Quitaque (/ˈkɪtɪkw/ KIT-ih-kway[4]) is a city in southeastern Briscoe County, Texas, United States. The town lies directly south of Caprock Canyon State Park and is a ranching and farming area in West Texas. The population was 342 at the 2020 census,[5] and 411 at the 2010 census.

Quitaque, Texas
Coordinates: 34°21′58″N 101°03′26″W / 34.36611°N 101.05722°W / 34.36611; -101.05722[1]
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyBriscoe
Area
 • Total0.72 sq mi (1.87 km2)
 • Land0.72 sq mi (1.87 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation2,572 ft (784 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total342
 • Density480/sq mi (180/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
79255
Area code806
FIPS code48-60176[3]

According to tradition, Quitaque is a name derived from an American Indian language, meaning "end of the trail".[6]

Geography

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Quitaque is located along Texas State Highway 86 between Silverton to the west and Turkey to the east. The entrance to Caprock Canyons State Park is located approximately three miles north of Quitaque on Farm to Market Road 1065, and the Caprock Canyons Trailway is located just south of the town. Kent Creek flows past north of the town and Quitaque Creek is about three miles south.[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2), all land.

 
Caprock Canyons State Park is located near Quitaque

Climate

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According to the Köppen climate classification system, Quitaque has a semiarid climate, BSk on climate maps.[8]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1930945
1940763−19.3%
1950647−15.2%
1960586−9.4%
19706012.6%
198069615.8%
1990513−26.3%
2000432−15.8%
2010411−4.9%
2020342−16.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

2020 census

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Quitaque racial composition[10]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 215 62.87%
Black or African American (NH) 5 1.46%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 1 0.29%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 8 2.34%
Hispanic or Latino 113 33.04%
Total 342

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 342 people, 155 households, and 94 families residing in the city.

2000 census

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As of the census[3] of 2000, 432 people, 182 households, and 117 families resided in the city. The population density was 600.8 inhabitants per square mile (232.0/km2). The 252 housing units averaged 350.5 per square mile (135.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 79.40% White, 5.79% African American, 0.23% Native American, 12.50% from other races, and 2.08% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 27.08% of the population.

Of the 182 households, 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were not families. About 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city, the population was distributed as 27.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,143, and for a family was $33,750. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $18,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,619. About 14.1% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

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Governor Greg Abbott declared the city the Bison Capital of Texas in 2015. A BisonFest is held every year to raise money for the bison herd at Caprock Canyons.[13]

Education

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The City of Quitaque is served by the Turkey-Quitaque Independent School District.

Notable person

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The Texas high-school and college football coach Gene Mayfield was born in Quitaque in 1928.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Quitaque, Texas
  2. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ This pronunciation is given on signs at the entrance to town on multiple highways, saying "Welcome to Quitaque (kitty-quay)".
  5. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  6. ^ "From Bug Tussle to Tarzan, here are 40 of the oddest Texas town names". Click2Houston. August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  7. ^ Texas Atlas & Gazetteer, DeLorme, 4th ed. 2001, p.34 ISBN 0-89933-320-6
  8. ^ Climate Summary for Quitaque, Texas
  9. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  11. ^ https://www.census.gov/ [not specific enough to verify]
  12. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  13. ^ Killough, Ashley; Lavandera, Ed (November 2, 2022). "A small herd of bison and a small Texas city are helping each other survive". CNN. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  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.[11][12]