Brownfield, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brownfield, Texas
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Brownfield City Hall
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Terry |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.55 sq mi (16.97 km2) |
| • Land | 6.51 sq mi (16.87 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,310 ft (1,009 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,936 |
| • Density | 1,364.3/sq mi (526.58/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
79316
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| Area code(s) | 806 |
| FIPS code | 48-10720 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1352989 |
Brownfield is a city in Terry County, Texas, United States. It is the main city and the place where the county government is located, also known as the county seat. In 2020, about 8,936 people lived there. Brownfield is located about 39 miles southwest of Lubbock.
Contents
History of Brownfield
In 1903, two people named W. G. Hardin and A. F. Small bought land in the middle of the county. They planned out a town and named it after the Brownfield family, who owned a large ranch nearby. To help their town become the county seat, they gave a piece of land to every person in the county who could vote.
In the early years, important buildings like the courthouse, a school, and churches were built. Hill's Hotel was the first business and also held the first post office. On June 28, 1904, Brownfield was chosen as the county seat. It won by a small number of votes against another town called Gomez. The Brownfield State Bank opened in 1905, helping people in many counties.
Brownfield officially became a city in 1920. In 1941, oil wells started working, which added a new way for the town to make money.
Geography and Land Around Brownfield
Brownfield is located in the middle of Terry County, in the southern part of a flat area called the South Plains and Llano Estacado. The city sits on a layer of soil that was carried by the wind, called the Blackwater Draw Formation. Below this is a thick layer of hard rock called "caliche," which locals call the "caprock."
Underneath the caliche is a layer of river deposits called the Ogallala Formation. This layer holds part of the Ogallala Aquifer, which is a huge underground water source. About 50 miles to the east, there's a steep drop-off called the Caprock Escarpment. It's about 1,000 feet high and shows different layers of rock. Long ago, it was very hard for wagons pulled by horses to climb this steep area.
Lost Draw and Red Soil
The only change in the flat land near Brownfield is a channel called Lost Draw. This channel runs across the whole county. Lost Draw was formed over 10,000 years ago, after the last ice age, when the weather was much wetter. When the big glaciers in the north melted, they left many dry river channels across the Llano Estacado.
When settlers explored this area in the 1800s, they often went into these channels hoping to find water. But usually, there was no water unless it had rained a lot recently. Many groups got "lost" looking for water, which is how Lost Draw got its name.
Brownfield is also known for its bright red soil. This soil looks almost glowing red during sunrise and sunset. This is because it has a lot of iron in it.
Climate in Brownfield
Brownfield has a climate that is mostly dry and has big changes in temperature. It can get very windy. In the summer, temperatures often go above 100°F for many days in a row. In winter, it often stays below freezing for a long time. However, it doesn't snow much because there isn't a lot of rain in winter.
The most active weather season is from March to September. During this time, strong thunderstorms form on the Great Plains. People in Brownfield can expect rain, strong winds, hail, and sometimes tornadoes. Hailstorms that happen late in the season can be very bad for the local economy because they can destroy the cotton crops.
Economy of Brownfield
The main industry in Brownfield is Cotton farming. When cotton is harvested, a haze often appears over the city. This happens when local cotton gins clean the cotton, remove the seeds, and press it into large bales. This haze is actually fine cotton dust. Sometimes, small piles of this dust can even form in the streets, looking like snow mixed with the red soil.
Other Industries
Growing peanuts has also become important to the economy. In recent years, growing grapes for wine has made Terry County a place that produces grapes for less expensive wines. Several wineries have opened in the county. Local farmers started growing grapes here as early as 1950. More wineries opened after 2008, when the county changed its rules about selling beer and wine.
Oil production in Brownfield has been going down since the 1980s. It is expected to continue to decrease in the future.
Population and People
Brownfield's population was 8,936 people in 2020.
- In 1930, there were 1,907 people.
- By 1960, the population grew to 10,286.
- In 2000, it was 9,488.
- In 2010, the population was 9,657.
Most adults in Brownfield have at least a high school degree. A smaller number have a college degree.
People in Brownfield (2020)
In 2020, there were 8,936 people living in Brownfield. Here's a look at the different groups:
- About 32.84% of people were White (not Hispanic).
- About 4.29% were Black or African American (not Hispanic).
- About 60.4% of people were Hispanic or Latino.
- Smaller numbers of people were Native American, Asian, or of mixed races.
Education in Brownfield
The schools in Brownfield are part of the Brownfield Independent School District. This school district has often been considered a low-performing district. It also has a high number of teachers leaving their jobs.
In 2011, Brownfield High School was rated "academically unacceptable" by the Texas State Board of Education. In the 2021–2022 school year, Brownfield High School was ranked among the bottom 15% of all high schools in Texas.
Transportation
Brownfield is an important crossroads for several major roads. These include U.S. highways 62, 82, 380, and 385. It is also on Texas State Highway 137.
Rules About Selling Drinks
For a long time, Terry County had rules that made it illegal to sell beer and wine. This was known as being a "dry county." In 2008, people in the town held meetings to talk about changing these rules. On November 4, 2008, most voters decided to allow the sale of beer and wine in Terry County.
See also
In Spanish: Brownfield (Texas) para niños
