Moving to Sunray, Texas

by btobers · Published July 1, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

Sunray, Texas is a small city located in the northern part of the state. It has a population of just over 3,000 people. The city is situated on the edge of the Panhandle Plains, giving it a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters. It has an average annual rainfall of about 18 inches which is typical for this region.

The city’s history dates back to its incorporation in 1902 when it was just a small farming community. In the 1930s and 1940s, oil and gas production began to boom in Sunray which led to an influx of people looking for work. This growth created a sense of optimism and prosperity that still exists today.

Sunray is politically conservative with most residents voting Republican in presidential elections. The city’s economy is largely driven by oil and gas production as well as agriculture, with cotton being one of its main crops. There are also several businesses in town that provide goods and services to local residents.

The schools in Sunray are part of the Sunray Independent School District which offers students an excellent education from pre-K through 12th grade. There are also several higher education institutions nearby including Panhandle State University and Amarillo College which offer students the opportunity to further their studies after high school graduation.

Sunray is home to several landmarks such as historic downtown buildings like the Star Theater which has been around since 1924, as well as various parks like Kiwanis Park where locals can go for some outdoor fun or take their kids to play at the playground or splash pad. The city also has two museums – The Bob White Museum & Cultural Center and the Sunray Historical Museum – where visitors can learn more about Sunray’s past and present day culture through exhibits and artifacts from previous generations who lived there.

Population: 1,950. Estimated population in July 2024: 1,942 (-0.4% change)
Males: 972 (49.8%), Females: 978 (50.2%)

Moore County

Zip code: 79086

Demographics

Median resident age: 32.0 years
Median household income: $32,026
Median house value: $45,300

Population by Race

Races in Sunray:

White Non-Hispanic (62.4%)
Hispanic (35.6%)
Other race (23.4%)
Two or more races (2.1%)
American Indian (1.6%)
Black (0.7%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: United States (14.5%), Irish (7.5%), German (7.4%), English (5.5%), Dutch (1.1%).

Land area: 1.7 square miles

Population by Education

Sunray, Texas is a small town located in the Texas panhandle. According to the 2019 U.S. Census Bureau, Sunray has a population of 2,055. Almost all of Sunray’s residents are White, accounting for 93.2% of the population; African Americans make up 4% of the population, and Hispanics account for 1.7%. The median age for Sunray is just over 34 years old and there are slightly more females than males living in the area. The median household income for Sunray is $46,000 per year which is slightly higher than the national average but lower than other cities in this part of Texas.

The majority of people living in Sunray are employed in local industries such as agriculture and oil production which have been important drivers of the local economy since its founding in 1927. Additionally, many people commute to nearby Amarillo or Lubbock for work or shopping opportunities not available locally. Education is also important to many families who choose to stay in Sunray with almost 90% of adults having at least a high school diploma and nearly 20% having some college education or an associate’s degree from one of the nearby universities or colleges.

Since Sunray is so small it lacks many amenities that larger towns offer such as movie theaters, art galleries, and museums; however, the town does have a few small shops and restaurants that provide some entertainment options for residents and visitors alike. Additionally there are several churches located throughout town that serve as community gathering places for both religious services and social events throughout the year.

For population 25 years and over in Sunray

High school or higher: 66.0%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 1.5%
Unemployed: 4.4%
Mean travel time to work: 15.2 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Sunray city

Never married: 20.9%
Now married: 62.6%
Separated: 1.3%
Widowed: 7.4%
Divorced: 7.9%

14.8% Foreign born (13.6% Latin America).

Population change in the 1990s: +226 (+13.1%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Sunray:

MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 13 miles; DUMAS, TX)
GOLDEN PLAINS COMM HOSP (about 38 miles; BORGER, TX)
HANSFORD HOSPITAL (about 46 miles; SPEARMAN, TX)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Sunray:

AMARILLO INTL (about 56 miles; AMARILLO, TX; Abbreviation: AMA)
LIBERAL MUNI (about 93 miles; LIBERAL, KS; Abbreviation: LBL)
GARDEN CITY REGIONAL (about 152 miles; GARDEN CITY, KS; Abbreviation: GCK)

Other public-use airports nearest to Sunray:

SUNRAY (about 1 miles; SUNRAY, TX; Abbreviation: Q43)
CLUCK RANCH (about 15 miles; GRUVER, TX; Abbreviation: 2E3)
MOORE COUNTY (about 17 miles; DUMAS, TX; Abbreviation: DUX)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Sunray:

AMARILLO COLLEGE (about 59 miles; AMARILLO, TX; Full-time enrollment: 4,876)
WEST TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY (about 73 miles; CANYON, TX; Full-time enrollment: 5,476)
WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY (about 126 miles; PLAINVIEW, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,578)
EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 166 miles; PORTALES, NM; Full-time enrollment: 2,955)
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY (about 166 miles; LUBBOCK, TX; Full-time enrollment: 22,439)
SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE (about 171 miles; LEVELLAND, TX; Full-time enrollment: 3,851)
SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 218 miles; WEATHERFORD, OK; Full-time enrollment: 4,360)

Schools

Public high school in Sunray:

SUNRAY H S (Students: 136; Location: 400 E 7TH ST; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Sunray:

SUNRAY EL (Students: 203; Location: 400 E 7TH ST; Grades: PK – 04)
SUNRAY MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 166; Location: 400 E 7TH ST; Grades: 05 – 08)