Happy, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Happy, Texas
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Downtown Happy, Texas
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| Motto(s):
The Town Without A Frown
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Location of Happy, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Counties | Swisher, Randall |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.06 sq mi (2.75 km2) |
| • Land | 1.06 sq mi (2.75 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,616 ft (1,102 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 602 |
| • Density | 567.9/sq mi (218.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
79042
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| Area code(s) | 806 |
| FIPS code | 48-32156 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1358748 |
Happy is a small town in Texas, a state in the United States. It is located in both Randall and Swisher Counties. In 2020, about 602 people lived there. The part of Happy that is in Randall County is close to the bigger city of Amarillo, Texas.
Contents
The Name of Happy, Texas
The town of Happy got its name from a stream called Happy Draw. Cowboys in the 1800s were very happy when they found water there. That's how the stream, and later the town, got its cheerful name. Happy's official saying is "The Town Without A Frown."
Where is Happy Located?
Happy is mostly located within Swisher County. It's a small town, covering about 1.1 square miles (2.8 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the town limits.
People Living in Happy
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 724 | — | |
| 1940 | 576 | −20.4% | |
| 1950 | 690 | 19.8% | |
| 1960 | 624 | −9.6% | |
| 1970 | 672 | 7.7% | |
| 1980 | 674 | 0.3% | |
| 1990 | 588 | −12.8% | |
| 2000 | 647 | 10.0% | |
| 2010 | 678 | 4.8% | |
| 2020 | 602 | −11.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Happy's Population in 2020
In 2020, there were 602 people living in Happy. These people lived in 226 different homes, and 111 of these were families.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 471 | 78.24% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 7 | 1.16% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 5 | 0.83% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 6 | 1.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 113 | 18.77% |
| Total | 602 |
Happy's Population in 2010
Back in 2010, Happy had 678 people. There were 267 homes, and 182 of them were families. The town had about 607 people per square mile.
Many homes (30.7%) had children under 18 living there. Most homes (59.2%) were married couples living together. About 28.1% of all homes were single people living alone.
The average age of people in Happy was 38 years old. About 25.8% of the population was under 18. Around 18.9% of the people were 65 years or older.
The average income for a family in Happy was about $39,375 per year. Some families and people lived below the poverty line, including about 12.1% of those under 18.
In 2011, Happy's population was getting smaller. This was partly because of a shortage of water.
Education in Happy
Students in Happy attend schools run by the Happy Independent School District. The town is also home to the Happy High School Cowboys sports teams.
Famous People from Happy
Happy has been the birthplace of a few notable people:
- Barry G. Clark was a scientist who helped create the Very Large Array, a huge group of radio telescopes.
- Joe Cephis Fortenberry was the captain of the very first U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team.
- Buddy Knox was a Rockabilly musician, a type of early rock and roll music.
The Uncle Sam Band
Happy is also known for the Uncle Sam Band. This band started in the 1930s. It was led by James Douglass Forbus, who was the band director at Happy High School. The Uncle Sam Band even led a parade in Amarillo, Texas, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited.
Happy's Climate
Happy has a semiarid climate. This means it's usually dry, but not a desert. The town has been hit by two strong tornadoes. One happened on May 5, 2002, and another on March 13, 2021.
Environment and Safety
There was an old grain storage building in Happy called the Attebury Grain Storage Facility. In 2009, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added this site to a special list called the Superfund National Priorities List. This happened because some chemicals were found in the ground and in the water nearby.
One of the chemicals found was Carbon tetrachloride. This chemical was used to put out a fire at the storage facility way back in 1962. It was found in some of the town's water wells and in private wells. The EPA is now working to clean up the area to make sure it is safe.
See also
In Spanish: Happy (Texas) para niños
