occasional entertainment options. The upstairs is under restoration as a museum
to showcase the living quarters of the Harvey girls. The West Texas Historical Association
toured the Harvey House during its 2009 annual meeting in Lubbock.
. The nearest significant geographical feature is Yellow House Canyon
, which is located 3 miles (5 km) to the north and east. According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 6,109 people, 2,253 households, and 1,610 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,126.7 people per square mile (435.2/km²). There were 2,565 housing units at an average density of 473.1 per square mile (182.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.35% White, 7.76% African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 17.07% from other races
, and 1.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 42.27% of the population.
There were 2,253 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples
living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,915, and the median income for a family was $31,224. Males had a median income of $26,696 versus $20,601 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,087. About 21.6% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.7% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Lubbock County, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 6,109 at the 2000 census. It is part of the 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...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Lubbock metropolitan area
The Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in the South Plains region of Texas, USA, that covers two counties - Lubbock and Crosby. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 249,700...
.
Slaton is named for Lubbock rancher and banker O.L. Slaton, Sr. (1867–1946).
Harvey House of Slaton
In 1912, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, since through reorganization the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, opened a depotTrain station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
in Slaton, which until 1969 offered passengers meals and hospitality through the Fred Harvey Company. The company advertised for "Young women, 18 to 30 years of age, of good moral character, attractive and intelligent, as waitresses in the Havey Eating Houses on the Santa Fe Railroad in the West."
Other ATSF depots were in 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...
, Brownwood
Brownwood, Texas
Brownwood is a city in and the county seat of Brown County, Texas, United States. The population was 18,813 at the 2000 census.-History:The original site of the Brown County seat of Brownwood was on the east of Pecan Bayou. A dispute arose over land and water rights, and the settlers were forced...
, Gainesville
Gainesville, Texas
Gainesville is a city in and the county seat of Cooke County, Texas, United States. The population was 15,538 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, Temple
Temple, Texas
Temple is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. Located near the county seat of Belton, Temple lies in the region referred to as Central Texas. Located off Interstate 35, Temple is 65 miles north of Austin and 34 miles south of Waco. In the 2010 Census, Temple's population was 66,102, an...
, El Paso
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
, and Clovis
Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis is the county seat of Curry County, New Mexico, United States. Its population was 32,667 at the 2000 census; according to 2010 Census Bureau estimates, the population had risen to 37,775....
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New 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...
. After the passenger services ended, the railroad used the depot, located at 400 Railroad Avenue, for offices, training rooms, train crew staging areas, and storage, but abandoned the building in the late 1980s. The railroad still passes by the depot. The remaining structure, known as the Harvey House, was marked for demolition, but a citizens' committee launched a nearly two-decade
Decade
A decade is a period of 10 years. The word is derived from the Ancient Greek dekas which means ten. This etymology is sometime confused with the Latin decas and dies , which is not correct....
effort to preserve and restore the building. The former depot, which calls itself "The Jewel on the Plains", can be rented for parties with catered meals and occasional entertainment options. The upstairs is under restoration as a museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
to showcase the living quarters of the Harvey girls. The West Texas Historical Association
West Texas Historical Association
The West Texas Historical Association is an organization of both academics and laypersons dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of the total history of West Texas, defined geographically as all Texas counties and portions of counties located west of Interstate 35.-Formation of the...
toured the Harvey House during its 2009 annual meeting in Lubbock.
Geography
Slaton is located on the level plains of the Llano EstacadoLlano 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 nearest significant geographical feature is 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...
, which is located 3 miles (5 km) to the north and east. 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 5.4 square miles (14 km²), all of it land.
Major roads and highways
U.S. Highway 84
Farm to Market Road 400Farm to Market Road 400Farm to Market Road 400 is a farm to market road located in Lynn, Lubbock, Hale, and Swisher counties in the Llano Estacado of Texas.-Route description:...- Farm to Market Road 41
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 6,109 people, 2,253 households, and 1,610 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 1,126.7 people per square mile (435.2/km²). There were 2,565 housing units at an average density of 473.1 per square mile (182.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.35% White, 7.76% African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 17.07% 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 1.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 42.27% of the population.
There were 2,253 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% 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, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,915, and the median income for a family was $31,224. Males had a median income of $26,696 versus $20,601 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 $13,087. About 21.6% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.7% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.