Crockett County, Texas

Not to be confused with Crockett, Texas.

Crockett County
County
The Crockett County Courthouse in Ozona
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°44′N101°25′W / 30.73°N 101.41°W / 30.73; -101.41
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1891
Named for	Davy Crockett
Seat	Ozona
Largest community	Ozona
Area
• Total	2,807 sq mi (7,270 km2)
• Land	2,807 sq mi (7,270 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)  0.0%
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,098
• Density	1.1/sq mi (0.43/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	23rd
Website	www.co.crockett.tx.us

Crockett County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 3,098. ^{[1] [2]} The county seat is Ozona. ^[3] The county was founded in 1875 and later organized in 1891. ^[4] It is named in honor of Davy Crockett, the legendary frontiersman who died at the Battle of the Alamo.

History

Prehistoric people lived in Gobbler Shelter, located on a small tributary canyon of Live Oak Creek. The earliest known Native American tribes were the Tonkawa, Lipan Apache, and Comanche. ^[5]

In 1590, Spanish explorer Gaspar Castaño de Sosa led a mining expedition of 170 who passed through the western section of Crockett County to reach the Pecos River. ^[6] On May 22, 1684, Juan Domínguez de Mendoza and his expedition crossed the Pecos River and camped at San Pantaleón. ^[7]

John Coffee Hays's 1849 expedition charted waterholes for transporting people and freight., ^[8] and three years later, U.S. Army Colonel Joseph K. Mansfield recommended establishing a new post on Live Oak Creek to protect travelers. ^[5] Fort Lancaster was established on August 20, 1855, in response to Mansfield's recommendation. ^[9] In 1866, the Texas legislature provided three battalions of Texas Rangers to protect settlers in the area. ^[10] Camp Melvin was established in 1868. ^[11]

On January 12, 1875, Crockett County, named for Davy Crockett, was formed from Bexar County. ^[5] Crockett County became a subsidiary of Val Verde County in 1885, and in 1887 was reduced further as Sutton and Schleicher counties were formed from part of its territory. ^[5] In 1889, Emerald became the first town in Crockett County. ^[5] Crockett County was organized in 1891, with Ozona serving as the county seat. The first water well was drilled at the First Baptist Church in Ozona that same year. ^[5]

One of the first settlers was W. P. Hoover, who settled on the Pecos River in 1885. ^[5] Throughout the next decade, sheep and cattle ranchers established themselves in the county. The Kirkpatrick Hotel was built to serve stagecoach passengers and cowboys. ^[5] Stagecoach services began running in 1900, and contemporary county reports listed seven manufacturing firms. ^[5] The Crockett County Courthouse was built in 1902 by architect Oscar Ruffini. The building does multiple duty for courtroom and county offices, as well as a community center and dance hall. ^[12]

In 1925, the first producing oil well within the world, on L. P. Powell's ranch in north central Crockett County, by Chester R. Bunker's World Oil Company. ^{[5] [13]} Ozona erected a statue of Davy Crockett in the town square in 1938 ^[14] and opened the Crockett County Museum the following year. In 1958, it was moved to its current location on the town square. ^[15]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,807 square miles (7,270 km²), virtually all of which is land. ^[16]

Major highways

• Interstate 10
• U.S. Highway 190
• State Highway 137
• State Highway 163
• State Highway 349

Adjacent counties

• Upton County (north)
• Reagan County (north)
• Irion County (northeast)
• Schleicher County (east)
• Sutton County (east)
• Val Verde County (south)
• Terrell County (south)
• Pecos County (west)
• Crane County (northwest)

Crockett County is among the few counties in the United States to border as many as nine counties.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	127		—
1890	194		52.8%
1900	1,591		720.1%
1910	1,296		−18.5%
1920	1,500		15.7%
1930	2,590		72.7%
1940	2,809		8.5%
1950	3,981		41.7%
1960	4,209		5.7%
1970	3,885		−7.7%
1980	4,608		18.6%
1990	4,078		−11.5%
2000	4,099		0.5%
2010	3,719		−9.3%
2020	3,098		−16.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [17] 1850–2010 [18] 2010 [19] 2020 [20]

Crockett 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 [21]	Pop 2010 [19]	Pop 2020 [20]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	1,792	1,312	1,080	43.72%	35.28%	34.86%
Black or African American alone (NH)	18	13	18	0.44%	0.35%	0.58%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	17	8	9	0.41%	0.22%	0.29%
Asian alone (NH)	10	11	10	0.24%	0.30%	0.32%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0	0	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	4	4	9	0.10%	0.11%	0.29%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	16	19	52	0.39%	0.51%	1.68%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2,242	2,352	1,920	54.70%	63.24%	61.98%
Total	4,099	3,719	3,098	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census ^[22] of 2000, there were 4,099 people, 1,524 households, and 1,114 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.46 people per square mile (0.56 people/km²). There were 2,049 housing units at an average density of 0.73 per square mile (0.28/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.34% White, 0.68% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 19.71% from other races, and 2.39% from two or more races. 54.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,524 households, out of which 36.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.90% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,355, and the median income for a family was $34,653. Males had a median income of $29,925 versus $14,695 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,414. About 14.90% of families and 19.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.30% of those under age 18 and 18.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Census-designated place

• Ozona (county seat)

Ghost town

• Emerald

Politics

United States presidential election results for Crockett County, Texas ^[23]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	1,087	76.71%	323	22.79%	7	0.49%
2020	1,220	77.51%	344	21.86%	10	0.64%
2016	980	70.25%	372	26.67%	43	3.08%
2012	957	65.68%	480	32.94%	20	1.37%
2008	1,026	66.41%	512	33.14%	7	0.45%
2004	1,248	72.22%	473	27.37%	7	0.41%
2000	924	66.09%	467	33.40%	7	0.50%
1996	714	45.98%	684	44.04%	155	9.98%
1992	623	37.87%	653	39.70%	369	22.43%
1988	932	51.24%	881	48.43%	6	0.33%
1984	1,094	64.96%	589	34.98%	1	0.06%
1980	885	59.24%	595	39.83%	14	0.94%
1976	802	49.88%	804	50.00%	2	0.12%
1972	851	72.12%	329	27.88%	0	0.00%
1968	509	37.45%	571	42.02%	279	20.53%
1964	409	33.77%	799	65.98%	3	0.25%
1960	635	54.93%	517	44.72%	4	0.35%
1956	702	69.57%	305	30.23%	2	0.20%
1952	654	68.13%	306	31.88%	0	0.00%
1948	127	23.30%	400	73.39%	18	3.30%
1944	112	22.76%	323	65.65%	57	11.59%
1940	132	23.91%	420	76.09%	0	0.00%
1936	75	24.35%	231	75.00%	2	0.65%
1932	168	33.80%	329	66.20%	0	0.00%
1928	291	81.97%	64	18.03%	0	0.00%
1924	112	61.54%	69	37.91%	1	0.55%
1920	80	46.78%	89	52.05%	2	1.17%
1916	16	18.60%	65	75.58%	5	5.81%
1912	5	8.06%	53	85.48%	4	6.45%

See also

• Texas portal

• List of museums in Central Texas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Crockett County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Crockett County

References

1. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Crockett County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
2. "Crockett County, Texas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved February 23, 2021.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. "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.
5. Smith, Julia Cauble. "Crockett County". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
6. Chipman, Donald E. "Gaspar Castaño de Sosa". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
7. Weddle, Robert S. "Juan Domínguez de Mendoza". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
8. Crockett County Historical Society (1976). A History of Crockett County (Texas). Anchor Publishing. p. 22.
9. Parent, Laurence (1997). Official Guide to Texas State Parks . University of Texas Press. p.  16. ISBN   978-0-292-76575-7.
10. Blackburn Jr, Edward A (2005). Wanted: Historic County Jails of Texas. TAMU Press. pp. 88–89. ISBN   978-1-58544-308-6.
11. Smith, Julia Cauble. "Camp Melvin". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
12. "Crockett County Courthouse". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
13. Olien, Diana; Olien, Roger (2002). Oil in Texas, The Gusher Age, 1895-1945. Austin: University of Texas Press. p. 152. ISBN   0292760566.
14. "Davy Crockett Monument". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
15. Brochure, Crockett County Museum, Ozona, Texas
16. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
17. "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
18. "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.
19. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Crockett County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
20. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Crockett County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
21. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Crockett County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
22. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
23. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 21, 2018.

External links

• Crockett County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of Texas
• Inventory of county records, Crockett County courthouse, Ozona, Texas, hosted by the Portal to Texas History

30°44′N101°25′W / 30.73°N 101.41°W / 30.73; -101.41