| Official Name: | Snyder, Texas |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Texas |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Scurry |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 23.23 |
| Area Land Km2: | 23.15 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.08 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 8.97 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 8.94 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.03 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 11438 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation M: | 707 |
| Elevation Ft: | 2320 |
| Coordinates: | 32.7156°N -100.9144°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP codes |
| Postal Code: | 79549-79550 |
| Area Code: | 325 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 48-68624[2] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1347340[3] |
| Website: | http://ci.snyder.tx.us/ |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2022 |
| Pop Est Footnotes: | [4] |
| Population Est: | 11230 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
Snyder is a city in, and the county seat of Scurry County, Texas, United States.[5] The population was 11,438 at the 2020 census.[6] The city is located in the lower part of the Southwestern Tablelands ecological region. In 2023, Snyder was ranked as the 16th worst place to live and 2nd most dangerous according to KQVT and Norada Real Estate Investments.[7] [8] [9] [10]
Snyder is named for merchant and buffalo hunter William Henry (Pete) Snyder, who built a trading post on Deep Creek in 1878. It soon drew fellow hunters, and a small settlement grew up around the post. The nature of those early dwellings, mostly constructed of buffalo hide and tree branches, led to the community's first, if unofficial, name of "Hide Town". Another early name, "Robber's Roost", is said to owe its beginnings to the sometimes nefarious nature of a few residents and a lack of law enforcement.[11] A statue of an albino buffalo on the grounds of the Scurry County Courthouse in Snyder pays homage to the town's beginnings as a buffalo-trading post.
Snyder antedates Scurry County by two years, with a town plan being drawn up in 1882, while the county was not organized until 1884. A population of 600 was reported in 1892, with a school, two churches, a grist mill, steam gin, two banks, and two weekly newspapers being part of the community. Significant change happened in 1907 when Snyder was granted a city charter, and construction began on the Roscoe, Snyder and Pacific Railway. The 1910 census indicated Snyder had grown to a population of 2,514. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway tracks reached Snyder in 1911, spurring further growth. Ranching and farming were the primary economic backbone of Snyder through the first half of the 20th century.
This changed in 1948, when oil was discovered in the Canyon Reef area north of town. Snyder became a boomtown, as the population jumped to about 12,000 in just a year's time. By the time the boom ended in 1951, an estimated peak population of 16,000 had been reached. This soon decreased to the 10,000 to 11,000 level and stabilized. Although the boom was over, oil still remained a vital part of the local economy, with the Snyder area being one of the leading oil-producing areas in Texas. In 1973, the one-billionth barrel of oil was pumped from the nearby oil fields.
An industrial base was established in the 1960s and early 1970s, diversifying the town's economy and making it less susceptible to cycles of boom and bust. Higher education came to Snyder in 1971 with the founding of Western Texas College.
The Scurry County Coliseum in Snyder, operated by Western Texas College since 2008, is a large arena which hosts area events. Outside the coliseum is a locomotive engine and a small restored historic village. Also located in Snyder is the Diamond M Museum. Established by local oilman and rancher Clarence T. McLaughlin, the museum houses over 80 bronze works and 200 paintings. Among the collection are works by Peter Hurd and Andrew Wyeth.
Snyder is located on Deep Creek, a minor tributary of the Colorado River of Texas.
Snyder is about 90miles southeast of Lubbock, 80miles northwest of Abilene, 90miles northeast of Midland, and 100miles north of San Angelo.
| White (NH) | 5,014 | 43.84% | |
| Black or African American (NH) | 375 | 3.28% | |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 45 | 0.39% | |
| Asian (NH) | 74 | 0.65% | |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 4 | 0.03% | |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 24 | 0.21% | |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 257 | 2.25% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5,645 | 49.35% | |
| Total | 11,438 |
As of the census of 2010, 11,202 people, 4,128 households, and 2,880 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,256.8 people/sq mi (485.2/km). The 5,013 housing units averaged 584.3/sq mi (225.6/km). The racial makeup of the city was 79.00% White, 4.69% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 13.68% from other races, and 1.81% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 31.8% of the population.
Of the 4,068 households, 34.9% had children under 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were not families. About 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56, and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city, the age distribution was 27.8% under 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,077, and for a family was $55,567. Males had a median income of $30,033 versus $17,609 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,296. About 13.7% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.
Snyder's economy is based on oil, gas, and wind industries. In 2012, 994 jobs were created in Snyder, leading to 20% job growth in the community, according to the Development Corporation of Snyder.[13]
The nearby Scurry Area Canyon Reef Operators oilfield is among the largest and most productive in the United States. Snyder is also located within the footprint of the recently-discovered Cline Shale.[14] Two of the largest wind farms in the United States are located in Snyder area. Other industries in Snyder include manufacturing and cotton.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Snyder Distribution Center.[15]
The Snyder Independent School District serves Snyder. The schools are Snyder Primary, Snyder Intermediate, Snyder Junior High School, Snyder Academy, Snyder Christian School, and Snyder High School.
Western Texas College, a two-year community college, is located in Snyder. In addition to traditional academic courses, Western Texas College offers several career/technical programs, including communication design, early childhood education, electrical distribution systems, information technology, business management, petroleum technology, radio broadcasting, solar energy technology, turfgrass and landscape management, vocational nursing, and welding.[16]
12 and 14 have bad links