Amherst, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amherst, Texas
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City
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Grain elevators of Amherst
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 Amherst, Texas
Location in Texas
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| County | Lamb |
| Region | Llano Estacado |
| Established | 1923 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.92 sq mi (2.37 km2) |
| • Land | 0.92 sq mi (2.37 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,652 ft (1,113 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 678 |
| • Density | 737/sq mi (286.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| ZIP code |
79312
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| Area code | 806 |
| FIPS code | 48-03084 |
Amherst is a small city in Lamb County, Texas, United States. In 2020, about 678 people lived there. It's a quiet place in the western part of Texas.
History
Amherst started in 1913 as a train station for the Pecos and Northern Texas Railway. It was part of a large ranch called the Mashed O Ranch. In 1923, a town was planned about a mile from the train station. A railroad official named it after Amherst College.
The town grew quickly. A post office opened in 1924. By 1930, Amherst had 35 businesses and 964 people. It was a busy trading center. There was even a newspaper called the Amherst Argus. The Amherst Hotel was a popular stop for travelers between Clovis, New Mexico and Lubbock, Texas.
In 1940, the first co-op hospital in Texas was built in Amherst. The city officially became a city in 1970. By 1980, the population was 971. The town had five cotton gins and two grain elevators, which are big buildings for storing grain.
You can find some interesting historical spots nearby. The Sod House Spring Monument is about 6 miles northwest of Amherst. It marks where the first cow camp in the area was located. Also, Plant X, a large power plant, is nine miles north of the city.
Geography
Amherst is located in the middle of Lamb County. It is about 8 miles northwest of Littlefield, which is the main town of the county. Muleshoe is about 24 miles southeast.
U.S. Route 84, a major highway, runs just southwest of Amherst. This road connects Amherst to Littlefield and Muleshoe. The city covers an area of about 0.92 square miles (2.37 square kilometers), and it's all land.
Climate
Amherst has a semi-arid climate. This means it's usually dry, but not a desert. It gets some rain, but not a lot.
Demographics
The population of Amherst has changed over the years. Here's how many people have lived there during different census counts:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 964 | — | |
| 1940 | 749 | −22.3% | |
| 1950 | 922 | 23.1% | |
| 1960 | 883 | −4.2% | |
| 1970 | 825 | −6.6% | |
| 1980 | 971 | 17.7% | |
| 1990 | 742 | −23.6% | |
| 2000 | 791 | 6.6% | |
| 2010 | 721 | −8.8% | |
| 2020 | 678 | −6.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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In 2000, there were 791 people living in Amherst. Most people were White, but there were also African American and Native American residents. About 40% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The city had 269 households. Many of these households were families, including married couples and single-parent families. About 36% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.8 people.
The population included people of all ages. About 31% were under 18 years old. About 19% were 65 years or older. The median age was 34 years old.
Education
Students in Amherst attend schools in the Amherst Independent School District.
Notable people
- Dan Hewitt Owens, an actor, was born in Amherst in 1947.
- Gary Painter, a sheriff from Midland County, Texas, was also born in Amherst in 1947.
See also
In Spanish: Amherst (Texas) para niños
