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Concho County, Texas

Coordinates: 31°20′N 99°52′W / 31.33°N 99.86°W / 31.33; -99.86
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Concho County
County
The Concho County Courthouse in Paint Rock
The Concho County Courthouse in Paint Rock
Map of Texas highlighting Concho County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°20′N 99°52′W / 31.33°N 99.86°W / 31.33; -99.86
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1879
Named forConcho River
SeatPaint Rock
Largest cityEden
Area
 • Total
994 sq mi (2,570 km2)
 • Land984 sq mi (2,550 km2)
 • Water9.9 sq mi (26 km2)  1.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
3,303
 • Density3.3/sq mi (1.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district11th
Websitewww.co.concho.tx.us
Concho County marker

Concho County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. At the 2020 census, the population was 3,303.[1] Its county seat is Paint Rock.[2] The county was founded in 1858 and later organized in 1879.[3] It is named for the Concho River.

History

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In the 1800s, Paleo-Indians lived in the county and left behind archaeological remains of a burned-rock midden. Athabascan-speaking Indians associated with the pre-horse Plains culture live in this part of Texas. Later native inhabitants included Jumano, Tonkawa, Comanche and Lipan Apache.[4]

In 1847, John O. Meusebach sent surveyors into the area. In 1849, Robert Simpson Neighbors led a small expedition through the area.[4]

The Texas Legislature formed Concho County from Bexar County in 1858.[4]

In 1874, Ranald S. Mackenzie led a campaign to drive out the remaining native peoples and established the Mackenzie Trail.[4] The county seat was formally established and named Paint Rock after the nearby pictographs.[5] The Eden community was established in 1882.[6] In 1909, the community of Lowake was established.[7]

Railroad development

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Railroads came to the county first in 1910, with the Concho, San Saba and Llano Valley railroad being completed to Paint Rock. The Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway was completed across the southeastern corner of the county in 1911, and the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe railroad finished a line to Eden in 1912.[4]

By 1930, the area had 449 owner-operated farms and 682 tenant-operated farms, of whom 619 were sharecroppers.[4]

In 1940, Concho County became part of a soil-conservation district.[4] In 1985, the Texas Water Commission granted permission to impound 554,000 acre-feet (683,000,000 m3) of water on the Colorado River at Stacy, to create the O. H. Ivie Reservoir.[8]

In 1988, Concho County was the leading sheep-producing county in Texas.[4]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 994 square miles (2,570 km2), of which 984 square miles (2,550 km2) is land and 9.9 square miles (26 km2) (1.0%) is water.[9]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880800—
18901,06533.1%
19001,42734.0%
19106,654366.3%
19205,847−12.1%
19307,64530.8%
19406,192−19.0%
19505,078−18.0%
19603,672−27.7%
19702,937−20.0%
19802,915−0.7%
19903,0444.4%
20003,96630.3%
20104,0873.1%
20203,303−19.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1850–2010[11] 2010[12] 2020[13]
Concho County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[14] Pop 2010[12] Pop 2020[13] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 2,265 1,810 2,097 57.11% 44.29% 63.49%
Black or African American alone (NH) 38 57 69 0.96% 1.39% 2.09%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 4 13 9 0.10% 0.32% 0.27%
Asian alone (NH) 3 14 19 0.08% 0.34% 0.58%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 4 5 1 0.10% 0.12% 0.03%
Other race alone (NH) 0 2 16 0.00% 0.05% 0.48%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 13 13 59 0.33% 0.32% 1.79%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,639 2,173 1,033 41.33% 53.17% 31.27%
Total 3,966 4,087 3,303 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

At the 2000[needs update] census,[15] 3,966 people, 1,058 households and 757 families resided in the county. The population density was 4 per square mile (1.5/km2). There were 1,488 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial make-up of the county was 88.20% White, 0.98% Black or African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 8.93% from other races and 1.24% from two or more races. About 41.33% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 1,058 households, 29.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.40% were not families. About 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.97.

16.10% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 38.20% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64 and 13.80% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 181.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 209.90 males.

The median household income was $31,313 and the median family income was $36,894. Males had a median income of $20,750 and females $21,458. The per capita income was $15,727. About 7.50% of families and 11.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.80% of those under age 18 and 14.20% of those age 65 or over.

In 2004,[needs update] Concho County has the third-highest proportion of prison inmates amongst its residents of any county equivalent in the United States, behind Crowley County, Colorado, and West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.[16] As a result, the county had the highest gender ratio in the United States with 232 men to every 100 women.[17]

Communities

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City

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Town

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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The 1968 movie Journey to Shiloh features a group known as the "Concho County Comanches," and mentions neighboring Menard County.

Politics

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United States presidential election results for Concho County, Texas
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 1,038 86.64% 153 12.77% 7 0.58%
2020 1,058 83.44% 197 15.54% 13 1.03%
2016 885 82.87% 148 13.86% 35 3.28%
2012 793 79.22% 194 19.38% 14 1.40%
2008 807 74.93% 257 23.86% 13 1.21%
2004 911 76.36% 270 22.63% 12 1.01%
2000 818 74.16% 268 24.30% 17 1.54%
1996 488 47.29% 434 42.05% 110 10.66%
1992 414 33.50% 489 39.56% 333 26.94%
1988 617 48.85% 643 50.91% 3 0.24%
1984 821 58.31% 580 41.19% 7 0.50%
1980 700 49.40% 702 49.54% 15 1.06%
1976 474 39.67% 715 59.83% 6 0.50%
1972 709 66.95% 350 33.05% 0 0.00%
1968 411 37.03% 502 45.23% 197 17.75%
1964 307 24.44% 948 75.48% 1 0.08%
1960 522 42.03% 718 57.81% 2 0.16%
1956 574 50.26% 567 49.65% 1 0.09%
1952 808 53.30% 708 46.70% 0 0.00%
1948 174 12.93% 1,156 85.88% 16 1.19%
1944 151 11.07% 1,090 79.91% 123 9.02%
1940 189 12.60% 1,310 87.33% 1 0.07%
1936 76 6.52% 1,089 93.48% 0 0.00%
1932 44 3.75% 1,126 95.91% 4 0.34%
1928 446 50.97% 426 48.69% 3 0.34%
1924 90 11.52% 668 85.53% 23 2.94%
1920 151 22.37% 405 60.00% 119 17.63%
1916 36 7.07% 418 82.12% 55 10.81%
1912 16 4.28% 326 87.17% 32 8.56%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Concho County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
    - "Concho County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Standifer, Mary M. "Concho County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  5. ^ "Paint Rock Pictographs". Texas Beyond History. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  6. ^ "Eden, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  7. ^ "Lowake, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  8. ^ "O. H. Ivie Reservoir". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  9. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  10. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  12. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Concho County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Concho County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Concho County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ^ Wagner, Peter (April 19, 2004). "Twenty one counties have twenty one percent of their population in prisons and jails". Prison Policy Initiative.
    - Sakala, Leah (2014). Breaking Down Mass Incarceration in the 2010 Census: State-by-State Incarceration Rates by Race/Ethnicity. Prison Policy Initiative. p. Appendix A.
  17. ^ "Concho County, Texas Gender Ratio". States101. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
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Media related to Concho County, Texas at Wikimedia Commons

31°20′N 99°52′W / 31.33°N 99.86°W / 31.33; -99.86

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