Rankin, Texas

{{short description|City in and county seat of Upton County, Texas, United States}} {{For|the unincorporated community|Rankin, Ellis County, Texas}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Rankin, Texas | settlement_type = City | nickname = | motto =  | image_skyline = Rankin, Texas.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = Aerial photo of the city | image_flag = | image_seal =  | image_map = TXMap-doton-Rankin.PNG | mapsize = 250px | map_caption = Location of Rankin, Texas | image_map1 = Upton County Rankin.svg | mapsize1 = 250px | map_caption1 =  | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Texas | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Upton

| government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | established_title = | established_date =  | unit_pref = Imperial | 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_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 2.73 | area_land_km2 = 2.73 | area_water_km2 = 0.00 | area_total_sq_mi = 1.05 | area_land_sq_mi = 1.05 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.00

| population_as_of = 2020 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 780 | population_density_km2 = auto

| timezone = Central (CST) | utc_offset = -6 | timezone_DST = CDT | utc_offset_DST = -5 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 767 | elevation_ft = 2516 | coordinates = {{coord|31|13|28|N|101|56|27|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}} | postal_code_type = ZIP code | postal_code = 79778 | area_code = 432 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 48-60668<ref name="GR2" /> | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 1366016<ref name="GR3-u">{{cite gnis|1366016|Rankin|2026-02-20}}</ref> | website = | footnotes = | population_density_sq_mi = auto }}

'''Rankin''' is a city in and the county seat of Upton County, Texas, United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Its population was 780 at the 2020 census.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4860668&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> It is named after F.E. Rankin, a local rancher. In 2020, only 3,308 people lived in the entire county, and McCamey was the only larger town. During the early 20th century, the town grew due to the discovery of oil in the nearby Yates Oil Field. Following a second oil boom in the '80s, though, the town had a decline in its economy and population.

==Geography== Rankin is located at {{coord|31|13|28|N|101|56|27|W|type:city}} (31.224412, −101.940866).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> The major highways in the city are U.S. Route 67, Texas State Highway 329, and Texas State Highway 349.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.7 km{{sup|2}}), all land.

==History== The town was founded in 1911, and the post office was built a year later. In 1921, this still-tiny community based around the ranching industry was designated the county seat. Rankin was served by the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway.

The discovery of the Yates Oil Field in adjacent Pecos County in 1926 converted Rankin into a boom town. Since Rankin was the nearest settlement on a rail line, it became the center for the oil-services industry for the nearby oil fields. During the Great Depression, the population declined as the price of oil fell, and as workers moved away to work in newly discovered fields in East Texas and elsewhere, but a secondary boom occurred in the 1940s with the discovery of the nearby Benedum Oil Field. A hospital, three new schools, and a library date from this period. The population has gradually fallen since its secondary peak of 1,278 in 1980.<ref>[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hjr04 Rankin, Texas in the Handbook of Texas Online]</ref>

In 1990, the Confederate Air Force (later Commemorative Air Force) filmed a famous "Don't Mess with Texas" advertising campaign near Rankin using the B-17G ''Sentimental Journey''  of Airbase Arizona in Mesa, Arizona.

==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1930 = 935 | 1940 = 672 | 1950 = 1139 | 1960 = 1214 | 1970 = 1105 | 1980 = 1216 | 1990 = 1011 | 2000 = 800 | 2010 = 778 | 2020 = 780 | 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 }}

===2020 census===

As of the 2020 census, Rankin had a population of 780, the median age was 36.9 years, 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18, and 14.5% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 111.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 111.1 males age 18 and over.<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%3A60668&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=February 13, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

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%3A60668&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=February 13, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 271 households in Rankin, of which 39.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.2% were married-couple households, 22.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 332 housing units, of which 18.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.8%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

{| 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%3A60668&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=February 13, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | White || 580 || 74.4% |- | Black or African American || 14 || 1.8% |- | American Indian and Alaska Native || 4 || 0.5% |- | Asian || 2 || 0.3% |- | Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0.0% |- | Some other race || 38 || 4.9% |- | Two or more races || 142 || 18.2% |- | ''Hispanic or Latino (of any race)'' || 257 || 32.9% |}

===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, 800 people, 308 households, and 231 families resided in the city. The population density was {{convert|752|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 374 housing units averaged 351.5 per square mile (136.2/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup of the city was 84.00% White, 2.50% African American, 0.50% Native American, 12.00% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 26.88% of the population.

Of the 308 households, 32.5% had children under 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were not families; 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.58, and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city, the age distribution was 26.5% under 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,528, and for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $19,563 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,047. About 15.7% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.6% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==

The city of Rankin is served by the Rankin Independent School District. The district has two schools: Rankin High School (Red Devils) and James D. Gossett Elementary.<ref>[http://www.rankin.esc18.net/ Rankin ISD] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070405173950/http://www.rankin.esc18.net/ |date=2007-04-05 }} website</ref>

==Climate== Rankin experiences a semiarid climate with hot summers and cool winters. {{Weather box |location = Rankin, Texas. |single line = Y |Jan record high F = 85 |Feb record high F = 87 |Mar record high F = 96 |Apr record high F = 99 |May record high F = 103 |Jun record high F = 109 |Jul record high F = 108 |Aug record high F = 105 |Sep record high F = 106 |Oct record high F = 101 |Nov record high F = 90 |Dec record high F = 82 |year record high F= 109 |Jan high F = 59.2 |Feb high F = 64.0 |Mar high F = 73.0 |Apr high F = 81.3 |May high F = 87.4 |Jun high F = 93.4 |Jul high F = 95.4 |Aug high F = 93.5 |Sep high F = 87.4 |Oct high F = 79.1 |Nov high F = 68.5 |Dec high F = 61.0 |year high F= 78.6 |Jan low F = 31.5 |Feb low F = 35.0 |Mar low F = 43.6 |Apr low F = 52.8 |May low F = 59.9 |Jun low F = 66.9 |Jul low F = 69.8 |Aug low F = 68.4 |Sep low F = 62.8 |Oct low F = 53.0 |Nov low F = 41.8 |Dec low F = 33.6 |year low F= 51.6 |Jan record low F = 3 |Feb record low F = 8 |Mar record low F = 10 |Apr record low F = 24 |May record low F = 36 |Jun record low F = 45 |Jul record low F = 58 |Aug record low F = 57 |Sep record low F = 42 |Oct record low F = 27 |Nov record low F = 12 |Dec record low F = 6 |year record low F= 3 |Jan precipitation inch = 0.45 |Feb precipitation inch = 0.67 |Mar precipitation inch = 0.44 |Apr precipitation inch = 0.96 |May precipitation inch = 2.18 |Jun precipitation inch = 1.36 |Jul precipitation inch = 0.96 |Aug precipitation inch = 2.27 |Sep precipitation inch = 3.29 |Oct precipitation inch = 1.84 |Nov precipitation inch = 0.74 |Dec precipitation inch = 0.50 |year precipitation inch= 15.66 |source 1 = The Western Regional Climate Center<ref name="WRCC">{{cite web | url =http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?tx7431| title =Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information | access-date =April 1, 2013 | publisher =Western Regional Climate Center }}</ref> |date=April 2013 }}

==See also== {{portal|Texas}} * List of municipalities in Texas

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist|22em}}

==External links== {{commons category-inline|Rankin, Texas}}

Category:Cities in Upton County, Texas Category:Cities in Texas Category:County seats in Texas