Idalou is a city in Lubbock County, Texas, United States. It is located 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Lubbock near the intersection of Farm to Market Road 400 and US 62/US 82/SH 114. The population was 2,250 at the 2010 census.[5] It is part of the Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Idalou, Texas
Businesses in downtown Idalou
Businesses in downtown Idalou
Location of Idalou, Texas
Location of Idalou, Texas
Coordinates: 33°39′43″N 101°41′3″W / 33.66194°N 101.68417°W / 33.66194; -101.68417
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyLubbock
Incorporated (city)1925
Area
 • Total1.01 sq mi (2.62 km2)
 • Land1.01 sq mi (2.62 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
3,192 ft (973 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total2,250
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
2,308
 • Density2,285.15/sq mi (882.33/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
79329
Area code806
FIPS code48-35732[3]
GNIS feature ID1359882[4]
Websiteidaloutx.com

History edit

Idalou began as a settlement around a depot on the South Plains and Santa Fe Railway in the early 1910s, and within a few years had a one-room schoolhouse and several businesses. The first post office was opened in 1917, and in 1919, a two-story brick school was built after the original school burned down. Incorporated in 1925 with 538 residents, the town grew to 2,348 residents by 1980 and has remained above 2,000 residents in the years since.

Idalou has a post office, library, city park and pool, EMS station, fire department, co-op cotton gin, grocery store, and many other businesses. The town serves as an agricultural center for cotton farming in northeast Lubbock County, with many of the residents employed in farming and farming-related occupations. Due to its close proximity to Lubbock, many residents work in the nearby city.

The town was named for Ida and Lou Bassett, sisters of Julian M. Bassett, vice president of the Crosby-Bassett Livestock Company, during the 1910s.

Geography edit

Idalou is located at 33°39′43″N 101°41′3″W / 33.66194°N 101.68417°W / 33.66194; -101.68417 (33.661938, –101.684234).[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.5 km2), all land.[5]

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1930538
1940503−6.5%
19501,014101.6%
19601,27425.6%
19701,72935.7%
19802,34835.8%
19902,074−11.7%
20002,1574.0%
20102,2504.3%
2019 (est.)2,308[2]2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]

2020 census edit

Idalou racial composition[8]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 1,174 53.53%
Black or African American (NH) 15 0.68%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 1 0.05%
Asian (NH) 5 0.23%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 39 1.78%
Hispanic or Latino 959 43.73%
Total 2,193

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,193 people, 736 households, and 466 families residing in the city.

2000 census edit

As of the census[3] of 2000, 2,157 people, 796 households, and 593 families resided in the city. The population density was 2,201.5 inhabitants per square mile (850.0/km2). The 851 housing units averaged 868.6 per square mile (335.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 70.00% White, 0.60% African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 26.94% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 42.98% of the population.

Of the 796 households, 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were not families. About 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the city, the population was distributed as 29.3% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,167, and for a family was $39,766. Males had a median income of $29,556 versus $20,150 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,664. About 10.2% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education edit

Idalou is served by the Idalou Independent School District.

In popular culture edit

The town is depicted in the song "Idalou" by the Josh Abbott Band, from the album Small Town Family Dream (2012).

It's also featured in the song "Amarillo Highway (for Dave Hickey)" by Terry Allen on the album Lubbock (on everything) (1979), in the opening lyric, "Well, I'm a high straight in Plainview, side bet in Idalou, and a fresh deck in New Deal."

References edit

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Idalou city, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  9. ^ https://www.census.gov/ [not specific enough to verify]
  10. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  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.[9][10]

External links edit