Editing Hereford, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Hereford
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = Beef Capital of the World;<br />The Town Without a Toothache
<!-- Images -->| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = Hereford, TX, welcome sign IMG_4834.JPG
| imagesize          = 250px
| image_caption      = Hereford welcome sign on [[U.S. Route 385|U.S. Highway 385]]
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = TXMap-doton-Hereford.PNG
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Hereford, Texas
| image_map1         = Deaf Smith County Hereford.svg
| mapsize1           = 250px
| map_caption1       = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States of America
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Texas]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Deaf Smith County, Texas|Deaf Smith]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = Mayor Cathy Bunch
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = <!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 16.32
| area_land_km2      = 16.32
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi   = 6.30
| area_land_sq_mi    = 6.30
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 14972
| population_density_km2 = 917.40
| population_density_sq_mi = 2376.51

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 3819
| coordinates        = {{coord|34|49|22|N|102|23|55|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 79045
| area_code          = [[Area code 806|806]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 48-33320 <ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2410747<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410747}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|www.hereford-tx.gov}}
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Hereford''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|ɜr|f|ər|d}} {{respell|HUR|fərd}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.texastripper.com/pronounce/locations-h-i.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-11-28 |archive-date=2013-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921212024/http://www.texastripper.com/pronounce/locations-h-i.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>) is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Deaf Smith County, Texas]], United States. It is 48 miles southwest of [[Amarillo, Texas|Amarillo]]. Its population was 14,972 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]]. It is the only incorporated locality named "[[Hereford (disambiguation)|Hereford]]" in the United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=2011-05-31 }}</ref>

The area is known for its [[semiarid]] climate, with heavy farming and ranching throughout the area sustained by irrigation from the [[Ogallala Aquifer]] and the saltier Santa Rosa Aquifer beneath it. 

Hereford's local water supply contains an unusually high level of naturally occurring [[fluoride]]. Because fluoride is used to protect against tooth decay, Hereford earned the title "The Town Without a Toothache".

It is also known as the "Beef Capital of the World" because of the large number of cattle [[feedlots]] in the area. The city is named for the [[Hereford (cattle)|Hereford breed]]. The local economy is affected significantly by growth in the dairy and [[ethanol]] industries.

Hereford is also home to the headquarters of the [[Deaf Smith Electric Cooperative]], which serves Deaf Smith, [[Castro County, Texas|Castro]], [[Parmer County, Texas|Parmer]], and [[Oldham County, Texas|Oldham]] Counties.<ref>[http://www.crc.coop/crcweb/2009January.asp Spotlight on CRC Member: Deaf Smith Electric Cooperative.]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''Cooperative Response Center.''</ref>

==History==
[[File:Hereford,_Tex._(25637244773).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Hereford in 1909]]
Hereford was founded as "Blue Water" in 1899 after the [[Pecos and Northern Texas Railway]] connected Amarillo to [[Farwell, Texas|Farwell]]. After a town already named Blue Water was discovered, residents renamed the town "Hereford" in honor of the cattle of the local ranchers and the city, [[Hereford]], in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web | title=Hereford, TX | url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/heh02}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], a [[prisoner-of-war camp]] existed there for Italian prisoners of war. It was dismantled in 1947.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

In 1975, popular high school teacher Wayne Woodward was fired for his efforts to establish a local branch of the [[American Civil Liberties Union]]. Mr. Woodward won a subsequent legal suit, that gained national attention, against the [[Hereford Independent School District]]. The events were documented in the 2022 book ''You Will Never Be One of Us'' by Timothy P. Bowman.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Bynum |first1=Katherine |last2=Woodward |first2=Wayne |date=2016-06-09 |title=Oral History Interview with Wayne Woodward, June 9, 2016 |url=https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth982471/ |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=texashistory.unt.edu |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Woodward v. Hereford Independent Sch. Dist., 421 F. Supp. 93 (N.D. Tex. 1976) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/421/93/1769697/ |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=Justia Law |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Paul. |first=Bowman, Timothy |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1334105884 |title=You Will Never Be One of Us : a Teacher, a Texas Town, and the Rural Roots of Radical Conservatism. |date=July 28, 2022 |publisher=University of Oklahoma Press |isbn=978-0-8061-9133-1 |oclc=1334105884}}</ref>

A rich Western heritage includes the Las Escarbadas ranch house of the [[XIT Ranch]], once located southwest of Hereford. The restored historic structure can now be seen at the [[National Ranching Heritage Center]] at [[Texas Tech University]] in [[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]]. The [[Deaf Smith County Historical Museum]] at 400 Sampson Street in Hereford offers indoor and outdoor exhibits on the settlement of West Texas.

Hereford was once known as the "Windmill City"<ref>{{cite news |author=Hereford Economic Development Corporation |date=August 20, 2020 |title="The Windmill City" |url=https://www.herefordedc.com/what-is-hereford-texas-known-for |location=Hereford, Texas}}</ref> due to its many windmills supplying fresh water from the Ogallala Aquifer.

==Geography==

Hereford is located in southeastern Deaf Smith County and on the [[Llano Estacado]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|15.4|km2|order=flip}}, all land.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4833320| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Hereford city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=January 7, 2016| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213045314/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4833320| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[U.S. Route 60 in Texas|U.S. Highway 60]] passes through the city as 1st Street, leading northeast {{convert|48|mi}} to Amarillo and southwest {{convert|57|mi}} to [[Clovis, New Mexico]]. [[U.S. Route 385 in Texas|U.S. Highway 385]] (25 Mile Avenue) runs north–south through the city, leading north {{convert|30|mi}} to [[Interstate 40 in Texas|Interstate 40]] at [[Vega, Texas|Vega]] and south {{convert|20|mi}} to [[Dimmitt, Texas|Dimmitt]].

==Climate==
Hereford's climate is classified as a [[steppe climate]] (''BSk'') using the 2006 map of [[Köppen climate classification]], meaning it is [[semiarid]].<ref>{{cite journal | author=M. Kottek |author2=J. Grieser |author3=C. Beck |author4=B. Rudolf |author5=F. Rubel  | title=World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated | journal=Meteorol. Z. | volume=15 | pages=259–263 | url=http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/pics/kottek_et_al_2006.gif| format = GIF| doi=10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130 | access-date= August 26, 2009 | year=2006 |issue=3 |bibcode=2006MetZe..15..259K }}</ref> Hereford was named as the "coolest" city in Texas with an average summer temperature of {{convert|73|F|C|1|disp=or}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.movoto.com/tx/best-places-in-texas/|title = These Are the 10 Best Places to Live in Texas}}</ref>

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Hereford, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1905–1912, 1936–present)
 | Jan record high F  = 84
 | Feb record high F  = 85
 | Mar record high F  = 98
 | Apr record high F  = 99
 | May record high F  = 103
 | Jun record high F  = 111
 | Jul record high F  = 109
 | Aug record high F  = 107
 | Sep record high F  = 102
 | Oct record high F  = 97
 | Nov record high F  = 87
 | Dec record high F  = 80
 | year record high F = 
 | Jan avg record high F  = 71.0
 | Feb avg record high F  = 76.2
 | Mar avg record high F  = 84.3
 | Apr avg record high F  = 89.5
 | May avg record high F  = 96.0
 | Jun avg record high F  = 102.1
 | Jul avg record high F  = 101.4
 | Aug avg record high F  = 99.2
 | Sep avg record high F  = 95.8
 | Oct avg record high F  = 89.3
 | Nov avg record high F  = 79.7
 | Dec avg record high F  = 71.4
 | year avg record high F = 104.1
 | Jan high F = 51.1
 | Feb high F = 55.5
 | Mar high F = 64.3
 | Apr high F = 72.4
 | May high F = 81.1
 | Jun high F = 90.2
 | Jul high F = 92.4
 | Aug high F = 90.7
 | Sep high F = 83.5
 | Oct high F = 72.6
 | Nov high F = 60.3
 | Dec high F = 51.1
 | year high F = 72.1
 | Jan mean F = 36.8
 | Feb mean F = 40.4
 | Mar mean F = 48.3
 | Apr mean F = 56.1
 | May mean F = 65.7
 | Jun mean F = 75.4
 | Jul mean F = 78.6
 | Aug mean F = 77.1
 | Sep mean F = 69.7
 | Oct mean F = 57.9
 | Nov mean F = 45.8
 | Dec mean F = 37.4
 | year mean F = 57.4
 | Jan low F = 22.5
 | Feb low F = 25.3
 | Mar low F = 32.4
 | Apr low F = 39.7
 | May low F = 50.3
 | Jun low F = 60.6
 | Jul low F = 64.8
 | Aug low F = 63.5
 | Sep low F = 55.8
 | Oct low F = 43.3
 | Nov low F = 31.3
 | Dec low F = 23.8
 | year low F = 42.8
 | Jan avg record low F  = 9.3
 | Feb avg record low F  = 11.1
 | Mar avg record low F  = 18.4
 | Apr avg record low F  = 26.5
 | May avg record low F  = 36.9
 | Jun avg record low F  = 51.4
 | Jul avg record low F  = 59.0
 | Aug avg record low F  = 56.9
 | Sep avg record low F  = 43.7
 | Oct avg record low F  = 28.2
 | Nov avg record low F  = 16.6
 | Dec avg record low F  = 8.9
 | year avg record low F = 4.2
 | Jan record low F  = -15
 | Feb record low F  = -17
 | Mar record low F  = 1
 | Apr record low F  = 14
 | May record low F  = 16
 | Jun record low F  = 40
 | Jul record low F  = 51
 | Aug record low F  = 44
 | Sep record low F  = 31
 | Oct record low F  = 15
 | Nov record low F  = 0
 | Dec record low F  = -12
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 0.64
 | Feb precipitation inch = 0.45
 | Mar precipitation inch = 1.22
 | Apr precipitation inch = 1.09
 | May precipitation inch = 2.09
 | Jun precipitation inch = 3.34
 | Jul precipitation inch = 2.34
 | Aug precipitation inch = 3.04
 | Sep precipitation inch = 1.86
 | Oct precipitation inch = 1.85
 | Nov precipitation inch = 0.69
 | Dec precipitation inch = 0.72
 | year precipitation inch = 19.33
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 2.8
 | Feb precipitation days  = 3.2
 | Mar precipitation days  = 4.3
 | Apr precipitation days  = 4.8
 | May precipitation days  = 6.4
 | Jun precipitation days  = 7.6
 | Jul precipitation days  = 6.9
 | Aug precipitation days  = 8.3
 | Sep precipitation days  = 5.7
 | Oct precipitation days  = 5.2
 | Nov precipitation days  = 3.7
 | Dec precipitation days  = 3.6
 | year precipitation days = 62.5
 | Jan snow inch = 3.2
 | Feb snow inch = 1.7
 | Mar snow inch = 1.9
 | Apr snow inch = 0.7
 | May snow inch = 0.1
 | Jun snow inch = 0.0
 | Jul snow inch = 0.0
 | Aug snow inch = 0.0
 | Sep snow inch = 0.0
 | Oct snow inch = 0.6
 | Nov snow inch = 2.5
 | Dec snow inch = 3.6
 | year snow inch = 14.3
 | unit snow days = 0.1 in
 | Jan snow days  = 1.7
 | Feb snow days  = 1.2
 | Mar snow days  = 1.0
 | Apr snow days  = 0.3
 | May snow days  = 0.1
 | Jun snow days  = 0.0
 | Jul snow days  = 0.0
 | Aug snow days  = 0.0
 | Sep snow days  = 0.0
 | Oct snow days  = 0.2
 | Nov snow days  = 0.9
 | Dec snow days  = 1.8
 | year snow days = 7.2
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=ama
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 31, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00414098&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 31, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 532
|1910= 1750
|1920= 1696
|1930= 2458
|1940= 2584
|1950= 5207
|1960= 6752
|1970= 13414
|1980= 15853
|1990= 14745
|2000= 14597
|2010= 15370
|2020= 14972
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Hereford racial composition'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4833320&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br /> (''NH = Non-Hispanic''){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|2,757
|18.41%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|98
|0.65%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|39
|0.26%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|32
|0.21%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|39
|0.26%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|129
|0.86%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|11,878
|79.33%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''14,972'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 14,972 people, 4,776 households, and 3,593 families residing in the city.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census]], 15,370 people resided in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 71.7% Hispanic or Latino, 26.3% White, 0.9% Black, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% from some other race, and 0.5% from two or more races.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, 14,597 people, 4,839 households, and 3,730 families resided in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,600.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 5,323 housing units averaged 948.4 per square mile (366.3/km{{sup|2}}). The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 69.86% White, 1.76% African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 24.77% from other races, and 2.41% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 61.37% of the population.

Of the 4,839 households, 42.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were not families. About 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.44.

In the city, the population was distributed as 34.0% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,599, and for a family was $33,387. Males had a median income of $26,488 versus $18,920 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $12,787. About 19.4% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.9% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.

In December 2015, the ''[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]'' voted Hereford not only the "most [[Conservative (politics)|conservative]]" city in Texas, but also in the United States, in terms of political contributions.<ref>{{cite news |author=Daniel DeMay |date=December 17, 2015 |title=The most liberal and most conservative cities in the US |url=http://www.ctpost.com/national/article/The-most-liberal-and-most-conservative-cities-in-6702954.php |access-date=December 20, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Connecticut Post]] |location=[[Bridgeport, Connecticut]]}}</ref>

==Education==
The first public school was opened in 1900.<ref>[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/ The Handbook of Texas Online], retrieved 2009-12-30</ref> Today, Hereford's seven public schools serve around 4,000 students and are directed by the [[Hereford Independent School District]].<ref>[http://www.herefordisd.net/ Hereford ISD], retrieved 2009-12-30</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Parker Bridwell]], pitcher for MLB's [[New York Yankees]], was born in Hereford.
* [[Ron Ely]], actor, best remembered for his role as [[Tarzan]] on an [[NBC]] [[Tarzan (1966 TV series)|television series]] in the 1960s, was born in Hereford in 1938
* [[Lon L. Fuller]] (1902–1978), American legal philosopher known for his advocacy of a secular form of [[natural law theory]], was born in Hereford
* [[Rip Hawk]], professional wrestler, lived in Hereford, after retiring from wrestling.
* [[Edgar Mitchell]] (1930–2016), who on [[Apollo 14]] in 1971 became the sixth [[astronaut]] to walk on the Moon, was born in Hereford.
* [[Skeeter Skelton]], lawman and firearms writer

==Gallery==
<gallery widths=200px>
Image:Downtown Hereford, TX IMG 4850.JPG|Downtown Hereford, with the [[grain elevator]] to the rear
Image:Hereford, TX, City Hall IMG 4852.JPG|Hereford City Hall
Image:First Bank Southwest, Hereford, 'TX IMG 4848.JPG|First Bank Southwest in Hereford
Image:St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Hereford, TX IMG 4895.JPG|St. Anthony's [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]] Church in Hereford is located off [[U.S. Route 385|U.S. Highway 385]].
Image:Hereford Swimming Pool, Hereford, TX IMG 4896.JPG|Swimming in Hereford
Image:Hereford depot IMG 4844.JPG|Hereford train depot
Image:"Hereford Brand" newspaper office, Hereford, TX IMG 4894.JPG|''Hereford Brand'' newspaper office
Image:Mills' Ranch Store, Hereford, TX IMG 4849.JPG|The former Mills Ranch Western Store, once a fixture of downtown Hereford
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Hereford, Texas}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120205001445/http://www.hereford-tx.gov/ City of Hereford official website]
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/browse/contributor/DSCL/ Historic photographs of Hereford from the Deaf Smith County Library hosted by the Portal to Texas History]

{{Deaf Smith County, Texas}}
{{Texas}}
{{Texas county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:County seats in Texas]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Deaf Smith County, Texas]]