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Plainview, Texas

7 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1985. It stands in the Plainview census division. It lies in ZIP code area 79072. The Survey maps it on the Plainview quadrangle. 20,187 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 3,366 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Plainview within Hale County

On record in Plainview

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 1 record

Population over time

2 figures

Plainview fell from 22,194 to 20,187 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
201022,194
202020,187-2,007 (-9%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

4 surveys from 7 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

4 since 2007

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 4 fires within 5 miles of Plainview between 2007 and 2016, burning about 2,148 acres in total. None 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
Missing data/not specified/undetermined2
Debris and open burning1
Equipment and vehicle use1

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
14 July 2015Missing data/not specified/undetermined2.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Service1500037
18 June 2007Equipment and vehicle use40 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
25 February 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,100 acresTexas A & M Forest Service400 GIN
30 January 2016Debris and open burning6.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRASS FIRE

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Hale County

Storms near this place

60 of 126 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Plainview in 126 storm reports between 1993 and 2026: 66 hail, 42 thunderstorm wind, 6 tornado, 5 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
May 1998HailPlainview$5,000,000no account filed
May 1998Thunderstorm WindPlainview$500,000no account filed
December 1993Thunderstorm WindPlainview$500,000no account filed
July 2009Thunderstorm WindPlainview$275,000The KVII-TV Schoolnet initially measured a 74 mph thunderstorm wind gust in Plainview at 20:38 CST. By 20:40 CST the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet recorded gusts up to 62 mph south of Plainview. Local authorities and newspaper articles reported significant damage in the area. The winds blew the roof off of an apartment complex where four families were left homeless. Roof damage also occurred at a local bowling ally, and a traffic light was reportedly downed by the winds. A number of large trees, tree limbs, and signs were additionally blown down. A combination of wind and hail continued to damage cotton crops along a swath that extended southward to near Cotton Center and Hale Center. In all, an estimated 20,000 acres of cotton were lost. No injuries were reported.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindPlainview$275,000A linear complex of thunderstorms produced a destructive swath of damaging winds across much of Hale County during the evening hours of the 24th. Damage was initially reported in the city of Plainview, where a number of large trees and power lines were blown down just before 20:00 CST. One tree was blown onto a house, and caused minor structural damage. A Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site near Plainview recorded a peak gust of 65 mph.||The swath of wind damage continued to accompany the storms southward across the county. Fifty utility poles were broken south of Hale Center. Some of the poles were snapped near the ground just east of Interstate 27 along Farm to Market Road 37. Damage to the wooden poles suggest significantly strong wind speeds may have occurred in the area. By 20:15 CST, 60 mph winds were recorded by the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet just northeast of Abernathy.
May 2019Tornado (EF2)Plainview$250,000Tornado development started west of Interstate 27 around 1636 CST based on storm chaser images. The first indications of damage occurred near the intersection of Industrial Boulevard and northbound Interstate 27 where shipping containers were blown over. Damage was then noted to the northeast along the Interstate at the off-ramp and North Columbia Street where tin roofs were blown off storage buildings. Damage then continued south and east towards the intersection of North Columbia Street and Fence Road where a small out building was destroyed and a mobile home that was being transported on a flatbed trailer was blown over and destroyed. The tornado started to move east near or over County Road 65/East 34th Street where several trees had damage and a small out building was destroyed. On County Road 65, halfway between North Columbia Street and Well Road, the most significant damage occurred to a trussed cell phone tower. The tower was destroyed and fell across County Road 65. The tornado dissipated shortly after crossing Well Road north of County Road 65. Up to 2400 homes were without power in Plainview immediately after the storm passage.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindPlainview$50,000Strong thunderstorm wind damaged a large storage building and a cotton gin and blew a road sign down on I-27.
October 2006Flash FloodPlainview$40,000Very heavy rainfall associated with severe downbursts resulted in flash flooding along Interstate 27 near Plainview. Ponding of water over the driving surface resulted in multiple accidents between Hale Center and Plainview. By 11:35 CST, local officials reported that high water was up to the hoods of a few stalled vehicles at an underpass in Plainview. No injuries were reported.
June 1995Thunderstorm WindPlainview$30,000Strong winds uprooted one tree near Olton. Winds also damaged a barn and mobile home, and uprooted a tree near Plainview.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindPlainview$25,000Local newspapers reported that damaging thunderstorm winds blew the roof off of a trailer home in Plainview shortly before 21:00 CST. A nearby Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site recorded a peak gust of 57 mph at 20:50 CST. No injuries were reported.
April 2001HailPlainview$25,000A storm chaser reported hen egg size hail at the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 1424 and Farm-to-Market Road 1071.
April 1997Tornado (F1)Plainview$25,000no account filed
October 2000Thunderstorm WindPlainview$20,000Strong wind blew the roofs off several compress buildings and blew down power lines. A 59 mph wind gust was recorded at the Plainview Airport.
July 2007Flash FloodPlainview$20,000no account filed
October 1998Thunderstorm WindPlainview$20,000no account filed
May 2007LightningPlainview$10,000A lightning strike in Plainview rendered more than 1,500 households without electrical services for several hours.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindPlainview$10,000Strong thunderstorm wind blew down trees, power lines, and fences.
October 1998Tornado (F0)Plainview$10,000no account filed
June 1995Thunderstorm WindPlainview$10,000no account filed
June 2003Thunderstorm WindPlainview$5,000Strong thunderstorm wind blew down power poles.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindPlainview$5,000Strong thunderstorm winds snapped thirteen large transmission poles and fourteen distribution poles.
May 1999HailPlainview$5,000Large wind-driven hail knocked windows out of automobiles and homes.
October 1998Thunderstorm WindPlainview$5,000no account filed
May 1995Thunderstorm WindPlainview$5,000no account filed
June 1994Thunderstorm WindPlainview$5,000no account filed
February 2001Thunderstorm WindPlainview$3,000Strong thunderstorm wind blew down power lines in town.
May 2000Thunderstorm WindPlainview$3,000Strong wind snapped a power pole and destroyed a metal storage building. A 67 mph wind gust was measured at the nearby regional airport.
May 2002Thunderstorm WindPlainview$2,000Strong thunderstorm wind gusts snapped six power poles and blew down power lines.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindPlainview$2,000Strong thunderstorm winds blew down power poles and signs.
June 2009LightningPlainview$1,000Local newspaper accounts reported that lightning struck a tree at a residence at the 700 block of Independence Street in Plainview during a thunderstorm that impacted the area on the morning of the 10th. The lightning strike severely damaged the tree and caused pieces of tree bark to fly into and shatter several windows. Event time is estimated, and no injuries were reported.
March 1994HailPlainview$500A reporter with the Plainview Daily Herald reported hail damage to one car and large tree limbs down in Plainview at 2130 CST.
May 1993HailPlainview$50The Plainview Police Department reported dime-size hail west of Plainview, and quarter-size hail in Plainview. No significant damage resulted.
April 2026Thunderstorm WindPlainview-Local broadcast media relayed a report of a roof blown off of a gas station in the city of Plainview.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindPlainview-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Plainview measured severe wind gusts from 0107 CST through 0108 CST. A peak gust of 67 mph was measured at 0107 CST.
April 2024Thunderstorm WindPlainview-An NWS cooperative weather observer reported that several power poles were blown over after a thunderstorm moved through the area.
May 2024HailPlainview-A public report was received of ping pong ball size hail on the north side of Plainview.
May 2024HailPlainview-A member of the public reported hail up to golf ball size on the southwest side of Plainview.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindPlainview-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Plainview measured a severe wind gust of 78 mph.
May 2023Thunderstorm WindPlainview-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Plainview measured severe wind gusts from 0303 CST through 0309 CST. A peak wind gust of 72 mph was measured at 0303 CST.
May 2023Thunderstorm WindPlainview-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Plainview measured a wind gust of 58 mph.
May 2022HailPlainview-Reports from social media and local broadcast media showed hail ranging from ping pong size to two inches in diameter in Plainview. No damage was reported.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindPlainview-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Plainview measured intermittent severe wind gusts from 2058 CST through 2102 CST. A peak wind gust of 64 mph was measured at 2102 CST.
July 2021Thunderstorm WindPlainview-Photo from social media showed a large pine tree uprooted from strong straight line winds.
August 2021Heavy RainPlainview-A very slow moving thunderstorm tracked across the northwestern portion of Plainview and produced heavy rainfall. The Sheriff's Office in Hale County reported that Farm to Market Road 194 was flooded on the north side of Plainview.
May 2020HailPlainview-A report was received of quarter size hail approximately ten miles south of Plainview.
May 2020HailPlainview-A report was received via social media of quarter size hail in Plainview.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindPlainview-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Plainview measured a wind gust to 62 mph.
June 2019HailPlainview-A storm chaser reported quarter size hail in Plainview.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindPlainview-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Plainview measured a wind gust to 58 mph.
May 2018HailPlainview-Hail up to half-dollar size was reported on social media. No damage was reported.
April 2017HailPlainview-Quarter size hail was reported by a NWS cooperative weather observer. No damage was reported.
April 2017HailPlainview-A storm chaser reported golf ball size hail in Plainview. No damage was reported.
June 2017HailPlainview-Numerous reports were received of hail ranging from two to three inches in diameter from the southwest through northwest sides of Plainview. Many vehicles sustained significant damage including shattered windows. Also, hundreds of homes and businesses on the west and northwest side of Plainview received varying degrees of roof damage. Monetary damage estimates were unavailable at the time of this entry.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindPlainview-A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Plainview reported a wind gust to 62 mph.
September 2014FloodPlainview-The Texas Department of Transportation reported Farm to Market Road 1424 north of Hale Center was inundated with several other roads, including access roads to Interstate 27 southwest of Plainview. Rainfall amounts of two to four inches were common with locally higher amounts reported.
June 2013Thunderstorm WindPlainview-A Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet station in Plainview recorded a 61 mph wind gust.
August 2013HailPlainview-A citizen reported quarter size hail and estimated 60 mph winds near Plainview. No damage was reported.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindPlainview-The public estimated a wind gust to 65 mph.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindPlainview-Measured by the Plainview AWOS. Also, a storm chaser nearby estimated a gust to 70 mph at the same time.
March 2011HailPlainview-Reports of quarter size hail were received along a swath on the east side of the city |of Plainview between 19:25 CST and 19:35 CST.

Every storm recorded in Hale 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
Seth Ward2.1 miles7
Wasson3.7 miles8
Lider4.4 miles7
Furguson4.5 miles7
Snyder5.4 miles7
Finney6.4 miles7
Boone6.9 miles8
Wright8.0 miles7

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 PlainviewAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q982448The 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 1365375. 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.