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Fritch, Texas facts for kids

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Fritch, Texas
Fritch water tower
Fritch water tower
Location of Fritch, Texas
Location of Fritch, Texas
Hutchinson County Fritch.svg
Country United States
State Texas
Counties Hutchinson, Moore
Area
 • Total 1.62 sq mi (4.20 km2)
 • Land 1.62 sq mi (4.20 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
3,189 ft (972 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,859
 • Density 1,148/sq mi (442.6/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
79036
Area code(s) 806
FIPS code 48-27696
GNIS feature ID 2410550

Fritch is a small city in Texas, United States. It is located in both Moore and Hutchinson Counties. In 2020, about 1,859 people lived there.

History of Fritch

Fritch has faced some big challenges in its history. The community has shown great strength in recovering from natural disasters.

1992 Tornado Strikes Fritch

On June 27, 1992, a very strong tornado hit the Fritch area. This tornado was about a mile wide and had multiple swirling funnels. It was an F4 tornado, which means it caused a lot of damage. Many buildings in the city were badly damaged. Luckily, no one died, but seven people were hurt.

2014 Wildfire Causes Damage

On May 11, 2014, a fast-moving wildfire started near Fritch. This fire caused a lot of destruction. Many homes in the Fritch area were lost. Authorities told everyone to leave the city for their safety. News reports said that 100 buildings were destroyed. Many people found shelter in local community centers.

Geography of Fritch

Fritch is found in the southwest part of Hutchinson County. It is right in the middle of the Texas Panhandle region. The city is about 35 miles north-northeast of Amarillo. It is also about 13 miles west of Borger.

Fritch is in an interesting area. The land around it is usually flat, like the High Plains. But here, the land is broken up by canyons and valleys created by the Canadian River. The city itself sits on flat ground. However, it is surrounded by rolling hills and uneven land.

Water Sources Near Fritch

Lake Meredith is a large lake on the Canadian River. It is only about 2 miles northwest of Fritch. This lake is a major source of water for many nearby towns. However, Fritch gets its water from a different source. The city uses water drawn from the Ogallala Aquifer. This is a huge underground water supply.

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop.
1960 1,617
1970 1,778 10.0%
1980 2,299 29.3%
1990 2,335 1.6%
2000 2,235 −4.3%
2010 2,117 −5.3%
2020 1,859 −12.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

The population of Fritch has changed over the years. In 1960, there were 1,617 people. The population grew to 2,335 in 1990. By 2020, the number of people living in Fritch was 1,859.

Who Lives in Fritch?

Fritch racial composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 1,588 85.42%
Black or African American (NH) 7 0.38%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 20 1.08%
Asian (NH) 4 0.22%
Some Other Race (NH) 3 0.16%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 102 5.49%
Hispanic or Latino 135 7.26%
Total 1,859

The most recent count was in 2020. At that time, there were 1,859 people living in Fritch. These people made up 824 households. Out of these, 616 were families. Most of the people living in Fritch are White. There are also smaller groups of people from other backgrounds.

Fun Things to Do in Fritch

Fritch is a great place for outdoor fun. It is right next to the Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. This area offers many chances to enjoy nature.

  • Boating and Fishing: You can go boating and fishing on Lake Meredith.
  • Camping and Hiking: There are places to camp and trails for hiking.
  • Hunting: During certain times of the year, you can also go hunting.

About 10 miles southwest of Fritch is the Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument. This is a special place where Native Americans once gathered flint. The city of Fritch also has its own museum. It is called the Lake Meredith Historical Museum. Here, you can learn about the history of the area.

Famous People from Fritch

Some well-known people have connections to Fritch:

  • John LaGrone (1944–2022), an American football player and judge.
  • Krum (born 1977), a rapper.
  • Ron White (born 1956), a comedian.

Education in Fritch

Students in Fritch attend schools in the Sanford-Fritch Independent School District.

Images for kids

See also

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

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