Idalou, Texas

Idalou, Texas
City

Businesses in downtown Idalou

Location of Idalou, Texas
Coordinates: 33°39′43″N 101°41′3″W / 33.66194°N 101.68417°WCoordinates: 33°39′43″N 101°41′3″W / 33.66194°N 101.68417°W
Country United States
State Texas
County Lubbock
Incorporated (city) 1925
Area
 • Total 1.0 sq mi (2.5 km2)
 • Land 1.0 sq mi (2.5 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 3,192 ft (973 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 2,250
 • Density 2,300/sq mi (900/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 79329
Area code(s) 806
FIPS code 48-35732[1]
GNIS feature ID 1359882[2]
Website idaloutx.com

Idalou is a city in Lubbock County, Texas, United States. It is located 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Lubbock near the intersection of Farm to Market Road 400 and US 62/US 82/SH 114. The population was 2,250 at the 2010 census.[3] It is part of the Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Idalou began as a settlement around a depot on the South Plains and Santa Fe Railway in the early 1910s, 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 two-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, EMS station, fire department, co-op 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.

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:

Geography

Idalou is located at 33°39′43″N 101°41′3″W / 33.66194°N 101.68417°W (33.661938, -101.684234).[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.5 km2), all of it land.[3]

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,157 people, 796 households, and 593 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,201.5 people per square mile (849.8/km²). There were 851 housing units at an average density of 868.6 per square mile (335.3/km²). 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.

Education

Idalou is served by the Idalou Independent School District.

In popular culture

The town is depicted in the song "Idalou" by the Josh Abbott Band, from the album Small Town Family Dream (2012).

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Idalou city, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.

External links