Childress (/ˈtʃɪldrɪs/ CHIL-driss) (established 1887; incorporated 1890) is a city in and the county seat of Childress County, Texas, United States. Its population was 5,737 at the 2020 census.

The city and county were named in honor of George Campbell Childress, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, who was the principal author of the Texas Declaration of Independence. The county and city were incorporated more than four decades after Childress' death.

Childress racial composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)

Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	3,023	52.69%
Black or African American (NH)	560	9.76%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	20	0.35%
Asian (NH)	51	0.89%
Pacific Islander (NH)	2	0.03%
Some other race (NH)	14	0.24%
Mixed/multiracial (NH)	173	3.02%
Hispanic or Latino	1,894	33.01%
Total	5,737

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,737 people, 1,936 households, and 1,316 families residing in the city.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	692		—
1910	3,818		451.7%
1920	5,003		31.0%
1930	7,163		43.2%
1940	6,464		−9.8%
1950	7,619		17.9%
1960	6,399		−16.0%
1970	5,408		−15.5%
1980	5,817		7.6%
1990	5,055		−13.1%
2000	6,778		34.1%
2010	6,105		−9.9%
2020	5,737		−6.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, 6,778 people, 2,116 households, and 1,369 families wereresiding in the city. The population density was 821.8 inhabitants per square mile (317.3/km). The 2,554 housing units had an average density of 309.7 per square mile (119.6/km). The racial makeup of the city was 64.52% White, 15.65% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 17.13% from other races, and 1.96% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 22.37% of the population.

Of the 2,116 households, 31.3% had children under 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were not families. About 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37, and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city, the age distribution was 21.7% under 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 147.7 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 157.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,536, and for a family was $33,323. Males had a median income of $25,365 versus $19,442 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,708. About 14.6% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.5% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.3 square miles (21 km), of which 0.04 square miles (0.10 km) is covered by water.

Childress is bordered on the west by Hall County, on the southeast by Hardeman County, on the northeast by Harmon County, Oklahoma, on the north by Collingsworth County, and on the south by Cottle County.

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Childress has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Childress was 117 °F (47.2 °C) on June 27, 1994 and June 26, 2011, while the coldest temperature recorded was −13 °F (−25.0 °C) on January 17, 1930.

Republican Drew Springer, Jr., a businessman from Muenster in Cooke County, has since January 2013 represented Childress in the Texas House of Representatives.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Childress Distribution Center and the Roach Unit at locations in Childress.

The United States Postal Service operates the Childress Post Office.

In December 2015, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer voted Childress ninth among the 10 "most conservative" cities in the United States in regard to political contributions. Other West Texas communities in the most conservative lineup are Hereford (number one), Monahans (number five), and Dalhart in Dallam County in the far northwestern Texas Panhandle (number eight). Princeton in Collin County, north of Dallas, ranked number two. In contrast, Vashon Island, Washington was named the "most liberal" city in the nation in terms of political donations.

Fair Park Auditorium is located at the entrance to the city park. Nearby is the stadium for the Childress High School football team.

Childress is served by the Childress Independent School District, which operates an elementary school (prekindergarten to grade 5), Childress Elementary School, middle school (grades 6 to 8), Childress Junior High School, and a high school (grades 9 to 12), Childress High School. The high school athletic teams are known as the Bobcats. The primary school color is blue, with secondary colors of white and red. The football team plays in a stadium in Fair Park. Basketball teams play in a gym on the high-school campus and the baseball team plays on a field located between the campus and Fair Park.

Clarendon College, a two-year community college, maintains a campus in Childress.

• K221FL
• K237EE
• KCTX-AM
• KCTX-FM

• The Red River Sun, formerly The Childress Index

• Hardy Brown, NFL linebacker
• Walter Chrysler, founder of Chrysler Motor Corporation, lived in Childress from 1905 to 1906.
• Lou Dobbs, radio host and former anchor and managing editor for CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight and now a FOX News anchor
• Margaret A. Edwards, educator and librarian
• Roy Furr, founder of Furr's grocery store and cafeterias chain, lived in Childress County as a youth
• Ruby Gilbert, Kansas state representative
• James "T" Jones, Texas quarterback and Texas Tech athletic director
• Bubba McDaniel, mixed martial artist fighting for the UFC

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  Childress welcoming sign
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  Childress Municipal Building
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  The steeple of the First Baptist Church of Childress (pastor Chad King) can be seen throughout the city.
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  The Childress County Heritage Museum is housed in a former post office building across from the First Baptist Church.
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  Sign on Highway 287 directs motorists into downtown Childress.
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  Main Street in downtown Childress
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  Brick streets of downtown Childress
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  Since the 1950s, the Trade Winds Motel has hosted hunters, truckers, and Colorado-bound vacationers.
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  K-Bob's Steakhouse sign in Childress, a Western-theme restaurant
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  The refreshing fountain in the summer heat at Fair Park in Childress
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  Clarendon College offers two-year courses in Childress.
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  Bobcats Stadium in Fair Park in Childress
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  Summer sunset at Childress
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  Abandoned buildings off U.S. Highway 83 south of Childress
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  2008 City Limits sign for Childress

• List of municipalities in Texas

• City of Childress
• Childress, Texas in The Handbook of Texas Online
• Childress Independent School District
• Childress Regional Medical Center