Phillips, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Phillips, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Hutchinson |
| Elevation | 3,061 ft (933 m) |
| Population
(1947)
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| • Total | 4,250 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
79007 (Borger)
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| Area code(s) | 806 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1365141 |
Phillips is a ghost town in Hutchinson County, Texas, United States. It was first called Pantex, Texas. In 1938, Pantex joined with Whittenburg. They decided to rename their combined town Phillips. This new name honored the Phillips Petroleum Company, which was the main employer there.
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Notable People from Phillips
Some famous people lived in Phillips. American actress Mary Castle grew up here. She went to junior high school in Phillips.
State Senator Max Sherman also lived in Phillips. He later became president of West Texas A&M University. Singer and songwriter Russell "Red" Steagall grew up nearby in Sanford. He also graduated from Phillips High School.
Phillips' Population Over Time
Phillips grew quite a bit. Its highest population was 4,250 people in 1947.
Changes in Population
In the 1950s and 1960s, roads got better. It became easier for people to travel. Many businesses and families started moving to nearby Borger.
By 1980, the number of people living in Phillips had dropped. The population was about 2,500.
Education in Phillips
Phillips was part of the Phillips Independent School District. This district served the town's students.
In 1987, the Phillips school district merged. It joined with two other school districts. These were Plemons and Stinnett. The new district became the Plemons-Stinnett-Phillips Consolidated Independent School District.
High School Fire
On March 19, 1950, a big fire happened. It destroyed the high school building. Local churches helped out. They let students use their buildings for classes. This continued until a new school could be built.
The 1980 Refinery Explosion
In 1980, a large explosion occurred. It happened at the Phillips 66 refinery. This explosion damaged part of the industrial area. Some homes nearby were also destroyed. The damages cost millions of dollars.
After the explosion, there was a long discussion. The people of Phillips, a cattle company, and Phillips 66 talked about the town's future. Phillips 66 Oil Company asked for the town to be permanently closed. This meant no one could live there anymore.
Why Phillips Closed
Most homes in Phillips were owned by families. But the land they were on was not. Two local ranchers owned the land. They leased it to the oil company. Later, the company leased it to the homeowners.
After the explosion, Phillips 66 bought the land from the ranchers. They then asked the homeowners to move. Many homes were moved to nearby towns. These towns included Borger, Stinnett, and Fritch. Any homes that were not moved were torn down.
School Mascot Changes
When the three school districts merged in 1987, their mascots changed too.
- The Plemons Indians
- The Stinnett Rattlers
- The Phillips Blackhawks
All these mascots were changed. The new mascot for the combined district became the Comanches. Today, all the schools in the district are united. They are West Texas Elementary, West Texas Middle School, and West Texas High School. They are all known as the Comanches.
Phillips Today
Today, Phillips is mostly a ghost town. The old high school building is one of the few left. It is now used for business by the Phillips 66 Refinery.
