Spur, Texas

Spur, Texas
City
Location of Spur, Texas
Coordinates: 33°28′40″N100°51′25″W / 33.47778°N 100.85694°W / 33.47778; -100.85694
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Dickens
Area [1]
• Total	1.60 sq mi (4.15 km2)
• Land	1.60 sq mi (4.15 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	2,287 ft (697 m)
Population  (2020) [2]
• Total	863
• Density	538.4/sq mi (207.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	79370
Area code	806
FIPS code	48-69848 [3]
GNIS feature ID	1369049 [4]

Spur is a city in Dickens County, Texas, United States. The population was 863 at the 2020 census, ^[2] down from 1,318 at the 2010 census. A city council resolution passed in July 2014 proclaimed Spur the "nation's first tiny house-friendly town."

History

Spur began after E. P. Swenson and associates purchased Spur Ranch in 1907 and subdivided land for settlers. The Burlington Railroad then built a railway northwest from Stamford to the future site of Spur. ^[5]

On November 1, 1909, the Stamford and Northwestern's first train arrived at the new depot, marking the opening of Spur. Spur was incorporated in 1911. ^[5]

Geography

Spur is located in southern Dickens County at 33°28′40″N100°51′25″W / 33.47778°N 100.85694°W / 33.47778; -100.85694 (33.477650, –100.857018). ^[6] Texas State Highway 70 passes through the city, leading north 11 miles (18 km) to Dickens, the county seat, and southeast 24 miles (39 km) to Jayton.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.2 km²), all land. ^[1]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Spur has a semi-arid climate, BSk on climate maps. ^[7]

Climate data for Spur, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1911–1964, 1986–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	86 (30)	94 (34)	102 (39)	106 (41)	111 (44)	117 (47)	111 (44)	112 (44)	108 (42)	104 (40)	93 (34)	87 (31)	117 (47)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	55.5 (13.1)	59.5 (15.3)	68.0 (20.0)	76.6 (24.8)	84.4 (29.1)	91.6 (33.1)	94.9 (34.9)	94.1 (34.5)	86.0 (30.0)	76.8 (24.9)	65.0 (18.3)	56.0 (13.3)	75.7 (24.3)
Daily mean °F (°C)	41.0 (5.0)	44.5 (6.9)	52.5 (11.4)	60.7 (15.9)	70.1 (21.2)	78.2 (25.7)	81.5 (27.5)	80.6 (27.0)	72.7 (22.6)	62.1 (16.7)	50.4 (10.2)	42.0 (5.6)	61.4 (16.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	26.6 (−3.0)	29.4 (−1.4)	37.1 (2.8)	44.7 (7.1)	55.9 (13.3)	64.9 (18.3)	68.0 (20.0)	67.1 (19.5)	59.3 (15.2)	47.4 (8.6)	35.9 (2.2)	28.0 (−2.2)	47.0 (8.3)
Record low °F (°C)	−10 (−23)	−17 (−27)	−3 (−19)	20 (−7)	31 (−1)	43 (6)	51 (11)	45 (7)	32 (0)	13 (−11)	10 (−12)	−8 (−22)	−17 (−27)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.74 (19)	0.84 (21)	1.31 (33)	1.93 (49)	2.77 (70)	3.31 (84)	2.36 (60)	2.39 (61)	2.46 (62)	2.10 (53)	1.21 (31)	1.07 (27)	22.49 (571)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	0.4 (1.0)	1.3 (3.3)	0.0 (0.0)	0.1 (0.25)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.4 (1.0)	0.7 (1.8)	2.9 (7.4)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	2.3	3.2	3.9	4.0	5.5	6.4	4.6	5.3	5.6	4.4	3.3	2.6	51.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	0.3	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.4	0.5	1.8
Source: NOAA [8] [9]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1920	1,100		—
1930	1,899		72.6%
1940	2,136		12.5%
1950	2,183		2.2%
1960	2,170		−0.6%
1970	1,747		−19.5%
1980	1,690		−3.3%
1990	1,300		−23.1%
2000	1,088		−16.3%
2010	1,318		21.1%
2020	863		−34.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]

2020 census

Spur racial composition ^[11]
(NH = Non-Hispanic) ^{[lower-alpha 1]}

Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	463	53.65%
Black or African American (NH)	18	2.09%
Asian (NH)	1	0.12%
Pacific Islander (NH)	2	0.23%
Some Other Race (NH)	1	0.12%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	32	3.71%
Hispanic or Latino	346	40.09%
Total	863

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 863 people, 387 households, and 195 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, 1,088 people, 472 households, and 288 families resided in the city. The population density was 673.4 inhabitants per square mile (260.0/km²). The 641 housing units averaged 396.7 per square mile (152.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.52% White, 3.40% African American, 0.83% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.37% Pacific Islander, 21.14% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. About 31.25% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 472 households, 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were not families. Around 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city, the population was distributed as 22.9% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 25.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,286, and for a family was $32,772. Males had a median income of $25,972 versus $18,631 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,601. 19.8% of the population and 16.2% of families were below the poverty line. 24.8% of those under the age of 18 and 21.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Education

The city of Spur is served by the Spur Independent School District. ^[13]

The Texas Legislature designated the county as being in the Western Texas College District. ^[14]

Tiny houses

Spur's regulations are friendly to tiny houses, with some of the only requirements being a provision for a foundation to be laid, as well as plumbing and electrical wiring installed. ^[15] Flush toilets are required, as well as a wood or metal frame. In general, experimental strawbale houses, yurts, or underground houses are not permitted. Lastly, house plans must be approved. ^[16]

Notable people

• Marshall Applewhite (1931–1997), the leader of the Heaven's Gate cult, was born in Spur. He died in the group's mass suicide of 1997
• Raymond Beadle (1943–2014), a drag-racing driver and member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, was born in Spur
• Aaron Latham (1943-2022), a Spur native, wrote the script of the 1980 film Urban Cowboy . In the story line, the protagonist, Bud Davis (played by John Travolta), is said to have been from Spur
• Red McCombs (1927-2023), a San Antonio businessman who owned the NBA's San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets as well as the NFL's Minnesota Vikings, was born in Spur, and named the Spurs NBA team after the city he grew up in.
• Jesse Powell Played for Miami Dolphins; graduated from Spur High School

Gallery

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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): Spur city, Texas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved February 8, 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. Jenkins, Edloe A. "Spur, TX". Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. "Climate Summary for Spur, Texas". Weatherbase. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
8. "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
9. "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 31, 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. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
13. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dickens County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved September 22, 2024. - Text list
14. "Sec. 130.210. WESTERN TEXAS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA" . Retrieved September 22, 2024.
15. "WELCOME TO SPUR". spurfreedom.org. Spur, TX . Retrieved June 14, 2016. Any tiny house that features wood or metal framing, flush toilets connected to city utilities and electrical work properly done, is welcome in Spur.
16. Lukas I. Alpert (June 13, 2016). "West Texas Town Finds 'Tiny House' Crowd a Bit Too Earthy Luring eco-conscious builders of 120-square-foot homes seemed like a great idea until plans for yurts, straw dwellings popped up; no anarchists, please". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 14, 2016. Spur has sold 60 abandoned lots for roughly $500 apiece, and about 20 "tiny housers" are expected to be moved in by the end of summer.

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]