Edwards County, Texas

Edwards County
County
The Edwards County Courthouse in Rocksprings
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°58′N100°18′W / 29.97°N 100.3°W / 29.97; -100.3
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1883
Named for	Haden Edwards
Seat	Rocksprings
Largest town	Rocksprings
Area
• Total	2,120 sq mi (5,500 km2)
• Land	2,118 sq mi (5,490 km2)
• Water	2.0 sq mi (5 km2)  0.09%
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,422
• Density	0.67/sq mi (0.26/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	23rd
Website	co.edwards.tx.us

Texas Hill Country in Edwards County south of Rocksprings

Lone wooden windmill in eastern Edwards County

Edwards County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census its population was 1,422. ^[1] The county seat is Rocksprings. ^[2] The county was created in 1858 and organized in 1883. ^[3] It is named for Haden Edwards, ^[4] an early settler of Nacogdoches, Texas. The Edwards Aquifer and Edwards Plateau are named after the county by reason of their locations. ^[5]

History

• The early inhabitants were Lipan Apache and Comanche. ^[6]
• 1762 Looking for protection from Comanches, Lipan Apache chief El Gran Cabezón persuades Franciscans and the Spanish military to establish San Lorenzo de la Santa Cruz Mission on the Nueces River. The Mission was abandoned in 1771. ^[7]
• 1825 Virginia born Haden Harrison Edwards joins forces with Stephen F. Austin and contracts with Coahuila y Tejas to move 800 families into east Texas. In 1826 Edwards announces the creation of the Republic of Fredonia near Nacogdoches, an early attempt to secede from Mexico. Stephen F. Austin joins forces with Mexico against Edwards. Haden Edwards flees in 1827 to Louisiana for his safety, returns to Texas, and spends the rest of his life in Nacogdoches. ^[8]
• 1858 Edwards County is formed from Bexar County. ^[6]
• 1871 Clint Smith, age 11, and brother Jeff Smith, age 9, are kidnapped by Indians near Rocksprings. ^[9]
• 1882 W.J. Greer settles a sheep camp at Rocksprings. ^[10]
• 1883 Edwards County is officially organized and named for Haden Harrison Edwards. ^[11]
• 1884 Francis Winan cattle and sheep ranch at Rocksprings. ^[6]
• 1885 A.O. Burr sets up farming at Rocksprings. ^[6]
• 1891 County seat becomes Rocksprings. The County Courthouse is built by architects Ben Davey and Bruno Schort in the Romanesque Revival Style. ^[12]
• 1898 Rocksprings Telephone Company is formed. ^[13]
• 1913 Edwards loses land in its eastern section to Real County. ^[6]
• 1927 A tornado hits Rocksprings. ^[14]
• 1940 Rocksprings calls itself the "Top-o-the-World" in mohair production, which peaks that year. ^[6]
• 1946 Oil is discovered in the county. ^[6]
• 1991 Kickapoo Cavern State Park, 6,400 acres (26 km²) in both Edwards and Kinney County opens to the public. ^[15]
• 1992 Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area near Rockspring opens to the public. It is the home to the largest single-chambered cavern and third-deepest in the state. ^[16]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau the county has a total area of 2,120 square miles (5,500 km²), of which 2,118 square miles (5,490 km²) are land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²) (0.09%) are covered by water. ^[17]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 277
• U.S. Highway 377
• State Highway 41
• State Highway 55

Adjacent counties

• Sutton County (north)
• Kimble County (northeast)
• Kerr County (east)
• Real County (southeast)
• Uvalde County (southeast)
• Kinney County (south)
• Val Verde County (west)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	266		—
1890	1,970		640.6%
1900	3,108		57.8%
1910	3,768		21.2%
1920	2,283		−39.4%
1930	2,764		21.1%
1940	2,933		6.1%
1950	2,908		−0.9%
1960	2,317		−20.3%
1970	2,107		−9.1%
1980	2,033		−3.5%
1990	2,266		11.5%
2000	2,162		−4.6%
2010	2,002		−7.4%
2020	1,422		−29.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [18] 1850–2010 [19] 2010 [20] 2020 [21]

Edwards 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 [22]	Pop 2010 [20]	Pop 2020 [21]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	1,161	947	651	53.70%	47.30%	45.78%
Black or African American alone (NH)	3	10	2	0.14%	0.50%	0.14%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	11	11	5	0.51%	0.55%	0.35%
Asian alone (NH)	1	3	11	0.05%	0.15%	0.77%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0	1	0.00%	0.00%	0.07%
Other race alone (NH)	0	0	2	0.00%	0.00%	0.14%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	12	4	32	0.56%	0.20%	2.25%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	974	1,027	718	45.05%	51.30%	50.49%
Total	2,162	2,002	1,422	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census ^[23] of 2000, 2,162 people, 801 households, and 586 families resided in the county. The population density was less than 1/km² (2.6/sq mi). The 1,217 housing units averaged 1/sq mi (0.39/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.26% White, 0.79% African American, 0.79% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 12.72% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races. About 45.05% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 801 households, 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were not families. About 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the county, the population was distributed as 28.50% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 23.20% from 25 to 44, 25.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,298, and for a family was $27,083. Males had a median income of $21,912 versus $14,907 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,691. About 24.60% of families and 31.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.40% of those under age 18 and 17.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Town

• Rocksprings (county seat)

Census-designated places

• Barksdale

Other unincorporated communities

• Carta Valley

Politics

United States presidential election results for Edwards County, Texas ^[24]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	869	86.47%	133	13.23%	3	0.30%
2020	893	83.77%	168	15.76%	5	0.47%
2016	746	69.52%	303	28.24%	24	2.24%
2012	642	72.62%	232	26.24%	10	1.13%
2008	673	65.02%	346	33.43%	16	1.55%
2004	745	77.36%	217	22.53%	1	0.10%
2000	663	70.76%	261	27.85%	13	1.39%
1996	511	50.44%	437	43.14%	65	6.42%
1992	460	51.86%	254	28.64%	173	19.50%
1988	556	59.78%	368	39.57%	6	0.65%
1984	626	79.64%	159	20.23%	1	0.13%
1980	575	69.78%	237	28.76%	12	1.46%
1976	412	61.31%	258	38.39%	2	0.30%
1972	520	82.02%	109	17.19%	5	0.79%
1968	409	64.01%	148	23.16%	82	12.83%
1964	371	52.11%	337	47.33%	4	0.56%
1960	463	72.46%	168	26.29%	8	1.25%
1956	533	79.67%	133	19.88%	3	0.45%
1952	586	73.43%	210	26.32%	2	0.25%
1948	185	34.32%	329	61.04%	25	4.64%
1944	187	31.91%	348	59.39%	51	8.70%
1940	175	23.65%	565	76.35%	0	0.00%
1936	157	30.54%	354	68.87%	3	0.58%
1932	224	27.86%	575	71.52%	5	0.62%
1928	546	89.66%	59	9.69%	4	0.66%
1924	346	61.35%	204	36.17%	14	2.48%
1920	297	56.14%	201	38.00%	31	5.86%
1916	73	19.31%	299	79.10%	6	1.59%
1912	114	34.86%	133	40.67%	80	24.46%

Education

School districts include: ^[25]

• Rocksprings Independent School District
• Nueces Canyon Consolidated Independent School District

The designated community college is Southwest Texas Junior College. ^[26]

See also

• Texas portal

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

References

1. "Edwards County, Texas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved February 23, 2021.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. 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 23, 2015.
4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  115.
5. "The Edwards Aquifer Website FAQ" . Retrieved December 29, 2010.
6. McCrain, James B. "Edwards County". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
7. La Vere, David (2003). The Texas Indians . TAMU Press. p.  122. ISBN   978-1-58544-301-7.
8. McKeehan, Wallace L. "Haden Edwards and The Fredonian Rebellion 1826-1827". Sons of De Witt County. Archived from the original on December 5, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
9. "Clinton LaFayette Smith". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
10. "Rocksprings, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
11. McDonald, Archie P. "Haden Edwards". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
12. "Edwards County Courthouse". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
13. "Rocksprings Telephone Company". Texas State Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
14. Verby, Sue. "Rock Springs, TX Tornado, Apr 1927". GenDisasters. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
15. "Kickapoo Cavern State Park". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
16. "Devil's Sinkhole State Natural Area". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
17. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
18. "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
19. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
20. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Edwards County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
21. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Edwards County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
22. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Edwards County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
23. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
24. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
25. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Edwards County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022. - Text list
26. Texas Education Code: Sec. 130.200. SOUTHWEST TEXAS JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.

External links

• Edwards County in Handbook of Texas Online
• Edwards County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties

29°58′N100°18′W / 29.97°N 100.30°W / 29.97; -100.30