| Brownfield, Texas | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Location of Brownfield, Texas | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Terry |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.3 sq mi (16.4 km2) |
| • Land | 6.3 sq mi (16.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,310 ft (1,009 m) |
| Population (2009) | |
| • Total | 8,940 |
| • Density | 1,501.0/sq mi (579.6/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 79316 |
| Area code(s) | 806 |
| FIPS code | 48-10720[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1352989[2] |
Brownfield is a city in Terry County, Texas, United States. The population was 8,940 at the 2009 census. It is the county seat of Terry County[3] near Lubbock in West Texas.
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According to the United States Census Bureau, Brownfield has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16 km2), of which only 0.32% is water.
Brownfield lies in the center of Terry County, within the southern portion of the South Plains and Llano Estacado. The city rests on a windblown deposit called the Blackwater Draw Formation, which is underlain by a thick layer of caliche, referred to locally as the "Caprock." Beneath the caliche layer lies fluvial deposits called the Ogallala Formation, which contains a portion of the vast Ogallala Aquifer. The Caprock Escarpment, about 50 miles east, forms a rather precipitous drop of approximately 1,000 feet (305 m) and exposes various geologic layers. In early days, climbing the caprock escarpment was not easy for covered wagons.
The only terrain variation lies at the south end of the city where Lost Draw carves a channel that runs across the entire county. Lost Draw formed over 10,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age when the climate of the area was much wetter. When the vast glaciers of the north retreated, the left numerous dry river channels crisscrossing the Llano Estacado. When settlers during the 1800 ventured across this area, they often went into these channels expecting to find water, however, unless significant rains had occurred recently, their search was in vain, with many of the parties becoming "lost", hence the name, Lost Draw.
The most notable geographic feature of Brownfield remains its red soil. The soil creates an almost iridescent red color during sunrise and sunset due to the high iron oxide content.
Brownfield lies in a semi-arid temperate zone, where high winds and extreme temperature variation are the norm. The summers reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 °C) for multiple consecutive days. The winters often fall below freezing for extended periods, however snow remains unusual due to very little precipitation forming in the winter months.
The most significant time of the year for weather events starts in March and runs through September when severe thunderstorms form on the Great Plains. Massive amounts of rain, winds, hail, and a few tornadoes are to be expected at this time of year. Late thunderstorms that produce hail are significantly harmful to the local economy as it destroys the local cotton crop.
Cotton farming remains the backbone of not only Brownfield, but the entire South Plains in general. Cotton fields stretch for miles, and the harvest season in October sees a frenzy of activity as harvesters (locally called cotton strippers), module makers, and module trucks are seen scurrying all over the county.
A significant haze also develops over the city as the local cotton gins go to work stripping the cotton from the burr, separating the seeds, and then compressing the cotton into 500 lb (230 kg) bales. The haze is actually fine cotton dust, and sometimes small drifts develop in the street resembling snow mixed with red dirt.
Peanut growing has found a toehold on the economy as have vineyards. In recent years, grape growing has shown Terry County as a prime producer of choice wine grapes. While there are currently no wineries in the county, there are several notable ones in the Lubbock area, about 30 miles northeast.
Oil production continues to form a small, but significant part of the Brownfield landscape.
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 9,488 people, 3,176 households, and 2,337 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,501.0 people per square mile (579.6/km²). There were 3,735 housing units at an average density of 590.9 per square mile (228.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 24.56% White, 6.59% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 14.47% from other races, and 3.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 45.95% of the population.
There were 3,176 households out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 109.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.6 males.
Only 61.5% of the population holds a high school degree or higher, 8.9% a Bachelor degree or higher, 2.7% a Masters degree or higher. 6.1% of the population is unemployed.[4]
The number of residents in prisons or correctional facilities is significantly above the state average.[4]
The median income for a household in the city was $26,504, and the median income for a family was $32,076. Males had a median income of $23,637 versus $19,628 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,854. About 21.8% of families and 26.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.7% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.
Brownfield is served by a weekly newspaper, nearby stations KBXJ (FM) and KPET (AM), and the various Lubbock radio and TV stations. KKUB (AM) and KTTU-FM are licensed to Brownfield but operate primarily from offices and studios in Lubbock.
The City of Brownfield is served by the Brownfield Independent School District.
Brownfield High School was rated "Academically acceptable" by the Texas State Board of Education in 2010.[5]
Several town meetings were held in 2008 to discuss the issue of selling beer and wine within Terry County.[6][7] On November 4, a majority registered voters voted to legalize the sale of beer and wine in Terry County (1533 for, 1211 against).[8]
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