Childress, Texas

Childress ( ) (established 1887; incorporated 1890) is a city in and the county seat of Childress County, Texas, United States. Its population was 5,737 at the 2020 census.

The city and county were named after George Campbell Childress, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, who was the principal author of the Texas Declaration of Independence. The county and city were incorporated more than four decades after Childress' death.

Demographics

2020 U.S. Census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,737 people, 1,936 households, and 1,316 families residing in the city.

2000 U.S. Census

As of the census of 2000, 6,778 people, 2,116 households, and 1,369 families wereresiding in the city. The population density was . The 2,554 housing units had an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 64.52% White, 15.65% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 17.13% from other races, and 1.96% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 22.37% of the population.

Of the 2,116 households, 31.3% had children under 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were not families. About 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37, and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city, the age distribution was 21.7% under 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 147.7 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 157.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,536, and for a family was $33,323. Males had a median income of $25,365 versus $19,442 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,708. About 14.6% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.5% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is covered by water.

Childress is bordered on the west by Hall County, on the southeast by Hardeman County, on the northeast by Harmon County, Oklahoma, on the north by Collingsworth County, and on the south by Cottle County.Texas Department of Transportation, ''Texas State Travel Guide, 2007'', pp. 114–115

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Childress has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Childress was on June 27, 1994 and June 26, 2011, while the coldest temperature recorded was on January 17, 1930.

Government and politics

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Childress Distribution Center and the Roach prison in Childress.

In December 2015, the ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'' voted Childress ninth among the 10 "most conservative" cities in the United States in regard to political contributions.

Education

Childress is served by the Childress Independent School District, which operates an elementary school (prekindergarten to grade 5), Childress Elementary School, middle school (grades 6 to 8), Childress Junior High School, and a high school (grades 9 to 12), Childress High School.

Clarendon College, a two-year community college, has a campus in Childress.

Media

Radio

* K221FL
* K237EE
* KCTX-AM
* KCTX-FM

Newspaper

* ''The Red River Sun'', formerly ''The Childress Index''

Notable people

* Hardy Brown, athlete
* Walter Chrysler, auto company founder, lived in Childress 1905-1906.
* Lou Dobbs, radio and television host
* Margaret A. Edwards, educator and librarian
* Roy Furr, chain restaurant founder, lived in Childress County as a youth
* Ruby Gilbert, Kansas politician
* James "T" Jones, athlete
* Bubba McDaniel, mixed martial artist

Gallery

Image:Childress, Texas welcome sign.jpg,
Image:Childress, TX, Municipal Building IMG_6208.JPG,
Image:Second revision, First Baptist Church of Childress, TX IMG_6207.JPG,
Image:Museum IMG 0684.JPG,
Image:Downtown sign in Childress IMG_0691.JPG,
Image:Main_Street_-_Downtown_Childress_TX.JPG,
Image:Childress streets IMG 0687.JPG,
Image:Trade Winds Motel IMG_0692.JPG,
Image:K-Bobs IMG_0676.JPG,
Image:Fair Park in Childress IMG 0684.JPG,
Image:Clarendon College in Childress IMG 0680.JPG,
Image:Childress Bobcats Stadium IMG 0689.JPG,
Image:Sunset at Childress, Texas IMG_0677.JPG,
Image:Abandoned buildings south of Childress, TX IMG_6210.JPG,
Image:Childress City Limit.JPG,

See also

* List of municipalities in Texas

Note

References

External links

*

Childress, Texas in ''The Handbook of Texas Online''

Childress Independent School District

Childress Regional Medical Center

{{authority control

Cities in Childress County, Texas
Cities in Texas
County seats in Texas
Populated places established in 1887