Dumas, Texas

Dumas (/ˈdjuːməs/ DEW-mus) is a city in Moore County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,691 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Moore County.[5] Located about 40 miles north of Amarillo, the city is named for its founder, Louis Dumas (1856–1923). Dumas Avenue, the main thoroughfare, is also United States Highways 287 and 87.

Dumas, Texas
City
City of Dumas
Location of Dumas, Texas
Coordinates: 35°51′45″N 101°58′1″W
Country USA
State Texas
CountyMoore
Government
 • TypeCommission-Manager
 • MayorPat Sims
Area
 • Total5.54 sq mi (14.36 km2)
 • Land5.53 sq mi (14.31 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation
3,661 ft (1,116 m)
Population
 • Total14,691
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
13,827
 • Density2,502.62/sq mi (966.19/km2)
Time zoneUTC–6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC–5 (CDT)
ZIP code
79029
Area code(s)806
FIPS code48-21556[2]
GNIS feature ID1356433[4]
WebsiteCity Website

Window on the Plains Museum, which offers exhibits on Moore County and the Texas Panhandle, is located on South Dumas Avenue, the main thoroughfare. Dumas is home to Moore County Airport, a general-aviation airport 2 miles west of the central business district.[6]

The Dumas government claims, with some documentation, that the song "I'm a Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas" was written about the city.[7] Composed in the late 1920s by Phil Baxter (a native Texan who lived for a time in Dumas) and Carl Moore, the song has also sometimes been claimed by Dumas in Desha County in southeastern Arkansas.

Geography

Dumas is located at 35°51′45″N 101°58′1″W (35.862478, -101.966931). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.52 square miles (14.3 km2), of which 5.5 square miles (14 km2) are land and 0.019 square miles (0.049 km2) of it (0.34%) is covered by water.[8]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
19402,117—
19506,127189.4%
19608,47738.4%
19709,77115.3%
198012,19424.8%
199012,8715.6%
200013,7476.8%
201014,6916.9%
Est. 201913,827[3]−5.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

As of the census of 2010, 14,691 people (an increase of 6.9% from the 2000 Census), 4,979 households, and 3,725 families resided in the city. The population density was 2,660 people per square mile (1,028/km2). The 5,340 housing units averaged 1047 per square mile (650.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 74.9% White, 2% African American, 0.9% Native American, 4.7% Asian, 15.6% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latino of any race were 50.5% of the population.

Of the 4,979 households, 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were not families. About 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals living alone, and 8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.40.

In the city, the population was distributed as 31.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 15 to 19, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 101 males. Of the population over the age of 18, for every 100 females, there were 98 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,298, and for a family was $52,536. Males had a median income of $37,589 versus $25,498 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,614. About 8.3% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.[2]

Government

The City of Dumas describes its government as a commission-manager government with a mayor and four commissioners all elected from the city at-large, and a city manager appointed by the commission to serve as the administrative manager of the city.[10]

The current mayor is Pat Sims.[11]

Economy

A large meatpacking plant in Cactus is a major employer for Moore County. The plant was formerly owned by Swift, and is now owned by a Brazilian conglomerate, JBS USA. The plant processes up to 5,000 head of cattle per day, and has a predominantly immigrant workforce.[12]

Education
Main article: Dumas Independent School District
Demon Stadium in Dumas

Dumas Independent School district serves the cities of Dumas and Cactus.

Secondary schools
  • Dumas High School (Dumas, grades 9-12)
  • Dumas Junior High School (Dumas, grades 7-8)
    • 1999-2000 National Blue Ribbon School[13]
  • Dumas Intermediate School (Dumas, grades 5-6)

Primary schools
  • Dumas Intermediate School (Dumas)
  • Green Acres Elementary School (Dumas)
  • Hillcrest Elementary School (Dumas)
  • Morningside Elementary School (Dumas)
  • Sunset Elementary School (Dumas)
  • Cactus Elementary School (Cactus)

Alternative schools

The North Plains Opportunity Center is an alternative school located within the Dumas Independent School District. The primary function of the school is to provide an alternative education for students who are at risk of dropping out of school, needing to recover lost credits, or desire to accelerate their education experiences to pursue college or career goals.[14]

Colleges

Amarillo College, a two-year, fully accredited community college, has a branch campus in Dumas.

Notable people

Dumas is the home of Republican former State Representative David A. Swinford, now a lobbyist, and the birthplace of Joe "King" Carrasco.[15]

Bassist Tommy Shannon, who is best known as a member of Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble formed by guitarist/singer Stevie Ray Vaughan. He grew up mainly in Dumas. Shannon joined his first band, The Avengers, around age 13. The band members were Shannon on guitar, Tim Easley on vocals, Jim Love on guitar, and David Davis on drums. In high school, Shannon was in the band Ekos. Soon after high school, he moved to Dallas from Dumas and joined a soul cover band in 1966, initially called The New Breed, and later The Young Lads. Shannon recorded two 45s with this band, which featured Tim Easley on vocals and Uncle John Turner on drums.

  • Entrance sign to Dumas
  • Louis Dumas (1856–1923), the founder of Dumas, circa 1895
  • A view of downtown Dumas
  • Entrance to Window on the Plains Museum in Dumas
  • Dumas Visitor Center and Chamber of Commerce office on United States Highway 287 south
  • The Moore County News-Press office; a local newspaper published Wednesdays and Saturdays
  • Wind turbines south of Dumas
  • The First Baptist Church of Dumas
  • An F-4 Phantom II in a recreational park in Dumas
  • Dumas Junior High School, 2013
  • Dumas High School, 2013
  • Moore County Courthouse in Dumas on 20 August 2017

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Dumas has a semiarid climate, BSk on climate maps.[16]

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References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  6. FAA Airport Master Record for DUX (Form 5010 PDF), effective 2010-06/25
  7. Funk, Jay B. "Legend of the Ding Dong Daddy" (PDF). City of Dumas, Texas.
  8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. Dumas, Texas - Code of Ordinances
  11. "Dumas Government". City of Dumas, Texas. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  12. Miroff, Nick (2018-03-04). "Trump says American workers are hurt by immigration. But after ICE raided this Texas town, they never showed up". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  13. Blue Ribbon Schools Program, Schools Recognized 1982-1983 Through 1999-2002 (PDF)
  14. "North Plains Opportunity Center Student/Parent Handbook" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  15. "Biography". Joe King Carrasco. 2011. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  16. Climate Summary for Dumas, Texas
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