Friona is a city in Parmer County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,123 at the 2010 census. Friona was established in 1906, originally called Frio, from the Spanish word for cold. In 2007, the Texas State Legislature declared Friona the "Cheeseburger Capital of Texas". The city began holding the "Cheeseburger Cook-Off and Festival" in 2006. Aside from this annual event, only three fast food locations sell cheeseburgers in Friona: Tasty Cream, Dairy Queen, and Fast Stop. The city motto is "The Biggest Small Town in Texas".
Geography
Friona is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, all of it land.
Demographics
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,123 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 69.9% Hispanic, 28.2% White, 0.9% Black, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander and 0.3% from two or more races. As of the census of 2000, 3,854 people, 1,271 households, and 983 families resided in the city. The population density was 2,794.8 people per square mile. The 1,399 housing units averaged 1,014.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 61.47% White, 1.30% African American, 0.75% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 33.81% from other races, and 2.28% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 57.86% of the population. Of the 1,271 households, 44.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were not families. About 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.48. In the city, the population was distributed as 33.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males. The median income for a household in the city was $31,964, and for a family was $36,863. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $19,299 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,635. About 14.1% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education
In 1954 after Brown vs. The Board Of Education, Friona was the first school in Texas to integrate black students. The city is served by Friona Independent School District. The local high school mascot is a chieftain. The school colors are red and white. The girls' team mascot is a squaw. The junior high boys' team mascot is a brave. The junior high girls' team mascot is a maiden.
Watson Whaley, until his death, had been the oldest living graduate of Friona High School, Class of 1929. A native of Hollene in Curry County, New Mexico, Whaley was a farmer and owned a construction company which did concrete work on grain elevators. He and his late wife, the former Alice Louise Wiley, were involved with the Girl Scouts of the USA and built the Girl Scout hut in Friona. He was survived by two daughters and is interred at Friona Cemetery.
