Seminole is an agricultural community with small businesses
Among the reddish-orange crop fields of West Texas, Seminole is an agriculturally driven town anchored by its small businesses. The community's iron-rich soil requires center-pivot irrigation, prompting the distinctive color and circular shape of fields across the area. "Seminole is and has been number one in peanut production, and those circles are mainly cotton and peanut fields," says local broker Kallie Hicks, owner of Legacy West Realty. She's served local homebuyers for nearly 20 years and resides in Seminole. The town sits among the oil-rich Permian Basin, and dozens of oil derricks lie between massive farms and ranches. "The rigs are drilling oil from our area all the way to Midland," Hicks says. Outside of oil and crops, Seminole's locally owned businesses draw buyers to the area. "Seminole is growing," Hicks says. "We're constantly getting new businesses and new opportunities." From South Seminole Baptist Church to Gospel Mission Church, local churches engage the community through activities and sports events.
Country subdivisions and farmland surround town limits
Much of Seminole's housing fills the town limits on modest, quarter-acre lots along relatively wide, sunbaked streets. Properties have faded grass and mature trees, and the houses are generally ranch-style or bungalows. A few housing developments extend beyond the town's limits and into the countryside. "There are several subdivisions out in the country, and there are a lot of country properties with a couple of acres of land," Hicks says. Most recently constructed homes, primarily Contemporary builds and New Traditional houses, line far-removed streets between flat farmlands and swaths of sandy soil. Among the community's most rural edges are massive tracts of land, typically used for ranching or farming. The median sale price for a home here is around $250,000, but an occasional 500-plus-acre tract will pop up for a few million dollars.
Local dining includes barbecue, Mexican and home-style fare
Businesses pepper the community, but Main Street serves as its commercial artery. Hotels, gas stations and supply stores line the thoroughfare, and advertisements fill tall, hard-to-miss billboards – a mix of locally owned restaurants fills the spaces in between. Restaurants like Southern Rose Café offer home-style cooking, including chicken-fried steak and pork chops, while eateries like Mr. Taco offer traditional Mexican fare. There are also a few popular barbecue restaurants, including Dickey's Barbecue Pit and Slim's BBQ. United Supermarkets and Lowe's Market are the community's primary grocery sources, but Walmart offers big-box shopping on the town's west end. Residents also enjoy shopping locally at the Heritage Farmers Market at the West Texas Living Heritage Museum. The Tuesday market sources local farms and businesses for produce, fresh bread, jarred fruits and craft lattes.
High school offers sports, clubs and creative programs
Seminole Independent School District has an A-minus on Niche and welcomes around 3,000 students across five facilities. F.J. Young Elementary School serves pre-kindergarten through first grade and has a B. Seminole Primary School enrolls second and third graders with a B-plus, and Seminole Elementary enrolls fourth and fifth graders with an A-minus. Seminole Junior High and Seminole High School both score a B. The high school offers a robust list of athletics and student organizations, from journalism and art club to golf and volleyball.
City parks and a sports complex host games and gatherings
Seminole features several city-operated parks with traditional amenities. City Park is a rectangular green patch with a popular splash pad and playground. The park also has a sand volleyball court, basketball court and a few covered picnic tables where locals often gather for cookouts and small celebrations. S.S. Forrest Park is a large green space on the community's west end with winding, paved paths peppered with a few light posts. A sports complex gathers local teams north of the town's center for tournaments. The complex features a few baseball fields and has a small playground for the kids. About 8 miles north of Seminole's heart, Gaines County Park and Golf Course offers a semi-challenging course with plenty of space for RV camping.
Seminole offers medical care and access to major roads
Residents rely on cars to get around, and U.S. Routes 62, 385 and 180 meet in the community's heart. Commuters also have direct access to Texas State Highway 214. Lubbock, home of Texas Tech University, is one of the nearest big cities, about 80 miles away. Midland is a 65-mile trip southeast. Seminole Hospital District is the community's primary medical facility, and Midland International Air and Space Port offers commercial flights about 62 miles away.
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Written By
Brennen Martin
