Sunray, Texas
Encyclopedia
Sunray is a city in Moore County, Texas
, United States
. The population was 1,950 at the 2000 census.
Sunray, Texas was founded by Jack Clarence Collins. He was born in Hartley, Texas in 1893, and in 1902 moved to Channing, Texas with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E.S. Collins. Jack graduated from Channing High School and later, in 1916, from Texas A&M, where he was class valedictorian and class president in his senior year. Later he served for several years as cashier of the First National Bank of Channing while extending his family’s ranch holdings. Mr. Collins was well-known and respected in ranching and financial circles, and was a ranking member of the Republican Party for several years. {Sources: Moore County News, Jan. 6, 1938; http://www.cityofsunray.com}
Jack Collins didn’t call the town “Sunray” when he laid it out in 1930. The first lots were sold at $10 each under the name, “Altman,” but it was discovered that a town in Rusk County had already appropriated that name, hence, the name “Sunray” was used. A Post Office was applied for on May 5, 1930, using the name “Altman,” but because of the duplication, “Sunray” was not approved until 1935.
The change to the name “Sunray” came because Sunray Oil Company set up a gas-oil refinery near the town on 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) of land originally donated by Mr. Collins to Dana Oil & Gas Royalty Company. Sunray Oil Company bought the holdings of Dana in the early Jones field in northeast Moore County which was near the new town. The townsite location was determined by a new Rock Island Railroad route running from Dalhart to Morse along the northern edge of Mr. Collins's townsite survey. At the time the town was 3 miles (4.8 km) from the Jones Well and 6 miles (9.7 km) from the Morton oil well—both early oil-gas discoveries in Moore County.
On December 30, 1937, at the age of 44, Jack Collins was critically injured when both front tires blew out from his car while returning from a Christmas holiday trip to San Antonio. He died several hours later in a Plainview hospital.
On Sunday, 29 July 1956, the nearby industrial plant was the site of a major accident. The McKee refinery fire
killed 19 firefighters when a storage tank suffered a vapor explosion. http://www.fireworld.com/ifw_articles/sunray.php
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), all of it land .
of 2000, there were 1,950 people, 688 households, and 531 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,154.0 people per square mile (445.5/km²). There were 772 housing units at an average density of 456.9/sq mi (176.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.92% White, 0.72% African American, 0.77% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 23.38% from other races
, and 2.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 35.59% of the population.
There were 688 households out of which 45.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% were married couples
living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.8% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,026, and the median income for a family was $36,813. Males had a median income of $31,141 versus $18,077 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,656. About 11.5% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 11.5% 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...
. The population was 1,950 at the 2000 census.
History
Jack Collins didn’t call the town “Sunray” when he laid it out in 1930. The first lots were sold at $10 each under the name, “Altman,” but it was discovered that a town in Rusk County had already appropriated that name, hence, the name “Sunray” was used. A Post Office was applied for on May 5, 1930, using the name “Altman,” but because of the duplication, “Sunray” was not approved until 1935.
The change to the name “Sunray” came because Sunray Oil Company set up a gas-oil refinery near the town on 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) of land originally donated by Mr. Collins to Dana Oil & Gas Royalty Company. Sunray Oil Company bought the holdings of Dana in the early Jones field in northeast Moore County which was near the new town. The townsite location was determined by a new Rock Island Railroad route running from Dalhart to Morse along the northern edge of Mr. Collins's townsite survey. At the time the town was 3 miles (4.8 km) from the Jones Well and 6 miles (9.7 km) from the Morton oil well—both early oil-gas discoveries in Moore County.
On December 30, 1937, at the age of 44, Jack Collins was critically injured when both front tires blew out from his car while returning from a Christmas holiday trip to San Antonio. He died several hours later in a Plainview hospital.
On Sunday, 29 July 1956, the nearby industrial plant was the site of a major accident. The McKee refinery fire
McKee refinery fire
The McKee refinery fire on Sunday, 29 July, 1956 was a severe fire-related mass casualty event, killing 19 firefighters. The fire is considered to have the fourth most casualties of fire fighters in the United states for a single fire event. Their names are engraved at the firefighters' memorial...
killed 19 firefighters when a storage tank suffered a vapor explosion. http://www.fireworld.com/ifw_articles/sunray.php
Geography
Sunray is located at 36°1′9"N 101°49′26"W (36.019280, -101.823860).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 1.7 square miles (4.4 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 1,950 people, 688 households, and 531 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 1,154.0 people per square mile (445.5/km²). There were 772 housing units at an average density of 456.9/sq mi (176.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.92% White, 0.72% African American, 0.77% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 23.38% 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 2.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 35.59% of the population.
There were 688 households out of which 45.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% 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, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.8% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,026, and the median income for a family was $36,813. Males had a median income of $31,141 versus $18,077 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 $16,656. About 11.5% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.