Levelland, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Levelland, Texas
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Mallet Event Center and Rodeo Arena
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 Levelland, Texas
Location in Texas
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| County | Hockley |
| Region | Llano Estacado |
| Established | 1921 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10.21 sq mi (26.45 km2) |
| • Land | 10.21 sq mi (26.44 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,520 ft (1,070 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,652 |
| • Density | 1,239.18/sq mi (478.52/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| ZIP code |
79336, 79338
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| Area code | 806 |
| FIPS code | 48-42448 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1361113 |
Levelland is a city and the county seat of Hockley County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 12,652, down from 13,542 at the 2010 census. It is located on the Llano Estacado, 30 miles (48 km) west of Lubbock. Major industries include cotton farming and petroleum production. It is the home of South Plains College. Levelland is the principal city of the Levelland micropolitan statistical area, which includes all of Hockley County and part of the larger Lubbock–Levelland combined statistical area. Levelland was so named on account of the flat land at the town site.
Contents
History
Levelland became the county seat upon its organization in 1921. Initially named Hockley City by Charles W. Post in 1912, development began in 1921, and the town was swiftly renamed for its local topography. The town's foundation was further solidified with the commencement of Santa Fe Railroad service in July 1925.
The 1950s oil boom led to the establishment of a refinery and gas plant.
Levelland experienced civic development, including the opening of a municipal park in 1951 through fundraising by civic clubs. Infrastructure improvements, an airfield, road systems, and a hospital, were undertaken around the same time. The town established a county library in the 1950s and the South Plains Museum in 1968. South Plains College, a two-year community college, opened in 1958.
Geography
Levelland is at the center of Hockley County. Texas State Highway 114 runs through the north side of the city, leading east 30 miles (48 km) to Lubbock and west 43 miles (69 km) to the New Mexico border. U.S. Route 385 passes through the center of the city, east of downtown, leading north 24 miles (39 km) to Littlefield and south 29 miles (47 km) to Brownfield.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Levelland has a total area of 10.2 square miles (26.3 km2), of which 0.004 square miles (0.01 km2), or 0.06%, is covered by water.
Climate
Levelland has a semi-arid climate (Köppen: Bsk) with generally low relative humidity levels.
| Climate data for Levelland, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1937–1943, 1946–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 82 (28) |
88 (31) |
95 (35) |
101 (38) |
111 (44) |
115 (46) |
111 (44) |
106 (41) |
105 (41) |
103 (39) |
94 (34) |
81 (27) |
115 (46) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 74.7 (23.7) |
79.1 (26.2) |
85.9 (29.9) |
91.4 (33.0) |
98.4 (36.9) |
102.8 (39.3) |
101.8 (38.8) |
99.5 (37.5) |
96.2 (35.7) |
91.1 (32.8) |
81.9 (27.7) |
74.0 (23.3) |
105.0 (40.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 53.7 (12.1) |
58.5 (14.7) |
66.5 (19.2) |
75.2 (24.0) |
83.7 (28.7) |
91.3 (32.9) |
92.4 (33.6) |
90.5 (32.5) |
83.5 (28.6) |
74.7 (23.7) |
62.7 (17.1) |
54.4 (12.4) |
73.9 (23.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 39.5 (4.2) |
43.3 (6.3) |
50.8 (10.4) |
58.9 (14.9) |
68.5 (20.3) |
77.1 (25.1) |
79.0 (26.1) |
77.3 (25.2) |
70.2 (21.2) |
60.0 (15.6) |
48.2 (9.0) |
40.5 (4.7) |
59.4 (15.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 25.2 (−3.8) |
28.2 (−2.1) |
35.0 (1.7) |
42.6 (5.9) |
53.4 (11.9) |
62.8 (17.1) |
65.6 (18.7) |
64.1 (17.8) |
57.0 (13.9) |
45.3 (7.4) |
33.6 (0.9) |
26.6 (−3.0) |
44.9 (7.2) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 13.0 (−10.6) |
15.3 (−9.3) |
20.3 (−6.5) |
29.8 (−1.2) |
40.5 (4.7) |
54.6 (12.6) |
60.9 (16.1) |
58.5 (14.7) |
46.0 (7.8) |
30.8 (−0.7) |
19.5 (−6.9) |
12.8 (−10.7) |
8.8 (−12.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −16 (−27) |
−8 (−22) |
3 (−16) |
20 (−7) |
26 (−3) |
43 (6) |
48 (9) |
49 (9) |
33 (1) |
14 (−10) |
0 (−18) |
−3 (−19) |
−16 (−27) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.66 (17) |
0.60 (15) |
1.12 (28) |
1.00 (25) |
2.40 (61) |
2.67 (68) |
2.06 (52) |
2.29 (58) |
2.29 (58) |
1.53 (39) |
0.87 (22) |
0.78 (20) |
18.27 (464) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 1.3 (3.3) |
1.5 (3.8) |
0.5 (1.3) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.9 (2.3) |
1.9 (4.8) |
6.2 (16) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 3.8 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 3.9 | 6.0 | 6.8 | 6.4 | 7.4 | 6.2 | 5.4 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 62.7 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 4.8 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,661 | — | |
| 1940 | 3,091 | 86.1% | |
| 1950 | 8,264 | 167.4% | |
| 1960 | 10,153 | 22.9% | |
| 1970 | 11,445 | 12.7% | |
| 1980 | 13,809 | 20.7% | |
| 1990 | 13,986 | 1.3% | |
| 2000 | 12,866 | −8.0% | |
| 2010 | 13,542 | 5.3% | |
| 2020 | 12,652 | −6.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 4,693 | 37.09% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 468 | 3.7% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 36 | 0.28% |
| Asian (NH) | 38 | 0.3% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 2 | 0.02% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 34 | 0.27% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 227 | 1.79% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7,154 | 56.54% |
| Total | 12,652 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 12,652 people, 4,880 households, and 3,245 families residing in the city.
Education
- The City of Levelland is served by the Levelland Independent School District.
- The Levelland High School mascot is the Lobo.
- Levelland is also home to South Plains College.
Levelland in popular culture
The James McMurtry song "Levelland", recorded in 1995, is a song about life in the city, told from a slightly acerbic point of view. The song has also been recorded by Robert Earl Keen.
Held in the third week of July, Camp Bluegrass is a large social event, with public concerts, held on the South Plains College campus.
Levelland is home to the 12-year-old state champions in baseball, the Levelland Kekambas. This was the first team to ever win state from Levelland. The team ended up placing fifth at the regional tournament in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
UFO allegations
Levelland is famous as the site of a well-publicized series of UFO sightings in November 1957. Several motorists driving on various highways around Levelland in the evening and early morning hours of November 2–3 claimed to see a large, egg-shaped object which emitted a blue glow and caused their automobiles to shut off. In most cases, the object was sitting either on the highway or close to it. When the object took off, witnesses claimed their vehicles would restart and work normally. Among witnesses were Weir Clem, Levelland's sheriff, and Ray Jones, the town's fire chief. The United States Air Force concluded a severe electrical storm (most probably ball lightning), was the major cause for the sightings and reported auto failures. However, several prominent UFO researchers, among them Dr. James E. McDonald, a physicist at the University of Arizona, and Dr. J. Allen Hynek, an astronomer at Northwestern University, disputed this explanation. Both men argued that no electrical storm was in the area when the sightings occurred.
Levelland Municipal Airport (LLN)
- Airport elevation – 3514 ft above mean sea level
- Two active runways
- 17/35 – 6,110 ft
- 08/26 – 2,072 ft
Notable people
- Beau Boulter, attorney, lobbyist, and former U.S. representative from Texas's 13th congressional district
- Frank Jackson, wide receiver with the Dallas Texans, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Miami Dolphins 1961–1967, AFL All-Star 1965
- Ronny Jackson, physician to the President of the United States during the Obama and Trump administrations, unsuccessful nominee to head the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, later elected U.S. Representative for Texas's 13th congressional district
- Gene Mayfield (1928–2009), a successful high school and college football coach, concluded his career at Levelland High School
- Kinna McInroe, actress, known for her role as Nina in the film Office Space. She has guest-starred in episodes of several television series.
- David J. Schmidly (born 1943), an American scientist, professor and university president, was born in Levelland
- Marlene Willis, (January 13, 1942 - March 29, 1982), was an American singer, who performed on many televised variety shows during the 1950s, and later appeared as a guest star in several television series.
See also
In Spanish: Levelland (Texas) para niños
