Idalou is a small town located seven miles northeast of Lubbock, Texas. The town began as a settlement in the early 1910s around a Santa Fe Railway depot. From there they build a one-room schoolhouse and a few businesses, getting their first post office in 1917. After the original school burnt down, they built a two-story brick school in 1919.
The town had around 540 residents in 1925 and has grown to over 2,000 as of the year 2000. It is considered a friendly small town with easy access to 'big city' opportunities. They pride themselves on having a family-friendly community with good schools and community service.
The town was named after Ida and Lou Bassett. They were sisters of Julian M. Bassett, vice president of the Crosby-Bassett Livestock Company in the 1910s. You can also find the town depicted in Josh Abbott Band's song 'Idalou' from their Small Town Family Dream Album.
