Jump to content

Umbarger, Texas

Coordinates: 34°57′23″N 102°06′34″W / 34.95639°N 102.10944°W / 34.95639; -102.10944
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Location of Umbarger in the state of Texas

Umbarger (/ˈʌmbɑːrɡər/ UM-bar-gər) is a census-designated place in Randall County, Texas, United States.[1] According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 327 in 2000.[2] The community is part of the Amarillo, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

[edit]

The origins of the community date back to the mid-1890s. In 1895, rancher S.G. Umbarger leased the site from the Houston and Great Northern Railroad survey lands.[2] He purchased it two years later and established several businesses that catered to area settlers and travelers. The Panhandle and Santa Fe Railway established a switch near Umbarger's ranch in 1898.[3][4] Although Umbarger sold his ranch and moved to nearby Canyon in 1900, the settlement retained its name.

Grain elevator in Umbarger, November 2011

As more land was made available to homesteaders, the community slowly began to grow. In 1902, a group of German Catholics from the Schulenburg area in south central Texas settled in Umbarger.[2] The migration was pioneered by Pius Friemel. A general store that housed a post office opened soon after, followed by the creation of a public school district in 1904.[3] Around the same time a Catholic missionary, Father Joseph Reisdorff, worked to attract other German families to the community. In 1908, both he and John Hutson, an Englishman who had speculated in land holdings around Umbarger, filed separate plans of settlement. The subsequent friction led to the building of two separate Catholic churches.[3] Swiss immigrants settled in Umbarger from 1911 to the late 1920s. By that time, the business district was centered in Reisdorff's portion of Umbarger on the north side of the railroad tracks.[2] Under the leadership of Father John J. Dolje, St. Mary's Church was moved to its present-day location.

Eighty people lived in Umbarger in 1930. The population grew to 150 by 1940. Umbarger's public school district consolidated with Canyon's in 1964.[2] Its location near Amarillo and Canyon as well as its proximity to Buffalo Lake have contributed to the survival and growth of the community. Although it remains unincorporated, Umbarger is home to over 300 residents, several businesses, and a functioning post office (zip code: 79091).[5]

Geography

[edit]

Umbarger is located at 34°57′23″N 102°06′34″W / 34.95639°N 102.10944°W / 34.95639; -102.10944.[1] The community is situated along U.S. Highway 60 in west central Randall County, approximately 10 miles southwest of Canyon and 26 miles southwest of Amarillo.[3]

Climate

[edit]

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Umbarger has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.[6]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2020123—
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1850–1900[8] 1910[9]
1920[10] 1930[11] 1940[12]
1950[13] 1960[14] 1970[15]
1980[16] 1990[17] 2000[18]
2010[19] 2020[20]

Umbarger first appeared as a census designated place in the 2020 U.S. Census.[21][19][20]

2020 Census

[edit]
Umbarger CDP, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
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 may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2020[20] % 2020
White alone (NH) 97 78.86%
Black or African American alone (NH) 0 0.00%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1 0.81%
Asian alone (NH) 0 0.00%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 2 1.63%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 9 7.32%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 14 11.38%
Total 123 100.00%

Attractions

[edit]
Brick church with four round-topped windows along side
St. Mary's Church in Umbarger, April 2016

Each November, Umbarger hosts an annual German Sausage Festival at St. Mary's Parish Hall.[2] St. Mary's Church features painted murals, wood carvings, and stained glass windows which were created by several Italian prisoners of war who were interned at the nearby Hereford Military Reservation and Reception Center during World War II.[22] Dino Gambetti, one of the prisoners who created pieces for the church, would go on to have a career as an artist in Italy; although he is probably more well known for encouraging fellow prisoner Alberto Burri to become an artist.[23] The community is located three miles north of Buffalo Lake and the Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge.[24]

Education

[edit]

Public education in the community of Umbarger is provided by the Canyon Independent School District. Students are zoned to Crestview Elementary School (grades K-4), Canyon Intermediate School (grades 5-6), Canyon Junior High School (grades 7-8), and Canyon High School (grades 9-12).[25]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Umbarger, Texas
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Umbarger, Texas". The Handbook of Texas online. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d "Umbarger, Texas". Texas Escapes Online Magazine. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  4. ^ "Historic Sites". Canyon Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on August 1, 2009. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  5. ^ Zip Code Lookup
  6. ^ Climate Summary for Umbarger, Texas
  7. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  8. ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of Texas By Counties And Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  9. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  10. ^ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^ a b "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  20. ^ a b c "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Umbarger CDP, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ "2020 Geography Changes". United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ Henegar, Lucielle. "Hereford Military Reservation and Reception Center". tshaonline.org. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  23. ^ "Alberto Burri: 'Artist, poet, and creator of the new'". Christie's. June 1, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  24. ^ "Buffalo Lake". The Handbook of Texas online. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
  25. ^ Attendance Zones – Canyon Independent School District. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Happy, Texas.


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Umbarger,_Texas&oldid=1246717705"