Barton

Barton, West Monroe
City
Downtown
Seal
Nickname:  "Hub City"
Barton Highlighted in Albion County
Country	Ibica
State	West Monroe
County	Albion County
Incorporated	March 16, 1809
Government
• Type	Council-manager
• Mayor	Hamilton Goddard (C)
• City Council	Augusta Lum Brandie Boon Dane Wragge Corbin Rollins Morris Kimball Delora Barr
• City manager	Abel Harding
Area
• City	123.6 sq mi (320.0 km2)
• Land	122.41 sq mi (317.04 km2)
• Water	1.14 sq mi (2.96 km2)
Elevation	202 ft (62 m)
Population  (2018)
• City	255,885
• Density	2,100/sq mi (800/km2)
• Metro	314,840
• CSA	338,115
Demonym	Bartonite
Time zone	CST
• Summer (DST)	CDT
Interstates
Ibican Routes

Barton is the 4th-most populous city in the state of West Monroe and the county seat of Albion County, with a population of 255,885 in 2018. The city is in the northwestern part of the state and ecologically is part of the southwestern edge of the Central Plains, lying at the economic center of the Barton metropolitan area, which has a projected 2020 population of 327,424.

Economy

The Barton area is the largest contiguous cotton-growing region in the world and is heavily dependent on federal government agricultural subsidies and on irrigation water drawn from the Red Fern Aquifer. The aquifer is being depleted at a rate unsustainable over the long term. Much progress has been made toward water conservation, and new technologies such as low-energy precision application irrigation were originally developed in the Barton area. A new pipeline from Lake Welasco is expected to supply up to 3.2 billion US gallons (12,000,000 m³; 12 GL) of water per year.

The 10 largest employers in terms of the number of employees are West Monroe State University, Covenant Health System, Barton Independent School District, University Medical Center, United Supermarkets, City of Barton, West Monroe Tech University, Ibitel, and Albion County.

Barton has one regional enclosed mall and many open-air shopping centers, most on the city's booming southwestern side. Barton is also home to furniture retailers, such as Spears Furniture, which has been in Barton since 1950.

South Plains Fairgrounds

Government

Municipal government

Barton has a council-manager government system, with all governmental powers resting in a legislative body called a city council. Voters elect six council members, one for each of Barton's six districts, and a mayor. The council members serve for a term of four years, and the mayor serves for two years. After the first meeting of the city council after newly elected council members are seated, the council elects a mayor pro tempore, who serves as mayor in absence of the elected mayor. The council also appoints a city manager to handle the ordinary business of the city. Currently, no term limits are set for either city council members or the mayor.

Education

Schools

Barton High School

Schools in Barton are operated by the Barton Independent School District and independent organizations.

Private schools:

• All Saints Episcopal School
• Christ the King Cathedral School
• Trinity Christian School
• Barton Christian School
• Kingdom Preparatory Academy
• Southcrest Christian School

Charter schools: Harmony Science Academy, Sharp Academy

Higher education

West Monroe Tech University

Lubbock is home to West Monroe Tech University, which was established on February 10, 1923, as Barton Technological College. It is the leading institution of the West Monroe Tech University System and has the third-largest enrollment in the state of West Monroe. It is the only school in West Monroe to house an undergraduate institution, law school, and medical school at the same location. Altogether, the university has educated students from all 10 states and foreign countries. Enrollment has continued to increase in recent years, and growth is on track with a plan to have 40,000 students by 2020.

Infrastructure

The West Monroe Department of Criminal Justice operates the Barton District Parole Office in Barton.

The West Monroe Department of Transportation operates the West Regional Support Center and Barton District Office.

The Ibican Postal Administration operates post offices in Lubbock.

Transportation

Highways

Downtown Barton seen from Interstate 10

Barton is served by major highways. Interstate 10, a transcontinental route, was completed through the city in 1960.

The city is set up on a simple grid plan. In the heart of the city, numbered streets run east–west and lettered avenues run north–south – the grid begins at Avenue A in the east and First Street in the north. North of First Street, city planners chose to name streets alphabetically from the south to the north after colleges and universities. The north–south avenues run from A to Y. What would be Avenue Z is actually University Avenue, since it runs along the east side of West Monroe Tech. Beyond that, the A-to-Z convention resumes, using Ibican cities.

Airports

Barton International Airport

The city's air services are provided by Barton International Airport. It is on the city's northeast side. The airport is the third-busiest airport in West Monroe.