Donley County, Texas

Last updated

Donley County
Donley County courthouse May 2020.jpg
1890 Donley County Courthouse in Clarendon
Map of Texas highlighting Donley County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas in United States.svg
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°58′N100°49′W / 34.96°N 100.81°W / 34.96; -100.81
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Texas.svg Texas
Founded1882
Seat Clarendon
Largest cityClarendon
Area
  Total
933 sq mi (2,420 km2)
  Land927 sq mi (2,400 km2)
  Water6.2 sq mi (16 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
3,258
  Density3.5/sq mi (1.3/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 13th
Website www.co.donley.tx.us

Donley County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 3,258. [1] [2] Its county seat is Clarendon. [3] The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1882. [4]

Contents

History

Donley County was established in 1876 from land given by the Bexar District. [5] It is named for Stockton P. Donley, justice of the state supreme court. [6]

Several historical sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Donley County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total land area of 933 sq mi (2,420 km2), of which 5.6 sq mi (15 km2) (0.7%) are covered by water. [7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880 160
1890 1,056560.0%
1900 2,756161.0%
1910 5,28491.7%
1920 8,03552.1%
1930 10,26227.7%
1940 7,487−27.0%
1950 6,216−17.0%
1960 4,449−28.4%
1970 3,641−18.2%
1980 4,07511.9%
1990 3,696−9.3%
2000 3,8283.6%
2010 3,677−3.9%
2020 3,258−11.4%
2024 (est.)3,193 [8] −2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]
1850–2010 [10] 2010 [11] 2020 [12]
Donley 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 [13] Pop 2010 [11] Pop 2020 [12] % 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)3,3723,1362,53788.09%85.29%77.87%
Black or African American alone (NH)1511631673.94%4.43%5.13%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)2915270.76%0.41%0.83%
Asian alone (NH)49100.10%0.24%0.31%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)0210.00%0.05%0.03%
Other race alone (NH)0060.00%0.00%0.18%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)29431540.76%1.17%4.73%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)2433093566.35%8.40%10.93%
Total3,8283,6773,258100.00%100.00%100.00%

As of the census [14] of 2000, 3,828 people, 1,578 households, and 1,057 families resided in the county. The population density was four people per square mile (1.5 people/km2). The 2,378 housing units averaged 3 units per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.41% White, 3.94% Black or African American, 0.89% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 2.72% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. About 6.35% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,578 households, 24.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were not families. About 31.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the county, the population was distributed as 22.40% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 20.60% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 21.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,006, and for a family was $37,287. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $18,882 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,958. About 10.50% of families and 15.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.90% of those under age 18 and 15.90% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

The Harold Dow Bugbee Ranch, formerly owned by the Western artist and his second wife, Olive Vandruff Bugbee, also an artist, is located in Donley County.

U.S. Highway 287, which passes through the county, has a modern rest area. The rest area also provides sanctuary from weather, offering a tornado shelter in the main building. [15]

Communities

Veterans Memorial at Donley County Courthouse Veterans Memorial at Donley County, TX, Courthouse Picture 2162.jpg
Veterans Memorial at Donley County Courthouse

Cities

Census-designated place

Notable person

Politics

United States presidential election results for Donley County, Texas [16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
1912 122.74%38788.36%398.90%
1916 425.62%63685.14%699.24%
1920 20620.58%76676.52%292.90%
1924 27322.12%89372.37%685.51%
1928 1,09268.90%49130.98%20.13%
1932 1417.95%1,62691.71%60.34%
1936 1337.99%1,51390.93%181.08%
1940 21311.56%1,61987.85%110.60%
1944 28017.93%1,17074.90%1127.17%
1948 24114.24%1,37281.09%794.67%
1952 1,15055.93%90043.77%60.29%
1956 82647.72%90352.17%20.12%
1960 95155.29%76444.42%50.29%
1964 70839.86%1,06860.14%00.00%
1968 81650.15%54333.37%26816.47%
1972 1,22977.74%35022.14%20.13%
1976 70439.02%1,09560.70%50.28%
1980 1,10658.58%75139.78%311.64%
1984 1,29770.84%52928.89%50.27%
1988 1,04360.89%66138.59%90.53%
1992 89351.47%57833.31%26415.22%
1996 98862.33%49531.23%1026.44%
2000 1,33377.55%36020.94%261.51%
2004 1,42980.10%34919.56%60.34%
2008 1,37481.30%29117.22%251.48%
2012 1,28783.84%22614.72%221.43%
2016 1,22583.62%19113.04%493.34%
2020 1,43887.26%19812.01%120.73%
2024 1,51288.32%17410.16%261.52%
United States Senate election results for Duval County, Texas1 [17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2024 1,45387.01%19211.50%251.50%

See also

References

  1. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Donley County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  2. "Donley County, Texas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  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 April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  5. Alvarez, Elizabeth Cruce (November 8, 2011). Texas Almanac 2012–2013. Texas A&M University Press. pp. Contents. ISBN   9780876112571 . Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  6. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 107.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  8. "QuickFacts: Donley County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  9. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  10. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  11. 1 2 "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Donley County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  12. 1 2 "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race Hispanic or Latino – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Donley County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  13. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Donley County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  15. "Texas Safety Rest Area Program - Locations". Archived from the original on June 12, 2007. Retrieved May 12, 2007.
  16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  17. "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.

34°58′N100°49′W / 34.96°N 100.81°W / 34.96; -100.81