Estelline, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Estelline, Texas
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South on U.S. Route 287 in Estelline, May 2011
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Location in Hall County, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Hall |
| Settled | 1892 |
| Incorporated | 1912 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.73 sq mi (1.90 km2) |
| • Land | 0.73 sq mi (1.90 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,837 ft (560 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 121 |
| • Density | 165.8/sq mi (63.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
79233
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| Area code(s) | 806 |
| FIPS code | 48-24636 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1357080 |
Estelline is a small town in Hall County, Texas, United States. In 2020, about 121 people lived there. Even though it's called a "Town" with a "Town Hall," Texas law considers all towns that are officially set up as cities.
Estelline is known for being a "speed trap." This means the police often give tickets to drivers who are going too fast. In 2012, a group called the National Motorists Association said Estelline was the number one "Worst Speed Trap City" in North America for towns with fewer than 50,000 people.
Contents
History of Estelline
Estelline was started in 1892 by two brothers, Elam and Math Wright. It was built along the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway. The town was named after Estelle de Shields, whose family was one of the first to settle there.
In the early days, Estelline was part of a large ranch area. A post office opened in May 1892. By 1894, the town had two hotels, a church, a cotton gin, and a one-room school. Math Wright helped get a train station and side tracks for the town. This made Estelline an important place for shipping cattle by train.
In 1909, a two-story school was built. By 1912, Estelline had grown to over 1,000 people. The citizens decided to officially set up their town with a mayor and a city council.
Changes Over Time
In the 1920s, new brick school buildings were built. The town even had a champion basketball team and its own band. In 1927, the railroad started building a new train line from Estelline.
However, the Great Depression in the 1930s caused the town's bank to close. The population also dropped to 603 people by 1940. Two fires that year destroyed several businesses. As roads improved, Estelline became less important as a train hub. The number of businesses went down a lot. By 1980, only 258 people lived there.
In 1983, Estelline voted to allow the sale of alcohol. This is important because it's the only place in Hall County where alcohol can be sold. The Estelline school district closed in 1987, and students now go to schools in nearby Memphis.
In 2012, the Town Hall was badly damaged by a fire. Investigators said the fire was set on purpose.
Geography and Location
Estelline is located where U.S. Highway 287 and State Highway 86 meet. This is in the eastern part of Hall County. It's about 14 miles (22 km) southeast of Memphis and 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Childress. The closest big city is Amarillo, which is about 102 miles (164 km) away. The town covers an area of about 0.7 square miles (1.9 km2), and it's all land.
Weather and Climate
Estelline has a semi-arid climate. This means it's usually dry, but not a desert.
Estelline is often said to be in the middle of "Tornado Alley." This is a term used by the media for areas that have many tornadoes. There isn't an official definition of Tornado Alley. However, studies show that almost a quarter of all strong tornadoes happen in this general area.
On March 10, 2007, a small tornado touched down near Estelline. It was an EF1 tornado, which is a weaker type. It damaged two old brick buildings and a mobile home.
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 394 | — | |
| 1930 | 950 | 141.1% | |
| 1940 | 603 | −36.5% | |
| 1950 | 464 | −23.1% | |
| 1960 | 346 | −25.4% | |
| 1970 | 301 | −13.0% | |
| 1980 | 258 | −14.3% | |
| 1990 | 194 | −24.8% | |
| 2000 | 168 | −13.4% | |
| 2010 | 145 | −13.7% | |
| 2020 | 121 | −16.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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In 2010, there were 145 people living in Estelline. There were 54 households, and 30 of them were families. The town had about 195 people per square mile.
Most people in Estelline were White (84.8%). About 4.8% were African American. A large part of the population, 51.7%, was Hispanic or Latino.
About 24.1% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.69 people. The average family had 4.00 people.
The median age in Estelline was 32.5 years old. About 31.5% of the population was under 18. About 13.8% were 65 or older.
Education in Estelline
The town of Estelline is served by the Memphis Independent School District. This school district is about 14 miles (22 km) northwest in Memphis, Texas. Estelline used to have its own school district, but it joined the Memphis ISD in 1989.
For college, students can go to Clarendon College – Childress Center. This college is about 15 miles (24 km) southeast in Childress, Texas. Clarendon College is a community college that also has campuses in Pampa and Childress.
Estelline's Speed Trap Reputation
Estelline is well-known for being a "speed trap" in Texas. This means the town often gives out many speeding tickets. In 2012, a group called the National Motorists Association named Estelline the top "Worst Speed Trap City" in North America for towns under 50,000 people.
The town has a small police force, often just one officer. Their main job is to catch drivers who are speeding. A report from 2013 showed that a very large part of Estelline's money (89%) in 2012 came from traffic fines and taking money or property from people involved in traffic stops. This means the town relies on speeding tickets to help pay its bills.
Between 2000 and 2009, Estelline had the second highest amount of traffic fine money per person in Texas. This was much higher than most other towns. State officials have checked Estelline's finances several times. They found that the town owed the state money from traffic fines that were supposed to go to the state.
Community Events
The Estelline Outdoor Entertainment Association is a group that helps organize fun events and work programs in the town. In the past, they have held events like the Annual Red River Festival & Motorcycle Rally. They also hosted the Annual Texas State Barbecue Championship, known as the Ozark Trail Barbecue Cook-off.
Media
Radio Stations
- KZES-FM 91.3 FM
- KCTX-AM 1510 AM
- KCTX-FM 96.1 FM
- KLSR-FM 105.3 FM
Newspapers
- The Hall County Herald
- The Red River Sun
- Clarendon Enterprise
- Amarillo Globe-News
- Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Television Channels
- KACV-TV
- KVII-TV
- KAMR-TV
- KFDA-TV
- KCIT
