Breckenridge, Texas

Breckenridge is a city in Stephens County, Texas, United States. The estimated population was 5,349 as of February 2021.[5] It is the county seat of Stephens County.[6] The mayor is Bob Sims.

Breckenridge, Texas
City
Downtown Breckenridge (2023)
Downtown Breckenridge (2023)
Location of Breckenridge, Texas
Location of Breckenridge, Texas
Coordinates: 32°45′24″N 98°54′20″W
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyStephens
Area
[1]
 • Total4.20 sq mi (10.88 km2)
 • Land4.20 sq mi (10.87 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
[2]
1,204 ft (367 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total5,780
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
5,423
 • Density1,292.11/sq mi (498.89/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
76424
Area code254
FIPS code48-10132[4]
GNIS feature ID1372709[2]
Websitebreckenridgetx.gov

Breckenridge was a stop on the since defunct Wichita Falls and Southern Railroad, one of the properties of Frank Kell and Joseph A. Kemp of Wichita Falls, Texas. The line was thereafter operated until 1969 by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.[7]

Former Texas State Representative Carl Isett of Lubbock (District 84) was born in Breckenridge in 1957.

Dallas Cowboys legend Gerald M. "Jerry" Tubbs was an honor graduate student and played center at Breckenridge High School. He was part of two Texas state-championship football teams in 1951 and 1952. He played in three high-school all-star games, and was a unanimous Texas All-State selection in 1952. In 1971, Tubbs was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.

History
Oil rig, Main Street, Breckenridge, Texas, 1920

The town of Breckenridge originated in 1854 as Picketville, either named after the structure of its early homes or after rancher Bill Pickett, who lived in the area at the time. In 1876, Stephens County was established, and its territory included Picketville. The town was renamed "Breckenridge" after former U.S. Vice President and Confederate Army General John C. Breckinridge, though with an altered spelling.[8]

Breckenridge was a major oil producer in the early 1920s. The population jumped from around 1000 to 5000 in under five years. Briefly, it was the home of legendary figure of the Old West, John "Doc" Holliday. Breckenridge's boomtown era was well documented by the hundreds of photographs of pioneer photographer Basil Clemons.

Geography

Breckenridge is located at 32°45′24″N 98°54′20″W (32.756793, –98.905580).[9]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 sq mi (10.8 km2), of which 0.24% is covered by water.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880497—
1890462−7.0%
19201,846—
19307,569310.0%
19405,826−23.0%
19506,61013.5%
19606,273−5.1%
19705,944−5.2%
19806,92116.4%
19905,665−18.1%
20005,8683.6%
20105,780−1.5%
2019 (est.)5,423[3]−6.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

2020 census
Breckenridge racial composition[11]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[lower-alpha 1]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 3,123 60.21%
Black or African American (NH) 89 1.72%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 19 0.37%
Asian (NH) 49 0.94%
Pacific Islander (NH) 1 0.02%
Some Other Race (NH) 21 0.4%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 160 3.08%
Hispanic or Latino 1,725 33.26%
Total 5,187

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,187 people, 2,018 households, and 1,267 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census[4] of 2000, 5,868 people, 2,274 households, and 1,546 families were residing in the city. The population density was 1,412.8 people/sq mi (545.9/km2). The 2,776 housing units had an average density of 668.4 per square mile (258.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83.88% White, 0.34% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 11.35% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 20.64% of the population.

Of the 2,274 households, 36.5% had children under 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were not families. About 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 older. The average household size was 2.55, and the average family size was 3.16.

In the city, the age distribution was 30.2% under 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,697, and for a family was $35,164. Males had a median income of $25,923 versus $20,467 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,014. About 16.9% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Burch Hotel in downtown Breckenridge

The City of Breckenridge is served by the Breckenridge Independent School District.

Breckenridge High School's mascot is a Buckaroo (a cowboy riding a bucking horse). The junior high school's mascot is a Bronco. The school colors are green and white. The Breckenridge High School football team of 1958, coached by Emory Bellard, was voted the Ft. Worth Star Telegram team of the century. The Buckaroos are undefeated in six Class 3A State Football Championships, winning four times in 1951, 1952, 1954, and 1958 with ties in 1929 and 1959. Breckenridge High School has also produced girls tennis state champions, girls golf state champions, FFA and 4-H state and national champions, and academic state champions over the past few decades.

In 2011, the U.S. Department of Education recognized Breckenridge Junior High School as a National Blue Ribbon School.

Breckenridge is also the home of a West Texas campus of the Texas State Technical College System. Environmental science technology, construction management technology, computer-aided drafting and design, digital imaging and design, software and business accounting, associate degree nursing, chemical-dependency counseling, and health-information technology are some of the courses offered at the Breckenridge TSTC campus. TSTC partners with BHS and other Texas high schools to offer dual-credit courses.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Breckenridge has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[14]

Around 5:20 pm local time on April 9, 2008, three tornadoes, including two "sisters", were confirmed to have hit at least a portion of the town.[15] Within the city limits, 15 citizens were reported as injured. Five buildings were destroyed, including the airport, which was a former Air Force training facility.

Climate data for Breckenridge, Texas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1898–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 90
(32)		 97
(36)		 98
(37)		 101
(38)		 109
(43)		 111
(44)		 112
(44)		 114
(46)		 111
(44)		 105
(41)		 93
(34)		 90
(32)		 114
(46)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 80.0
(26.7)		 84.2
(29.0)		 89.0
(31.7)		 93.8
(34.3)		 97.8
(36.6)		 100.3
(37.9)		 103.8
(39.9)		 103.5
(39.7)		 99.8
(37.7)		 93.3
(34.1)		 85.4
(29.7)		 79.6
(26.4)		 105.8
(41.0)
Average high °F (°C) 57.4
(14.1)		 61.4
(16.3)		 69.6
(20.9)		 78.0
(25.6)		 84.7
(29.3)		 91.7
(33.2)		 96.0
(35.6)		 95.9
(35.5)		 88.5
(31.4)		 79.0
(26.1)		 67.4
(19.7)		 58.8
(14.9)		 77.4
(25.2)
Daily mean °F (°C) 42.8
(6.0)		 47.0
(8.3)		 55.1
(12.8)		 63.4
(17.4)		 72.0
(22.2)		 79.8
(26.6)		 83.6
(28.7)		 83.1
(28.4)		 75.5
(24.2)		 64.9
(18.3)		 52.9
(11.6)		 44.6
(7.0)		 63.7
(17.6)
Average low °F (°C) 28.2
(−2.1)		 32.5
(0.3)		 40.6
(4.8)		 48.9
(9.4)		 59.3
(15.2)		 67.9
(19.9)		 71.2
(21.8)		 70.2
(21.2)		 62.4
(16.9)		 50.8
(10.4)		 38.4
(3.6)		 30.4
(−0.9)		 50.1
(10.0)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 14.7
(−9.6)		 17.9
(−7.8)		 23.2
(−4.9)		 32.3
(0.2)		 42.9
(6.1)		 57.7
(14.3)		 64.0
(17.8)		 61.7
(16.5)		 47.9
(8.8)		 34.0
(1.1)		 23.0
(−5.0)		 15.9
(−8.9)		 11.4
(−11.4)
Record low °F (°C) −6
(−21)		 −8
(−22)		 7
(−14)		 24
(−4)		 33
(1)		 47
(8)		 51
(11)		 51
(11)		 38
(3)		 20
(−7)		 14
(−10)		 −7
(−22)		 −8
(−22)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.57
(40)		 1.89
(48)		 2.35
(60)		 2.33
(59)		 3.92
(100)		 3.68
(93)		 2.25
(57)		 2.53
(64)		 2.64
(67)		 2.88
(73)		 1.88
(48)		 1.78
(45)		 29.70
(754)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.2
(0.51)		 0.1
(0.25)		 0.3
(0.76)		 0.5
(1.3)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.1
(0.25)		 0.4
(1.0)		 1.6
(4.07)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 4.7 5.6 7.0 5.1 8.0 7.2 4.6 5.9 5.8 6.6 5.3 5.4 71.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.8
Source 1: NOAA[16]
Source 2: National Weather Service[17]

Notable people
  • IOOF Lodge and AF and AM Building
    IOOF Lodge and AF and AM Building
  • YWCA Building
    YWCA Building
  • Municipal Building
    Municipal Building
  • Stephens County Courthouse
    Stephens County Courthouse
  • First Christian Church
    First Christian Church
  • National Theater
    National Theater
  • Swenson Museum
    Swenson Museum

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Breckenridge, Texas
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. "Breckenridge, Texas Population 2021 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs)".
  6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  7. "H. Allen Anderson, "Wichita Falls and Southern Railroad"". tshaonline.org. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  8. "BRECKENRIDGE, TX". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  12. http://www.census.gov
  13. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  14. Climate Summary for Breckenridge, Texas
  15. "Cbs11tv.com - Apparent Tornado Strikes Breckenridge, Injures 15". Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
  16. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Breckenridge, TX". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  17. "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Dallas". National Weather Service. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  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.[12][13]
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