Idalou, Texas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Idalou is a city in Lubbock County, Texas, United States. It is located 7 miles northeast of Lubbock near the intersection of Texas Farm to Market Road 400 and US 62/US 82/SH 114. The population was 2,157 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Education
4 History
- 4.1 Disputed Origin of Town's Name
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Idalou is located at 33°39′43″N, 101°41′3″W (33.661938, -101.684234)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 km² (1.0 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 2,157 people, 796 households, and 593 families residing in the city. The population density was 849.8/km² (2,201.5/mi²). There were 851 housing units at an average density of 335.3/km² (868.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 70.00% White, 0.60% African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 26.94% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 42.98% of the population.

There were 796 households out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,167, and the median income for a family was $39,766. Males had a median income of $29,556 versus $20,150 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,664. About 10.2% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

The City of Idalou is served by the Idalou Independent School District.

[edit] History

Idalou began as a settlement around a depot on the South Plains and Santa Fe Railway in the early 1910's, and within a few years had a one-room schoolhouse and several businesses. The first post office was opened in 1917, and in 1919 a 2-story brick school was built after the original school burned down. Incorporated in 1925 with 538 residents, the town grew to 2,348 residents by 1980 and has remained above 2,000 residents in the years since.

Idalou has a post office, library, city park and pool, golf course, fire department, cotton gin, grocery store and many other businesses. The town serves as an agricultural center for cotton farming in northeast Lubbock County, with many of the residents employed in farming and farming-related occupations. Due to its close proximity to Lubbock, many residents work in the nearby city.

[edit] Disputed Origin of Town's Name

Depending upon which person in Idalou is asked, the town acquired the name "Idalou" from one of the following:

Early settlers Lou Bacon and his wife, Ida
Ida and Lou Bassett, daughters of Julian M. Bassett, vice president of the Crosby-Bassett Livestock Company during the 1910's