| Levelland, Texas | |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | Texas |
| Pushpin Relief: | yes |
| Pushpin Label: | Levelland |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Map of Texas |
| Coordinates: | 33.5872°N -102.3781°W |
| Coordinates Footnotes: | [1] |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Hockley |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Llano Estacado |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Established Date: | 1921 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Elevation Ft: | 3520 |
| Population Total: | 12652 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Area Total Km2: | 26.45 |
| Area Land Km2: | 26.44 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.01 |
| Population Density Km2: | 478.52 |
| Timezone1: | CST |
| Utc Offset1: | -6 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 79336, 79338 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 806 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 48-42448 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1361113 |
| Area Footnotes: | [2] |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 10.21 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 10.21 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.01 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1239.18 |
Levelland is a city and the county seat of Hockley County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 12,652,[3] down from 13,542 at the 2010 census.[4] It is located on the Llano Estacado, 30miles west of Lubbock. Major industries include cotton farming and petroleum production. It is the home of South Plains College. Levelland is the principal city of the Levelland micropolitan statistical area, which includes all of Hockley County and part of the larger Lubbock–Levelland combined statistical area. Levelland was so named on account of the flat land at the town site.[5]
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.[6]
The 1950s oil boom led to the establishment of a refinery and gas plant.[6]
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.[6]
Levelland is at the center of Hockley County. Texas State Highway 114 runs through the north side of the city, leading east to Lubbock and west to the New Mexico border. U.S. Route 385 passes through the center of the city, east of downtown, leading north to Littlefield and south to Brownfield.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Levelland has a total area of 26.3km2, of which 0.01km2, or 0.06%, is covered by water.[7]
Levelland has a semi-arid climate (Köppen: Bsk) with generally low relative humidity levels.[8]
| White (NH) | 4,693 | 37.09% | |
| Black or African American (NH) | 468 | 3.7% | |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 36 | 0.28% | |
| Asian (NH) | 38 | 0.3% | |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 2 | 0.02% | |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 34 | 0.27% | |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 227 | 1.79% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7,154 | 56.54% | |
| Total | 12,652 |
As of the census[10] of 2000, 12,866 people, 4,574 households, and 3,361 families resided in the city. The population density was 1296.5sp=usNaNsp=us. The 5,186 housing units averaged 522.6 per square mile (201.8/km). 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.[11]
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. 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.[12] 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.[12] 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.[12]