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Burkburnett, Texas facts for kids

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Burkburnett, Texas
Former Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad depot
Nicknames: 
Boomtown, U.S.A.
Motto(s): 
"You're home now!”
Country United States
State Texas
County Wichita
Incorporated City of Burkburnett 1923
Government
 • Type Commissioner form of government, with a City Manager
Area
 • Total 11.54 sq mi (29.90 km2)
 • Land 11.54 sq mi (29.90 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,040 ft (320 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 10,939
 • Density 947.9/sq mi (365.85/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
76354
Area code(s) 940
FIPS code 48-11368
GNIS feature ID 2409941

Burkburnett is a city located in Wichita County, Texas, in the United States. It's part of the larger Wichita Falls area. In 2020, about 10,939 people lived here. The city's motto is "You're home now!"

History of Burkburnett

Burkburnett Texas oilfield
Oil derricks at Burkburnett, around 1920

Burkburnett was first settled by ranchers in 1856. Some local people called the community Nesterville. By 1880, it had a small store and 132 residents. From 1882 to 1903, it had a post office named Gilbert. This name honored Mabel Gilbert, an early pioneer in North Texas.

In 1906, a rich rancher named Samuel Burk Burnett sold over 16,000 acres of his land. He sold it to a group of investors. These investors wanted to build a railway line. The railway would connect to the wheat farms in Western Oklahoma.

How Burkburnett Got Its Name

The next year, land lots were sold near the new railway. A new post office was also opened. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt named the town Burkburnett. He visited the area for a wolf hunt hosted by rancher Burnett.

Oil Boom and Growth

In 1912, oil was found west of the town. This discovery brought thousands of people to the area. By 1918, about 20,000 people lived around the oilfield. This exciting time in the town's history was shown in the movie Boom Town. The film starred famous actors Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy.

The Great Depression in the 1930s caused the town's population to shrink. But in 1941, the population grew again. This happened when Sheppard Air Force Base was built nearby.

Geography and Climate

Burkburnett covers a total area of 9.5 square miles (24.6 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Burkburnett's Weather

The weather in Burkburnett has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. According to the Köppen climate classification, Burkburnett has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm temperatures and plenty of rain throughout the year.

Climate data for Burkburnett, Texas
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 89
(32)
93
(34)
100
(38)
103
(39)
110
(43)
117
(47)
114
(46)
113
(45)
111
(44)
102
(39)
89
(32)
88
(31)
117
(47)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 54
(12)
58
(14)
67
(19)
76
(24)
84
(29)
91
(33)
97
(36)
97
(36)
88
(31)
77
(25)
65
(18)
55
(13)
76
(24)
Daily mean °F (°C) 42
(6)
46
(8)
54
(12)
63
(17)
72
(22)
80
(27)
85
(29)
84
(29)
76
(24)
65
(18)
53
(12)
43
(6)
64
(18)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 30
(−1)
34
(1)
41
(5)
49
(9)
60
(16)
68
(20)
72
(22)
71
(22)
63
(17)
52
(11)
40
(4)
31
(−1)
51
(10)
Record low °F (°C) −12
(−24)
−8
(−22)
6
(−14)
24
(−4)
36
(2)
50
(10)
54
(12)
53
(12)
38
(3)
21
(−6)
14
(−10)
−7
(−22)
−12
(−24)

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop.
1920 5,300
1930 3,281 −38.1%
1940 2,814 −14.2%
1950 4,555 61.9%
1960 7,621 67.3%
1970 9,230 21.1%
1980 10,668 15.6%
1990 10,145 −4.9%
2000 10,927 7.7%
2010 10,811 −1.1%
2020 10,939 1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

The table above shows how Burkburnett's population has changed over the years.

Who Lives in Burkburnett?

Burkburnett racial composition as of 2020
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 8,518 77.87%
Black or African American (NH) 338 3.09%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 95 0.87%
Asian (NH) 85 0.78%
Pacific Islander (NH) 5 0.05%
Some Other Race (NH) 28 0.26%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 639 5.84%
Hispanic or Latino 1,231 11.25%
Total 10,939

As of 2020, there were 10,939 people living in Burkburnett. These people made up 4,725 households, with 3,330 families among them.

Education in Burkburnett

The Burkburnett Independent School District serves the city of Burkburnett. This school district has several schools for students of all ages.

Schools in the District

  • I.C. Evans Elementary
  • John G. Tower Elementary
  • Overton Ray Elementary
  • Burkburnett Middle School
  • Burkburnett High School

I.C. Evans Elementary also hosts the Burkburnett Head Start program for younger children. John G. Tower Elementary is located in Wichita Falls, very close to Sheppard Air Force Base. The mascot for all Burkburnett schools is the Bulldogs!

Notable People from Burkburnett

  • Skip Hicks (born 1974), an American Football Player.
  • Nolan Miller (1933-2012), a famous Fashion designer, was born in Burkburnett.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Burkburnett para niños

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