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Sherman County, Texas

15 topographic sheets cover 4 settlements here.

Research this county

Texas within the United States
Sherman County within Texas

What the record shows

  • 25 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 4 populated places in this county; 4 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

The county from the air

20 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 809 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 20 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-02-09, scale 1:60000
1954-02-09, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-02-09, scale 1:60000
1954-02-09, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-02-09, scale 1:60000
1954-02-09, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-02-09, scale 1:60000
1954-02-09, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1962-04-26, scale 1:17200
1962-04-26, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1962-04-26, scale 1:17200
1962-04-26, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1962-04-26, scale 1:17200
1962-04-26, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1962-04-26, scale 1:17200
1962-04-26, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-05-04, scale 1:21666
1966-05-04, scale 1:21666. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-05-04, scale 1:21666
1966-05-04, scale 1:21666. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-05-04, scale 1:21666
1966-05-04, scale 1:21666. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-05-04, scale 1:21666
1966-05-04, scale 1:21666. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-03-19, scale 1:20500
1971-03-19, scale 1:20500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-03-19, scale 1:20500
1971-03-19, scale 1:20500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-03-19, scale 1:20500
1971-03-19, scale 1:20500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-03-19, scale 1:20500
1971-03-19, scale 1:20500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-06-24, scale 1:20500
1973-06-24, scale 1:20500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-06-24, scale 1:20500
1973-06-24, scale 1:20500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-06-24, scale 1:20500
1973-06-24, scale 1:20500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-06-24, scale 1:20500
1973-06-24, scale 1:20500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

3 stations

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

The 1950 census, district by district

6 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

  • 211-1Justice Precinct 1
  • 211-2Justice Precinct 2
  • 211-3Justice Precinct 3: Texhoma town
  • 211-4Justice Precinct 3 - That part outside Texhoma town
  • 211-5Justice Precinct 4: Stratford town
  • 211-6Justice Precinct 4 - That part outside Stratford town

Wildfire, 1999 to 2020

85 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 85 of them, burning about 37,551 acres. 16 started naturally and 1 was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined41
Equipment and vehicle use18
Natural16
Power generation/transmission/distribution3
Debris and open burning3
Smoking2
Railroad operations and maintenance1
Arson/incendiarism1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
30 October 1999Missing data/not specified/undetermined30,000 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceCHANNING
3 August 2016Natural1,300 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceLIGHTENING
13 June 2020Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,150 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceCOLDWATER RANCH FIRE
22 October 2016Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,000 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGUN FIRE
7 June 2008Natural500 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
23 May 2006Natural400 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
13 July 2011Natural320 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceMURRELL/STEDJIE FIRE
11 July 2020Natural300 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceCR 13 & CR CC FIRE

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1955 to 2025

60 of 321 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 321 reports for this county, causing no deaths, no injuries and about $748,190 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail195
Thunderstorm Wind79
Tornado43
Flood2
Flash Flood1
Funnel Cloud1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
July 1987Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
May 1978Tornado (F0)not stated$250,000no account filed
July 1996Thunderstorm WindTexhoma$100,000no account filed
September 2012Thunderstorm WindLautz$40,000A storm chaser reported significant damage to a center pivot system due to the strong thunderstorm wind gusts on the north side of Texas State Highway 15 east of Stratford, Texas. There were no reports of injuries or fatalities.
April 1972Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 2010HailMallett$15,000The Sherman County Emergency Manager reported considerable roof and automobile damage in Stratford Texas.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindStratford$15,000Power lines were reported blown down due the high winds.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindStratford$14,000Several power poles blown down along with large trees blown down and large tree branches broken due to the high winds.
May 2010Tornado (EF0)Stratford$12,000The tornado touched down about fifteen miles east of Stratford at 2227 CST. The tornado remained on the ground for about one mile with a maximum path width of eight hundred and eighty yards. The tornado dissipated at 2231 CST. A few irrigation pivots were damaged by the tornado.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindStratford$10,000Five power poles reportedly blown down which left electrical wires scattered across U.S. Highway 54.
June 2025HailTexhoma$10,000no account filed
August 2011Thunderstorm WindMallett$5,000Local law enforcement officials in Sherman County reported that the thunderstorm wind gust knocked down several power poles about five miles east of Stratford Texas. There were no reports of injuries or fatalities.
August 2013Thunderstorm WindLautz$1,000A supercell thunderstorm moved southward across the Texas Panhandle during the evening hours of the 14th. A member of the public reported that horse trailers were blown over by a thunderstorm wind gust 15 miles east-southeast of Stratford (Sherman County). The thunderstorm continued moving southward after producing this gust.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindMallett$1,000A trained storm spotter reported that three inch tree limbs were blown down and trampolines were blown around. There were no reports of injuries or fatalities.
September 2024Thunderstorm WindMallett$100Multiple branches that were 2 to 3 in diameter were blown off of a tree in Stratford by the thunderstorm winds.
June 1983Tornado (F0)not stated$30no account filed
May 1982Tornado (F0)not stated$30no account filed
June 1955Tornado (F0)not stated$30no account filed
April 2025Thunderstorm WindLautz-The mesonet located nine miles north northeast of Sunray measured a 61mph wind gust at 1909 CST, followed by a 63mph wind gust at 1911 CST.
April 2025Thunderstorm WindLautz-The mesonet located nine miles north northeast of Sunray measured a 70mph wind gust.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindLautz-A period of severe wind gusts occurred at the 9NNE Sunray mesonet site. The first recorded wind gust of 58mph occurred at 5:04pm, with the peak gust of 74mph occurred at 5:14pm. Severe wind gusts continued for about ten minutes.
June 2024FloodMallett-A property was flooded with water up to the porch through about noon.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindLautz-The Sunray mesonet station measured a 58 mph gust with lightning in the area.
May 2023Tornado (EFU)Lautz-This tornado was reported and verified by video. No damage was found. Therefore, no survey was able to be conducted and the tornado was classified as an EF-Unknown.
July 2023Tornado (EFU)Lautz-Tornado was captured on video by a storm chaser. The video showed there were twin tornadoes from the same circulation in very close proximity briefly. They remained in open county and didn't encounter any damage indicators.
May 2021Tornado (EFU)Lautz-The tornado was documented via pictures and video by multiple|storm chasers and local media. It remained in open country|grassland and encountered no damage indicators. Path was|estimated based on reports and radar signatures.
May 2021Tornado (EF0)Lautz-Multiple storm chasers recorded a large tornado crossing Highway|15 east of Stratford around 750 pm CDT. The tornado did not|damage the power lines along the highway and this was the basis|for the EF0 rating. Otherwise the tornado stayed in open country|grassland and farmlands and survey team found no damage anywhere|along the path which was estimated based on video and radar|evidence.
March 2020Tornado (EF0)Lautz-A landspout tornado touched down approximately 10 miles north of Sunray. The tornado moved very little, remained in a field and did no damage, before lifting approximately 10 miles north of Sunray. This tornado was rated EF-0 with an estimated peak wind speed of 75 MPH. Location and path details are estimated based on photographs from a local storm spotter.
June 2020HailLautz-Tennis ball size hail fell 5 miles northeast of Cactus.
April 2020Funnel CloudLautz-This report of a funnel cloud 6 miles southwest of Stratford was received via mPING.
June 2020HailMallett-Half dollar size hail fell 1 mile north of Stratford. The time of occurrence has been estimated from radar data.
June 2020HailTexhoma-Quarter size hail fell 6 miles south-southwest of Texhoma.
July 2020HailMallett-Quarter size hail fell in Stratford.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindMallett-A 58 mph gust was measured at the West Texas Mesonet station 4 miles west-northwest of Stratford. No damage was reported.
August 2020HailMallett-Storm spotter measured ping pong ball size hail along US Highway 54 southwest of Stratford.
August 2020HailMallett-Trained spotter measured quarter size hail in southwest Stratford, TX.
June 2019HailMallett-Nickel to quarter size hail observed.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindLautz-Tractor-trailer flipped on US Highway 287 between Cactus and Stratford.
May 2019HailMallett-Report received from Facebook.
May 2019HailLautz-Chaser had a late report of golf ball hail.
May 2019HailStratford-Golf Ball size hail reported in the city of Stratford.
May 2019HailStratford-Late Report. Time of the event was based on radar.
June 2018HailLautz-Spotter also reported very heavy rainfall.
June 2018FloodLautz-Heavy rain allowed for water to fill over the roadways.
June 2018Thunderstorm WindTexhoma-Public estimated 60 mph gust.
May 2018HailMallett-Trained spotter reported quarter size hail.
May 2018HailMallett-Reported by social network.
May 2018HailLautz-Late report of quarter size hail, with time estimated from radar.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindStratford-Two semi-trailers likely blown down due to winds. Damage is along highway 54, just northeast of county road 15.
May 2018HailTexhoma-Two inch diameter hail near the intersection of FM 119 and county road D.
May 2017HailLautz-Golf ball hail southeast of Stratford.
May 2017HailStratford-Late Facebook report received. Time estimated by radar.
May 2017HailLautz-Hail dented car, cracked windshield.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindLautz-Trained Spotter estimated 65 mph wind gust.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindLautz-Late report of thunderstorm wind gusts between 65 to 70 mph.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindTexhoma-Late report of thunderstorm wind gust 60 to 70 mph. Gusts constantly high between 1030 and 1100 PM.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindLautz-Damage survey indicated a microburst associated with a severe thunderstorm caused damage to a well built structure and bent a radio tower 90 degrees, along with some irrigation and farm equipment.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindLautz-Patio roof was blown off and also ripped the metal roof off part of the house.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindLautz-Five to 6 power poles blown over onto FM Road 1573 seven miles east of HWY 287.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindLautz-A microburst associated with a severe thunderstorm damaged center pivots of irrigation equipment and snapped 13 power poles. The damage path associated with the microburst had a path length of 2.3 miles, a path width of 2.1 miles, and ended around 912 PM CDT.

Every populated place in the county

4

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.