Olton, Texas

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Olton, Texas | native_name = | settlement_type = City | image_skyline = Olton Texas grain silos 2011.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = Olton Grain Cooperative | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Texas | pushpin_relief = yes | pushpin_label = Olton | pushpin_label_position = right | pushpin_map_alt = Map of Texas | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|34|11|00|N|102|08|05|W|display=inline,title}} | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}} | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Texas}} | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Lamb | subdivision_type3 = Region | subdivision_name3 = Llano Estacado | established_title = Established | established_date = 1906 | founder = | unit_pref = Imperial | elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis>{{cite gnis|id=1364542|name= Olton}}</ref> | elevation_ft = 3612 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 1989 | population_as_of = 2020 | timezone1 = CST | utc_offset1 = -6 | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | postal_code_type = ZIP code | postal_code = 79064 | area_code_type = Area code | area_code = 806 | footnotes = | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 48-54012 | website = https://cityofolton.com/ | area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref> | area_total_km2 = 3.52 | area_total_sq_mi = 1.36 | area_land_km2 = 3.52 | area_water_km2 = 0.00 | area_land_sq_mi = 1.36 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.00 | population_density_sq_mi = auto | population_density_km2 = auto }} '''Olton''' is a city in Lamb County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,989 at the 2020 census.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4854012&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

==History== Olton was first settled in 1900. As the first town in Lamb County, Olton became the county seat in 1908. Olton was incorporated in 1930. In 1946, the county seat was moved to Littlefield.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olton, TX |work=Handbook of Texas |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |access-date=29 December 2023 |url= https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/olton-tx# }}</ref>

==Geography== According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|1.4|sqmi|km2}}, all of it land.

===Climate=== According to the Köppen climate classification, Olton has a semiarid climate, ''BSk'' on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=446614&cityname=Olton%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Olton, Texas]</ref>

{{Weather box | width = auto | collapsed = yes | single line = yes | location = Olton, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1942–1953, 1964–present) | Jan record high F = 81 | Feb record high F = 86 | Mar record high F = 91 | Apr record high F = 98 | May record high F = 105 | Jun record high F = 108 | Jul record high F = 108 | Aug record high F = 110 | Sep record high F = 102 | Oct record high F = 96 | Nov record high F = 89 | Dec record high F = 81 | year record high F = | Jan high F = 52.5 | Feb high F = 56.9 | Mar high F = 64.7 | Apr high F = 72.8 | May high F = 80.6 | Jun high F = 88.6 | Jul high F = 90.3 | Aug high F = 88.9 | Sep high F = 82.3 | Oct high F = 72.9 | Nov high F = 61.8 | Dec high F = 52.8 | year high F = 72.1 | Jan mean F = 38.8 | Feb mean F = 42.3 | Mar mean F = 49.9 | Apr mean F = 57.8 | May mean F = 67.0 | Jun mean F = 75.7 | Jul mean F = 78.2 | Aug mean F = 76.8 | Sep mean F = 69.8 | Oct mean F = 59.2 | Nov mean F = 47.9 | Dec mean F = 39.6 | year mean F = 58.6 | Jan low F = 25.2 | Feb low F = 27.8 | Mar low F = 35.1 | Apr low F = 42.9 | May low F = 53.5 | Jun low F = 62.8 | Jul low F = 66.2 | Aug low F = 64.7 | Sep low F = 57.4 | Oct low F = 45.4 | Nov low F = 34.0 | Dec low F = 26.4 | year low F = 45.1 | Jan record low F = -7 | Feb record low F = -5 | Mar record low F = 5 | Apr record low F = 14 | May record low F = 27 | Jun record low F = 41 | Jul record low F = 47 | Aug record low F = 48 | Sep record low F = 29 | Oct record low F = 15 | Nov record low F = -1 | Dec record low F = -6 | year record low F = | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation inch = 0.62 | Feb precipitation inch = 0.58 | Mar precipitation inch = 1.20 | Apr precipitation inch = 1.18 | May precipitation inch = 2.29 | Jun precipitation inch = 2.73 | Jul precipitation inch = 2.33 | Aug precipitation inch = 2.46 | Sep precipitation inch = 2.39 | Oct precipitation inch = 1.62 | Nov precipitation inch = 0.81 | Dec precipitation inch = 0.80 | year precipitation inch = 19.01 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in | Jan precipitation days = 2.8 | Feb precipitation days = 3.1 | Mar precipitation days = 4.0 | Apr precipitation days = 3.8 | May precipitation days = 6.0 | Jun precipitation days = 6.6 | Jul precipitation days = 5.5 | Aug precipitation days = 6.7 | Sep precipitation days = 5.6 | Oct precipitation days = 4.0 | Nov precipitation days = 2.8 | Dec precipitation days = 3.7 | year precipitation days = 54.6 | Jan snow inch = 1.3 | Feb snow inch = 1.6 | Mar snow inch = 0.7 | Apr snow inch = 0.2 | May snow inch = 0.0 | Jun snow inch = 0.0 | Jul snow inch = 0.0 | Aug snow inch = 0.0 | Sep snow inch = 0.0 | Oct snow inch = 0.2 | Nov snow inch = 1.6 | Dec snow inch = 2.2 | year snow inch = 7.8 | unit snow days = 0.1 in | Jan snow days = 1.1 | Feb snow days = 0.9 | Mar snow days = 0.4 | Apr snow days = 0.1 | May snow days = 0.0 | Jun snow days = 0.0 | Jul snow days = 0.0 | Aug snow days = 0.0 | Sep snow days = 0.0 | Oct snow days = 0.2 | Nov snow days = 0.6 | Dec snow days = 1.4 | year snow days = 4.7 | source = NOAA<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=lub |title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = December 28, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00416644&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020 |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = December 28, 2023}}</ref> }}

==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1930 = 687 | 1940 = 782 | 1950 = 1201 | 1960 = 1917 | 1970 = 1782 | 1980 = 2235 | 1990 = 2116 | 2000 = 2288 | 2010 = 2215 | 2020 = 1989 | footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref> | align = right | align-fn = center }}

As of 2023, the southern portion of the city is majority Hispanic and Latino while the northern portion is mainly non-Hispanic Anglo White. The northern side has more wealth.<ref name=GarzaACOVID>{{cite magazine|last=Garza|first=Alejandro de la|url=https://time.com/6260549/lamb-county-texas-covid-19-death-grief/|title=In This Texas County, There's No Such Thing as Moving on From COVID-19|magazine=Time|date=2023-03-15|accessdate=2023-03-15|quote=In Olton, white people still own[...]}} - [https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/texas-county-theres-no-thing-110045019.html Alternate link] at Yahoo! News</ref>

===2020 census===

As of the 2020 census, there were 1,989 people, 614 households, and 435 families residing in the city; the median age was 35.4 years, 29.5% of residents were under the age of 18, and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.6 males.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME%2CDP1_0021P%2CDP1_0024P%2CDP1_0025C%2CDP1_0049C%2CDP1_0045C%2CDP1_0069C%2CDP1_0073C%2CDP1_0125P%2CDP1_0126P%2CDP1_0129P%2CDP1_0133P%2CDP1_0137P%2CDP1_0138P%2CDP1_0139P%2CDP1_0141P%2CDP1_0142P%2CDP1_0143P%2CDP1_0145P%2CDP1_0146P%2CDP1_0147C%2CDP1_0148C%2CDP1_0149C%2CDP1_0156C%2CDP1_0157C%2CDP1_0158C%2CDP1_0159P%2CDP1_0160P&for=place%3A54012&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=February 19, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 697 households in Olton, of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.6% were married-couple households, 19.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 826 housing units, of which 15.6% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.7%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME%2CP2_002N%2CP2_003N&for=place%3A54012&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=February 19, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_007N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=place%3A54012&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=February 19, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | White || 800 || 40.2% |- | Black or African American || 16 || 0.8% |- | American Indian and Alaska Native || 7 || 0.4% |- | Asian || 0 || 0.0% |- | Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 1 || 0.1% |- | Some other race || 451 || 22.7% |- | Two or more races || 714 || 35.9% |- | ''Hispanic or Latino (of any race)'' || 1,543 || 77.6% |} ===2000 census=== As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, 2,288 people, 742 households, and 571 families resided in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,683.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 852 housing units averaged 627.0 per square mile (241.9/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup of the city was 66.56% White, 2.01% African American, 1.31% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 27.49% from other races, and 2.53% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 64.51% of the population.

Of the 742 households, 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23% were not families. About 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.47.

In the city, the population was distributed as 33.9% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,010, and for a family was $25,926. Men had a median income of $22,358 versus $18,833 for women. The per capita income for the city was $10,189. About 21.4% of families and 24.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 21.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Education== The City of Olton is served by the Olton Independent School District.

==Media== The local weekly newspaper was the ''Olton Enterprise.''<ref>{{cite web|title=Olton Enterprise|url=https://oltononline.com/|publisher=Olton Enterprise|access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref> The ''Olton Enterprise'' stopped publication in 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.texaspress.com/olton-enterprise-ceased-publication-june-25-edition|title=Olton Enterprise ceased publication with June 25 edition|publisher=Texas Press Association|date=2021-07-30|accessdate=2023-03-15}}</ref>

{{As of|2023}} there is one newspaper, ''Lamb County Leader-News'', in all of Lamb County.<ref name=GarzaCOVID>{{cite magazine|last=Garza|first=Alejandro de la|url=https://time.com/6260549/lamb-county-texas-covid-19-death-grief/|title=In This Texas County, There's No Such Thing as Moving on From COVID-19|magazine=Time|date=2023-03-15|accessdate=2023-03-15|quote=[...] it’s the 8th highest in the nation as of March 2023, excluding counties with fewer than 2,500 people.}} - [https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/texas-county-theres-no-thing-110045019.html Alternate link] at Yahoo! News</ref>

==Notable people==

* Jimmy Dean, American country music singer, actor, television host, and businessman * Peggy Sue Gerron, inspiration for the Buddy Holly song "Peggy Sue" * Jerry Sisemore, football player, offensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles * Dawn DeBerry Stump, businesswoman and government official

==References== {{Reflist}} {{notelist}}

==External links== *{{Handbook of Texas|id=hjo04|name=Olton, Texas}} *{{Gnis|1364542|Olton, Texas}} *{{URL|https://www.ars.usda.gov/plains-area/lubbock-tx/cropping-systems-research-laboratory/wind-erosion-and-water-conservation-research/docs/llano/|Public domain images of the Llano Estacado and West Texas}} *[http://oltonchamber.org/ Olton Chamber of Commerce]

Category:Cities in Texas Category:Cities in Lamb County, Texas