Toyah is a town in
Reeves County,
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
, United States. The population was 90 at the
2010 census.
History
On October 25, 1906
a black man in Toyah named J. I. "Slab" Pitts was dragged to death and then hanged for living with his white wife, Eva Ruff.
In September, 1928
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart ( , born July 24, 1897; disappeared July 2, 1937; declared dead January 5, 1939) was an American aviation pioneer and writer. Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She set many oth ...
made an unscheduled five-day stop to adjust her carburetor. She relates in her journal that she landed in a small town near
Pecos, Texas
Pecos ( ) is the largest city in and the county seat of Reeves County, Texas, Reeves County, Texas, United States. It is in the valley on the west bank of the Pecos River at the eastern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert, in the Trans-Pecos region of W ...
, but according to a regional book, ''The Toyah Taproots'', several local, unnamed youngsters were seen in pictures around her airplane were later identified as being from Toyah.
Much of the town was destroyed by a tornado in 2004. Several abandoned homes, a deserted volunteer fire department and forgotten cars sit on the empty streets. The enormous Toyah High School also remains.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the town has a total area of , all of it land.
Demographics
At the
2000 census there were 100 people, 47 households, and 28 families living in the town. The population density was 61.6 people per square mile (23.8/km). There were 72 housing units at an average density of 44.3 per square mile (17.2/km). The
racial makeup
A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...
of the town was 84.00% White, 4.00% African American, 2.00% Native American, 4.00% from other races, and 6.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 51.00%.
Of the 47 households 14.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 36.2% of households were one person and 19.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.79.
The age distribution was 13.0% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 28.0% 65 or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 138.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 128.9 males.
The median household income was $16,500 and the median family income was $15,313. Males had a median income of $19,375 versus $11,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $8,611. There were 47.8% of families and 52.9% of the population living below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 100.0% of under 18 and 22.2% of those over 64.
Education
The Town of Toyah is served by the
Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Independent School District.
References
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Towns in Reeves County, Texas
Towns in Texas
Ghost towns in West Texas
Lynching deaths in Texas