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Stephenville, Texas

15 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1890 and the latest in 1985. It stands in the Stephenville census division. It lies in ZIP code area 76401. It stands on Dry Branch. The Survey maps it on the Stephenville quadrangle. 20,897 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,273 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Stephenville within Erath County

On record in Stephenville

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 6 records

Population over time

2 figures

Stephenville grew from 17,123 to 20,897 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
201017,123
202020,897+3,774 (+22%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

6 surveys from 15 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

363 since 2005

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 363 fires within 5 miles of Stephenville between 2005 and 2020, burning about 2,041 acres in total. 2 started naturally. 33 were 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 burning142
Missing data/not specified/undetermined93
Equipment and vehicle use79
Arson/incendiarism33
Power generation/transmission/distribution7
Railroad operations and maintenance4
Smoking2
Natural2
Recreation and ceremony1

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
8 September 2016Equipment and vehicle use2.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRASS FIRE CR 417
8 September 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined10 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
8 September 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
7 September 2015Debris and open burning1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRASS FIRE HWY 377 N
7 September 2008Debris and open burning1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
5 September 2008Debris and open burning1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
4 September 2008Debris and open burning1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
28 September 2016Equipment and vehicle use1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRASS FIRE FM 847

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Erath County

Storms near this place

60 of 130 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Stephenville in 130 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 63 hail, 42 thunderstorm wind, 20 flash flood, 4 tornado. 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
March 2016Tornado (EF1)Stephenville$500,000A tornado caused EF-1 damage to several businesses and homes in the city limits of Stephenville. The tornado began near a business on U.S. Highway 377 on the south side of town, damaging a metal building structure. The tornado moved north and northeast, heavily damaging an apartment building, and causing tree and power line damage on the campus of Tarleton State University. As the tornado dissipated, homes and garages were damaged at the Foster's home for children, on the north side of Stephenville.
July 2007Flash FloodStephenville$500,000Several roads were flooded along the southern county border, and a high water rescue was needed on FM 914 six miles south of Alexander. Also in Alexander, CR 284 had about four feet of water over it's bridge. Five parts of Highway 1602 at Honey Creek were washed out, and Highway 281 was closed due to flood waters. There were a few reports of damaged driveways and culverts.
May 2021HailStephenville$250,000A public report indicated hen-egg sized hail in the city of Stephenville, TX.
October 2019Thunderstorm WindStephenville$100,000A line of severe thunderstorms moved across Erath County, producing a pattern of downburst straight-line wind damage within the City of Stephenville. Minor tree damage, consistent with 50 mph winds, was first observed approximately 3 blocks west of the Tarleton State University campus. Wind damage increased on the Tarleton campus proper, highlighted by widespread tree branch and trunk damage, and the partial removal of roofing material from a multi-story dormitory building. Maximum wind speeds at this dorm were estimated at 75 mph, based on the severity of the damage. Several other buildings on the Tarleton campus also sustained minor damage. East of campus, numerous trees were damaged toward the downtown areas of Stephenville, and at least one porch roof was detached from a single-family home. The roof of the main fire station in downtown Stephenville sustained |major damage, as large sections of metal roofing material were removed from the structure and deposited in the street. Straight line wind speeds at this fire station were estimated to be 80 mph. Adjacent businesses in the downtown area also received minor wind damage - mainly to window glass and roof fascia. Additional scattered tree damage was observed just east through south of downtown Stephenville. The downburst appeared to dissipate near the intersection of US Highway 281 and US Highway 377 on the east side of the city.
May 2015HailStephenville$100,000A trained spotter reported tennis ball sized hail in Stephenville, TX. Erath County Sheriff's Department had to replace 2 Tahoes that were damaged beyond repair by the hail.
April 2015HailStephenville$100,000no account filed
April 2023HailStephenville$50,000A trained spotter reported golf ball sized hail about 4 miles south of Stephenville, TX.
March 2016Thunderstorm WindStephenville$50,000A public report stated that numerous buildings were damaged in Stephenville.
April 2015Thunderstorm WindStephenville$50,000Thunderstorm winds were estimated at 80 mph in Stephenville. Large tree limbs were knocked down in the city.
January 2010Thunderstorm WindStephenville$50,000Fairly widespread damage was reported in the city of Stephenville with many 4 to 6 tree limbs down, roofs damaged, and fences blown down.
June 1994Thunderstorm WindStephenville$50,000A motel next to the National Weather Service office in Stephenville was partially unroofed by thunderstorm winds.
June 1994Thunderstorm WindStephenville$50,000A large metal building was thrown onto a home. Trees and power lines were blown down by thunderstorm winds. The metal roof of a house was blown off.
June 2007Flash FloodStephenville$40,000In Stephenville, water was several feet deep over McCart, Frey, Vanderbilt, and Ollie Streets. Homes and businesses were flooded in Morgan Mill with CR 146 washed out. Several families were evacuated. Flooding was also reported over Highway 281 north of town.
April 2007Thunderstorm WindStephenville$30,000A roof was blown off a house and a tree fell on a car in Stephenville.
January 2010Thunderstorm WindStephenville$25,000Part of the roof of the physical plant at Tarelton State University came off.
April 2008Flash FloodStephenville$25,000Cars were stranded in Stephenville by flood waters. One occupant was saved by firefighters and a policeman before her vehicle was carried away by the water.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindStephenville$25,000Roofs of two houses blown off...trees and power lines also blown down.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindStephenville$25,000Thunderstorm winds blew the roof off a dairy and blew out windows.
December 2006Tornado (F0)Stephenville$15,000Many local residents saw a tornado touch down south of Stephenville. The tornado apparently caused minor damage to trees and fences before lifting off just north of town. Minor damage was also reported at a cement plant on the eastern edge of town.
March 1998Flash FloodStephenville$15,000At the intersection of SH 8 and SH 108, a truck was swept off the road by high water and carried 100 yards.
April 2015HailStephenville$15,000no account filed
April 2015HailStephenville$15,000no account filed
March 2025Thunderstorm WindStephenville$12,000Emergency manager reported that the Southwest Regional Dairy Center north of Stephenville suffered thunderstorm wind damage. A large portion of the west facing metal paneled roof was peeled back.
March 2025Thunderstorm WindStephenville$11,000Wind damage was reported at a residence northeast of Stephenville on CR 176. A horse trailer was rolled a couple hundred feet due to the wind and a metal shop suffered damage to its garage door and roof.
March 2025Thunderstorm WindStephenville$10,000Emergency manager reported downed power poles and significant damage to an RV.
February 2009HailStephenville$10,000Golfball size hail was reported in Stephenville. This hail dented some cars and broke out at least one car window in Downtown Stephenville.
April 2008Thunderstorm WindStephenville$10,000Trees and large limbs were blown down and roof shingles were torn off roofs.
May 1995Thunderstorm WindStephenville$10,000Roof damage was reported from high winds.
May 1995Tornado (F0)Stephenville$10,000A tornado touched down near Selden, uprooted several large pecan trees, and killed one cow and injured 17 at a diary.
April 2015HailStephenville$10,000no account filed
April 2015Thunderstorm WindStephenville$8,000Thunderstorm winds were measured at 66 mph on the west side of Stephenville.
February 2009HailStephenville$8,000Hen Egg size hail fell 1 mile north of Stephenville.
August 2013Thunderstorm WindStephenville$5,000A sheet metal structure shading cattle feed lanes was reported to have been blown down.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindStephenville$5,000Numerous large trees and tree branches were knocked down across Stephenville by thunderstorm winds. The newspaper reported that the northwest parts of the city appeared to be hit the hardest by the winds. Power lines were also down in parts of the city.
March 2007Thunderstorm WindStephenville$5,000A limb fell on a car, and a power pole was blown down.
May 2004Thunderstorm WindStephenville$5,000Trees and power lines were blown by high winds.
April 1995Thunderstorm WindStephenville$5,000Power lines were blown down by high winds.
April 1994Thunderstorm WindStephenville$5,000Trees were blown down across a road.
May 2007HailStephenville$5,000no account filed
April 2017HailStephenville$4,000Storm Spotter reported quarter size hail south of Stephenville, TX.
February 2001Thunderstorm WindStephenville$2,000Trees and power lines were blown down. A travel trailer was flipped over.
May 1995Thunderstorm WindStephenville$2,000Trees, large tree limbs and power lines were blown down by high winds.
June 1995Thunderstorm WindStephenville$2,000Large trees and power lines were blown down between Dublin and Stephenville.
September 2009Thunderstorm WindStephenville$500A tree partially fell onto a home on McNeill Street in Stephenville. Significant damage did not occur.
August 1994Thunderstorm WindStephenville$500Large tree limbs were blown down by thunderstorm winds.
July 2025Flash FloodStephenville-Fire and rescue reported 2 water rescues in Stephenville, with evacuations underway in one neighborhood as of this report.
May 2024HailStephenville-Public report via MPing application of quarter-sized hail.
April 2023HailStephenville-Amateur radio reported quarter sized hail near the intersection of Highway 377 and Alexander Road in Stephenville.
March 2022HailStephenville-A public report indicated quarter sized hail about 3 miles west-northwest of Stephenville, TX.
May 2021HailStephenville-Fire and Rescue reported half-dollar sized hail in Stephenville, TX.
May 2021HailStephenville-A public report indicated dime sized hail in Stephenville, TX.
May 2021HailStephenville-A trained spotter reported nickel sized hail in Stephenville, TX.
May 2015HailStephenville-Amateur radio reported ping pong ball sized hail in Stephenville, TX.
May 2015HailStephenville-A public report of 2-inch diameter hail in Stephenville, TX was received via social media.
May 2015Thunderstorm WindStephenville-The AWOS in Stephenville measured a wind gust to 58 mph.
May 2015FloodStephenville-The Erath County Sheriff's Department reported that CR 251 and FM 1702 remained closed due to flooding.
April 2014HailStephenville-Amateur radio spotters reported quarter sized hail in Stephenville.
April 2014HailStephenville-Quarter sized hail was reported by a member of the public in Stephenville.
March 2012HailStephenville-Dime sized hail mixed with a few quarter sized hail stones fell in Stephenville.
January 2010Thunderstorm WindStephenville-A trained spotter measured a 66 mph wind gust in the city of Stephenville.

Every storm recorded in Erath 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
Welcome Valley3.1 miles15
Knob Hill4.1 miles14
Selden7.3 miles13
Harbin8.1 miles12
Bunyan9.3 miles12
Lingleville9.4 miles13
Huckabay10.0 miles13
Three Way10.1 miles13

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 StephenvilleAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q981525The 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 1347894. 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.