BlockSeminole, Texas
6 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1992. It stands in the Seminole census division. It lies in ZIP code area 79360. The Survey maps it on the Seminole quadrangle. 6,988 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 3,297 feet above sea level.
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Population over time
2 figuresSeminole grew from 6,430 to 6,988 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 | 6,430 | |
| 2020 | 6,988 | +558 (+9%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
5 surveys from 6 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 Hobbs quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1958 USGS Hobbs quadrangle1:250000
- 1970 USGS Seminole quadrangle1:24000
- 1985 USGS Seminole quadrangle1:100000
- 1992 USGS Seminole quadrangle1:100000
Fires near this place
217 since 2006Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 217 fires within 5 miles of Seminole between 2006 and 2020, burning about 1,911 acres in total. 11 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 |
|---|---|
| Debris and open burning | 92 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 40 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 25 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 24 |
| Smoking | 22 |
| Natural | 11 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 3 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 September 2007 | Equipment and vehicle use | 1.0 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | not named |
| 6 September 2007 | Debris and open burning | 2.0 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | not named |
| 30 September 2009 | Smoking | 5.0 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | GRASS FIRE |
| 24 September 2009 | Debris and open burning | 1.0 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | BON FIRE |
| 21 September 2012 | Smoking | 1.0 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | GRASS |
| 2 September 2011 | Power generation/transmission/distribution | 5.0 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | GRASS FIRE |
| 1 September 2009 | Smoking | 1.0 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | GRASS FIRE |
| 1 September 2007 | Debris and open burning | 1.0 acres | Texas A & M Forest Service | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
1 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 1 working within 5 miles of Seminole: 1 past producer. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Limestone, General. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaines County Pit | Limestone, General | Past Producer |
Storms near this place
60 of 250 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Seminole in 250 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 133 hail, 71 thunderstorm wind, 32 flash flood, 12 tornado. The reports record 4 injuries. 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 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | 4 hurt, $5,000,000 | A damage survey was conducted by NWS personnel the morning following the winds. The results of the damage survey follow.||Winds were measured at 97.5 mph at the West Texas Mesonet site two miles north northeast of Seminole, however, there is visual indication that wind speeds in some locations around Seminole, were at times even stronger estimated in the range of 100-120 mph. Communication tower damage, where a tower measuring 320 feet in height fell on a church and another tall tower was bent into the shape of a rectangle, both suggest higher wind speed estimates. Additionally, three miles east southeast of Seminole along County Road 402, at least eight wooden power poles were snapped just above the ground. This further supports the idea that winds were at times greater than 100 mph.||NWS personnel found many trees were uprooted and tree limbs down. The entire town of Seminole experienced damage, with areas just west of downtown and just east of town being hardest hit by the damaging winds.||The extent of the wind damage prompted the Gaines County EOC to request EMS/Fire assistance from Hobbs, NM. Included in the damage were two mobile homes that were rolled. One of these homes had four people inside, including one infant. All four were injured and the infant was kept for observation overnight at a Lubbock hospital. ||Backup generators at the Emergency Operations center lost power as well as commercial power to much of Seminole. |
| April 1999 | Hail | Seminole | $8,000,000 | A multicell cluster of severe storms that crossed into New Mexico from Reeves and Loving Counties, TX just before 1pm CDT emerged from Lea County, NM at around 6pm. The city of Seminole was pounded by large hail, high winds and flooding rains. |
| October 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $375,000 | An intense supercell thunderstorm moved across the western sections of Gaines County. This storm resulted in damaging winds and large hail. Reports from the local emergency manager indicate eighty-seven power poles were blown down from the storm. Although reports of large hail were only confirmed in the two locations listed, evidence of wind driven hail was present in crop damage across a large part of western Gaines County. |
| May 2006 | Hail | Seminole | $250,000 | Baseball size hail fell in a swath from northwest of Seminole on Texas Highway 214 to Seminole, breaking numerous car and building windows. |
| May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $120,000 | no account filed |
| June 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $100,000 | The Texas Mesonet site at Seminole measured a severe thunderstorm wind gust of 87 MPH. The local emergencey manager and the local newspaper reported damage in the city of Seminole. Several power poles were blown down. In addition...minor to moderate structural damage was reported to a few buildings. Reports of tree damage were numerous. |
| April 1997 | Tornado (F2) | Seminole | $80,000 | This second tornado was spawned about two miles east of were tornado #1 dissipated. This tornado tracked to the northeast and overturned two center-pivot irrigation systems. The second system looked as if a couple of sections had become airborne from the resulting damage which snapped off a large wheel. |
| May 2005 | Flash Flood | Seminole | $75,000 | Local law enforcement officials reported that heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in the streets of Seminole. Six vehicles were reported to be stranded in the flowing flood waters. Several motorists were rescued by fire department personnel. No injuries were reported. |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $60,000 | A thunderstorm moved across Gaines County and produced wind damage in Seminole. There were numerous reports of wind damage including downed trees, power lines, power poles, and traffic signs. There was also damage to storage buildings. The damage occurred in Seminole and areas west toward the Texas/New Mexico state line. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $48,000 | A thunderstorm moved over Gaines County and produced damage in Seminole. A trailer house was blown onto a car on the road. Winds from this damage are estimated to be near 80 mph. The cost of damage is a rough estimate. |
| April 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $40,000 | Thunderstorm outflow winds blew down signs in town and blew one roof off a house just east of town. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Seminole | $30,000 | Baseball sized hail fell in the city of Seminole. |
| May 2006 | Hail | Seminole | $30,000 | Tennis ball size hail covered U.S. Highway 180 east of Seminole. |
| July 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $25,000 | In addition to the measured wind gust at the mesonet, a trampoline was blown through a residence's roof. The time of occurrence was not available, but it can be assumed that it happened near the same time of the wind observation. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $25,000 | Powerlines were downed by strong thunderstorm winds on the north side of Seagraves and again south of the city along Texas State Highway 385. In addition, a storage shed was blown into a house south southwest of Seagrave. |
| May 2007 | Flash Flood | Seminole | $25,000 | Moderate street flooding with two feet of water flowing through the streets in the city of Seminole occurred due to heavy rainfall and resulted in local officials closing many streets. Several vehicles were underwater. Water damage occurred at Seminole Primary School from floodwaters. U.S. Highway 385 was closed due to high water just north of Seminole. The eastbound lanes of U.S. Highway 180 out of Seminole also were closed. At least one high water rescue was performed in Seminole. Numerous intersections were flooded and closed by police in Seagraves. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Seminole | $20,000 | The Gaines County Emergency Manager received multiple reports of golfball sized hail from Seminole residents. |
| March 2006 | Hail | Seminole | $20,000 | The Gaines County Sheriff's Office reported penny size hail covering U.S. Highway 385 caused an accident south of Seminole. No injuries occurred. |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $20,000 | Severe thunderstorms produced damaging winds over Gaines County shortly after midnight CST. The West Texas Mesonet site near Seagraves recorded a peak gust of 61 MPH at 00:10 CST. Utility poles also were downed by thunderstorm winds along County Road 305 south of Seminole. |
| July 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $20,000 | After the landspout tornado southwest of Seminole dissipated, a severe thunderstorm propagated toward the city from the northwest. This storm produced a downburst north of Seminole. The West Texas Mesonet site two miles north of of the city recorded a wind gust of 73 MPH. Police Department officials estimated 80 MPH winds as damaging winds spread south. Several power poles and lines were blown down by the winds. In addition, large tree limbs also were broken and at least one large tree was uprooted. A lack of structural damage suggested that the strongest winds did not occur within the city limits. |
| September 2004 | Flash Flood | Seminole | $20,000 | Strong to severe thunderstorms trained over the northern half of Gaines County and resulted in very heavy rainfall and flash flooding. At 17:30 LST officials reported that high water flowed over Texas Highway 214 and swept a vehicle off of the road northwest of Seminole. Rescue crews had to remove the driver from the vehicle in swiftly moving flood waters. During the next three hours numerous roadways and highways also were flooded near Seagraves. Heavy rainfall also produced flowing flood waters that made U.S. Highway 385/62 impassable ten miles north of Seminole. |
| June 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $20,000 | Thunderstorm winds destroyed multiple irrigation systems. |
| June 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $20,000 | no account filed |
| May 2016 | Hail | Seminole | $15,000 | A thunderstorm moved across Gaines County and produced tennis ball sized hail in Seminole. There were numerous windows broken and the siding was ripped off of houses. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $13,000 | A thunderstorm moved over Gaines County and produced wind damage in Seminole. A radio tower was blown down and bent over a fire department building. The tower landed on electrical wires as well as on a personal vehicle of one of the firefighters. It made a three inch hole in the cab of the truck and fried some of the electronics. Based on the damage, the wind gusts were estimated to be around 65 mph. The cost of damage is a rough estimate. |
| August 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $12,000 | Additional thunderstorm development over the northwestern Permian Basin resulted in damaging winds that blew down a row of power poles along State Highway 214 northwest of Seminole. Sparking utility lines set the poles on fire after they were downed by the storm. |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $10,000 | A thunderstorm moved across Gaines County and produced wind damage near Seminole. An 18 wheeler was blown over on US Highway 385 nine miles south of Seminole. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate. |
| September 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $10,000 | A thunderstorm moved over Gaines County and produced a wind gust estimated to be near 55 mph. This wind gust damaged a theator that was being built at a local school in Seminole. One of the support walls for the theator had collapsed. The cost of the damage is a very rough estimate. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Seminole | $10,000 | Baseball sized hail fell along Farm to Market Road 2885 near Texas State Highway 385. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Seminole | $10,000 | Softball sized hail fell at the intersection of County Roads 212 and 214. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $10,000 | Multiple powerline poles were downed by strong thunderstorm winds. |
| May 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $10,000 | Emergency management officials in Gaines County reported that several power lines and trees were blown down by severe thunderstorm winds at the intersection of County Road 210 and Farm to Market Road 3306 in northwestern Gaines County. The winds were associated with a severe left moving supercell that resulted in extensive hail and wind damage near Hobbs, New Mexico prior to moving over parts of Gaines County. |
| April 2004 | Hail | Seminole | $10,000 | Nickel to baseball size hail was reported covering the ground at the intersection of U.S. Highway 62/180 and Farm to Market Road 331. |
| April 1997 | Tornado (F1) | Seminole | $10,000 | The first tornado of this supercell formed just south of U.S. Highway 180 and moved to the ENE for much of its life, then veered sharply to the north as it roped-out crossing the highway. Two telephone poles were downed along the highway--one holding a transformer. |
| September 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $10,000 | A large severe thunderstorm caused flooding rains and damaging winds as it moved from Lea County, New Mexico into Gaines County. The Gaines County Sheriffs Office reported flooding on State Highway 214 in the northern part of the county along McKenzie Draw. Utility crews reported transmission lines and large support structures downed by high winds near the intersection of United States Highway 180 and FM 1757. |
| June 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $10,000 | no account filed |
| June 1996 | Hail | Seminole | $10,000 | no account filed |
| June 1996 | Hail | Seminole | $10,000 | no account filed |
| May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $6,000 | A thunderstorm moved over Gaines County and produced a 70 mph wind gust 22 miles west of Seminole. These winds damaged a roof and uprooted a two foot diameter tree. The cost of damage is a rough estimate. |
| May 2016 | Hail | Seminole | $5,000 | A thunderstorm moved across Gaines County and produced golf ball sized hail in Seminole. Numerous house and auto windows were broken due to the hail. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate. |
| August 2016 | Flash Flood | Seminole | $5,000 | Heavy rain fell across Gaines County and produced flash flooding east of Seminole. Motorists were stuck in high water on Highway 62/180 about 23 to 24 miles west of Seminole. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate. |
| June 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $5,000 | The Gaines County Sheriff's Office reported that several power poles were downed near Paynes Corner. |
| May 1999 | Tornado (F1) | Seminole | $5,000 | This cell formed near the New Mexico state line and moved to the northeast through northern Andrews County then into southern Gaines County. After crossing into Gaines County the storm, although small, developed a strong mesocyclone, and showed a classic hook echo on radar. About 6 miles south of U.S. Highway 180 and 3 miles west of the Dawson County line, a tornado formed. The tornado displayed a classic funnel shape with a relatively thin condensation funnel to the ground. The tornado eventually dissipated about 1 mile west of the Dawson County line still about 3 miles south of Highway 180.The tornado travelled across open lands with the only damage reported being the roof taken off a shed and shingles taken off a house. The house was thought to have not taken a direct hit. This damage was near the point of tornadogenesis.The storm began to weaken as it entered into Dawson County. |
| April 1993 | Hail | Seminole | $5,000 | The Gaines County Sheriff's Office reported golf ball-size hail in Seminole. As the storm moved south of Seminole, the public reported baseball-size hail. Minor damage to buildings, vehicles, and crops resulted. |
| April 1993 | Hail | Seminole | $5,000 | The Gaines County Sheriff's Office reported golf ball-size hail in Seminole. As the storm moved south of Seminole, the public reported baseball-size hail. Minor damage to buildings, vehicles, and crops resulted. |
| May 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $5,000 | Downburst winds and dime-size hail moved across Seminole. The wind and hail downed power lines and damaged roofs and windows. |
| August 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $2,500 | A fence was blown down by thunderstorm winds. The time of occurrence is estimated from radar. The cost of damages and maximum wind gust is also estimated. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $2,000 | Seminole FD reports business signs blown down north of Seminole along Highway 385. Time is estimated from radar. Wind speeds and property damage costs are estimations. |
| May 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $2,000 | Law enforcement officials reported that severe thunderstorm winds downed power lines on the south side of Seminole. |
| July 2004 | Tornado (F0) | Seminole | $2,000 | The Gaines County Emergency Manager photographed a brief tornado just southwest of Seminole. Several reports of funnel clouds were reported across west Texas during the afternoon of the 29th as scattered thunderstorms developed within a modified tropical airmass. One such funnel southwest of Seminole briefly became a tornado (perhaps a landspout) as an outflow boundary undercut the updraft of a newly developing storm. A tin roof was blown off of a barn by the weak tornado that lasted less than one minute. |
| August 2016 | Flash Flood | Seminole | $1,500 | Heavy rain fell across Gaines County and produced flash flooding in Seminole. There was a high water rescue on the east side of Seminole. U.S. Highway 180 was closed due to high water. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate. |
| August 2016 | Flash Flood | Seminole | $1,000 | Heavy rain fell across Gaines County and produced flash flooding in Seminole. Highway 180 on the east side of Seminole was completely flooded and was closed. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate. |
| August 2016 | Flash Flood | Seminole | $1,000 | Heavy rain fell across Gaines County and produced flash flooding in Seminole. Highway 180 on the east side of Seminole was flooded with six to twelve inches of water flowing over the road. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate. |
| June 2014 | Flash Flood | Seminole | $1,000 | Heavy rain moved across Gaines County and produced flash flooding south of Seminole. One to one and a half feet of water was reported to be running over Highway 385. No damage was reported so the cost of damage is a very rough estimate. |
| June 2015 | Flash Flood | Seminole | $750 | Heavy rain from a line of thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall in Seminole and flooded Hwy 214 just north of Seminole leaving some patrons under a foot of water. |
| August 2016 | Flash Flood | Seminole | $500 | Heavy rain fell across Gaines County and produced flash flooding in and near Seminole. A spotter reported Highway 385 near Seminole impassable due to flooding. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate. |
| September 2014 | Flash Flood | Seminole | $500 | Local Law Enforcement reported street flooding in and just north of the city of Seminole from thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall. Grounds in the area were already well saturated from previous days rain. |
| June 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Seminole | $500 | An awning from a mobile home was blown off but sustained little damage. |
| May 1993 | Hail | Seminole | $500 | Downburst winds and dime-size hail moved across Seminole. The wind and hail downed power lines and damaged roofs and windows. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairview | 5.9 miles | 6 | |
| Paynes Corner | 8.0 miles | 6 | |
| Seagraves | 16.1 miles | 6 | |
| Loop | 18.2 miles | 6 | |
| State Line | 22.3 miles | 6 | |
| Higginbotham | 22.3 miles | 6 | |
| White City | 22.4 miles | 6 | |
| Ashmore | 23.7 miles | 7 |
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 Seminole | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q502024 | 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 1346888. 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.
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.