Levelland, Texas

Levelland became the county seat upon its organization in 1921. Initially named Hockley City by Charles W. Post in 1912, development began in 1921, and the town was swiftly renamed for its local topography. The town's foundation was further solidified with the commencement of Santa Fe Railroad service in July 1925.{{Cite web |title=Levelland, TX |last=Hunt |first=William R. |work=Handbook of Texas |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |access-date=26 December 2023 |url= https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/levelland-tx }}

The 1950s oil boom led to the establishment of a refinery and gas plant.

Levelland experienced civic development, including the opening of a municipal park in 1951 through fundraising by civic clubs. Infrastructure improvements, an airfield, road systems, and a hospital, were undertaken around the same time. The town established a county library in the 1950s and the South Plains Museum in 1968. South Plains College, a two-year community college, opened in 1958.

Levelland is at the center of Hockley County. Texas State Highway 114 runs through the north side of the city, leading east {{convert|30|mi}} to Lubbock and west {{convert|43|mi}} to the New Mexico border. U.S. Route 385 passes through the center of the city, east of downtown, leading north {{convert|24|mi}} to Littlefield and south {{convert|29|mi}} to Brownfield.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Levelland has a total area of {{convert|26.3|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.01|km2|order=flip|3}}, or 0.06%, is covered by water.{{Cite web |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Levelland city, Texas |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4842448 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213071524/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4842448 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 9, 2018 |work=American Factfinder |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}

Levelland has a semi-arid climate (Köppen: Bsk) with generally low relative humidity levels.{{Cite web |title=Climate |publisher=City of Levelland |access-date=27 December 2023 |url= https://www.levellandtexas.org/71/Weather-and-Climate }}

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| collapsed = yes

| single line = yes

| location = Levelland, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1937–1943, 1946–present)

| Jan record high F = 82

| Feb record high F = 88

| Mar record high F = 95

| Apr record high F = 101

| May record high F = 111

| Jun record high F = 115

| Jul record high F = 111

| Aug record high F = 106

| Sep record high F = 105

| Oct record high F = 103

| Nov record high F = 94

| Dec record high F = 81

| year record high F =

| Jan avg record high F = 74.7

| Feb avg record high F = 79.1

| Mar avg record high F = 85.9

| Apr avg record high F = 91.4

| May avg record high F = 98.4

| Jun avg record high F = 102.8

| Jul avg record high F = 101.8

| Aug avg record high F = 99.5

| Sep avg record high F = 96.2

| Oct avg record high F = 91.1

| Nov avg record high F = 81.9

| Dec avg record high F = 74.0

| year avg record high F = 105.0

| Jan high F = 53.7

| Feb high F = 58.5

| Mar high F = 66.5

| Apr high F = 75.2

| May high F = 83.7

| Jun high F = 91.3

| Jul high F = 92.4

| Aug high F = 90.5

| Sep high F = 83.5

| Oct high F = 74.7

| Nov high F = 62.7

| Dec high F = 54.4

| year high F = 73.9

| Jan mean F = 39.5

| Feb mean F = 43.3

| Mar mean F = 50.8

| Apr mean F = 58.9

| May mean F = 68.5

| Jun mean F = 77.1

| Jul mean F = 79.0

| Aug mean F = 77.3

| Sep mean F = 70.2

| Oct mean F = 60.0

| Nov mean F = 48.2

| Dec mean F = 40.5

| year mean F = 59.4

| Jan low F = 25.2

| Feb low F = 28.2

| Mar low F = 35.0

| Apr low F = 42.6

| May low F = 53.4

| Jun low F = 62.8

| Jul low F = 65.6

| Aug low F = 64.1

| Sep low F = 57.0

| Oct low F = 45.3

| Nov low F = 33.6

| Dec low F = 26.6

| year low F = 44.9

| Jan avg record low F = 13.0

| Feb avg record low F = 15.3

| Mar avg record low F = 20.3

| Apr avg record low F = 29.8

| May avg record low F = 40.5

| Jun avg record low F = 54.6

| Jul avg record low F = 60.9

| Aug avg record low F = 58.5

| Sep avg record low F = 46.0

| Oct avg record low F = 30.8

| Nov avg record low F = 19.5

| Dec avg record low F = 12.8

| year avg record low F = 8.8

| Jan record low F = -16

| Feb record low F = -8

| Mar record low F = 3

| Apr record low F = 20

| May record low F = 26

| Jun record low F = 43

| Jul record low F = 48

| Aug record low F = 49

| Sep record low F = 33

| Oct record low F = 14

| Nov record low F = 0

| Dec record low F = -3

| year record low F =

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 0.66

| Feb precipitation inch = 0.60

| Mar precipitation inch = 1.12

| Apr precipitation inch = 1.00

| May precipitation inch = 2.40

| Jun precipitation inch = 2.67

| Jul precipitation inch = 2.06

| Aug precipitation inch = 2.29

| Sep precipitation inch = 2.29

| Oct precipitation inch = 1.53

| Nov precipitation inch = 0.87

| Dec precipitation inch = 0.78

| year precipitation inch = 18.27

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 3.8

| Feb precipitation days = 4.1

| Mar precipitation days = 4.8

| Apr precipitation days = 3.9

| May precipitation days = 6.0

| Jun precipitation days = 6.8

| Jul precipitation days = 6.4

| Aug precipitation days = 7.4

| Sep precipitation days = 6.2

| Oct precipitation days = 5.4

| Nov precipitation days = 3.9

| Dec precipitation days = 4.0

| year precipitation days = 62.7

| Jan snow inch = 1.3

| Feb snow inch = 1.5

| Mar snow inch = 0.5

| Apr snow inch = 0.0

| 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 = 0.1

| Nov snow inch = 0.9

| Dec snow inch = 1.9

| year snow inch = 6.2

| unit snow days = 0.1 in

| Jan snow days = 1.3

| Feb snow days = 1.0

| Mar snow days = 0.6

| 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 = 0.1

| Nov snow days = 0.5

| Dec snow days = 1.2

| year snow days = 4.8

| source = NOAA{{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 25, 2023}}{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00415183&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 25, 2023}}

}}

{{US Census population

| 1930 = 1661

| 1940 = 3091

| 1950 = 8264

| 1960 = 10153

| 1970 = 11445

| 1980 = 13809

| 1990 = 13986

| 2000 = 12866

| 2010 = 13542

| 2020 = 12652

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census{{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}}

}}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 12,652 people, 4,880 households, and 3,245 families residing in the city.

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, 12,866 people, 4,574 households, and 3,361 families resided in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,296.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 5,186 housing units averaged 522.6 per square mile (201.8/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup of the city was 70.34% White, 5.36% African American, 0.95% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 20.92% from other races, and 2.21% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 39.21% of the population.

Of the 4,574 households, 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were not families; 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the city, the population was distributed as 27.6% under the age of 18, 14.0% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,820, and for a family was $32,408. Males had a median income of $29,800 versus $20,042 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,296. About 15.7% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.

Levelland operates under a council-manager form of government. The Levelland City Council consists of the Mayor and four City Council members. The Mayor is elected at large for a three-year term, and council members are elected to represent residents in four election districts for two-year terms. The terms are staggered, resulting in the election of two council members each year. The Council appoints a City Manager responsible for the day-to-day administration, ensuring the provision of public services.{{Cite web |title=Mayor & Council |publisher=City of Levelland |access-date=26 December 2023 |url= http://www.ci.levelland.tx.us/104/City-Council }}

• The City of Levelland is served by the Levelland Independent School District.
• The Levelland High School mascot is the Lobo.
• Levelland is also home to South Plains College.

The James McMurtry song "Levelland", recorded in 1995, is a song about life in the city, told from a slightly acerbic point of view. The song has also been recorded by Robert Earl Keen.

Held in the third week of July, Camp Bluegrass is a large social event, with public concerts, held on the South Plains College campus.

Levelland is home to the 12-year-old state champions in baseball, the Levelland Kekambas.{{when|date=March 2018}} This was the first team to ever win state from Levelland. The team ended up placing fifth at the regional tournament in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Levelland is famous as the site of a well-publicized series of UFO sightings in November 1957. Several motorists driving on various highways around Levelland in the evening and early morning hours of November 2–3 claimed to see a large, egg-shaped object which emitted a blue glow and caused their automobiles to shut off.{{cite book |last=Clark |first=Jerome |date=1998 |title=The UFO Book: Encyclopedia of the Extraterrestrial |url=https://archive.org/details/ufobookencyclope0000clar/page/339 |location=Detroit |publisher=Visible Ink Press |pages=[https://archive.org/details/ufobookencyclope0000clar/page/339 339–340] |isbn=9781578590292 |url-access=registration }} In most cases, the object was sitting either on the highway or close to it. When the object took off, witnesses claimed their vehicles would restart and work normally. Among witnesses were Weir Clem, Levelland's sheriff, and Ray Jones, the town's fire chief. The United States Air Force concluded a severe electrical storm (most probably ball lightning), was the major cause for the sightings and reported auto failures. However, several prominent UFO researchers, among them Dr. James E. McDonald, a physicist at the University of Arizona, and Dr. J. Allen Hynek, an astronomer at Northwestern University, disputed this explanation. Both men argued that no electrical storm was in the area when the sightings occurred.

• Airport elevation – 3514 ft above mean sea level
• Two active runways
• 17/35 – 6,110 ft
• 08/26 – 2,072 ft

• Beau Boulter, attorney, lobbyist, and former U.S. representative from Texas's 13th congressional district
• Frank Jackson, wide receiver with the Dallas Texans, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Miami Dolphins 1961–1967, AFL All-Star 1965
• Ronny Jackson, physician to the President of the United States during the Obama and Trump administrations, unsuccessful nominee to head the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, later elected U.S. Representative for Texas's 13th congressional district
• Gene Mayfield (1928–2009), a successful high school and college football coach, concluded his career at Levelland High School
• Kinna McInroe, actress, known for her role as Nina in the film Office Space. She has guest-starred in episodes of several television series.
• David J. Schmidly (born 1943), an American scientist, professor and university president, was born in Levelland
• Marlene Willis, (January 13, 1942 - March 29, 1982), was an American singer, who performed on many televised variety shows during the 1950s, and later appeared as a guest star in several television series.

• Llano Estacado
• South Plains
• Yellow House Canyon
• XIT Ranch
• Blackwater Draw

{{reflist}}

{{notelist}}

{{commons category|Levelland, Texas}}

• [http://www.levellandtexas.org/ City of Levelland official website]
• {{Handbook of Texas|id=hjl06|name=Levelland, TX}}
• {{Gnis|1361113|Levelland}}
• [https://www.lbk.ars.usda.gov/WEWC/llano/estacado.htm Photos of the Llano Estacado]

{{Clear}}

{{Hockley County, Texas}}

{{Texas}}

{{Texas county seats}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Texas

Category:Cities in Hockley County, Texas

Category:County seats in Texas

Category:Micropolitan areas of Texas