Brownfield, Texas

Brownfield is a city in Terry County, Texas, United States. Its population was 9,657 at the 2010 census. Located 39 miles southwest of Lubbock, it is the county seat of Terry County.[5]

Brownfield, Texas
City
Brownfield City Hall
Location of Brownfield, Texas
Coordinates: 33°10′47″N 102°16′15″W
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyTerry
Area
 • Total6.55 sq mi (16.97 km2)
 • Land6.51 sq mi (16.87 km2)
 • Water0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2)
Elevation
3,310 ft (1,009 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total9,657
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
9,358
 • Density1,437.04/sq mi (554.83/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
79316
Area code(s)806
FIPS code48-10720[3]
GNIS feature ID1352989[4]
Websitewww.ci.brownfield.tx.us

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Brownfield has a total area of 6.3 sq mi (16 km2), 0.32% of which is covered by 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 about 1,000 feet (305 m) and exposes various geologic layers. In early days, climbing the Caprock Escarpment was not easy for horse-drawn 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, they left numerous dry river channels crisscrossing the Llano Estacado. When settlers during the 1800s ventured across this area, they often went into these channels expecting to find water, but 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.

Climate

Brownfield lies in a semiarid temperate zone, where high winds and extreme temperature variations are the norm. The summers reach over 100 °F (37.8 °C) for multiple consecutive days. The winters often fall below freezing for extended periods, but snow remains unusual due to very little precipitation forming in the winter.

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. 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.

Climate data for Brownfield, Texas (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 54.9
(12.7)		 59.6
(15.3)		 67.3
(19.6)		 76.0
(24.4)		 84.2
(29.0)		 90.9
(32.7)		 92.4
(33.6)		 91.3
(32.9)		 84.9
(29.4)		 76.3
(24.6)		 64.7
(18.2)		 55.2
(12.9)		 74.8
(23.8)
Average low °F (°C) 27.0
(−2.8)		 30.1
(−1.1)		 36.2
(2.3)		 44.1
(6.7)		 54.6
(12.6)		 63.0
(17.2)		 66.3
(19.1)		 65.2
(18.4)		 57.8
(14.3)		 47.2
(8.4)		 35.7
(2.1)		 27.7
(−2.4)		 46.2
(7.9)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.68
(17)		 0.75
(19)		 1.03
(26)		 1.18
(30)		 2.71
(69)		 3.01
(76)		 2.39
(61)		 1.95
(50)		 2.39
(61)		 1.77
(45)		 0.89
(23)		 0.76
(19)		 19.50
(495)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 2.0
(5.1)		 1.7
(4.3)		 0.2
(0.51)		 0.2
(0.51)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.6
(1.5)		 1.6
(4.1)		 6.4
(16)
Source: NOAA[6]

Economics

Cotton farming remains the backbone of not only Brownfield, but also the entire South Plains in general. Cotton fields stretch for miles, and the harvest season in October has a frenzy of activity as harvesters (locally called cotton strippers), module makers, and module trucks are seen 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 bales. The haze is actually fine cotton dust, and sometimes small drifts develop in the street resembling snow mixed with red soil.

Peanut growing has found a toehold on the economy, as have vineyards. In recent years, grape growing has shown Terry County as a producer of wine grapes as filler for inexpensive wines.[7] Currently, several wineries are now established in the county, which produce average, to poor quality wine based on numerous reviews and wine review aggregator websites.[8][9] Several older and more notable wineries are in the Lubbock area, about 30 miles northeast.

Oil production continues to drop significantly from its previous levels in the 1980s. According to current trends, Terry County and Brownfield will continue to decline significantly in oil production and importance in West Texas.[10][11]

Wal-Mart recently chose to not renew their lease on their facility on the eastern edge of town, citing Brownfield was not economically viable for them operate any longer. [12]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19301,907—
19404,009110.2%
19506,16153.7%
196010,28667.0%
19709,647−6.2%
198010,3877.7%
19909,560−8.0%
20009,488−0.8%
20109,6571.8%
2019 (est.)9,358[2]−3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

The number of residents in prisons or correctional facilities is significantly above the state average.[14]

Brownfield and Terry County have one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in Texas. The teen pregnancy rate is 98.1 out of 1000, more than double the national average.[15]

Brownfield has an extremely high sexually transmitted infection rate of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and most notably syphilis, which is much higher than the state average (7.8 per 100,000).[16]

Only 61.5% of the population holds a high school degree or higher, 8.9% a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.7% a master's degree or higher. About 6.1% of the population was unemployed in 2010.[14]

As of the census[3] of 2000, 9,488 people, 3,176 households, and 2,337 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,501.0 people per square mile (579.6/km2). The 3,735 housing units had 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. Hispanics of any race were 45.95% of the population.

The city representation consists overwhelmingly of the White population, with only 23.4% of the council consisting of the minorities that are 75% of the population. The White representation is about 75% of the council, while only consisting of 24% of the population.[17]

Of the 3,176 households, 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 not families. About 24% 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 distributed as 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.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,504, and 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.

Crime

The violent and property crime rates are higher than the national average.[18]

Education
Brownfield High School

The City of Brownfield is served by the Brownfield Independent School District, ranked 899 out of 932 districts in Texas with a zero star rating.[19] Brownfield ISD is considered a historically low-performing school district with abnormally high teacher turnover according to the local newspaper.[19]

Brownfield High School was rated "academically unacceptable" by the Texas State Board of Education in 2011.[20]

For the 2012-2013 school year, Brownfield High School State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test scores resulted in the following student passing scores:[21]

-23% of students passed writing

-45% of students passed algebra

-67% of students passed biology

-54% of students passed chemistry

-48% of students passed reading

-19% of students passed geography

For the 2015-16 school year, Brownfield High School was ranked among the bottom of all high schools in Texas, with a ranking of 1384 out of 1692 high schools.[19]

Dry county status

Several town meetings were held in 2008 to discuss the issue of selling beer and wine within Terry County.[22][23] On November 4, a majority of registered voters voted to legalize the sale of beer and wine in Terry County (1533 for, 1211 against).[24]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  6. "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  7. https://twitter.com/capt_mx/status/1326525215971680259/photo/1
  8. https://www.vivino.com/search/wines?q=terry+county (Vivino wines of average quality rate at least a 4.0 aggregate)
  9. https://www.winemag.com/?s=high%20plains&drink_type=wine&page=1&search_type=reviews (Wine Enthusiast rankings of wine for 90 points and below as average, and 86 and below as poor)
  10. http://www.texas-drilling.com/terry-county
  11. http://www.texas-drilling.com/terry-county/brownfield
  12. https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:7kfXohxTb8kJ:https://www.lubbockonline.com/local-news/2016-10-07/brownfield-lamesa-residents-shocked-about-wal-marts-leaving+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-b-d
  13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. Texas City Data, retrieved 7 November 2010.
  15. https://wwwn.cdc.gov/CommunityHealth/profile/currentprofile/TX/Terry/
  16. https://gis.cdc.gov/grasp/nchhstpatlas/maps.html
  17. http://ci.brownfield.tx.us/leadership.html
  18. https://www.bestplaces.net/crime/zip-code/texas/brownfield/79316
  19. SchoolDigger.com https://www.schooldigger.com/go/TX/schools/1161000633/school.aspx?t=tbReviews. Retrieved 16 February 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. "2011 District Accountability Summary- Brownfield ISD". Texas Education Agency. Archived from the original on 2014-09-07. Retrieved 2012-01-31.
  21. "STAAR Test Results". Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  22. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal On-line, retrieved 18 April 2008. Archived 17 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  23. Brownfield News, retrieved October, 2008. Archived August 11, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  24. Brownfield News, retrieved 4 November 2008. Archived 11 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine
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