As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 22,336 people, 7,626 households, and 5,666 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,621.0 inhabitants per square mile (625.9/km2). There were 8,471 housing units at an average density of 614.8/sq mi (237.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 63.21% White, 5.87% African American, 1.13% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 26.53% from other races, and 2.77% from two or more races. HispanicorLatino of any race were 49.83% of the population.
There were 7,626 households out of which 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size is 4.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,551, and the median income for a family was $35,215. Males had a median income of $26,434 versus $19,888 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,791. About 15.0% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.
Billy Carthel, All American baseball player from Sul Ross University. Drafted by the New York Mets and played most of his career in the AAA baseball. Retired from the Montreal Expos as a player/coach.
Michael Egnew, Previously played football for Plainview High School and the University of Missouri. He now plays tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Jim Landtroop, member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 85, then in Plainview (2011-2013); moved to District 88 in 2012 and unseated by fellow Republican Ken KingofCanadian
Leah Kay Lyle,[13] Miss Texas 1989 and a Top 10 Finalist in the Miss America Pageant. She now lives in the Dallas area.
Horse trainer Carl Nafzger, who has won the Kentucky Derby twice, in 1990 with Unbridled and in 2007 with Street Sense, was born in Plainview. He also won the 1990 Breeder's Cup Classic with Unbridled.
Lavern Roach, (1925-1950) boxer, who was Ring Magazine's Rookie-of-the-Year in 1947. He died following a fatal blow received in a match on his 25th birthday.
O.T. Ryan, (1927-2012), director of the Plainview High School Band from 1964 to 1993. Past president of the Texas Bandmasters Association and UIL Region XVI Executive Secretary of Music. He was named Plainview’s Man of the Year in 1993 and received the Plainview Cultural Council’s Silver Star Award in 2006. In the fall of 1950, Ryan became director of the Plainview Junior High band and assistant to the legendary "Chief" Davidson with the high school band; succeeded Davidson in 1964, and under his directorship the band racked up 29 straight years of Division I honors in University Interscholastic League marching (a string that began under Davidson, had grown to 70 by 2007, and is believed to be a national record). O.T. and his wife, Pat, were honorees in the 2008 Centennial Circle of Honor.[15][16]
Phil Stephenson, member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 85 (now Wharton County); 1964 graduate of Plainview High School
Pete Laney, District Representative 25+ years and Speaker of the House of Texas -10 years
Trey Topper, a local violinist, guitarist, and church musician.
Alex Driggars, a very attractive man.
In film
The 1992 Steve Martin film Leap of Faith filmed part of the movie on location. The downtown water tower still bears the name and mascot of the fictional town in which the movie is set: The Rustwater Bengals.
The Quick Lunch Diner, where several scenes were filmed is now closed, and the site is now home to the Broadway Brew.
In the eighteenth episode of the second season of Vice (TV series) Plainview was featured as a ghost town in a feature called "Deliver Us from Drought".
Wayland Baptist University is a four-year university with approximately 1100 students at its main campus in Plainview.
South Plains College-Plainview Branch
On February 11, 2009, the Texas Department of State Health Services ordered the cessation of operations and full recall of all products produced by a Plainview-based peanut processing facility owned by Peanut Corporation of America, following the discovery of "dead rodents, rodent excrement and bird feathers in the plant," and revelations that the plant had operated without state licensure or inspection. The plant had voluntarily suspended operations one day earlier, and was not linked to the salmonella outbreak that had forced the shutdown of other PCA plants.[17][18]
The largest employer was a Cargill beef processing plant, mothballed on February 1, 2013 due to lack of incoming animals from the local area due to the 2010–2012 Southern United States drought. Closure of the plant created a crisis in Plainview as an annual payroll of $15.5 million was lost and many of the 2,300 employees and their families relocated after being laid off.[19]
United States
Texas
