| Slaton, Texas | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Mural in downtown Slaton | |
| Location of Slaton, Texas | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Lubbock |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | D.W. "Dubbin" Englund |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.4 sq mi (14.0 km2) |
| • Land | 5.4 sq mi (14.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,084 ft (940 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 6,109 |
| • Density | 1,126.7/sq mi (435.0/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 79364 |
| Area code(s) | 806 |
| FIPS code | 48-68180[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1368404[2] |
| Website | www.slaton.tx.us |
Slaton is a city in Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,109 at the 2000 census.[1] It is part of the Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Slaton is named for Lubbock rancher and banker O.L. Slaton, Sr. (1867–1946).
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In 1912, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, since through reorganization the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, opened a depot in Slaton, which until 1969 offered passengers meals and hospitality through the Fred Harvey Company. The company advertised for "Young women, 18 to 30 years of age, of good moral character, attractive and intelligent, as waitresses in the Havey Eating Houses on the Santa Fe Railroad in the West."[3]
Other ATSF depots were in Amarillo, Brownwood, Gainesville, Temple, El Paso, and Clovis, New Mexico. After the passenger services ended, the railroad used the depot, located at 400 Railroad Avenue, for offices, training rooms, train crew staging areas, and storage, but abandoned the building in the late 1980s. The railroad still passes by the depot. The remaining structure, known as the Harvey House, was marked for demolition, but a citizens' committee launched a nearly two-decade effort to preserve and restore the building. The former depot, which calls itself "The Jewel on the Plains", can be rented for parties with catered meals and occasional entertainment options. The upstairs is under restoration as a museum to showcase the living quarters of the Harvey girls.[4] The West Texas Historical Association toured the Harvey House during its 2009 annual meeting in Lubbock.
Slaton is located on the level plains of the Llano Estacado. The nearest significant geographical feature is Yellow House Canyon, which is located 3 miles (5 km) to the north and east. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14 km2), all of it land.
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 6,109 people, 2,253 households, and 1,610 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,126.7 people per square mile (435.2/km²). There were 2,565 housing units at an average density of 473.1 per square mile (182.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.35% White, 7.76% African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 17.07% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 42.27% of the population.
There were 2,253 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,915, and the median income for a family was $31,224. Males had a median income of $26,696 versus $20,601 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,087. About 21.6% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.7% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.
The City of Slaton is served by the Slaton Independent School District.
The St. Joseph Sausage Fest is put on every October by St. Joseph's Catholic School. The event has been held annually since 1969 and is the school's primary fundraiser. Volunteers make 7,000-8,000 pounds of sausage to sell at the weekend-long event.[5]
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