Lampasas

Lampasas (/l æ m ˈ p æ s ə s / lam-PASS -əs) is a city in Lampasas County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,291 at the 2020 census.[3] It is the seat of Lampasas County.[6]

Lampasas is part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area.

For his services in the Texas Revolution, John Burleson received 1,280 acres (5.2 km2) of land and established a permanent settlement in the 1850s. The city was first named Burleson; however, the name was gradually changed to Lampasas Springs because of the existence of seven mineral springs. When the county was created in 1856, the law specified "The county seat shall be same name as the county." The city of Lampasas was officially incorporated in 1883.

Several theories attempt to explain how the name Lampasas came to be. The Texas Almanac states the word came from a Spanish word for "lilies" found in nearby streams. Another source states the word comes from the Spanish name Lampazos. The name was given to the local river by the Spanish Aquayo Expedition in 1721. It is believed the name was inspired by a Mexican town that also had beautiful springs. The town was also the location of the birth of the Farmers' Alliance, founded in 1876.

The Mother's Day Flood of 1957 had Sulphur Creek, a local river, strike the city in devastating flash flood which claimed five lives and destroyed many homes, businesses, and other property around downtown Lampasas. In the aftermath, a series of levees and reservoirs was constructed to prevent damage from future catastrophes.[7]

Since 1972, Lampasas has held an annual fair called the Spring Ho festival each July.[1]

Like nearby Mineral Wells, Lampasas has mineral springs health spas which once claimed to cure "everything". The 25-bed Rollins Brook Community Hospital in Lampasas was established by two physicians in 1935: Herbert Bailey Rollins, originally from Pineville, Kentucky, and W. M. Brooks. In 1958, Rollins Brook was the smallest accredited hospital in Texas. In 1981, Rollins was sold to a for-profit health care provider in Houston. Over the next decade, the hospital passed through a succession of owners. In 1991, the hospital declared bankruptcy and closed its doors without notice. Thereafter, citizens, unable to locate government or foundation grants, raised some $600,000 in community fund-raising activities to reclaim the facility. When it reopened on July 21, 1991, Rollins Brook became the only community hospital to survive bankruptcy. The story was broadcast by ABC News with Peter Jennings. In 1997, the hospital was sold again, this time to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 2005, Rollins Brook opened a new surgical section.[8]

Lampasas is located at 31°3′57″N 98°11′0″W  /  31.06583°N 98.18333°W  / 31.06583; -98.18333 (31.065868, –98.183444).[9]

The most notable waterway is Sulphur Creek, which flows from the southwest to the northeast through the south-central part of the city.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.3  square miles (16.1 km2), of which 6.2 square miles (16 km2) of it are land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (0.64%) is covered by water.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Lampasas has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa.[10]

As of the census[4] of 2020, 7,291 people, and 2,864 households resided in the city. The population density was 1,097.3 people per square mile (424.0/km2).

Of the 2,554 households, 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were not families. About 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54, and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city, the population was distributed as 27.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,898, and for a family was $31,012. Males had a median income of $26,606 versus $19,959 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,409. About 18.3% of families and 21.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.5% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.

The city of Lampasas is served by the Lampasas Independent School District.

Lampasas is mentioned in the Hank Williams, Jr.-penned and recorded song "Texas Women".

"Lampasas, Texas" is the title of the second episode of the CBS Western television series Trackdown, starring Robert Culp as Texas Ranger Hoby Gilman. The episode aired on October 11, 1957. In the story line, Gilman tries to block a town from carrying out the legal lynching of an innocent man.[14][15]

Lampasas is mentioned in Canadian singer Ian Tyson's song "Bob Fudge". In 2019, fellow Canadian singer Colter Wall released a cover of "Bob Fudge".