BlockOlton, Texas
9 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1985. It stands in the Olton census division. It lies in ZIP code area 79064. The Survey maps it on the Olton quadrangle. 1,989 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 3,612 feet above sea level.
Population over time
2 figuresOlton fell from 2,215 to 1,989 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.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2,215 | |
| 2020 | 1,989 | -226 (-10%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
4 surveys from 9 printed sheetsMatched 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.
- 1954 USGS Clovis quadrangle1:250000, 4 printings
- 1958 USGS Clovis quadrangle1:250000
- 1963 USGS Olton quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
- 1985 USGS Muleshoe quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Fires near this place
10 since 2011Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 10 fires within 5 miles of Olton between 2011 and 2017, burning about 85 acres in total. 1 started naturally. 1 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 |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 5 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 1 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 1 |
| Natural | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 July 2016 | Natural | 58 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | FM 168 &HALEY RD |
| 7 May 2012 | Debris and open burning | 2.0 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | GRASS FIRE/ BAR DITCH |
| 1 May 2013 | Debris and open burning | 1.0 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | GRASS FIRE |
| 8 March 2017 | Equipment and vehicle use | 1.0 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | DITCH FIRE |
| 31 March 2013 | Debris and open burning | 3.0 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | GRASS FIRE |
| 16 March 2013 | Debris and open burning | 10 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | GRASS FIRE |
| 17 February 2013 | Arson/incendiarism | 5.0 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | GRASS AND HAY BALES FIRE |
| 6 November 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2.0 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | GARY DEBERRY |
Storms near this place
60 of 76 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Olton in 76 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 36 thunderstorm wind, 32 hail, 5 tornado, 1 lightning. 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.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | $500,000 | Strong thunderstorm wind uprooted trees, downed power lines and power poles, damaged the roofs of homes, and destroyed 15 center pivot irrigation systems. |
| August 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | $150,000 | A broadcast media automated weather station at Del-Tex Airport in Olton measured a wind gust to 69 mph. Significant wind damage was reported in Olton by the emergency manager. Several power lines and trees were downed along with roof damage. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | $150,000 | The Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site south of Olton recorded thunderstorm wind gusts of 76 mph and 75 mph at 15:23 CST and 15:29 CST respectively. These winds occurred as a severe thunderstorm quickly moved northeastward over extreme western Hale County. The outflow winds spread northwestward and impacted portions of eastern Lamb County near Olton. Eye-witness accounts suggest that gustnadoes may have spun-up along the gust front as it raced north-northwestward in advance of the parent anticyclonic (left) splitting storm. The winds, or perhaps an associated gustnado, caused significant damage at a residence in the community of Correy. Stucco siding and roof shingles were blown off of the structure. The U.S. Department of Agriculture additionally reported that a center pivot irrigation system also was destroyed. No injuries were reported. |
| May 1998 | Hail | Olton | $150,000 | no account filed |
| June 1999 | Lightning | Olton | $60,000 | Lightning struck a house and caused a fire, which totally destroyed the home and all its contents. |
| May 2002 | Hail | Olton | $50,000 | Storm spotters affiliated with the Olton FD reported golfball size hail. |
| June 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | $25,000 | A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Olton measured a wind gust to 75 mph. Furthermore, a NWS cooperative weather observed several power poles down along US Highway 84 southeast of Littlefield. |
| April 2007 | Hail | Olton | $25,000 | A swath of very large hail up to the size of baseballs began in the Olton vicinity, and damaged roofs, windows and vehicles east of Olton along U.S. Highway 70. Several storm chasers received damage to their vehicles near the Lamb and Hale County line as they observed a developing tornado to their southwest. In addition, moderate agricultural losses were caused by damage to young cotton crops. |
| May 2008 | Hail | Olton | $10,000 | A second supercell storm developed over northeastern Lamb County, and produced giant hail in the Olton vicinity. Local officials reported four and a half inch diameter hailstones along Farm to Market Road 168 just south of Olton shortly after 19:00 CST. At least minor damage occurred to several vehicles. |
| June 2000 | Hail | Olton | $10,000 | Large hail destroyed several thousand acres of cotton. |
| February 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | $5,000 | Strong thunderstorm wind snapped or uprooted at least a dozen trees, destroyed a radio antenna, and damaged the roof of a house. A NWS survey determined that wind speeds associated with the damage were about 70 mph. |
| December 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | $5,000 | no account filed |
| May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | $4,000 | A center pivot was toppled southwest of Olton. Time estimated from radar. |
| May 2025 | Hail | Olton | - | Local broadcast media relayed reports of a swath of hail from Olton to three miles east of Olton. Hail ranged in sizes from two inches in diameter to three inches in diameter. At least one car windshield was destroyed in a photograph. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Olton measured severe wind gusts of 58 mph from 1932 CST through 1933 CST. |
| August 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Olton measured a severe wind gust of 60 mph. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Olton measured a severe wind gust of 65 mph. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | Two severe thunderstorms impacted the area around Olton 26 minutes apart. A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Olton measured a wind gust of 58 mph at 2114 CST with the first storm. |
| July 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | Two severe thunderstorms impacted the area around Olton 26 minutes apart. A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Olton measured a wind gust of 59 mph at 2140 CST with the second storm. |
| August 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Olton measured a wind gust of 59 mph. |
| April 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Olton measured a wind gust of 63 mph. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Olton measured a severe wind gust of 61 mph. |
| July 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Olton measured a wind gust of 58 mph. |
| May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Olton measured severe wind gusts from 1751 CST through 1754 CST. A peak wind gust of 60 mph was measured at 1752 CST. |
| May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Olton measured a wind gust of 58 mph at 2002 CST. |
| June 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Olton measured severe wind gusts from 2350 CST through 2352 CST. A peak wind gust of 67 mph was measured at 2351 CST. |
| May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Olton measured severe wind gusts from 2055 CST through 2105 CST. A peak wind gust of 69 mph was measured at 2105 CST. |
| May 2019 | Hail | Olton | - | A user on social media reported hail up to quarter size north of Olton. No damage was reported. |
| September 2014 | Flood | Olton | - | Widespread rainfall amounts of two to three inches occurred during the morning hours, causing flooding along portions of U.S. Highway 84 near Amherst according to law enforcement. Several road closures due to high water were also reported. |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | Measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Olton measured a wind gust of 58 mph. |
| June 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | Measured by a KVII-TV schoolnet site in Olton. Also, a gust to 61 mph was recorded at 813 pm CST. |
| August 2011 | Hail | Olton | - | The public reported hail to the size of quarters in Olton. No damage was reported. |
| May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | The Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site south of Olton recorded a 61 mph thunderstorm wind gust at 18:40 CST. Although minor power outages were reported in the area, no reports of damage were received. |
| September 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | The Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site south of Olton recorded a thunderstorm wind gust of 65 mph. No damages were reported. |
| June 2010 | Hail | Olton | - | Local fire department officials reported golfball size hail in Olton. No significant damages were reported. |
| February 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | A KAMC-TV weather station in Olton recorded a severe thunderstorm wind gust of 68 mph at 20:25 CST. No damage was reported. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | The Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site near Olton measured a 65 mph thunderstorm wind gust at 09:00 CST. No damage was reported. |
| May 2008 | Hail | Olton | - | Storm chasers reported nickel size hail in the Olton vicinity as a second supercell thunderstorm impacted the area. This storm additionally produced giant hail just south of Olton. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | The Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site near Olton recorded a severe thunderstorm wind gust of 58 mph at 18:45 CST. No damage was reported. |
| August 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | The Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site near Olton measured a peak thunderstorm wind gust of 58 mph. No damage was reported. |
| April 2007 | Hail | Olton | - | Skywarn spotters reported golf ball size hail west of Olton along U.S. Highway 70. Minor damage to young cotton crops was reported. |
| May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | Severe thunderstorm wind gusts of 63 MPH were recorded by the West Texas Mesonet site located south of Olton. A weather station located at the Olton Police Department measured a peak wind gust of 50 MPH in the city. No damage was reported. |
| June 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | A severe thunderstorm wind gust of 60 MPH was measured by the West Texas Mesonet site near Olton. |
| September 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | A severe thunderstorm wind gust up to 64 mph was recorded at the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site six miles south of Olton. A National Weather Service cooperative observer and the local newspaper reported that the winds uprooted twenty-one large evergreen trees approximately five miles south of the city. The damaging winds were accompanied by large hail. No property damage was reported. |
| September 2006 | Hail | Olton | - | A swath of large hail, likely wind-driven, resulted in extensive agricultural damage over eastern Lamb County during the late afternoon hours of the 5th. The initial reports of hail were received at 16:00 CST, when nickel sized hailstones accompanied damaging thunderstorm winds five miles south of Olton. The hail reportedly accumulated on the ground at that location. Local newspapers and agricultural agents reported that the swath of hail damaged cotton and milo crops along the storm's southward path from south of Olton to near Spade, generally along Farm to Market Road 168. Crops in the vicinity of Hart Camp were hardest hit, with all leaves and bolls stripped from plants across a three mile wide stretch. The damages incurred by local farmers from the storm were described as "devastating", with more than 5,000 acres likely destroyed. |
| September 2006 | Hail | Olton | - | Local farmers reported that a second severe storm produced nickel size hail along the Castro and Lamb County line between Hart and Olton shortly before 17:30 CST. No significant damage was reported. |
| May 2005 | Tornado (F0) | Olton | - | F0 tornado 1 mile west of Olton. |
| May 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | Measured by the Texas Tech West Texas Mesonet. |
| June 2005 | Hail | Olton | - | Reported from 9:00 PM to 9:10 PM CST. |
| July 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | Measured by ABC/KAMC28 live weather network instrumentation. |
| August 2004 | Hail | Olton | - | The public reported golfball size hail. |
| June 2003 | Hail | Olton | - | The Littlefield PD reported baseball size hail. |
| June 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | The West Texas Mesonet station south of town measured a 58 mph thunderstorm wind gust. |
| April 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Olton | - | The West Texas Mesonet site near Olton measured an 83 mph thunderstorm wind gust. |
| April 1999 | Flash Flood | Olton | - | Highway 70 was reported flooded. |
| May 1999 | Hail | Olton | - | Golfball to baseball size hail was reported. |
| May 1999 | Tornado (F0) | Olton | - | Another brief tornado touchdown in open country was reported. No survey was conducted. |
| May 1999 | Tornado (F0) | Olton | - | A brief tornado touchdown in open country was reported by the Olton Fire Department. No survey was conducted. |
| June 2019 | Hail | Olton | - | no account filed |
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 | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circle | 5.4 miles | 9 | |
| Springlake | 9.7 miles | 9 | |
| Hart Camp | 10.9 miles | 9 | |
| Corry | 11.0 miles | 9 | |
| Fieldton | 11.0 miles | 9 | |
| Earth | 15.0 miles | 9 | |
| Cofferville | 15.6 miles | 9 | |
| Spade | 17.8 miles | 9 |
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 Olton | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q922743 | The 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 1364542. 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.