Valentine, Texas
Encyclopedia
Valentine is a town in Jeff Davis County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 187 at the 2000 census. It is the only incorporated municipality in Jeff Davis County.
Valentine's name refers to the date of its founding in 1882 by a Southern Pacific Railroad construction crew: February 14. It is one of several cities named Valentine in the United States where one may send envelopes in order to obtain special holiday postmarks for Valentine's Day from the United States Postal Service
, for which the town and its post office have received national media attention. Valentine is also home to the unusual sculpture Prada Marfa
, which mimics a Prada store and which was installed in 2005 on the town's main street, California Avenue (US Route 90).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 187 people, 72 households, and 55 families residing in the town. The population density
was 388.8 people per square mile (150.4/km²). There were 138 housing units at an average density of 286.9 per square mile (111.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.84% White, 0.53% African American, 8.02% from other races
, and 1.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 58.82% of the population.
There were 72 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% were married couples
living together, 2.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 103.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,375, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $22,031 versus $33,333 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,136. About 12.8% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.
operates the Valentine Post Office. On Valentine's Day
many people send postcards to Valentine, Texas. In July 2011 the USPS announced that the post office may close.
struck near Valentine, causing extensive damage. The earthquake was the most powerful ever recorded in Texas.
Jeff Davis County, Texas
Jeff Davis County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. It is named for Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. In 2000, its population was 2,207, and 2,258 by 2009...
, 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 187 at the 2000 census. It is the only incorporated municipality in Jeff Davis County.
Valentine's name refers to the date of its founding in 1882 by a Southern Pacific Railroad construction crew: February 14. It is one of several cities named Valentine in the United States where one may send envelopes in order to obtain special holiday postmarks for Valentine's Day from the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
, for which the town and its post office have received national media attention. Valentine is also home to the unusual sculpture Prada Marfa
Prada Marfa
Prada Marfa is a permanently installed sculpture by artists Elmgreen and Dragset, situated northwest of Valentine, Texas, just off U.S. Route 90, and about northwest of the city of Marfa. The installation was inaugurated on October 1, 2005...
, which mimics a Prada store and which was installed in 2005 on the town's main street, California Avenue (US Route 90).
Geography
Valentine is located at 30°35′15"N 104°29′44"W (30.587504, -104.495498).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 town has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all 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 187 people, 72 households, and 55 families residing in the town. 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 388.8 people per square mile (150.4/km²). There were 138 housing units at an average density of 286.9 per square mile (111.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.84% White, 0.53% African American, 8.02% 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 1.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 58.82% of the population.
There were 72 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% 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, 2.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 103.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,375, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $22,031 versus $33,333 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 town was $16,136. About 12.8% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those sixty five or over.
Government and infrastructure
The United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Valentine Post Office. On Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
many people send postcards to Valentine, Texas. In July 2011 the USPS announced that the post office may close.
Earthquake
On August 16, 1931, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake1931 Valentine earthquake
The 1931 Valentine earthquake occurred on August 16, 1931, in the town of Valentine, Texas.At magnitude 5.8, it remains the most powerful earthquake historically recorded in the state of Texas....
struck near Valentine, causing extensive damage. The earthquake was the most powerful ever recorded in Texas.
External links
- Handbook of Texas Online article
- West Texas Weekly- a local weekly newspaper.