Page Contents for Hereford, Texas

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Economy

Government

Chamber of Commerce.

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Libraries.

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Texas state capital is Austin.
The population of Hereford is approximately 15,865 (2000), 15370 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 5,404 (1990), 4989 (2010).
The amount of land area in Hereford is 14.486 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Hereford is 5.59 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0 sq kilometers.
The distance from Hereford to Washington DC is 1507 miles.
The distance to the Texas state capital is 417 miles. (as the crow flies)
Hereford is positioned 34.82 degrees north of the equator and 102.39 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Hereford elevation is 3,806 feet above sea level.
Hereford average annual rainfall is 19.21 inches per year
Hereford average temperature is 57 degrees F.

Location

in the Texas Panhandle where U.S. Highway 60 and U.S. Highway 385 intersect. Hereford is about 21 miles north of Dimmit, 30 miles south of Vega and 46 miles southwest of Amarillo
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Weather

pleasant. There are moderate winters and warm summers.
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History & History Related Items

Here is a History page

One of the early "railroad" towns in the panhandle area was called Blue Water. When the postal authorities were contacted, it was discovered there was already a town by that name in Texas. The settlement was then named Hereford after the many cattle in the area. The cattle were registered Herefords brought by L.R. Bradly and G.R. Jowell from Hereford, England. W.H. Clair, Troy Womble and C.G. Witherspoon were the first to establish homes and businesses here in September of 1898. This same year, Deaf Smith County moved the county seat from La Plata to Hereford. A wooden courthouse was built and used for county business until the new marble-faced building was erected in 1910. It is the only marble courthouse in the state.

One of Hereford's early nicknames was "The Windmill City" because of over 400 windmills in the area which were used to bring up water. By 1910, D.L. McDonald had the first successful irrigation well in the Ogallala Aquifer and irrigated farming began to become prevalent.

Hereford was incorporated more than once! Fist on 13 February 1903 when the resident voted in the affirmative. The first Mayor was Ross W. Davis. Unfortunately, the losers were not happy with the results and filed suit, causing the incorporation vote to be annulled. In 1906, another incorporation vote was taken and Hereford was again incorporated. This time, the Mayor was Judge L. Gough.

Another of Hereford's nicknames is "Town without a toothache." This is because of a very low rate of dental decay. It is supposed the lack of caries is because of all the natural florides in the municipal water supply.
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Attractions

Deaf Smith County Historical Museum
Collections from pioneer era, farm and ranch implements, guns, Indian artifacts, photographs, paintings. Open Tues. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sun. 2 -5 p.m. 400 Sampson St.
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Economy & Industry

Hereford has an Agribusiness economy. Many crops are grown here including grain, sorghum, wheat, corn, grapes and sugar beets. Sugar beets are also processed in a local plant. The feedlots here handle millions of cattle annually.
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Hereford City Government

City of Hereford
224 Lee Ave
Hereford, TX 79045
Phone: (806) 363-7100

Hereford has a council/manager form of government. There are six councilmen and a mayor who are elected to rotating two-year terms. The city manager is appointed by the council.

Hereford Chamber

Chamber of Commerce
701 N. Main
Hereford, TX 79045
Phone: 806-364-3333

Hereford Organizations

Chamber of Commerce
701 N. Main
Hereford, TX 79045
Phone: 806-364-3333

Hereford Libraries

Deaf Smith County Library
211 E 4th
Hereford, TX 79045
Phone: 806-364-1206

Hereford Schools

Here is an education page

Children of Hereford attend schools in the Hereford Independent School District Hereford

Miscellany

The population of Hereford was:
1900 - 532
1940 - 2,584
1950 - 5,207
1960 - 7,652
1980 - 15,853
1990 - 14,745
2000 - 15,865