White Deer, Texas
Encyclopedia
White Deer is a town in Carson County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 1,060 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau
estimate placed the population at 1,007. It is part of the Amarillo, Texas
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
and 36 miles northeast of Amarillo
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), all of it land.
-owned Francklyn Land and Cattle Company, later reorganized as the White Deer Land Company, occupied the area and began stocking it with cattle. George Tyng, general manager of the property, built the headquarters for White Deer or Diamond F Ranch at the site in 1887. around the same time, the Purcell Company purchased land in the vicinity as a right-of-way for the Southern Kansas Railway of Texas. A depot was built in 1888. The site was initially known as Paton (after John Paton), then Whig, before being renamed White Deer in January 1899 – after nearby White Deer Creek. During the 1890s, British shareholders began selling land for small farms and ranches to settlers. The community moved to its present location near the railroad line in 1908. A year later, Henry Czerner and Ben Urbanczyk established a community of Polish farmers from central Texas at the northeastern edge of town. There were approximately 50 people living in White Deer by 1910. The discovery of oil and gas in Carson County in 1919 brought growth to both White Deer and the surrounding area. The community incorporated in 1921 and the population had risen to 200 by the mid-1920s. At the peak of the oil boom in the late 1920s, White Deer was home to nearly 3,000 people. Soon after, the city experienced a period of decline. A disastrous fire in 1931, the negative economic impact of the Great Depression
as well as tornadoes in 1945 and 1951 were all contributing factors in White Deer's decline. In the late 1950s, the town became a shipping point for grain and cattle produced in the area. By 1980, the population was 1,210. That figure decreased to 1,125 in 1990 and 1,060 in 2000.
A statue of a white deer stands on a concrete pedestal in the middle of the town's main intersection. At its base is a historical marker, erected in 1965, that commemorates the town's rich history.
of 2000, there were 1,060 people, 425 households, and 311 families residing in the town. The population density
was 608.0 people per square mile (235.2/km2). There were 490 housing units at an average density of 281.1 per square mile (108.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.32% White, 0.85% Native American, 1.79% from other races
, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.28% of the population.
There were 425 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples
living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
Estimated median household income in 2007: $51,548 (it was $36,953 in 2000. Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $88,886 (it was $48,400 in 2000. Mean prices in 2007: All housing units: $87,280; Detached houses: $87,800; Townhouses or other attached units: $61,183; Mobile homes: $36,214; Occupied boats, RVs, vans, etc.: $12,500.
White Deer-area historical tornado activity is slightly above Texas state average. It is 118% greater than the overall U.S. average.
On 6/8/1995, a category 4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 11.7 miles away from the White Deer town center injured 7 people and caused between $5,000,000 and $50,000,000 in damages.
On 6/27/1992, a category 4 tornado 22.0 miles away from the town center injured 7 people and caused between $5,000,000 and $50,000,000 in damages.
http://www.whitedeerisd.net/. The district has a total enrollment of around 400 students on two campuses, White Deer Elementary School (grades PK-8) and White Deer High School http://www.whitedeerisd.net/HSWebPage/HSHomePage.htm (grades 9-12).
Carson County, Texas
Carson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the Amarillo metropolitan area. In 2000, its population was 6,516. Carson is named for Samuel Price Carson, the first secretary of state of the Republic of Texas. The seat of the county is Panhandle. It was founded in...
, 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 1,060 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. 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...
estimate placed the population at 1,007. It is part of the Amarillo, Texas
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...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Amarillo metropolitan area
The Amarillo Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in the Texas Panhandle that covers four counties - Armstrong, Carson, Potter, and Randall...
.
Geography
White Deer is located at 35.431015°N 101.175749°W. It is situated along U.S. Highway 60 in east central Carson County, approximately 12 miles northeast of PanhandlePanhandle, Texas
Panhandle is a town in Carson County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,589 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Carson County. Panhandle is part of the Amarillo, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and 36 miles northeast of 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...
.
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 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), all of it land.
History
The community was first settled around 1882, when the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-owned Francklyn Land and Cattle Company, later reorganized as the White Deer Land Company, occupied the area and began stocking it with cattle. George Tyng, general manager of the property, built the headquarters for White Deer or Diamond F Ranch at the site in 1887. around the same time, the Purcell Company purchased land in the vicinity as a right-of-way for the Southern Kansas Railway of Texas. A depot was built in 1888. The site was initially known as Paton (after John Paton), then Whig, before being renamed White Deer in January 1899 – after nearby White Deer Creek. During the 1890s, British shareholders began selling land for small farms and ranches to settlers. The community moved to its present location near the railroad line in 1908. A year later, Henry Czerner and Ben Urbanczyk established a community of Polish farmers from central Texas at the northeastern edge of town. There were approximately 50 people living in White Deer by 1910. The discovery of oil and gas in Carson County in 1919 brought growth to both White Deer and the surrounding area. The community incorporated in 1921 and the population had risen to 200 by the mid-1920s. At the peak of the oil boom in the late 1920s, White Deer was home to nearly 3,000 people. Soon after, the city experienced a period of decline. A disastrous fire in 1931, the negative economic impact of the Great Depression
Great Depression in the United States
The Great Depression began with the Wall Street Crash of October, 1929 and rapidly spread worldwide. The market crash marked the beginning of a decade of high unemployment, poverty, low profits, deflation, plunging farm incomes, and lost opportunities for economic growth and personal advancement...
as well as tornadoes in 1945 and 1951 were all contributing factors in White Deer's decline. In the late 1950s, the town became a shipping point for grain and cattle produced in the area. By 1980, the population was 1,210. That figure decreased to 1,125 in 1990 and 1,060 in 2000.
A statue of a white deer stands on a concrete pedestal in the middle of the town's main intersection. At its base is a historical marker, erected in 1965, that commemorates the town's rich history.
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 1,060 people, 425 households, and 311 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 608.0 people per square mile (235.2/km2). There were 490 housing units at an average density of 281.1 per square mile (108.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.32% White, 0.85% Native American, 1.79% 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 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.28% of the population.
There were 425 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% 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, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
Estimated median household income in 2007: $51,548 (it was $36,953 in 2000. Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $88,886 (it was $48,400 in 2000. Mean prices in 2007: All housing units: $87,280; Detached houses: $87,800; Townhouses or other attached units: $61,183; Mobile homes: $36,214; Occupied boats, RVs, vans, etc.: $12,500.
White Deer-area historical tornado activity is slightly above Texas state average. It is 118% greater than the overall U.S. average.
On 6/8/1995, a category 4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 11.7 miles away from the White Deer town center injured 7 people and caused between $5,000,000 and $50,000,000 in damages.
On 6/27/1992, a category 4 tornado 22.0 miles away from the town center injured 7 people and caused between $5,000,000 and $50,000,000 in damages.
Education
Public education in White Deer is provided by the White Deer Independent School DistrictWhite Deer Independent School District
White Deer Independent School District is a public school district based in White Deer, Texas .Located in Carson County, the district extends into a small portion of Gray County....
http://www.whitedeerisd.net/. The district has a total enrollment of around 400 students on two campuses, White Deer Elementary School (grades PK-8) and White Deer High School http://www.whitedeerisd.net/HSWebPage/HSHomePage.htm (grades 9-12).