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Dumas, Texas
City
City of Dumas
Location of Dumas, Texas
Location of Dumas, Texas
Moore County Dumas.svg
Country  USA
State  Texas
County Moore
Government
 • Type Commission-Manager
Area
 • Total 5.54 sq mi (14.36 km2)
 • Land 5.53 sq mi (14.31 km2)
 • Water 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation
3,661 ft (1,116 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 14,691
 • Estimate 
(2019)
13,827
 • Density 2,502.62/sq mi (966.19/km2)
Time zone UTC–6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC–5 (CDT)
ZIP code
79029
Area code(s) 806
FIPS code 48-21556
GNIS feature ID 1356433
Website City Website

Dumas ( DEW-məs) is a city in Moore County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,691 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Moore County. Located about 40 miles north of Amarillo, the city is named for its founder, Louis Dumas (1856–1923). Dumas Avenue, the main thoroughfare, is also United States Highways 287 and 87.

Window on the Plains Museum, which offers exhibits on Moore County and the Texas Panhandle, is located on South Dumas Avenue, the main thoroughfare. Dumas is home to Moore County Airport, a general-aviation airport 2 miles west of the central business district.

The Dumas government claims, with some documentation, that the song "I'm a Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas" was written about the city. Composed in the late 1920s by Phil Baxter (a native Texan who lived for a time in Dumas) and Carl Moore, the song has also sometimes been claimed by Dumas in Desha County in southeastern Arkansas.

Geography

Dumas is located at 35°51′45″N 101°58′1″W / 35.86250°N 101.96694°W / 35.86250; -101.96694 (35.862478, -101.966931). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.52 square miles (14.3 km2), of which, 5.5 square miles (14 km2) of it is land and 0.019 square miles (0.049 km2) of it (0.34%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1940 2,117
1950 6,127 189.4%
1960 8,477 38.4%
1970 9,771 15.3%
1980 12,194 24.8%
1990 12,871 5.6%
2000 13,747 6.8%
2010 14,691 6.9%
2019 (est.) 13,827 −5.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2010, 14,691 people (an increase of 6.9% from the 2000 Census), 4,979 households, and 3,725 families resided in the city. The population density was 2,660 people per square mile (1,028/km2). The 5,340 housing units averaged 1047 per square mile (650.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 74.9% White, 2% African American, 0.9% Native American, 4.7% Asian, 15.6% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latino of any race were 50.5% of the population.

Of the 4,979 households, 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were not families. About 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals living alone, and 8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.40.

In the city, the population was distributed as 31.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 15 to 19, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 101 males. Of the population over the age of 18, for every 100 females, there were 98 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,298, and for a family was $52,536. Males had a median income of $37,589 versus $25,498 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,614. About 8.3% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Gallery

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Dumas has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.



Economy

A large meatpacking plant in Cactus is a major employer for Moore County. The plant was formerly owned by Swift, and is now owned by a Brazilian conglomerate, JBS USA. The plant processes up to 5,000 head of cattle per day, and has a predominantly immigrant workforce.

Education

Football Stadium Dumas Texas
Demon Stadium in Dumas

Dumas Independent School district serves the cities of Dumas and Cactus.

Secondary schools

  • Dumas High School (Dumas, grades 9–12)
  • Dumas Junior High School (Dumas, grades 7–8)
    • 1999–2000 National Blue Ribbon School
  • Dumas Intermediate School (Dumas, grades 5–6)

Primary schools

  • Dumas Intermediate School (Dumas)
  • Green Acres Elementary School (Dumas)
  • Hillcrest Elementary School (Dumas)
  • Morningside Elementary School (Dumas)
  • Sunset Elementary School (Dumas)
  • Cactus Elementary School (Cactus)

Alternative schools

The North Plains Opportunity Center is an alternative school located within the Dumas Independent School District. The primary function of the school is to provide an alternative education for students who are at risk of dropping out of school, needing to recover lost credits, or desire to accelerate their education experiences to pursue college or career goals.

Colleges

Amarillo College, a two-year, fully accredited community college, has a branch campus in Dumas.

Notable people

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Dumas (Texas) para niños

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