Sanderson, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sanderson, Texas
|
|
|---|---|
Terrell County Courthouse in Sanderson
|
|
 |
|
 Sanderson, Texas
Location in Texas
Sanderson, Texas
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Terrell |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.2 sq mi (10.8 km2) |
| • Land | 4.2 sq mi (10.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,868 ft (874 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 664 |
| • Density | 158.1/sq mi (61.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
79848
|
| Area code(s) | 432 |
| FIPS code | 48-65084 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1346563 |
Sanderson is a small town in Texas, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Terrell County. In 2020, about 664 people lived there.
Sanderson was started in 1882. At first, it was part of Pecos County. Later, in 1905, it became the county seat for Terrell County.
Contents
History of Sanderson
Sanderson was founded in 1882. It became an important stop for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Trains would refuel and change crews here on their long journeys across the country.
The town's economy mainly relied on producing mohair and wool from sheep and goats. When this type of farming slowed down, the town's economy also started to decline.
Major Events in Sanderson
In June 1965, a very bad flood hit Sanderson. It caused many deaths and destroyed homes and businesses. This happened near Sanderson Creek, which is usually dry. Since then, many dams have been built to control floods upstream from the town.
In 1995, railroad rules changed. The Southern Pacific Railroad stopped changing train crews in Sanderson. This meant fewer people came through the town. By 2013, Sanderson had lost many of its businesses. Its population was also about half of what it used to be.
On June 2, 2024, two tornadoes struck Sanderson. They caused a lot of damage to homes. Some people were also hurt. These tornadoes were rated EF1 and EF3, which means they were quite strong.
Historic Buildings in Town
You can take a tour to see about 50 historic places in Sanderson. Many notable buildings from its busier past still stand.
The 1906 Courthouse was designed by Henry Phelps. It has been changed several times over the years. Facing the courthouse is the 1931 Sanderson High School. It was designed in the Art Deco style by Ralph W. Cameron. Above its entrance, you can see the words "TRUTH CULTURE PROGRESS SUCCESS."
Nearby, there is an old Masonic Lodge building. It is now a private home. Kerrs Mercantile on U.S. Route 90 was a major store for many years. Now, it is called the Z bar trading company. It sells hardware, household goods, and gifts.
Geography and Climate
Sanderson covers about 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²). All of this area is land. The town is located on U.S. Route 90. It is about 120 miles (193 km) west of Del Rio.
Sanderson's Climate
Sanderson has a hot, semi-arid climate. This means it is often dry and hot. Winters are usually mild and sunny, but nights can be cold. Summers are hot. Sometimes, thunderstorms bring rain. Hurricanes moving inland from the Gulf of Mexico can also bring rain.
| Climate data for Sanderson, Texas (Jan 1, 1897–Mar 31, 2013) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 87 (31) |
94 (34) |
96 (36) |
101 (38) |
109 (43) |
110 (43) |
107 (42) |
106 (41) |
106 (41) |
102 (39) |
94 (34) |
85 (29) |
110 (43) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 60.8 (16.0) |
64.5 (18.1) |
72.9 (22.7) |
81.5 (27.5) |
87.3 (30.7) |
92.0 (33.3) |
92.6 (33.7) |
92.4 (33.6) |
86.9 (30.5) |
78.8 (26.0) |
69.2 (20.7) |
61.3 (16.3) |
78.4 (25.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 46.1 (7.8) |
49.6 (9.8) |
57.6 (14.2) |
66.6 (19.2) |
73.7 (23.2) |
79.6 (26.4) |
81.0 (27.2) |
80.4 (26.9) |
74.6 (23.7) |
65.1 (18.4) |
54.7 (12.6) |
46.8 (8.2) |
64.7 (18.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 31.4 (−0.3) |
34.8 (1.6) |
42.3 (5.7) |
51.7 (10.9) |
60.2 (15.7) |
67.3 (19.6) |
69.4 (20.8) |
68.4 (20.2) |
62.3 (16.8) |
51.4 (10.8) |
40.2 (4.6) |
32.3 (0.2) |
51.0 (10.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 7 (−14) |
4 (−16) |
12 (−11) |
22 (−6) |
37 (3) |
40 (4) |
49 (9) |
54 (12) |
40 (4) |
21 (−6) |
12 (−11) |
3 (−16) |
3 (−16) |
| Average rainfall inches (mm) | 0.46 (12) |
0.54 (14) |
0.42 (11) |
0.79 (20) |
1.62 (41) |
1.73 (44) |
1.42 (36) |
1.50 (38) |
2.14 (54) |
1.49 (38) |
0.59 (15) |
0.42 (11) |
13.12 (334) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.2 (0.51) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.4 (1.01) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.01 in) | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 38 |
| Source: Western Regional Climate Center, Desert Research Institute | |||||||||||||
Population of Sanderson
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 861 | — | |
| 2010 | 837 | −2.8% | |
| 2020 | 664 | −20.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 |
|||
2020 Census Information
In 2020, there were 664 people living in Sanderson. These people made up 312 households and 199 families.
The table below shows the different groups of people living in Sanderson in 2020.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 274 | 41.27% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 8 | 1.2% |
| Asian (NH) | 5 | 0.75% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 2 | 0.3% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 17 | 2.56% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 358 | 53.92% |
| Total | 664 |
Education in Sanderson
The Terrell County Independent School District serves Sanderson. The town is home to the Sanderson High School Eagles. Both the high school and junior high school have a six-man football team.
Media and News
The local newspaper is called the Terrell County Sun. Its first issue came out in November 2013. It replaced an older paper, the Terrell County News-Leader, which closed in July 2013. For a short time, a bulletin board was the only source of local news.
In 2013, there was no radio reception in Sanderson. Television in the area used to come from Colorado.
Transportation and Travel
Sanderson has several ways to get around:
- U.S. Route 90
- U.S. Route 285
- The Sanderson station is served by Amtrak trains. These include the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle. They travel between Los Angeles, New Orleans, or Chicago.
- The Terrell County Airport is nearby. It offers services for general aviation.
Sanderson in Popular Culture
Sanderson has been featured in books and movies.
- In the 2005 novel No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy, and the 2007 film based on it, Sanderson is where the character Llewellyn Moss lives.
- It is also a destination in McCarthy's 1998 book Cities of the Plain. In this book, a group of Mexicans looking for work travel to Sanderson.
See also
In Spanish: Sanderson (Texas) para niños
