Skellytown, Texas

Skellytown is a town in Carson County, Texas, United States. The population was 473 at the 2010 census,[5] down from 610 at the 2000 census. Located in the Texas Panhandle, it is part of the Amarillo, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 1926 Skelly Oil Company purchased a 320-acre (130 ha) lease from Henry Schafer, a local rancher on whose land the Roxana oil pool was located. Schafer platted a new townsite, which he named "Skelly" in honor of the company's founder and president, William Grove Skelly of Tulsa, Oklahoma.[6]

Skellytown, Texas
Town
A restored Skelly filling station on Main Street in Skellytown.
Location of Skellytown, Texas
Coordinates: 35°34′22″N 101°10′21″W
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyCarson
Government
 • TypeMayor–Council
 • City CouncilMayor Amanda Dickerson
Mayor Pro-Tem Cameron Davis
Marcy Ruth
Jim Fox
Reva Williams
Sherry Miles
 • City SecretaryValarie Ball
Area
 • Total0.53 sq mi (1.37 km2)
 • Land0.53 sq mi (1.37 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
3,235 ft (986 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total473
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
449
 • Density845.57/sq mi (326.58/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
79080
Area code(s)806
FIPS code48-68120[3]
GNIS feature ID1368382[4]
Websitewww.skellytowntexas.com

History

Skelly was sited between the oil boom camps of Roxana, which was north of Skelly, and Noelette, which was east. The first businesses were company-owned supply stores. Residents had to gather wood for fuel and rely on trucked-in water supplies.[6]

The Panhandle and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line north in 1927, from White Deer to the oilfields and established its depot at a site just north of Skelly. all three camps moved their businesses to the new site and formed the Skellytown Townsite Company. Four months later, Skellytown had two oil refineries, a carbon black manufacturing plant and about 100 oil wells operating in its vicinity. Also in 1927, a new post office opened, the Roxana-Skellytown News began publishing every week, Panhandle Power and Light began to provide utilities, and a four-room emergency hospital opened.[6]

Geography

Skellytown is located in northeastern Carson County at 35°34′22″N 101°10′21″W (35.572712, -101.172517),[7] just northeast of Texas State Highway 152, which leads northwest 14 miles (23 km) to Borger and southeast 13 miles (21 km) to Pampa.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Skellytown has a total area of 0.54 square miles (1.4 km2), all of it land.[5]

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Skellytown has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.[8]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1960967—
1970716−26.0%
198089925.6%
1990664−26.1%
2000610−8.1%
2010473−22.5%
Est. 2019449[2]−5.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 610 people, 237 households, and 182 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,416.5 people per square mile (547.7/km²). There were 283 housing units at an average density of 657.2 per square mile (254.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.93% White, 0.33% African American, 2.95% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 1.80% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.75% of the population.

There were 237 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.1% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the town, the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,771, and the median income for a family was $37,667. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,087. About 15.3% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Skellytown town, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  6. Anderson H. Allen. "Skellytown, TX." Handbook of Texas Online. June 15, 2010. Accessed February 15, 2018.
  7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. Climate Summary for Skellytown, Texas
  9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
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