Burkburnett is a city in
Wichita County, Texas, United States. It is part of the
Wichita Falls, Texas metropolitan statistical area. Its population was 10,811 at the 2010 census. The community newspaper, the ''Burkburnett Informer/Star,'' is published each Thursday.
History
Originally settled by ranchers as early as 1856, this community was known by some locals as Nesterville. By 1880, the town had a small store with a population of 132. From 1882 until 1903, a post office operated there under the designation Gilbert, named after the
North Texas pioneer Mabel Gilbert. In 1906, a nearby wealthy rancher named
Samuel Burk Burnett sold more than 16,000 acres (65 km) of his land in northern Wichita County to a group of investors who were seeking to extend into the wheat-growing area of
Western Oklahoma the
Wichita Falls and Northwestern Railway
The Wichita Falls and Northwestern Railway, its affiliate the Northwestern Railway Company of Texas, and two subsidiaries collectively constructed a railway running from Wichita Falls, Texas through Altus, Oklahoma to Forgan, Oklahoma, with a bran ...
, one of the
Frank Kell/
Joseph A. Kemp
Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...
properties based in Wichita Falls.
Within Burnett's former land near the railroad, lots were auctioned off the following year and a post office was established. The town was named Burkburnett by
U.S. President
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...
Theodore Roosevelt, who visited the area for a
wolf hunt that was hosted by the wealthy rancher Burnett. In 1912, oil was discovered west of the town, attracting thousands to the area, and by 1918, about 20,000 people had settled around the oilfield. This part of the town's history was chronicled in the film, ''
Boom Town
A boomtown is a community that undergoes sudden and rapid population and economic growth, or that is started from scratch. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although t ...
'' with
Clark Gable and
Spencer Tracy. The
Great Depression
The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...
had a negative impact on the town's population, which was boosted again in 1941 as
Sheppard Air Force Base was established nearby.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau, Burkburnett has a total area of 9.5 square miles (24.6 km), all of it land.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the
Köppen climate classification, Burkburnett has a
humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...
, ''Cfa'' on climate maps.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the
2020 United States census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
, there were 10,939 people, 4,725 households, and 3,330 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the
census of 2000, 10,445 people, 4,139 households, and 3,108 families resided in the city. The
population density was 1,149.5 people per square mile (443.6/km). The 4,449 housing units averaged 468.0 per square mile (180.6/km). The
racial makeup of the city was 90.67% White, 2.88% African American, 1.06% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 2.66% from other races, and 2.00% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 6.20% of the population.
Of the 4,139 households, 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were not families. About 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62, and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city, the population was distributed as 27.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,408, and for a family was $42,917. Males had a median income of $31,720 versus $21,977 for females. The
per capita income for the city was $17,507. About 7.9% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The city of Burkburnett is a home-rule municipality. The governing body is composed of seven city commissioners who are elected by the voters at-large, rather than by district. The commissioners serve staggered, two-year terms, with four elected during even-numbered years and three elected during odd-numbered years. The commissioners are charged with electing the mayor from among the city commissioners, and appointing or reappointing the city manager. The mayor is the traditional public figurehead of the city, while the city manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations within the city government.
Education
The City of Burkburnett is served by the
Burkburnett Independent School District.
The school district operates three elementary schools: I.C. Evans Elementary, John G. Tower Elementary, and Overton Ray Elementary, Burkburnett Middle School, and Burkburnett High School. I.C. Evans houses the Burkburnett Head Start program. John G. Tower is located in Wichita Falls, minutes from Sheppard AFB. The mascot for all Burkburnett schools is Bulldogs.
Notable people
*
Nolan Miller, Fashion designer; was born in Burkburnett in 1933
References
External links
City of BurkburnettBurkburnett Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control
Cities in Texas
Cities in Wichita County, Texas
Wichita Falls metropolitan area
1923 establishments in Texas