Balmorhea, Texas

Balmorhea, Texas
City
Map
Map
Map
Map
Coordinates: 30°59′2″N 103°44′32″W / 30.98389°N 103.74222°W / 30.98389; -103.74222
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyReeves
Area
[1]
 • Total
0.39 sq mi (1.00 km2)
 • Land0.39 sq mi (1.00 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
3,196 ft (974 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
408
 • Density1,000/sq mi (410/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
79718
Area code432
FIPS code48-05468[2]
GNIS feature ID1351473[3]

Balmorhea (/ˌbælməˈreɪ/ BAL-mər-AY[4]) is a city in Reeves County, in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 408 as of the 2020 census.

History

Balmorhea was platted in 1906.[5] Its founders were Ernest D. Balcom, H. R. Morrow, and John and Joe Rhea; the town's name is an amalgamation of their surnames.[6][7]

Geography

Balmorhea is located at 30°59′2″N 103°44′32″W / 30.98389°N 103.74222°W / 30.98389; -103.74222 (30.983894, –103.742292).[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), all land. Just outside the town, Balmorhea Lake provides irrigation water for the local communities.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1960604—
19706558.4%
1980568−13.3%
199076534.7%
2000527−31.1%
2010479−9.1%
2020408−14.8%

2020 census

Balmorhea racial composition[9]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 53 12.99%
Asian (NH) 2 0.49%
Pacific Islander (NH) 1 0.25%
Some Other Race (NH) 1 0.25%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 5 1.23%
Hispanic or Latino 346 84.8%
Total 408

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 408 people, 173 households, and 138 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 527 people, 179 households, and 139 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,359.6 inhabitants per square mile (524.9/km2). There were 242 housing units at an average density of 624.3 per square mile (241.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 58.82% White, 29.41% from other races, and 11.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 87.10% of the population.

There were 179 households, out of which 45.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 21.8% 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 2.94 and the average family size was 3.50.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 36.4% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $16,071, and the median income for a family was $20,179. Males had a median income of $19,271 versus $13,958 for females. The per capita income for the city was $7,742. About 32.4% of families and 36.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.0% of those under age 18 and 21.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The City of Balmorhea is served by the Balmorhea Independent School District. The superintendent is John Massey ,[11] and the principal is Gary Laramore.

Post Office

Balmorhea Post Office 115 North Fort Worth Street, Balmorhea, Texas 79718-9998

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Balmorhea has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSh" on climate maps.[12]

Climate data for Balmorhea, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1923–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 89
(32) 		92
(33) 		101
(38) 		103
(39) 		108
(42) 		112
(44) 		111
(44) 		110
(43) 		109
(43) 		101
(38) 		96
(36) 		89
(32) 		112
(44)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 60.3
(15.7) 		65.6
(18.7) 		72.8
(22.7) 		80.5
(26.9) 		87.9
(31.1) 		94.7
(34.8) 		93.7
(34.3) 		93.0
(33.9) 		86.5
(30.3) 		79.4
(26.3) 		69.2
(20.7) 		60.9
(16.1) 		78.7
(25.9)
Daily mean °F (°C) 45.6
(7.6) 		49.8
(9.9) 		56.5
(13.6) 		63.9
(17.7) 		72.6
(22.6) 		80.3
(26.8) 		80.7
(27.1) 		79.8
(26.6) 		73.3
(22.9) 		64.5
(18.1) 		53.6
(12.0) 		46.1
(7.8) 		63.9
(17.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 31.0
(−0.6) 		34.1
(1.2) 		40.3
(4.6) 		47.3
(8.5) 		57.2
(14.0) 		65.9
(18.8) 		67.7
(19.8) 		66.7
(19.3) 		60.2
(15.7) 		49.6
(9.8) 		38.1
(3.4) 		31.3
(−0.4) 		49.1
(9.5)
Record low °F (°C) −8
(−22) 		−9
(−23) 		9
(−13) 		26
(−3) 		29
(−2) 		44
(7) 		55
(13) 		50
(10) 		39
(4) 		21
(−6) 		10
(−12) 		2
(−17) 		−9
(−23)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.66
(17) 		0.41
(10) 		0.38
(9.7) 		0.50
(13) 		1.05
(27) 		1.13
(29) 		1.82
(46) 		1.87
(47) 		2.02
(51) 		1.09
(28) 		0.60
(15) 		0.57
(14) 		12.10
(307)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.2
(0.51) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.4
(1.0) 		0.6
(1.5)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 2.0 1.1 1.2 1.5 2.8 3.6 4.2 3.7 3.9 2.5 1.4 1.3 29.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2
Source: NOAA[13][14]

References

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ "Balmorhea, Texas". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  6. ^ "Ernest D. Balcom Dies; Burial Held Here Tuesday". The Dallas Morning News. Vol. 118, no. 138. Austin, Texas. February 15, 1915. p. 3D. Closed access icon
  7. ^ Tarpley, Fred (July 5, 2010). 1001 Texas Place Names. University of Texas Press. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-292-78693-6.
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  9. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  10. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  11. ^ "Balmorhea Independent School District: Administrators". Balmorhea Independent School District. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  12. ^ Climate Summary for Balmorhea, Texas
  13. ^ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  14. ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  1. ^ 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.[10]