Dundee, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dundee, Texas
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 Dundee, Texas
Location in Texas
Dundee, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Archer |
| Elevation | 1,155 ft (352 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 12 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1356456 |
Dundee is a very small, unincorporated community in Archer County, Texas, United States. An unincorporated community means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. In 2010, only 12 people lived there. Dundee is part of the larger Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History of Dundee
How Dundee Started
Before Dundee became a town, several families already lived in the area. The town was officially planned between 1886 and 1890. In 1890, a railroad company called the Wichita Valley Railway built a train line through the area. They also built a large three-story hotel at the train station. The railroad's president supposedly named the town "Dundee" after a city in Scotland.
That same year, Amanda Giddens opened Dundee's first post office. By 1892, Dundee was a small railroad stop with about 25 people. The new railroad helped more people move to the area.
Growth and Prosperity
Dundee grew quickly. By 1896, about 199 people lived there. The town had several businesses, including two livestock dealers, a clothing store, a general store, and a hardware store. There was even a person who sold organs! Different church groups, like the Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists, also started meeting in the late 1890s and early 1900s.
For a while, Dundee was the second-largest town in Archer County. In 1909, a bank opened with Alex Albright as its president. Mr. Albright later became famous for owning a very large Karakul sheep ranch near Dundee.
Challenges and Changes
By 1919, Dundee had more businesses, but its population had dropped to about 165. In the 1920s, the population grew again to an estimated 400 people. During this time, two lakes were built nearby: Lake Kemp and Diversion Lake. Diversion Lake also became home to a large fish hatchery, which was still working in 1990.
However, in 1929, a powerful tornado hit Dundee. The town rebuilt many of its businesses, but then the Great Depression happened, which was a time of economic hardship. This stopped Dundee's growth. The town's bank closed in 1933. The number of businesses also decreased, from ten in 1940 to only five in 1946.
Dundee Today
By 1953, Dundee had about 300 people and three businesses. In the mid-1960s, the population dropped to 75, and by 1970, it was only 40. The post office closed that year. In 1980, Dundee had no businesses left, though the railroad still ran through it. The population stayed at 40 in 1990 but dropped to just 12 people by 2010.
An interesting fact: a skull from an ancient animal called an Eothyris was found near Dundee. Also, Benjamin Capps, a famous Western novelist, was born in Dundee.
Geography of Dundee
Dundee is located in northwestern Archer County, Texas. You can find it where three major roads meet: U.S. Highway 82, U.S. Highway 277, and Farm to Market Road 2846. It's about 25 miles northwest of Archer City and 27 miles southwest of Wichita Falls.
Climate in Dundee
The weather in Dundee is usually hot and humid in the summer. Winters are generally mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate. On climate maps, it's often shown as "Cfa."
Education in Dundee
Dundee had its own school as early as 1891. Today, students in Dundee attend schools that are part of the Holliday Independent School District.
