Dawn, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dawn, Texas
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 Dawn, Texas
Location in Texas
Dawn, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Deaf Smith |
| Elevation | 3,803 ft (1,159 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
79025
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| GNIS feature ID | 1355724 |
Dawn is a small, unincorporated community located in eastern Deaf Smith County, Texas, in the United States. An unincorporated community means it's a place with a shared identity but doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. In 2000, about 52 people lived there.
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The Story of Dawn
Dawn began in 1887 when Jim Moore, who managed the T Anchor Ranch, built a simple shelter called a dugout. This dugout was about six miles southwest of where Dawn is today. Two years later, in 1889, a man named J. H. Parrish bought the dugout and the land nearby. He then built a general store for the ranchers in the area.
How Dawn Got Its Name
There are a couple of stories about how Dawn got its name. One story says that Parrish named it "Dawn of a New Country" or "Dawn of Civilization." The first word, "Dawn," was then chosen when he applied for a post office. Another story suggests that when Parrish first saw the land, he declared, "This is the dawn of a new day!"
Early Businesses and Growth
In the early days, James N. Askren ran a broom factory in a barn near Dawn. By 1893, when Parrish sold his land and moved to Oklahoma, Dawn was a busy little community. Its future was secured in 1898 when the Pecos Valley and Northeastern Railway built a train station there.
Over the next few years, Dawn grew as a place where ranchers could ship their goods. Many farmers also moved to the area. By 1917, the town had a hotel with a small band, a community church (which later became a Baptist church), and a lumber mill.
Farming and Changes Over Time
Wheat became the main crop in Dawn after people started using irrigation wells. In the 1940s, David Rodgers began selling his Deaf Smith corn meal, wheat berries, and whole-wheat flour from his grain elevator in Dawn. At that time, the town had about 100 residents and four businesses.
Later, as roads improved and transportation became easier, Dawn lost some of its older businesses. The hotel, bank, train station, lumberyard, and flour mill eventually closed. However, in 1973, some local clubs built a new community center. In 1984, Dawn had 94 residents, a store, a post office, and three grain elevators. By 2000, the population had decreased to 52.
Even though Dawn is an unincorporated community, it still has its own post office with the ZIP code 79025. On June 22, 2020, a small tornado was reported northwest of Dawn, but thankfully, no damage occurred.
Where is Dawn Located?
Dawn is found where U.S. Route 60 and Farm to Market Road 809 meet. It's about 14 miles (23 km) northeast of Hereford, 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Canyon, and 34 miles (55 km) southwest of Amarillo. All these places are in eastern Deaf Smith County.
Learning in Dawn
The first school in Dawn was opened by James N. Askren in 1891. In the 1920s, another school building was constructed, which included the first school cafeteria in the county. In 1963, the school joined the Hereford Independent School District. Today, children in the community attend Aikman Elementary School within that district.
Famous Person from Dawn
Thomas Edd Mayfield, a Bluegrass musician, was born in Dawn.
