Sierra Blanca, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sierra Blanca, Texas
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Sierra Blanca with "SB" on mountain in the background
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Hudspeth |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.8 sq mi (12.4 km2) |
| • Land | 4.7 sq mi (12.3 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,528 ft (1,380 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 553 |
| • Density | 116/sq mi (44.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
79851
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| Area code(s) | 915 |
| FIPS code | 48-67772 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1368253 |
Sierra Blanca is a small town in Hudspeth County, Texas, United States. It's the main town, or county seat, of Hudspeth County. It's also part of a larger area called a census-designated place (CDP). This town is located in the Trans-Pecos region of far West Texas, not far from the Mexican border. Sierra Blanca is in the Mountain Time Zone. In 2010, about 553 people lived there.
The town started in 1881 when a major railroad was finished there. Sierra Blanca became a meeting point for the Southern Pacific and Missouri Pacific train lines. Hudspeth County was created in 1917 from El Paso County. Sierra Blanca was chosen as its county seat and has the only adobe courthouse in Texas.
Today, the town helps travelers on Interstate 10, which is a main road connecting Texas from west to southeast. The town got its name from the nearby Sierra Blanca Mountain. The mountain was named for the white poppies that grew there. Sierra Blanca means "white mountain" in Spanish. You can see the letters "SB" on a nearby mountain from Interstate 10.
Contents
Geography and Climate
Sierra Blanca is located in Far West Texas, a very mountainous and dry part of the state. It sits about 4,520 feet (1,380 meters) above sea level. The town is in Hudspeth County, which is a very large county with few people. The Sierra Blanca Mountain, which is over 7,000 feet (2,134 meters) tall, stands over the town. The air in Sierra Blanca is very clean, and the water is also very clean.
The area around Sierra Blanca has mostly dry land that isn't good for large-scale farming. Because the town is high up, it has cooler weather than other parts of the Chihuahuan Desert.
Weather Patterns
Summer days in Sierra Blanca are hot, but the nights are cool. Sometimes, the town has strong winds and dust storms. June is usually the hottest month. The highest temperature ever recorded was 109°F (43°C) in 1994. In winter, very cold temperatures can happen when the jet stream moves south. December is usually the coldest month. The lowest temperature recorded was -10°F (-23°C) in 1985.
The town usually gets less than 1 inch (25 mm) of snow each year. During hurricane season, big tropical storms can sometimes bring a lot of rain to this dry, mountainous area. This can cause sudden floods. On average, Sierra Blanca has 293 sunny days and 43 days with rain each year. The town gets about 11.27 inches (286 mm) of rain annually.
| Climate data for Sierra Blanca, Texas | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 58 (14) |
63 (17) |
69 (21) |
78 (26) |
87 (31) |
94 (34) |
92 (33) |
90 (32) |
87 (31) |
78 (26) |
67 (19) |
58 (14) |
77 (25) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 26 (−3) |
29 (−2) |
35 (2) |
43 (6) |
52 (11) |
61 (16) |
64 (18) |
62 (17) |
56 (13) |
44 (7) |
33 (1) |
26 (−3) |
44 (7) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.40 (10) |
0.68 (17) |
0.30 (7.6) |
0.33 (8.4) |
0.52 (13) |
1.13 (29) |
2.13 (54) |
2.15 (55) |
1.45 (37) |
1.15 (29) |
0.41 (10) |
0 (0) |
11.27 (286) |
People and Community
In 2010, there were 553 people living in Sierra Blanca. These people lived in 172 households, and 126 of those were families. The population density was about 116 people per square mile. Most people (83.91%) were White. About 72.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.
About 40.2% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.63 people, and the average family had 3.31 people. The median age in Sierra Blanca was 34.3 years old. This means half the people were younger than 34.3, and half were older.
The average income for a household in Sierra Blanca was $32,464. About 22.5% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 28.3% of those under 18 and 32.6% of those 65 or older.
Economy and Local Life
The cost of living in Sierra Blanca is about 20% lower than the average for the United States. About 49.5% of people own their homes. The average home is worth $54,600, and its value goes up by about 1.94% each year.
For a time, a few miles from Sierra Blanca, there was a place that received treated sewage from New York City by train. This practice stopped in 2001 after people in the area complained about bad smells and worries about health.
In the late 1990s, there was a plan to build a site for low-level radioactive waste near Sierra Blanca. Some thought this would help the town's economy. However, this plan was not approved. There were concerns because the area is known for having earthquakes.
In 2013, news reports said that Sierra Blanca had three restaurants and one motel. There was no grocery store in the community.
Education
Students in Sierra Blanca attend schools run by the Sierra Blanca Independent School District. The district spends about $6,343 per student each year. On average, there are about 10.9 students for every teacher.
For adults over 25, about 68.6% have a high school diploma. A smaller number have college degrees: 3.2% have a bachelor's degree, and 2.6% have a graduate degree.
El Paso Community College also serves Hudspeth County, including Sierra Blanca.
Images for kids
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Hudspeth County Courthouse
See also
In Spanish: Sierra Blanca (Texas) para niños
