Iraan, Texas

Iraan, Texas
City

Location of Iraan, Texas
Coordinates: 30°54′49″N 101°53′55″W / 30.91361°N 101.89861°WCoordinates: 30°54′49″N 101°53′55″W / 30.91361°N 101.89861°W
Country United States
State Texas
County Pecos
Area
 • Total 0.6 sq mi (1.4 km2)
 • Land 0.6 sq mi (1.4 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 2,221 ft (677 m)
Population (2000)
 • Total 1,238
 • Density 2,234.3/sq mi (862.7/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 79744
Area code(s) 432
FIPS code 48-36128[1]
GNIS feature ID 1360022[2]

Iraan (/ˌaɪrəˈʔæn/ ira-ANN[3]) is a city in Pecos County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,238 at the 2000 census. It was named for Ira and Ann Yates, owners of the ranchland upon which the town was built.

Geography

Iraan is located at 30°54′49″N 101°53′55″W / 30.91361°N 101.89861°W (30.913511, -101.898614).[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2), all of it land. State Highway 349 and U.S. Highway 190 come together at Iraan. The Pecos River loops around the town to the north and east.

History

Iraan was an oil boom town, and developed quickly after the discovery of the gigantic Yates Oil Field, which is adjacent to the town on the southwest. The oil field was discovered in 1926, and the first buildings in town were basic housing and infrastructure for workers on the field, all built by the Big Lake Oil Company which became Plymouth Oil Company, which was purchased by the Ohio Oil Company, then purchased by Marathon Oil Company, and owned today by Kinder Morgan. By 1927 the town included a school, and the post office appeared in 1928. The population of the town in 1930 was approximately 1,600.[5] About three miles (5 km) south of Iraan was the oil boomtown of Redbarn, which appeared almost immediately after discovery of the oil field, before Iraan itself. It was a collection of tents and shanties in the immediate vicinity of Ira Yates's ranch. He donated 152 acres (0.62 km2) of his ranch to the town of Iraan to encourage further development there instead; in 1952 the town of Redbarn, which never had a permanent population of more than 75, was finally abandoned.[6]

One of Iraan's most famous residents was V.T. Hamlin, the creator of the comic strip Alley Oop. Originally from Iowa, he worked in Iraan during the oil boom period of the late 1920s, and either got the idea for the strip or created its earliest drafts there; the strip was first published in 1932 in Des Moines. He moved back to Iowa in 1929, and later to Florida. A park in Iraan is named after the strip.[5][7]

Demographics

At the 2000 census,[1] there were 1,238 people, 427 households and 335 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,234.3 per square mile (869.1/km²). There were 542 housing units at an average density of 978.2 per square mile (380.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.00% White, 0.08% African American, 0.08% Native American, 6.22% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.51% of the population.

There were 427 households of which 45.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.3% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.5% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.37.

Age distribution was 32.5% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.0 males.

The median household income was $44,583, and the median family income was $48,207. Males had a median income of $40,345 versus $22,396 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,589. About 5.0% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public education in the city of Iraan is provided by the Iraan-Sheffield Independent School District.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Iraan has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.[8]

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. ↑ "How to Pronounce: H-I Cities". TexasTripper.com Texas Travel Guide.
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "- Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)". tshaonline.org.
  6. ↑ "- Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)". tshaonline.org.
  7. ↑ "Alley Oop is a Texan?.". texasescapes.com.
  8. ↑ "Iraan, Texas Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase.

External links