Friona, Texas

Friona, Texas
City
Friona at dusk
Motto:  "The Biggest Small Town in Texas"
Location of Friona, Texas
Coordinates: 34°38′20″N102°43′18″W / 34.63889°N 102.72167°W / 34.63889; -102.72167
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Parmer
Government
• Type	Council-manager
• City Manager	Leander Davila
Area [1]
• Total	1.40 sq mi (3.63 km2)
• Land	1.40 sq mi (3.63 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	4,019 ft (1,225 m)
Population  (2020) [2]
• Total	4,171
• Density	2,979.29/sq mi (1,150.31/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	79035
Area code	806
FIPS code	48-27660 [3]
GNIS feature ID	1357767 [4]
Website	www.cityoffriona.com

Friona is a city in Parmer County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,171 at the 2020 census. ^[2] Friona was established as a small community in 1898 by XIT Ranch, originally called Frio, which is also the word for "cold" in Spanish.

The community served as a shipping point for the Pecos and Northern Texas Railroads. In 1906, the George G. Wright Land CO. chose the community for a colonization project, promising settlers of fertile soil, and a healthful climate. The community then became known as Friona after the opening of a post office in March 16, 1907 and started to construct various buildings, which were a hotel, livery stable and a bank. Soon after, the first church in Friona was constructed, and then in the following year of 1908 a school. ^[5]

In 2007, the Texas State Legislature declared Friona the "Cheeseburger Capital of Texas". The city began holding the "Cheeseburger Cook-Off and Festival" in 2006.

The city motto is "The Biggest Small Town in Texas".^{[ citation needed ]}

Geography

Friona is located at 34°38′20″N102°43′18″W / 34.63889°N 102.72167°W / 34.63889; -102.72167 (34.638987, –102.721571). ^[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all land.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Friona has a semiarid climate, BSk on climate maps. ^[7]

Climate data for Friona, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1962–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	80 (27)	85 (29)	91 (33)	97 (36)	100 (38)	109 (43)	107 (42)	106 (41)	104 (40)	96 (36)	86 (30)	79 (26)	109 (43)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	69.9 (21.1)	74.9 (23.8)	82.3 (27.9)	87.1 (30.6)	94.0 (34.4)	100.1 (37.8)	100.0 (37.8)	98.1 (36.7)	95.2 (35.1)	88.8 (31.6)	78.7 (25.9)	70.2 (21.2)	102.7 (39.3)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	50.9 (10.5)	56.0 (13.3)	64.3 (17.9)	72.0 (22.2)	80.3 (26.8)	89.4 (31.9)	91.2 (32.9)	89.9 (32.2)	83.5 (28.6)	73.0 (22.8)	60.3 (15.7)	51.0 (10.6)	71.8 (22.1)
Daily mean °F (°C)	36.7 (2.6)	40.5 (4.7)	48.0 (8.9)	55.2 (12.9)	64.7 (18.2)	74.3 (23.5)	77.3 (25.2)	76.0 (24.4)	69.1 (20.6)	57.7 (14.3)	45.4 (7.4)	37.3 (2.9)	56.9 (13.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	22.4 (−5.3)	25.1 (−3.8)	31.7 (−0.2)	38.4 (3.6)	49.0 (9.4)	59.2 (15.1)	63.4 (17.4)	62.1 (16.7)	54.6 (12.6)	42.3 (5.7)	30.5 (−0.8)	23.6 (−4.7)	41.9 (5.5)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	9.5 (−12.5)	11.0 (−11.7)	17.1 (−8.3)	26.3 (−3.2)	36.1 (2.3)	50.0 (10.0)	57.8 (14.3)	56.0 (13.3)	43.4 (6.3)	27.9 (−2.3)	16.2 (−8.8)	8.3 (−13.2)	4.2 (−15.4)
Record low °F (°C)	−15 (−26)	−13 (−25)	5 (−15)	16 (−9)	24 (−4)	42 (6)	51 (11)	47 (8)	29 (−2)	13 (−11)	2 (−17)	−9 (−23)	−15 (−26)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.70 (18)	0.48 (12)	1.15 (29)	1.00 (25)	2.14 (54)	2.49 (63)	2.64 (67)	3.13 (80)	2.03 (52)	1.98 (50)	0.75 (19)	0.80 (20)	19.29 (490)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	2.5 (6.4)	2.4 (6.1)	1.4 (3.6)	0.5 (1.3)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.6 (1.5)	1.9 (4.8)	3.7 (9.4)	13.0 (33)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	3.2	3.3	4.2	4.4	6.3	7.1	6.5	8.2	5.4	5.2	3.1	3.7	60.6
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	1.6	1.4	0.8	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.9	1.6	6.8
Source: NOAA [8] [9]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1930	731		—
1940	803		9.8%
1950	1,202		49.7%
1960	2,048		70.4%
1970	3,111		51.9%
1980	3,809		22.4%
1990	3,688		−3.2%
2000	3,854		4.5%
2010	4,123		7.0%
2020	4,171		1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]

2020 census

Friona racial composition ^[11]
(NH = Non-Hispanic) ^[a]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	714	17.12%
Black or African American (NH)	26	0.62%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	1	0.02%
Asian (NH)	7	0.17%
Some Other Race (NH)	19	0.46%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	32	0.77%
Hispanic or Latino	3,372	80.84%
Total	4,171

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,171 people, 1,409 households, and 1,084 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, 4,123 people were living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 69.9% Hispanic, 28.2% White, 0.9% Black, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, and 0.3% from two or more races.

2000 census

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, 3,854 people, 1,271 households, and 983 families resided in the city. The population density was 2,794.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,079.1/km²). The 1,399 housing units averaged 1,014.5 per square mile (391.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.47% White, 1.30% African American, 0.75% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 33.81% from other races, and 2.28% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 57.86% of the population.

Of the 1,271 households, 44.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were not families. About 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.48.

In the city, the population was distributed as 33.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,964, and for a family was $36,863. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $19,299 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,635. About 14.1% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

In 1954, following Brown v. Board Of Education, Friona was the first school in Texas to integrate black students. ^[14]

The city is served by Friona Independent School District. The local high school mascot is a Chieftain. The school colors are red and white. The girls' team mascot is a Squaw. The junior high boys' team mascot is a Brave. The junior high girls' team mascot is a Maiden.^{[ citation needed ]}

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2020 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Friona city, Texas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved February 9, 2024.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. "History of Friona". City of Friona. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. "Friona, Texas Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase.
8. "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
9. "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
11. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
12. "Census.gov". Census.gov.
13. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
14. Friona history, amarillo.com. Accessed June 10, 2023.

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. ^{[12] [13]}