Conlen, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Conlen
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 Conlen
Location in Texas
Conlen
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Dallam |
| Named for | Captain J. H. Conlen |
| Elevation | 3,819 ft (1,164 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 69 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1379585 |
Conlen is a small, unincorporated community in eastern Dallam County, Texas, United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a settlement that isn't officially governed as a city or town. In 2000, about 69 people lived there.
Contents
History of Conlen
How Conlen Started
Conlen was founded in 1903. It was named after Captain J. H. Conlen. He was a veteran from the Spanish-American War. Captain Conlen helped build the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. This railroad went through Texas counties like Sherman, Dallam, and Hartley. It connected Liberal, Kansas, with Santa Rosa, New Mexico.
Tough Times and Recovery
Conlen survived the difficult years of the Dust Bowl. This was a time in the 1930s when severe dust storms damaged farming across the Great Plains. After the Dust Bowl, people started using irrigation wells. This helped the area's farming economy, especially growing grains, recover.
Population Changes Over Time
In 1940, Conlen had 150 residents and four businesses. By 1948, the population dropped to 62, with only three businesses. In 1990, 61 people lived there. The population was 69 in 2000. By 2017, it went down to 18 people.
Accidental Bombing Incident
On July 6, 1943, a U.S. Army Air Forces plane made a mistake. It took off from the nearby Dalhart Army Air Base. The pilot was on a training mission. He was supposed to drop bombs on a practice range near Conlen. However, he got off course. He thought Boise City, Oklahoma, was the practice range. He then dropped five bombs on the town. Luckily, no one was hurt, though some buildings had slight damage. A quick-thinking power plant worker blacked out the town, stopping the air raid.
Tornadoes Near Conlen
On May 18, 2010, a small tornado, called an EF0 tornado, hit Conlen. It moved over open fields and caused no damage. Later, on May 30, 2021, four brief tornadoes, called EFU tornadoes, struck Conlen. "EFU" means their strength couldn't be determined. Storm chasers, including people from the National Weather Service, took many photos and videos. These confirmed the tornadoes. They also stayed over open grassland and caused no damage.
"Big Tex" Statue
Conlen is home to a famous statue called "Big Tex." It's a 20-foot-tall statue of a cowboy. This cowboy statue has bow-legs. The statue was first built in the 1950s. It used to be the entrance to the Cowboy Cafe in Dalhart. The cafe was a restaurant with a museum and gift shop. The current owner of the statue is Elliot Crabtree. His father moved "Big Tex" from Dalhart to Conlen in the 1960s.
Geography of Conlen
Conlen is located where U.S. Route 54 and Farm to Market Road 807 meet. It is about 19 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of Dalhart. It is also about 11 kilometers (7 miles) southwest of Stratford. Conlen is in the eastern part of Dallam County.
Education in Conlen
In 1934, Conlen had a successful high school girls' basketball team. The Conlen Mercantile Company sponsored them. This team won the state championship that year! Today, students in the community attend schools in the Stratford Independent School District.
