Shamrock, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shamrock, Texas
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Historic U-Drop Inn, a Conoco fuel station restoration in Art Deco style along U.S. Route 66 in Shamrock
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Location in Wheeler County and the state of Texas.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Wheeler |
| First Settled | 1890 |
| Incorporated | 1911 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.05 sq mi (5.30 km2) |
| • Land | 2.05 sq mi (5.30 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,333 ft (711 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,789 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
79079
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| Area code(s) | 806 |
| FIPS code | 48-67160 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411875 |
Shamrock is a city in Wheeler County, Texas, United States. In 2020, about 1,789 people lived there. The city is in the eastern part of the Texas Panhandle. It sits where Interstate 40 (which used to be U.S. Route 66) and U.S. Route 83 meet. Shamrock is about 110 miles (177 km) east of Amarillo. It is also 188 miles (303 km) west of Oklahoma City and 291 miles (468 km) northwest of Dallas.
Contents
History of Shamrock
Shamrock was the biggest town in Wheeler County in the late 1800s. In 1890, George and Dora Nickel agreed to open the first post office in their home. Mail was delivered once a week from Mobeetie, Texas. George named the office "Shamrock" because his Irish-American mother said a shamrock brings good luck.
However, a fire destroyed George Nickel's home, so his post office never opened. Mary Ruth Jones became the first postmistress. She ran the Shamrock post office from her family's home.
In 1902, a railway company set up a station in the town. They first called it "Wheeler," like the county. But in 1903, they changed the name back to Shamrock. This led to the post office reopening. By 1907, Shamrock was a busy trade center, competing with nearby towns.
The town kept growing as more businesses arrived. The county newspaper moved to Shamrock and changed its name to the Shamrock Texan. Banks and a cotton oil mill also opened. In 1911, E. L. Woodley became the first mayor of the newly official city.
In 1926, oil was found, and natural gas wells started working. This helped Shamrock grow even more. But in the 1940s, fewer people lived there when the oil industry slowed down. The population grew again in the 1950s because Route 66 improved. By the 1980s, Shamrock had a modern school system, a chemical plant, oil and gas plants, and a hospital.
In 1930, Shamrock had its largest population of 3,778 people. The population has changed over time. In 2020, it was 1,789 residents. Even with fewer people, Shamrock is still the second-largest city on the Texas part of Route 66, after Amarillo.
Geography and Climate
Shamrock covers about 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) of land.
Shamrock's Weather
Shamrock has a climate with warm summers and mild winters. Here is a look at the average temperatures and rainfall:
| Climate data for Shamrock, Texas | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 48 (9) |
54 (12) |
62 (17) |
72 (22) |
79 (26) |
88 (31) |
93 (34) |
92 (33) |
84 (29) |
73 (23) |
59 (15) |
50 (10) |
71 (22) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 23 (−5) |
27 (−3) |
35 (2) |
44 (7) |
54 (12) |
64 (18) |
68 (20) |
67 (19) |
59 (15) |
47 (8) |
34 (1) |
26 (−3) |
46 (8) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.56 (14) |
0.84 (21) |
1.88 (48) |
2.19 (56) |
3.92 (100) |
3.74 (95) |
2.17 (55) |
2.27 (58) |
2.83 (72) |
1.92 (49) |
1.17 (30) |
0.83 (21) |
24.32 (619) |
| Source: weather.com | |||||||||||||
People and Economy
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 1,227 | — | |
| 1930 | 3,780 | 208.1% | |
| 1940 | 3,123 | −17.4% | |
| 1950 | 3,322 | 6.4% | |
| 1960 | 3,113 | −6.3% | |
| 1970 | 2,644 | −15.1% | |
| 1980 | 2,834 | 7.2% | |
| 1990 | 2,286 | −19.3% | |
| 2000 | 2,029 | −11.2% | |
| 2010 | 1,910 | −5.9% | |
| 2020 | 1,789 | −6.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population in 2020
In 2020, there were 1,789 people living in Shamrock. Most residents (about 76.6%) were White. About 3.9% were Black or African American, and 1.8% were American Indian or Alaska Native. About 13.4% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Shamrock's Economy
In 2021, the average income for a household in Shamrock was about $38,958 per year. About 22.1% of all people in Shamrock lived below the poverty line.
Age of Residents
In 2021, the average age of people in Shamrock was 36.7 years old.
Arts and Culture
The U-Drop Inn
The U-Drop Inn was built in 1936. It was located where U.S. Route 83 and the famous Route 66 met. When it opened, it was the only cafe for 100 miles (161 km) around Shamrock. It was very popular and successful.
The U-Drop Inn was known as a beautiful example of Route 66 architecture. But when Route 66 was no longer used as much, the building fell apart. In 1997, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
In 1999, the city of Shamrock bought the U-Drop Inn. They received a $1.7 million grant to fix it up. Experts helped restore the building to its original look. Now, it is a museum, a visitors' center, a gift shop, and the city's chamber of commerce. The U-Drop Inn was even featured in the 2006 animated movie Cars. It was the inspiration for Ramone's body shop.
Pioneer West Museum
The Old Reynolds Hotel is a historic building in Shamrock. Local residents saved it from being torn down and turned it into a museum. The building has 25 rooms. These rooms now show pioneer artifacts, items from early settlers, and Native American arrowheads. The museum has exhibits on local history, space, and military history.
Shamrock's Blarney Stone
Shamrock has a piece of Ireland's famous Blarney Stone. In 1959, a local group wanted to keep the town's Irish heritage alive. They arranged for a piece of the stone to be brought to Shamrock. It was even escorted by guards and an armored truck!
Fun Festivals and Celebrations
Shamrock holds two main events each year to celebrate its Irish roots. The annual St. Patrick's Celebration happens on the weekend closest to St. Patrick's Day. The Irish Craftfest is held every year on the first weekend of October. It takes place at the Shamrock Area Community Center.
Education
Students in Shamrock attend schools in the Shamrock Independent School District. The high school team is called the Shamrock High School Irish.
Transportation
The Shamrock Municipal Airport serves the city. It is located east of Shamrock, just north of Interstate 40.
Main Roads
Notable People
- Bill Mack, a singer and songwriter.
- Gene Price, a songwriter, musician, and singer. He worked with Buck Owens for a long time.
- Larry Salmans, a state legislator from Kansas.
- Holice Turnbow, an artist who makes quilts.
- Eugene Worley, who grew up in Shamrock. He was a U.S. representative from Texas from 1941 to 1950.
See also
In Spanish: Shamrock (Texas) para niños
