BlockBefore

Amherst, Texas

9 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1985. It stands in the Sudan-Amherst census division. It lies in ZIP code area 79312. The Survey maps it on the Amherst quadrangle. 678 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 3,652 feet above sea level.

Amherst within Lamb County

Population over time

2 figures

Amherst fell from 721 to 678 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
2010721
2020678-43 (-6%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

4 surveys from 9 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

7 since 2010

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 7 fires within 5 miles of Amherst between 2010 and 2014, burning about 604 acres in total. 3 started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Natural3
Equipment and vehicle use2
Missing data/not specified/undetermined1
Debris and open burning1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
2 June 2012Natural400 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRASS 2012-4
1 June 2010Natural120 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRASS 10
10 May 2014Natural75 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRASS14-17
4 April 2013Equipment and vehicle use2.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRASS 2013-2
10 April 2010Debris and open burning1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Service1004101
11 March 2014Equipment and vehicle use1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRASS14-7
22 February 2010Missing data/not specified/undetermined5.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRASS 2

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Lamb County

Storms near this place

55 since 1997

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Amherst in 55 storm reports between 1997 and 2025: 42 thunderstorm wind, 12 hail, 1 flash flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
October 2003HailAmherst$150,000The public reported golfball to baseball size hail in and around town. The hail damaged homes and buildings, knocked out windows, and damaged vehicles. The storm also resulted in significant crop damage between Sudan and Amherst.
October 2003Thunderstorm WindAmherst$50,000Strong thunderstorm wind gusts damaged the roofs and siding of several homes.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindAmherst$26,000Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet stations measured wind gusts ranging from 58 mph south of Olton to 81 mph near Amherst. Damage was noted to about a dozen power poles and a few dilapidated outbuildings.
August 2008Thunderstorm WindAmherst$15,000The public estimated that thunderstorm wind gusts near 70 mph accompanied very heavy rainfall in Amherst around 16:15 CST. These estimates were confirmed by a nearby Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet station which measured a 73 mph gust just east of the town. At least one irrigation pivot was destroyed by the winds north of Amherst.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindAmherst$15,000Strong thunderstorm wind blew down several utility poles.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindAmherst-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Amherst measured severe wind gusts from 1842 CST through 1844 CST. A peak wind gust of 81 mph was measured at 1843 CST.
April 2025HailAmherst-A trained spotter reported quarter size hail at the intersection of Farm to Market Road 37 and US Highway 385 north of Littlefield.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindAmherst-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Amherst measured severe wind gusts from 1635 CST through 1640 CST. A peak wind gust of 62 mph was measured at 1636 CST.
September 2023Thunderstorm WindAmherst-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Amherst measured a wind gust of 60 mph.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindAmherst-Two separate severe thunderstorms affected Amherst in close proximity in time. The first storm produced severe wind gusts from 1645 CST through 1650 CST. A peak wind gust of 66 mph was measured at 1650 CST from a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindAmherst-Two separate severe thunderstorms affected Amherst in close proximity in time. The second storm produced severe wind gusts from 1700 CST through 1706 CST. A peak wind gust of 87 mph was measured at 1702 CST from a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet.
May 2022HailAmherst-Law enforcement in Amherst reported quarter size hail.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindAmherst-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Amherst measured a severe wind gust of 61 mph.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindAmherst-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Amherst measured a wind gust of 64 mph.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindAmherst-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Amherst measured a wind gust of 60 mph.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindAmherst-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Amherst measured severe wind gusts from 1934 CST through 1943 CST. A peak wind gust of 76 mph was measured at 1941 CST.
May 2021Thunderstorm WindAmherst-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Amherst measured a severe wind gust of 64 mph.
May 2021Thunderstorm WindAmherst-A Texas Tech West Texas mesonet site near Amherst measured intermittent severe wind gusts from 1830 CST through 1836 CST. A peak wind gust of 68 mph was measured at 1836 CST.
May 2021Thunderstorm WindAmherst-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Amherst measured severe wind gusts of 85 mph from 2037 CST through 2038 CST.
September 2021Thunderstorm WindAmherst-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Amherst measured a severe wind gust to 61 mph.
September 2021Thunderstorm WindAmherst-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Amherst measured severe wind gusts from 1853 through 1854 CST. A peak wind gust of 66 mph was measured at 1853 CST.
March 2019Thunderstorm WindAmherst-Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindAmherst-Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet.
August 2018Thunderstorm WindAmherst-Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindAmherst-A Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet station near Amherst recorded a 61 mph wind gust as a thunderstorm moved overhead.
June 2015HailAmherst-Quarter size hail was measured by a HAM radio spotter. No damage was noted.
May 2014Thunderstorm WindAmherst-The Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet station in Amherst recorded severe wind gusts of up to 60 mph.
May 2014Thunderstorm WindAmherst-Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet station.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindAmherst-Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet station.
March 2013Thunderstorm WindAmherst-Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet located 1NE Amherst. At 1635 CST, another Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet located 6S Olton measured a gust to 61 mph.
December 2012Thunderstorm WindAmherst-Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site.
April 2012Thunderstorm WindAmherst-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet station located 1NE Amherst measured two severe wind gusts. A 59 mph gust was measured at 1945 CST followed by a gust to 64 mph at 2020 CST.
May 2010HailAmherst-Multiple reports of large hail were received from the Amherst vicinity around 13:00 CST. Initial reports indicated that quarter size hail was falling in the city at 13:00 CST. Additional reports from the broadcast media suggested that hailstones increased to the size of golfballs by 13:03 CST. No damage was reported.
December 2010Thunderstorm WindAmherst-Thunderstorms produced a swath of severe winds and blowing dust over portions of Lamb County. A 76 mph gust was initially measured by the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet near Amherst at 19:35 CST. A subsequent wind gust of 59 mph was measured at the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site south of Olton at 19:50 CST. No significant damages were reported.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindAmherst-The Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site near Amherst recorded a thunderstorm wind gust of 58 mph at 20:35 CST. No damage was reported.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindAmherst-A downburst resulted in intense thunderstorm winds over portions of Lamb County around 21:30 CST. The Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site near Amherst recorded a peak gust of 76 mph. No significant damages were reported.
April 2009HailAmherst-The public reported quarter size hail from a severe thunderstorm in Amherst.
June 2008HailAmherst-The public reported penny size hail in Amherst.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindAmherst-|The Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site near Amherst recorded a peak thunderstorm wind gust of 59 mph. No damage was reported.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindAmherst-An isolated severe thunderstorm produced severe wind gusts up to at least 66 mph as measured by the University of Texas Tech West Texas Mesonet site near Amherst. The automated station was actually damaged and became inoperable during the storm, therefore the maximum wind gust is unknown.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindAmherst-Measured by the Texas Tech/West Texas mesonet station.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindAmherst-Measured by the Texas Tech/West Texas mesonet station.
August 2005Flash FloodAmherst-Several areas of flooded roadway stretching from 4 to 8 miles west of Amherst, TX. One stranded motorist was rescued by First Responders.
June 2004HailAmherst-Law enforcement reported golfball size hail.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindAmherst-The West Texas Mesonet station northeast of town measured a 77 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindAmherst-The West Texas Mesonet station northeast of town measured a 69 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindAmherst-The West Texas Mesonet station northeast of town measured a 77 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindAmherst-The West Texas Mesonet station northeast of town measured a 64 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindAmherst-The West Texas Mesonet station northeast of town measured 62 mph thunderstorm wind gusts.
May 2001HailAmherst-Dime to nickel size hail damaged crops.
July 2001Thunderstorm WindAmherst-The West Texas Mesonet site northeast of Amherst measured a 65 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
August 2001Thunderstorm WindAmherst-The West Texas Mesonet site northeast of Amherst measured a 60 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
May 2024HailAmherst-no account filed
May 2005HailAmherst-no account filed
May 1997HailAmherst-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Lamb County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Cofferville4.8 miles9
Sudan7.0 miles9
Beck7.4 miles7
Littlefield8.0 miles8
Friendship8.5 miles7
Fieldton10.4 miles9
Lums Chapel13.1 miles7
Bainer13.9 miles9

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on AmherstAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q978696The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1351078. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

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.

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.