Rankin, Texas

By | May 12, 2023

According to Extrareference.com, Rankin, Texas is located in the heart of West Texas, just off Interstate 20. The city is surrounded by rolling hills, mesquite groves, and small ranches. It has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and mild winters. Rainfall is sparse and usually occurs in the summer months. Rankin has a rich history as a former railroad town that served as an important center for ranching and agriculture during the 19th century. Today, Rankin is known for its strong economy, which is largely dependent upon oil and gas production, agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing. The city also contains several schools including Rankin Elementary School, Rankin High School, and Rankin Junior College.

Rankin has several historic landmarks worth mentioning including the old railroad depot which was built in 1885 and now serves as a museum for local artifacts; the historic Rankin Hotel which was built in 1895; the old County Courthouse built in 1908; and the old Rankin Cemetery which was established in 1876. Additionally, there are several parks located throughout the city with recreational facilities such as basketball courts and playgrounds where families can enjoy outdoor activities such as camping or picnicking together.

Politically speaking, Rankin is part of Pecos County which is represented by two state senators who serve in both chambers of the Texas legislature. On the federal level it falls under Congressional District 23 which includes parts of West Texas from El Paso to Austin. The current representative for this district is Joaquin Castro who was elected to office in 2019.

Rankin, Texas

Population: 800. Estimated population in July 2020: 725 (-9.4% change)
Males: 388 (48.5%), Females: 412 (51.5%)

Zip code: 79778

Median resident age: 41.0 years
Median household income: $36,528
Median house value: $24,800

Races in Rankin:

  • White Non-Hispanic (69.3%)
  • Hispanic (26.9%)
  • Other race (12.0%)
  • Black (2.5%)
  • American Indian (1.1%)
  • Two or more races (1.0%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: English (14.4%), United States (12.8%), German (9.5%), Irish (8.8%), Scotch-Irish (2.1%), French (2.0%).

Land area: 1.1 square miles

Population

Rankin, Texas is a small rural town located in Upton County. According to the most recent census, the population of Rankin is 1,527. It is a predominantly white community with 83% of residents identifying as Caucasian. The remaining 17% of the population consists of African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians. The median age in Rankin is 32 years old with most residents being between the ages of 25 and 44. The median household income for Rankin is $51,000 and the poverty rate is 18%.

The majority of Rankin’s population are employed in blue-collar jobs such as construction and manufacturing that contribute to the local economy. There are also several small businesses located in town including a hardware store, restaurant, gas station and grocery store that provide employment opportunities for locals. Education is important to the community with several public schools providing quality education for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The local high school also offers college preparation classes to help students get ready for college or university studies after they graduate.

Rankin has an active civic life with many organizations providing activities for residents such as a garden club, book club and youth sports leagues. There are also annual events such as an Independence Day parade that brings together people from all over Upton County and beyond to celebrate America’s independence. Residents take pride in their community and work together to ensure it remains a safe place to live and raise families for generations to come.

For population 25 years and over in Rankin

  • High school or higher: 75.4%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.7%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 3.0%
  • Unemployed: 4.2%
  • Mean travel time to work: 18.1 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Rankin city

  • Never married: 18.7%
  • Now married: 63.5%
  • Separated: 1.5%
  • Widowed: 6.3%
  • Divorced: 9.9%

5.8% Foreign born (5.8% Latin America).

Population change in the 1990s: -195 (-19.6%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Rankin:

  • RANKIN COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT (1105 ELIZABETH)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Rankin:

  • MC CAMEY HOSPITAL & CONVALESCENT CTR (about 19 miles; MC CAMEY, TX)
  • PECOS COUNTY GENERAL HOSPITAL (about 23 miles; IRAAN, TX)
  • REAGAN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 31 miles; BIG LAKE, TX)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Rankin:

  • MIDLAND INTERNATIONAL (about 52 miles; MIDLAND, TX; Abbreviation: MAF)
  • SAN ANGELO REGIONAL/MATHIS FIELD (about 102 miles; SAN ANGELO, TX; Abbreviation: SJT)
  • LEA COUNTY RGNL (about 134 miles; HOBBS, NM; Abbreviation: HOB)

Other public-use airports nearest to Rankin:

  • RANKIN (about 1 miles; RANKIN, TX; Abbreviation: 49F)
  • UPTON COUNTY (about 21 miles; MC CAMEY, TX; Abbreviation: E48)
  • IRAAN MUNI (about 23 miles; IRAAN, TX; Abbreviation: 2F0)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Rankin:

  • MIDLAND COLLEGE (about 57 miles; MIDLAND, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,800)
  • ODESSA COLLEGE (about 57 miles; ODESSA, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,555)
  • ANGELO STATE UNIVERSITY (about 88 miles; SAN ANGELO, TX; Full-time enrollment: 5,477)
  • SUL ROSS STATE UNIVERSITY (about 133 miles; ALPINE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,076)
  • TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY (about 165 miles; LUBBOCK, TX; Full-time enrollment: 22,439)
  • SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE (about 168 miles; LEVELLAND, TX; Full-time enrollment: 3,851)
  • HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY (about 176 miles; Abilene, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,026)

Schools

Public high school in Rankin:

  • RANKIN H S (Students: 128; Location: 511 W 12TH; Grades: 07 – 12)

Public primary/middle school in Rankin:

  • JAMES D GOSSETT EL (Students: 117; Location: 511 W 12TH; Grades: PK – 06)

Libraries

Library in Rankin:

  • RANKIN PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $55,273; Location: 310 E 10TH ST; 15,358 books; 425 audio materials; 215 video materials; 20 serial subscriptions)