Sunray, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sunray, Texas
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Location of Sunray, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Moore |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.71 sq mi (4.42 km2) |
| • Land | 1.71 sq mi (4.42 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,504 ft (1,068 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,707 |
| • Density | 998/sq mi (386.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
79086
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| Area code(s) | 806 |
| FIPS code | 48-71180 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412010 |
Sunray is a city located in the northeastern part of Moore County, Texas, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,707 people lived there.
Contents
History of Sunray
Sunray, Texas, was started by a man named Jack Clarence Collins. He was born in Hartley, Texas, in 1893. In 1902, he moved to Channing with his parents.
Jack Collins finished high school in Channing. Later, in 1916, he graduated from Texas A&M. He was the best student in his class and also the class president in his final year. After college, he worked as a cashier at the First National Bank of Channing for several years. During this time, his family also grew their ranching business. Mr. Collins was well-known in the ranching and finance world. He was also an important member of the Republican Party for many years.
How Sunray Got Its Name
When Jack Collins first planned the town in 1930, he did not call it "Sunray." The first land lots were sold for $10 each under the name "Altman." However, they soon found out that another town in Rusk County already had that name. So, they decided to use the name "Sunray" instead.
A request for a post office was sent on May 5, 1930, using the name "Altman." Because of the name being already taken, the name "Sunray" was not approved until 1935.
The name "Sunray" came about because the Sunray Oil Company (which later became Sunoco) built a gas-oil refinery near the town. This refinery was on 10 acres (40,000 m2) of land. Mr. Collins had originally given this land to Dana Oil & Gas Royalty Company. Sunray Oil Company later bought Dana's properties in the early Jones Field, which was an oil and gas area in northeastern Moore County, close to the new town.
The town's location was chosen because a new Rock Island Railroad route was built. This route went from Dalhart to Morse, running along the northern edge of Mr. Collins's town survey. At that time, the town was about 3 miles (4.8 km) from the Jones Well and 6 miles (9.7 km) from the Morton oil well. Both of these were early oil and gas discoveries in Moore County.
On July 29, 1956, a serious accident happened at the nearby industrial plant. This event is known as the McKee refinery fire.
Geography and Climate
Sunray is located in a flat area of Texas. The United States Census Bureau says the city covers about 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) of land, with no water.
Local Climate
Sunray has a semiarid climate. This means it is generally dry, but not as dry as a desert. On climate maps, this type of weather is called BSk.
Population Information
The population of Sunray has changed over the years. Here is a look at how many people have lived in the city during different census years:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 1,530 | — | |
| 1960 | 1,967 | 28.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,854 | −5.7% | |
| 1980 | 1,952 | 5.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,729 | −11.4% | |
| 2000 | 1,950 | 12.8% | |
| 2010 | 1,926 | −1.2% | |
| 2020 | 1,707 | −11.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Details
The 2020 United States census counted 1,707 people living in Sunray. There were 781 households and 577 families in the city.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 832 | 48.74% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 5 | 0.29% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 10 | 0.59% |
| Asian (NH) | 3 | 0.18% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 43 | 2.52% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 814 | 47.69% |
| Total | 1,707 |
Economy of Sunray
A major part of Sunray's economy is the Valero McKee Refinery. It is located a few miles southwest of the city. This refinery processes a large amount of oil each day, about 200,000 barrels. It also employs 475 full-time workers.
Education in Sunray
The city of Sunray is served by the Sunray Independent School District. Students in Sunray attend schools within this district. The local high school is Sunray High School, and its sports teams are known as the Bobcats.
See also
In Spanish: Sunray (Texas) para niños
