Bushland, Texas

Geography

Bushland is located at (35.1919978, -102.0646392), at an elevation of 3,825 feet. The community is situated along Interstate 40, approximately 14 miles west of Amarillo in southwestern Potter County.

Bushland is the halfway point between Chicago and Los Angeles, 1,062 miles from either city. The two cities were the original endpoints of U.S. Route 66.

History

Established as a station on the Chicago, Rock Island and Gulf Railway, Bushland was named for William Henry Bush, a Chicago native. In 1898, land owner Joseph Glidden (the inventor of barbed wire) transferred the Frying Pan Ranch to Mr. Bush, who was his son-in-law. The total cost was $68,000. Thereafter, Bush donated land for a town site and a railroad right-of-way. On July 3, 1908, the town was formally dedicated by Bush and his associate S.H. Smiser. Farmers soon settled in and around Bushland. A public school district was established, followed by the opening of a post office in January 1909. The community's population remained small, hovering near 20 during the 1910s and 1920s. By 1940, that figure had risen to 175, with four businesses operating in the community. Throughout the latter half of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first, Bushland's population has remained steady at around 130.

In 2009, Bushland made National News after a gas pipeline ruptured near Prairie West, a local neighborhood. At 1:00 AM on Wednesday, November 4, 2009, a gas line operated by El Paso Natural Gas Company malfunctioned, shooting flames 700 feet into the air. Three residents of the neighborhood were injured, and transported to Lubbock for health treatment.

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1850–1900 1910 1920 1930 1940

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Bushland first appeared as a census designated place in the 2020 U.S. census.

2020 Census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,234 people, 709 households, and 672 families residing in the CDP.

Education

Public education in the community of Bushland is provided by the Bushland Independent School District. The district operates three campuses – Bushland Elementary School (grades PK–4), Bushland Middle School (grades 5–8), and Bushland High School (grades 9–12). In 2011, Bushland residents voted in favor of a bond issue to build additions to the High School, build a cafeteria for the Middle School and purchase new buses for the district.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bushland has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.

Notes

References

References

1. {{GNIS. 2805835
2. "Bushland, Texas". [[The Handbook of Texas]] online.
3. "Bushland, Texas". Texas Escapes Online Magazine.
4. "Frying Pan Ranch". [[The Handbook of Texas]] online.
5. "William Henry Bush". [[The Handbook of Texas]] online.
6. (2009-11-05). "3 injured, home destroyed in Texas gas line blast". The Seattle Times.
7. "Decennial Census by Decade".
8. "1900 Census of Population - Population of Texas By Counties And Minor Civil Divisions".
9. "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for Texas".
10. "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
11. "1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
12. "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
13. "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
14. "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
15. "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
16. "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
17. "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas".
18. "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas".
19. "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas".
20. "2020 Geography Changes". [[United States Census Bureau]].
21. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bushland CDP, Texas". [[United States Census Bureau]].
22. [http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=594023&cityname=Bushland%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Bushland, Texas]