Needmore, Bailey County, Texas

Needmore is an unincorporated community in Bailey County, Texas, United States.

Needmore, Texas
Needmore Co-Op Gin
Abandoned cotton gin in Needmore
Map of Texas
Map of Texas
Needmore
Map of Texas
Map of Texas
Needmore
Coordinates: 34°01′59″N 102°44′15″W / 34.03306°N 102.73750°W / 34.03306; -102.73750
Country United States
State Texas
CountyBailey
Physiographic regionLlano Estacado
Founded1920s
Elevation3,884 ft (1,184 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total
45
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
79347
Area code806
WebsiteHandbook of Texas

History

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Needmore was so named because townsite promoters “needed more” settlers.[2] Others contend that the town was named as an act of desperation to get the attention of more resource-rich cities in the region, including Notrees and Whiteface, to provide help in sustaining the town while in its infancy.[3] After the town's founding in the 1920s, it never grew significantly, and by 1940, only 20 residents and two stores were at the site. By 1980, the population had reached 98, where it remained in 1990 and then dropped to 45 by 2000.[2]

Geography

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Needmore is located slightly east of the center of the county, around 13 miles (21 km) south of Muleshoe, the county seat, and 6 miles (10 km) north of the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge. It is located at the intersection of Texas State Highway 214 and Farm to Market Road 298 between the small communities of Baileyboro to the west and Circle Back, 4 mi (6.4 km) to the east.

The terrain surrounding Needmore consists of level plains that at one time were covered with grassland vegetation. Today, except the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, the shortgrass prairie has been replaced by plowed cropland, where cotton, sorghum, and winter wheat are grown. To the south and west of Needmore are numerous shallow lakes called “playas”. Most of these hold water for a short time after rain then dry and remain dry for extended periods. Some of the larger saline playas provide an important refuge for migratory waterfowl flying between Canada and Mexico, such as tens of thousands of sandhill cranes.

Education

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Needmore is served by the Muleshoe Independent School District and the Sudan Independent School District.

References

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  1. ^ "Needmore". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ a b Hunt, William R. "Needmore, TX (Bailey County)". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  3. ^ Belkin, Lisa (March 23, 1988). "Notrees Journal". New York Times. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
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