Dodson, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dodson, Texas
|
|
|---|---|
|
Town
|
|
Location of Dodson, Texas
|
|
 |
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Collingsworth |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council government |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.61 sq mi (1.58 km2) |
| • Land | 0.61 sq mi (1.58 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,791 ft (546 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 93 |
| • Density | 152.5/sq mi (58.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
79230
|
| Area code(s) | 806 |
| FIPS code | 48-20716 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412437 |
Dodson is a small town in Collingsworth County, Texas, United States. In 2020, about 93 people lived there. This number was a bit lower than in 2010, when 109 people called Dodson home.
Contents
Geography: Where is Dodson, Texas?
Dodson is located in the southeastern part of Collingsworth County. It's very close to the border between Texas and Oklahoma. The town is about 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Wellington and 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Hollis, Oklahoma.
The United States Census Bureau says that Dodson covers a total area of about 0.61 square miles (1.6 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Demographics: Who Lives in Dodson?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 426 | — | |
| 1940 | 357 | −16.2% | |
| 1950 | 336 | −5.9% | |
| 1960 | 308 | −8.3% | |
| 1970 | 239 | −22.4% | |
| 1980 | 185 | −22.6% | |
| 1990 | 113 | −38.9% | |
| 2000 | 115 | 1.8% | |
| 2010 | 109 | −5.2% | |
| 2020 | 93 | −14.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 115 people living in Dodson. These people lived in 53 different homes, and 34 of those were families. The town's population has changed over the years. For example, in 1930, there were 426 people, but the number has slowly gone down since then.
Most people in Dodson are White. Some residents are also Native American or Asian. A small number of people are from other backgrounds or have mixed heritage. About 13% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
In 2000, about 19% of the people in Dodson were under 18 years old. About 16% were 65 years or older. The average age in the town was 46 years old.
History: How Dodson Began
The town of Dodson was first called "Dodsonville." It was started on July 1, 1910, by a wealthy businessman named Frank Kell. He was important in building the Wichita Falls and Northwestern Railway. Dodsonville was planned as a stop along this new railroad line.
A local pioneer and rancher named Elmore Dodson gave 200 acres (0.81 km2) of land for the town. He did this to make sure the railroad would pass through the southeastern part of the county. Because of his generous gift, the new town was named after him. A big celebration was held on August 29, 1910, to mark the town's official opening. People even came by train from Oklahoma for the picnic!
Early Days of Dodson
Soon after the town started, new buildings and businesses appeared. N. L. Jones built the first house and opened a cotton gin, which is a machine that separates cotton fibers from their seeds. William T. McDowell opened the first store and became the first postmaster. A hotel was built by R. H. Miller. The town also got a bank, a telephone system, and two churches.
Several newspapers were printed in Dodsonville between 1911 and 1930. A permanent school building was finished in the fall of 1912. Before that, school was sometimes held in the churches.
Growth and Changes
Dodson became an official town (it was "incorporated") in the 1920s. By 1930, it had 25 businesses and 426 people. During the 1930s, the town was able to get a new water system. A volunteer fire department was also started.
In 1947, a new high school was built. It served students from Dodson and nearby communities, even some in Oklahoma. However, the population of Dodson started to go down after 1930. This was partly because there was less farming and more cattle raising.
The town's name was officially changed from "Dodsonville" to "Dodson" on July 1, 1937.
Dodson Schools
The first permanent school building in Dodson was used until 1947. That's when the new school was built. Dodson High School taught students until 1969. At that time, the school board decided to combine the Dodson School District with the one in Wellington. The elementary and junior high schools in Dodson kept operating until 1972. The Dodson School building was later taken down in the late 1980s or early 1990s.
Economy: What Does Dodson Do?
Dodson is an important center for farming in its area. This includes parts of Collingsworth County, Childress County, and Harmon County.
The main crops grown in the region are Cotton, wheat, sorghum, and peanuts. There are also many small cattle ranches in the surrounding area.
One of the few businesses in Dodson is the Tri-County Co-Op. It operates a cotton gin that serves the farms in the three-county area.
Education: Learning in Dodson
Public education for students in Dodson is provided by the Wellington Independent School District.
See also
In Spanish: Dodson (Texas) para niños
