Memphis, Texas, the county seat of Hall County, is at the junction of U.S. Highway 287, State Highway 256, and Farm to Market Road 1547, in the northeastern part of the county. It started in 1889, when J. C. Montgomery purchased land for a townsite north of Salisbury on the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway. This land had been previously owned by W. H. Robertson, who had a dugout near Parker Creek. Montgomery and Robertson, with Rev. J. W. Brice and T. J. Woods, Jr., of Dallas, formed a townsite company and presented a plat early in January 1890. P. M. Kelly opened a law office. A rooming house (later the Memphis Hotel), a general store, a drugstore, and several residences were soon erected. For a time, the new town was without a name. Several suggestions were submitted to federal postal authorities, but with negative results. Finally, as the story goes, Reverend Brice, while in Austin, happened to see a letter addressed by accident to Memphis, Texas, rather than Tennessee, with the notation "no such town in Texas". The name was submitted and accepted, and a post office was established on September 12, 1890, with Robertson as postmaster.[citation needed]
In the meantime, Hall County was being organized. Memphis was engaged in a heated county seat battle with neighboring Salisbury and Lakeview. Memphis won the election with a total of 84 votes. County officers were elected in June, and a school district was subsequently formed. Since Memphis was without a depot and trains did not stop there, certain citizens sought to remedy that situation by smearing the tracks with lye soap. A subsequent agreement was struck between town promoters and railroad officials. In 1891, a depot was built, and businesses were moved on wheels from Salisbury to the new county seat, where a courthouse of homemade bricks was constructed in 1892.[citation needed]
Memphis thus enjoyed a boom period. Two saloons, a bank, numerous stores, blacksmith shops, and livery stables attested to its role as a shipping and trading center for area ranchers and farmers. The Missionary Baptist Church was organized in Memphis; its minister Rev. J. L. Pyle began Baptist congregations throughout the county. Telephone service was first installed in 1901. In June 1906, the town was incorporated with a mayor-council form of city government. The Memphis Cotton Oil Mill was established in 1907. Memphis had at one time or another several newspapers, including the Hall County Record (1889–1893), the Hall County Herald (1890–1928), the Memphis Journal (1892–1894), the Memphis Times (1896), the Memphis Leader (1897–1899), the Hall County News (1897–1903), and the Memphis News (1928–1929). The only newspaper extant in 1986, the Memphis Democrat, was launched in 1908 and went through a succession of owners. By the 1920s, Memphis had a new brick-and-stone courthouse, modern utilities, a cotton compress, three hotels, brick school buildings, and a Carnegie Library. In 1922, the city's Morning Side addition was founded east of the tracks as a residential area for blacks who labored in the cotton fields and mills. In 1935, E. M. Ewen and his wife formed the Hall County Old Settlers' Reunion (later the Hall County Picnic Association). Four years later, they staged a rodeo as part of the annual two-day celebration.[citation needed]
Since the Great Depression era, Memphis has continued as a farm supply center. In 1986, the city had a cotton compress, gins, a grain elevator, two banks, eight churches, four public schools, a modern medical complex, two motels, several mercantile stores (including three wholesale houses), and a municipal airport northeast of town. In addition, Memphis is noted for its tree-lined streets, city park, one swimming pool, community center, and 50 blocks of brick paving laid in 1926. Brookhollow Country Club Lake, a private fishing lake with cabin sites, is six miles northeast of the city. Heritage Hall, which occupies the old First National Bank building on the square, contains local history displays and natural science exhibits. The population was 3,332 in 1960 and 3,352 in 1980. Memphis reported 81 businesses in 1984. United States Congressman Jack Hightower comes from Memphis. The route of the annual Cotton Boll Enduro, a 125-mile cross-country motorcycle event held in late October, begins and ends at Memphis.[4] In 1990 Memphis had a population of 2,465. The population was 2,479 in 2000 and 2,290 in 2010. [5]
The county was named after Warren D.C. Hall, who served as Secretary of War while Texas was a republic. He was a lawyer from North Carolina before coming to Texas.
A timeline of significant events in Memphis' history: 1889: Land was bought along the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway 1890: Townsite platted, yet names were rejected by postal authorities until September of that year 1891: Memphis wins contested election for county seat against towns of Salisbury and Lakeview 1891: Depot built after Memphians kept putting soap on rails to stop trains 1892: Courthouse constructed 1901: Memphis gets telephone service 1906: Town is incorporated 1912: Memphis gets its own Carnegie Library 1923: New courthouse built 1926: 50 blocks of streets are paved with brick
2013 Civil rights case
In September 2013, a federal suit was filed by Laura Dutton, alleging that the cities of Estelline and Memphis, former Officer Jayson Fry and Memphis Police Chief Chris Jolly violated her Fourth Amendment rights against illegal search and seizure when she was arrested November 28, 2012, in Estelline on a felony money-laundering charge, seizing more than $29,000 from her pickup and illegally keeping $1,400 of her cash. The city of Estelline maintained no written records of past searches or seizures, yet traffic fines and forfeitures made up more than 89% of its gross revenues in fiscal year 2012. The cities and the officers denied her claims, but in July 2014, the city of Estelline and Hall County authorities settled with Dutton for $77,500.[6][7][8][9]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7km2), all land.
Hall County Seat, Texas Panhandle Hwy 287 and State Hwy 256, 28 miles SE of Clarendon 64 miles SE of Amarillo 29 miles NE of Childress 14 miles NE of Estelline, Population: 2,290 (2010)[10]
Climate
The Köppen climate classification subtype for Memphis, Texas, is BSk, semiarid climate, on climate maps.[11]
Climate data for Memphis, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1905–present)
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,048 people, 915 households, and 628 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the census[3] of 2000, 2,479 people, 1,024 households, and 660 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,105.2 inhabitants per square mile (426.7/km2). The 1,245 housing units averaged 555.1/sqmi (214.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 71.40% White, 9.08% African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 17.63% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 26.02% of the population.
Of the 1,024 households, 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were not families. About 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city, the population was distributed as 27.1% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,102, and for a family was $27,367. Males had a median income of $24,620 versus $18,816 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,856. About 18.5% of families and 23.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.2% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government
William McClellan "Mac" Thornberry is the U.S. representative from the Texas Panhandle. He has served since 1995, when the House seated its first Republican majority in 40 years.
Thornberry represents Texas's 13th congressional district, a Republican stronghold which stretches between the Oklahoma and New Mexico borders. It winds across the Panhandle into the South Plains, then runs east across the Red River Valley. Covering over 40,000 square miles (100,000km2), it is the second-largest district geographically in Texas and one of the largest (excluding at-large districts in Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska) in the country. It is larger in area than 13 states. The principal cities in the district are Amarillo and Wichita Falls.[19]
Clarendon College – Childress Center is located about 29 miles southeast in Childress, Texas. Clarendon College (Texas) is a community college located around 28 miles northeast in Clarendon, the seat of Donley County in the Texas Panhandle. The college operates branch campuses in Pampa and Childress.
Owner: Blackburn Media Group Inc Founded: 1890, (previously known as the Memphis Democrat) Shari Watson is the editor of the Hall County Herald Mailing address: 617 W. Main, Memphis, TX 79245-3703
The Red River Sun
Owner: Blackburn Media Group Inc Founded: July, 2014, (previously the Childress Index) Ginger Wilson is the editor of the Red River Sun Mailing address: PO Box 1260, Childress, TX 79201 [24]
Clarendon Enterprise
Owner: Roger A. Estlack Founded: 1878, (as the Clarendon News) Roger A. Estlack is the editor of the Clarendon Enterprise Mailing address: PO Box 1110, Clarendon, TX 79226-1110 [25]
Memphis is home to the Annual Traditional Bowhunters 3D target competition and Annual Country Club Memorial Day Tournament. The 3D competition is a group of targets set up along the plainsman archery club course. Bowhunters compete against each other scoring points for accuracy. This competition is held on the first weekend in May. The Country Club holds an annual golf tournament on Memorial Day.[27]
Notable people
Larry Combest, U.S. Representative from 1985 to 2003
Swisher County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 6,971. Its county seat is Tulia. The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1890. It is named for James G. Swisher, a soldier of the Texas Revolution and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
Parmer County is a county located in the southwestern Texas Panhandle on the High Plains of the Llano Estacado in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 9,869. The county seat is Farwell. The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1907. It is named in honor of Martin Parmer, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and early judge. Parmer County was one of 10 prohibition, or entirely dry, counties in the state of Texas, but is now a wet county.
Hall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population is 2,825. Its county seat is Memphis. The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1890. It is named for Warren D. C. Hall, a secretary of war for the Republic of Texas.
Childress County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 6,664. The county seat is Childress. The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1887. It is named for George Campbell Childress, the author of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
Childress is a city in Childress County, Texas, United States. Its population was 5,737 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Childress County.
Clarendon is a city in Donley County, Texas, United States. Its population was 2,026 at the 2010 census. The county seat of Donley County, Clarendon is located on U.S. Highway 287 in the Texas Panhandle, 60 miles (97 km) east of Amarillo.
Pampa is a city in Gray County, Texas, United States. Its population was 16,867 as of the 2020 census. Pampa is the county seat of Gray County and is the principal city of the Pampa micropolitan statistical area, which includes both Gray and Roberts Counties. Pampa is named after the Pampas Lowlands in Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil.
Estelline is a town located in Hall County, Texas, United States. The population in 2010 was 145. The population was estimated at 141 in 2013. In 2012, Estelline was ranked #1 in a National Motorists Association listing of its "Worst Speed Trap Cities" in North America. Estelline often refers to itself as the "Town of Estelline", with a "Town Hall" and a "Town Council", rather than the customary "city" label. However, under Texas law, all incorporated municipalities are considered to be cities.
Canadian is a city in, and the county seat of, Hemphill County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,649 at the 2010 census, up from 2,233 in 2000. It is named for the nearby Canadian River, a tributary of the Arkansas River. Incorporated in 1908, Canadian is sometimes called "the oasis of the High Plains". Canadian is on the eastern side of the Texas Panhandle, close to the border with Oklahoma.
Amarillo is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of Potter County. It is the 14th-most populous city in Texas and the most populous city in the Texas Panhandle. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The estimated population of Amarillo was 200,393 as of April 1, 2020, comprising nearly half of the population of the panhandle. The Amarillo metropolitan area had an estimated population of 308,297 as of 2020.
The Texas panhandle is a region of the U.S. state of Texas consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. The panhandle is a square-shaped area bordered by New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east. It is adjacent to the Oklahoma Panhandle, land which Texas previously claimed. The 1820 Missouri Compromise declared no slavery would be allowed in states admitted from the Louisiana Purchase above 36°30′ north latitude. Texas was annexed in 1845 from still more westerly land. The Compromise of 1850 removed territory north of this line from Texas, and set the border between the Texas Pandhandle and the New Mexico Territory at the 103rd meridian west. The eastern border at the 100th meridian west was inherited from the Adams–Onís Treaty of 1819, which defined the border between the United States and New Spain. The Handbook of Texas defines the southern border of Swisher County as the southern boundary of the Texas Panhandle region.
Texas's 13th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Texas that includes most of the Texas Panhandle, parts of Texoma and northwestern parts of North Texas. The principal cities in the district are Amarillo, Gainesville and Wichita Falls. It winds across the Panhandle into the South Plains, then runs east across the Red River Valley. Covering over 40,000 square miles (100,000 km2), it is the 19th-largest district by area in the nation, the 14th-largest that does not cover an entire state, as well as the second-largest in Texas behind the 23rd congressional district. It covers more land mass than thirteen entire states. After the 2020 census was completed, the 13th district was heavily redrawn to incorporate Denton, an increasingly Democratic-leaning suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex which had previously anchored the 26th district. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+26, it is one of the most Republican districts in Texas.
KVII-TV is a television station in Amarillo, Texas, United States, affiliated with ABC and The CW Plus. Owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, the station maintains studios at One Broadcast Center between South Pierce and South Buchanan streets in downtown Amarillo, and its transmitter is located west of US 87/287, in unincorporated Potter County.
KAMR-TV is a television station in Amarillo, Texas, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside low-power MyNetworkTV affiliate KCPN-LD ; Nexstar also provides certain services to Fox affiliate KCIT under joint sales and shared services agreements (JSA/SSA) with Mission Broadcasting. The three stations share studios on Southeast 11th Avenue and South Fillmore Street in downtown Amarillo; KAMR-TV's transmitter is located on Dumas Drive and Reclamation Plant Road in rural unincorporated Potter County.
KCIT is a television station in Amarillo, Texas, United States, affiliated with the Fox network. It is owned by Mission Broadcasting, which maintains joint sales and shared services agreements (JSA/SSA) with Nexstar Media Group, owner of NBC affiliate KAMR-TV and low-power MyNetworkTV affiliate KCPN-LD, for the provision of certain services. The three stations share studios on Southeast 11th Avenue and South Fillmore Street in downtown Amarillo; KCIT's transmitter is located on Dumas Drive and Reclamation Plant Road in rural unincorporated Potter County.
The Fort Worth and Denver Railway, nicknamed "the Denver Road," was a class I American railroad company that operated in the northern part of Texas from 1881 to 1982, and had a profound influence on the early settlement and economic development of the region.
Area code 806 is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for the U.S. state of Texas in the Panhandle and South Plains, including the cities of Amarillo and Lubbock. It was created in 1957 in a flash-cut from numbering plan area (NPA) 915, the north-western corner of the state, but also incorporated a small portion of the region of area code 817 to the east.
Kelton Gray Seliger, known as Kel Seliger, is a former Republican member of the Texas State Senate for District 31, which stretches from the Panhandle south to the Permian Basin.
Memphis Independent School District is a public school district based in Memphis, Texas (USA).
U.S. Highway 287 (US 287) in the U.S. state of Texas is a major U.S. Highway that begins on the Gulf Coast in Port Arthur and heads north through Fort Worth, northwest to Childress, Clarendon, Wichita Falls, and Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle and into Oklahoma near Kerrick.
↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - Retrieved 2014-09-04.
↑ "Home". Memphistxcc.com. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
↑ "Lou Wills-Hildreth". Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
↑ 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.[17][18]
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