Dell City, Texas

Dell City, Texas
City
Sign indicating the city limits
Location of Dell City, Texas
Coordinates: 31°56′06″N105°11′59″W / 31.93500°N 105.19972°W / 31.93500; -105.19972
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Hudspeth
Area [1]
• Total	1.67 sq mi (4.32 km2)
• Land	1.67 sq mi (4.32 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [2]	3,698 ft (1,127 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	245
• Density	150/sq mi (57/km2)
Time zone	UTC-7 (Mountain (MST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-6 (MDT)
ZIP code	79837
Area code	915
FIPS code	48-19708 [3]
GNIS feature ID	2410318 [2]
Website	www.dellcity.com

Dell City is a city in Hudspeth County, Texas, United States. The population was 365 at the time of the 2010 census, ^[4] down from 413 at the time of the 2000 census. The population is now at 245 by the 2020 census. ^[5] It is near the former location of Paulville, a failed Ron Paul-inspired Libertarian cooperative and planned community.

The city was incorporated in 1948, ^[6] shortly after the discovery of an underground water supply by oil prospectors, which attracted farmers to the area. Its name is a reference to the nursery rhyme "The Farmer in the Dell." ^{[7] [ unreliable source? ]}

History

Dell City was established in 1948, ^[8] as an aquifer had been found in the area. Settlers came from other areas of Texas and New Mexico. ^[9] It developed into being a farming town. The community had about 500 people in the 1950s. ^[10]

In 2012, Jeanne Catsoulis of The New York Times described Dell City as "a borderline ghost town". ^[11] In 2014, there were 336 people, according to the United States Census Bureau, with 50 being the average age. In 2016, Jessica Onsurez wrote that residents in the town, which had a decline in the number of businesses, are divided over whether the town is "dying", in her words, or whether it will rebound. Residents rejected proposals to establish a prison and a manufacturing plant. ^[10]

Geography

Dell City is located in northeastern Hudspeth County in West Texas. It is 13 miles (21 km) north of U.S. Routes 62 and 180, and 4 miles (6 km) south of the New Mexico border. The Guadalupe Mountains are visible to the east.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.3 km²), all land. ^[4]

It is approximately 90 miles (140 km) from El Paso, which is west of Dell City. ^[12] Carlsbad, New Mexico, to the northeast, is 90 miles (140 km) away. ^[13]

It is about 20 miles (32 km) west of the Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Texas Highways states that it is about 45 minutes' travel time away. ^[9]

Climate

Climate data for Dell City, Texas
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	81 (27)	87 (31)	93 (34)	101 (38)	108 (42)	115 (46)	112 (44)	108 (42)	105 (41)	101 (38)	90 (32)	79 (26)	115 (46)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	60.0 (15.6)	64.8 (18.2)	72.7 (22.6)	80.8 (27.1)	89.4 (31.9)	97.6 (36.4)	97.3 (36.3)	94.9 (34.9)	88.8 (31.6)	80.5 (26.9)	68.4 (20.2)	59.3 (15.2)	79.5 (26.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	25.4 (−3.7)	30.0 (−1.1)	35.6 (2.0)	42.9 (6.1)	52.6 (11.4)	60.9 (16.1)	64.8 (18.2)	63.5 (17.5)	56.2 (13.4)	44.4 (6.9)	32.2 (0.1)	25.6 (−3.6)	44.5 (6.9)
Record low °F (°C)	3 (−16)	−9 (−23)	11 (−12)	20 (−7)	32 (0)	44 (7)	53 (12)	50 (10)	34 (1)	21 (−6)	9 (−13)	−5 (−21)	−9 (−23)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.43 (11)	0.59 (15)	0.28 (7.1)	0.27 (6.9)	0.89 (23)	0.94 (24)	1.48 (38)	1.89 (48)	1.74 (44)	0.99 (25)	0.54 (14)	0.52 (13)	10.55 (268)
Source: The Western Regional Climate Center [14]

Economy

As of 2019, the major sectors were farming and ranching. ^[12] There were multiple farms owned by families and two cotton gins that provided employment. By 2016, the number of farms had declined. ^[10] By 2019, several alfalfa growing operations were established and several persons from the Mesilla Valley and the area around Hatch, New Mexico began growing chile peppers on leased land around Dell City. ^[9]

In 1979, there were three grocery stores and four bars. ^[10] By 1989, there was only one grocery and general store, Dell City Mercantile, which had burned down in a fire that year. There were also three bars, two gas stations, two restaurants, a hardware store, and a video rental business. ^[13] In 2016, the city had one grocery store, Two T's Grocery, in a former bar, and one multipurpose store, the Dell City Mercantile. Additionally as of that year there were two restaurants, Spanish Angel Cafe, and Rosita’s Cafe. ^[10]

As of 1989 ^[update] , no barber shops were in Dell City, nor were there any in the rest of Hudspeth County. By 2023 one barber shop was opened , The Hair Hauler. ^[13]

By 2019, a business owner began operating an Airbnb from several previously disused buildings. ^[9]

Healthcare

In 1989, there was one doctor who had office hours on Wednesdays in Dell City, but otherwise townfolk had to travel to El Paso to get medical appointments. As of 1989 ^[update] , the closest hospital was in El Paso. ^[13] As of now there is only an Emergency Services District tasked with dealing with medical emergencies

Townscape

There are no traffic lights in town. Several of the buildings are in an adobe style. As it was established in the 20th century, it lacks prior architecture found in other small towns in Texas. ^[9] The late Laura Lynch, a member of the original Dixie Chicks, tasked herself with Rehabilitating historical architecture.

Education

Dell City School

The area is served by the Dell City Independent School District. ^[15] The district has just one school, covering grades kindergarten through 12. In 1949, a teacher from Sierra Blanca Independent School District was sent to Dell City on request by Dell City residents, and another teacher, Grace Grebing, took over the role in 1950; she became the first superintendent of Dell City ISD. ^[8]

The district operates Grace Grebing Public Library, which also serves as a community library for Dell City. ^[16] It was named after a longtime teacher. ^[8]

Hudspeth County is within the official service area of El Paso Community College. ^[17]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1970	383		—
1980	495		29.2%
1990	569		14.9%
2000	413		−27.4%
2010	365		−11.6%
2020	245		−32.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [18]

2020 census

Dell City racial composition ^[5]
(NH = Non-Hispanic) ^{[lower-alpha 1]}

Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	84	34.29%
Black or African American (NH)	1	0.41%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	4	1.63%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	7	2.86%
Hispanic or Latino	149	60.82%
Total	245

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 245 people, 83 households, and 30 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, 413 people, 155 households, and 119 families resided in the city. The population density was 250.1 inhabitants per square mile (96.6/km²). The 226 housing units averaged 136.9 per square mile (52.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.50% White, 1.45% African American, 1.94% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 32.69% from other races, and 2.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latinos of any race were 69.25% of the population.

Of the 155 households, 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were not families. About 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the city, the population was distributed as 30.5% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $19,602, and for a family was $21,667. Males had a median income of $24,135 versus $18,571 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,580. About 26.4% of families and 29.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.1% of those under age 18 and 38.6% of those age 65 or over.

Media

The Dell Valley Review began publication in Dell City in 1956. It became known as the Hudspeth County Herald in 1964. ^[20] Its offices are now in Odessa. The publication maintains a mailing address PO Box in Fort Hancock. ^[21] The full name is Hudspeth County Herald and Dell Valley Review. In 2012 the newspaper had one employee, who served as the editor. ^[22]

In culture

The filmmaker Josh Carter, beginning in 2002, assisted the creation of four films created by natives of Dell City, and he spliced them into a single work called Tales from Dell City, Texas, released in 2012. Catsoulis wrote that the film "immortalizes a dusty slice of vanishing Americana, delivering a parched ode to hard work, endurance and desert dreams." ^[11]

Notable people

• Laura Lynch, founder and member of the original Dixie Chicks

Gallery

• 
  City hall
• 
  Post office
• 
  Sign for Dell City at Dell City Junction (south of Dell City, U.S. Highway 62 at FM 1437)

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Dell City, Texas
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Dell City city, Texas". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
5. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
6. "N". Texas Tech University Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
7. "Dell City Texas". Texas Escapes. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
8. "Grace Grebing: A Leader and Her Legacy" (PDF). Dell City Independent School District. February 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021. - HTML preview
9. Patoski, Joe Nick (October 31, 2019). "My Hometown: A New Frontier of the Old West in Dell City". Texas Highways . Texas Department of Transportation . Retrieved April 19, 2021.
10. Onsurez, Jessica (March 5, 2016). "Dell City changing as population drops". El Paso Times . Carlsbad Current-Argus . Retrieved April 17, 2021. - Alternate link - Alternate version: "Dell City, Texas: Ghost town in the making? (with Mark R. Lambie)
11. Catsoulis, Jeanne (May 18, 2012). "Down and Out in West Texas". The New York Times . Retrieved April 19, 2021.
12. Falk, Mallory (January 19, 2019). "For Rural School Districts, Filling Key Teaching Positions Can Be A Challenge". KUT 90.5 . Retrieved April 16, 2021.
13. Belkin, Lisa (October 11, 1989). "Dell City Journal; After Fire, A Town's Strength Is Tested". The New York Times . Retrieved July 28, 2021.
14. "Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
15. "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Hudspeth County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved April 16, 2021.
16. "Grace Grebing Public Library". Dell City ISD. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
17. Texas Education Code, Section 130.178, "El Paso County Community College District Service Area".
18. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
19. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
20. "Hudspeth County Area Newspaper Collection". University of North Texas . Retrieved April 19, 2021.
21. "Hudspeth County Herald". Texas Press Association . Retrieved April 19, 2021. Mailing Address: PO Box 128, Fort Hancock, TX 79839 Street Address: 1009 S Crane Ave, Odessa, TX 79763
22. "About Hudspeth County Herald". Hudspeth County Herald. August 25, 2012. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2021.

1. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. ^[19]

External links

• Information about Dell City sponsored by the Dell City Chamber of Commerce.
• About Hudspeth County herald and Dell Valley review. [volume] (Dell city, Tex.) 1964-current - Library of Congress
• Hudspeth County Herald and Dell Valley Review (Dell City, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 51, Ed. 1 Friday, August 13, 1965 - Digital Public Library of America
• "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Dell City city, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. - The earliest census map posted online, from 1990: 1990 COUNTY BLOCK MAP (RECREATED): HUDSPETH County Page A - 2000 Map - 2010 Map