According to Shoe-Wiki, Sanderson, Texas is located in the western part of the state, and is a small community of just over 1,000 people. It is located within the Chihuahuan Desert, and experiences hot summers and mild winters. The city has a rich history that dates back to the 1800s when it was first settled by settlers from Mexico and Spain. Sanderson was an important stop for travelers along the Butterfield Overland Mail route from San Antonio to El Paso.
The political climate of Sanderson is largely conservative with Republicans dominating most local elections. The economy of Sanderson is based primarily on ranching and farming, although there are some small businesses as well. There are several schools in town including an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school which serves students from throughout the county.
One of the most notable landmarks in Sanderson is the historic First National Bank building which was built in 1885 and still stands today as one of the oldest buildings in town. Another popular landmark in town is El MesteƱo Park where visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking trails, bird watching, picnicking, and more. In addition to these landmarks, there are also several museums that showcase local artifacts from early settlers as well as historical documents related to Sanderson’s past.
Population: 861
Males: 424 (49.2%), Females: 437 (50.8%)
Terrell County
Zip code: 79848
Median resident age: 43.0 years
Median household income: $23,594
Median house value: $26,300
Races in Sanderson:
- Hispanic (51.5%)
- White Non-Hispanic (45.5%)
- Other race (9.2%)
- American Indian (2.4%)
- Two or more races (1.2%)
- Asian Indian (0.7%)
(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)
Ancestries: German (8.9%), Irish (7.8%), English (7.2%), United States (7.2%), Scotch-Irish (3.3%), French (2.7%).
Elevation: 2792 feet
Land area: 4.2 square miles
Population
Sanderson, Texas is a small town located in the western part of Terrell County. According to the 2010 census, the population was 742 people living in Sanderson. The majority of its residents are White, making up 83.8% of the population. African American and Hispanic populations make up 10.3% and 5.9%, respectively. The median age for the town is 39 years old with a median household income of $31,875. The unemployment rate is 6.2%.
The education level in Sanderson is quite low with only 14% having obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher while 32% have obtained a high school diploma or GED. However, despite its low educational attainment, there are many job opportunities available in Sanderson due to its proximity to larger cities like Odessa and Midland which are only 30-45 minutes away by car. The most popular industries include oil and gas extraction as well as agriculture and ranching due to the rural nature of the area. Additionally, there are several service-oriented businesses that cater to tourists who visit this part of Texas for hunting and other outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, fishing etcetera.. Sanderson has also recently become home to several new businesses that offer goods and services catering to local needs such as a grocery store and hardware store opened in 2018 that provide much needed services for area residents who may not have access to them otherwise due to their remote location from larger cities nearby.
For population 25 years and over in Sanderson
- High school or higher: 70.8%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.7%
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.2%
- Unemployed: 6.7%
- Mean travel time to work: 16.7 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Sanderson CDP
- Never married: 19.9%
- Now married: 58.8%
- Separated: 1.9%
- Widowed: 9.8%
- Divorced: 9.6%
8.0% Foreign born (7.3% Latin America).
Hospitals
Hospitals/medical centers near Sanderson:
- PECOS COUNTY GENERAL HOSPITAL (about 60 miles; IRAAN, TX)
- PECOS COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 60 miles; FORT STOCKTON, TX)
- MC CAMEY HOSPITAL & CONVALESCENT CTR (about 72 miles; MC CAMEY, TX)
Airports
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Sanderson:
- MIDLAND INTERNATIONAL (about 124 miles; MIDLAND, TX; Abbreviation: MAF)
- SAN ANGELO REGIONAL/MATHIS FIELD (about 157 miles; SAN ANGELO, TX; Abbreviation: SJT)
- LEA COUNTY RGNL (about 184 miles; HOBBS, NM; Abbreviation: HOB)
Other public-use airports nearest to Sanderson:
- TERRELL COUNTY (about 16 miles; DRYDEN, TX; Abbreviation: 6R6)
- FORT STOCKTON-PECOS COUNTY (about 63 miles; FORT STOCKTON, TX; Abbreviation: FST)
- IRAAN MUNI (about 64 miles; IRAAN, TX; Abbreviation: 2F0)
SANDERSON (201 DOWNEY ST.). Services: partially wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking.
Colleges and Universities
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Sanderson:
- SUL ROSS STATE UNIVERSITY (about 89 miles; ALPINE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,076)
- ODESSA COLLEGE (about 119 miles; ODESSA, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,555)
- MIDLAND COLLEGE (about 132 miles; MIDLAND, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,800)
- ANGELO STATE UNIVERSITY (about 147 miles; SAN ANGELO, TX; Full-time enrollment: 5,477)
- SOUTHWEST TEXAS JUNIOR COLLEGE (about 189 miles; UVALDE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,366)
- SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE (about 239 miles; LEVELLAND, TX; Full-time enrollment: 3,851)
- TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY (about 242 miles; LUBBOCK, TX; Full-time enrollment: 22,439)
Schools
Public high school in Sanderson:
- SANDERSON H S (Students: 57; Location: 315 N 1ST; Grades: 09 – 12)
Public primary/middle schools in Sanderson:
- SANDERSON EL (Students: 65; Location: 315 N 1ST; Grades: PK – 05)
- SANDERSON J H (Students: 42; Location: 315 N 1ST; Grades: 06 – 08)
Libraries
Library in Sanderson:
- TERRELL COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $35,711; Location: 108 HACKBERRY; 22,262 books; 1,878 audio materials; 2,156 video materials; 51 serial subscriptions)