Ropesville, Texas

Ropesville, Texas
City
Grain elevator in Ropesville
Ropesville
Coordinates: 33°24′48″N 102°09′16″W / 33.41333°N 102.15444°W / 33.41333; -102.15444
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Hockley
Region	Llano Estacado
Established	1917
Area [1]
• Total	0.36 sq mi (0.94 km2)
• Land	0.36 sq mi (0.94 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [2]	3,363 ft (1,025 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	430
• Density	1,200/sq mi (460/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
ZIP code	79358
Area code	806
FIPS code	48-63140
GNIS feature ID	1366856
Website	cityofropesville.com

Ropesville is a city in Hockley County, Texas, United States. Its population was 430 at the 2020 census, down from 434 at the 2010 census.^[3]

Ropesville is located on the high plains of the Llano Estacado at 33°24′48″N 102°09′16″W / 33.41333°N 102.15444°W / 33.41333; -102.15444 (33.4134229, –102.1543406),^[4] in the southeastern corner of Hockley County. U.S. Routes 62 and 82 pass together through the northwestern side of the city, leading northeast 21 miles (34 km) to Lubbock and southwest 18 miles (29 km) to Brownfield. Levelland, the Hockley county seat, is 24 miles (39 km) to the northwest via farm roads.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Ropesville has a total area of 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²), all land.^[3]

As of the 2020 census, Ropesville had a population of 430. The median age was 41.0 years. 23.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 106.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 104.3 males age 18 and over.^[7][8]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[9]

There were 150 households in Ropesville, of which 40.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.7% were married-couple households, 20.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[7]

There were 170 housing units, of which 11.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%.^[7]

As of the 2000 census, 517 people, 177 households, and 141 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,441.5 inhabitants per square mile (556.6/km²). The 185 housing units averaged 515.8 per square mile (199.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.43% White, 2.13% African American, 0.97% Native American, 6.00% from other races, and 3.48% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 53.19% of the population.^[10]

Of the 177 households, 43.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.8% were not families. About 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.32.

In the city, the population was distributed as 33.3% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,531, and for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $21,176 versus $18,393 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,670. About 14.7% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.

Ropesville is served by the Ropes Independent School District.

The city government is presided over by Mayor Brenda Rabel.^[11]

In 1935 during the Dust bowl, the Resettlement Administration bought land and planned an experimental Industrial Farm.

Rexford Tugwell, the Administer, wanted to determine the feasibility of rural farming on the plains, calling the project Ropesville.

With the 4000 acres Resettlement Administration had purchased, they carved it into thirty-three farms, Each around 130 acres and every farm was fully developed with a windmill, water well, barn and corral. Eventually the project expanded to seventy-nine units. The Farm Security Administration took over the project in 1937.

Lubbock boosters took a dim view of the project because it abandoned the frontier model of settlement and appeared to reward poor and lazy farming.

The Ropesville project began to wind down in 1941, with all of the farms being sold off within two years.

By all accounts the experimental project was a success after five years. Later, however, a FSA study determined a family could not live on a subsistence homestead on the southern plains. ^[12]

• Handbook of Texas: Ropesville, TX
• Photos of the Llano Estacado