Life moves at a slower pace in Seagraves
Seagraves is a former oil boomtown in Texas, about midway between Lubbock and the Midland-Odessa metropolitan area. The city’s population exploded in the 1930s when it billed itself as “The City that Oil Built,” but currently, only 2,000 residents call it home. “People aren’t really moving here; they’re moving away from here,” says Dan Grife, city secretary. “There’s no room for new industry, so we’re more of a bedroom community where it’s quiet and the air is cleaner. It’s easy to get to the cities, but you don’t have to put up with that city kind of nuisance.”
Ranch-style homes built on small lots in the 1960s
Home sales are infrequent in this area, but the median price is $90,000. Ranch-style homes make up most of the inventory. Seagraves established a housing authority with aid from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the 1960s and early ’70s, and many homes date to this period. Lots generally measure under 10,000 square feet, with pocket-sized lawns and patches of mature trees. Residential streets are on level terrain, and only a few have sidewalks. Potential buyers should note that wildfire risk is relatively high in this area.
U.S. Route 62 connects commuters to Lubbock and Midland
U.S. Route 62 is the primary traffic artery connecting Seagraves to larger nearby cities. “We’re about equidistant from Lubbock and Midland, where there’s good growth and a lot of industry,” Grife says. “Midland is in the middle of the Permian Basin oil fields, so most of the work there is related to extraction, and Lubbock has more of a diverse economy.” Commuters to Lubbock have a 65-mile drive, while Midland-Odessa is about 80 miles away. The closest airport is Lubbock Preston Smith International, roughly a 70-mile drive. Medical care is available about 18 miles away at Seminole Hospital District.
All three Seagraves schools share the same campus
Seagraves Elementary, Middle and High Schools are clustered together in the northwest corner of the city, each with its own building and administration. All three schools receive a B-minus from Niche. High school athletes can participate in sports like football, powerlifting and tennis. A bond calling for $6 million in facilities improvements passed in 2024.
Popular restaurants specialize in pizza and hot dogs
Seagraves’ small downtown area has a few shops and restaurants. Lowe’s Market is a well-stocked hometown grocery store offering Hunt Brothers Pizza and weekly specials. Pizza fanatics can also sample the goods at Main Street Pizza, a casual joint tucked alongside local landmark The Hotel Texan. At Seagraves Dixie Dog, the “Famous CC Melt,” a pile of fries topped with chicken tenders or steak fingers and blanketed with gravy or nacho cheese, threatens to steal the spotlight from the namesake franks. A new restaurant, The Ol’ Country Kitchen, held its grand opening in July 2025.
Walking paths, sports fields and the Seagraves-Loop Museum
The path at Seagraves Gaines Walking Park winds around a nine-hole disc golf course fringed with young trees. The baseball field and shaded playground at Travis Bagley Park are close to the Seagraves Swimming Pool and community building. After a 1928 fire leveled most of the city’s business district, the C.M. Armstrong building was one of the few left standing; today, it’s the home of the Seagraves-Loop Museum and Art Center, a showcase for Western memorabilia and art exhibits.
Celebrate Seagraves event might be a thing of the past
For several years, the Seagraves-Loop Area Chamber of Commerce hosted Celebrate Seagraves, a three-day event featuring street dancing, fireworks and a BBQ contest. According to Grife, however, the September 2024 event might have been the last. “The chamber is really just a couple of people who are trying to hang on to these traditions,” says Grife, who’s lived in Seagraves for about 10 years. He says they may opt to skip the event because attendance and interest have declined.
