Garza County, Texas

Last updated

Garza County, Texas
County
Garza County Texas courthouse 2020.jpg
Garza County Courthouse in Post
Map of Texas highlighting Garza County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Coordinates: 33°11′N101°18′W / 33.18°N 101.3°W / 33.18; -101.3
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Texas.svg Texas
Founded1907
Seat Post
Largest cityPost
Area
 • Total
896 sq mi (2,320 km2)
 • Land893 sq mi (2,310 km2)
 • Water2.8 sq mi (7.3 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
5,816
 • Density6.51/sq mi (2.51/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 19th
Website www.garzacounty.net/page/homepage
Post Dispatch newspaper covers local events of Garza County. Post Dispatch newspaper, Post, TX IMG 4610.JPG
Post Dispatch newspaper covers local events of Garza County.
Wells Fargo Bank serves Garza County through its outlet in Post. Wells Fargo Bank, Post, TX IMG 4640.JPG
Wells Fargo Bank serves Garza County through its outlet in Post.

Garza County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 5,816, of which most of the population were residing in its county seat, and only incorporated municipality, Post. [1] [2] The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1907. [3] Garza is named for a pioneer Bexar County family, as it was once a part of that county.

Contents

History

Indigenous peoples of the Americas were the first inhabitants of the area, with evidence from around 2000 BC. Later inhabitants were the Kiowa and Comanche. [4]

In 1875, W. C. Young of Fort Worth and Irishman Ben Galbraith of Illinois established the beginnings of the Curry Comb Ranch in the northwestern part of Garza County. [5]

Garza County was formed in 1876 from Bexar County, and named for Lieutenant Joseph de la Garza and his family who were prominent in Bexar County and decedened from José Antonio de la Garza. [6] [7]

By 1880, the county census count was 36 people. [4] The Square and Compass Ranch was started 2 years later by the Nave and McCord Cattle Company. They put up the first barbed-wire fence in 1884. [8] That same year, OS Ranch was founded by brothers Andrew J. and Frank M. Long of Lexington, Kentucky. [9] The county's population reached 185 persons by the last year of the 19th century. [4] Post was founded in 1907 as a utopian venture by, and named for, cereal king C.W. Post. [4] [10] From 1909 to 1913, C.W. Post built a cotton gin and a cotton mill, and attempted to improve agriculture production through rainmaking, involving the heavy use of explosives fired from kites and towers along the rim of the Caprock Escarpment. [4] [11]

In 1926, oil was discovered in the county. [4] [12] Quanah and Bryan Maxey discovered a 16-foot-long tusk of a prehistoric imperial mammoth in 1934. This tusk is currently located in the American Museum of Natural History, New York City. [4]

In 1957, a prehistoric Indian site was recorded at Cowhead Mesa by Emmet Shedd of Post. [13] In 1960–1965, South Plains Archaeological Society excavations of Cowhead Mesa found artifacts to date inhabitation back to 2000 BC. [13]

The most important businesses in the county by 1980 were agribusiness, oil and gas extraction, and textile mills. [4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 896 sq mi (2,320 km2), of which 893 sq mi (2,310 km2) are land and 2.8 sq mi (7.3 km2) (0.3%) are covered by water. [14] It is located southeast of Lubbock in the Canyonlands of the Llano Estacado Escarpment.

Major roads and highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880 36—
1890 14−61.1%
1900 1851,221.4%
1910 1,995978.4%
1920 4,253113.2%
1930 5,58631.3%
1940 5,6781.6%
1950 6,28110.6%
1960 6,6115.3%
1970 5,289−20.0%
1980 5,3360.9%
1990 5,143−3.6%
2000 4,872−5.3%
2010 6,46132.6%
2020 5,816−10.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [15]
1850–2010 [16] 2010 [17] 2020 [18]

Racial and ethnic composition

Garza 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 [19] Pop 2010 [17] Pop 2020 [18] % 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)2,7602,9622,16256.65%45.84%37.17%
Black or African American alone (NH)2213922304.54%6.07%3.95%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)725280.14%0.39%0.48%
Asian alone (NH)48250.08%0.12%0.43%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)0300.00%0.05%0.00%
Other race alone (NH)01100.00%0.02%0.17%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)7024891.44%0.37%1.53%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)1,8103,0463,27237.15%47.14%56.26%
Total4,8726,4615,816100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 5,816. The median age was 40.4 years. 17.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 182.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 204.3 males age 18 and over. [20]

The racial makeup of the county was 74.4% White, 5.1% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 11.7% from some other race, and 7.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 56.3% of the population. [21]

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas. [22]

There were 1,636 households in the county, of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.5% were married-couple households, 19.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [20]

There were 2,126 housing units, of which 23.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.2% were owner-occupied and 27.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.1%. [20]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 4,872 people, 1,663 households, and 1,217 families resided in the county. [23] The population density was 5 people/mi2 (1.9 people/km2). The 1,928 housing units averaged 2 per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 56.7% White, 4.8 African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 17.1% from other races, and 3.00% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 37.2% of the population.

Of the 1,663 households, 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were not families. About 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county, the population was distributed as 28.00% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,206, and for a family was $31,173. Males had a median income of $26,604 versus $18,105 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,704. About 17.50% of families and 22.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.6% of those under age 18 and 18.6% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

Unincorporated communities

Politics

Republican Drew Springer, Jr., a businessman from Muenster in Cooke County, has since January 2013 represented Garza County in the Texas House of Representatives. [24]

United States presidential election results for Garza County, Texas [25]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№ %№ %№ %
1912 74.27%14487.80%137.93%
1916 143.91%33092.18%143.91%
1920 285.92%39282.88%5311.21%
1924 33135.06%58862.29%252.65%
1928 79473.59%28526.41%00.00%
1932 879.62%81289.82%50.55%
1936 13214.01%80785.67%30.32%
1940 19815.49%1,07383.96%70.55%
1944 14412.42%84272.65%17314.93%
1948 17615.86%86177.57%736.58%
1952 74248.15%79751.72%20.13%
1956 62844.38%78655.55%10.07%
1960 73746.76%82952.60%100.63%
1964 56731.03%1,25468.64%60.33%
1968 61537.05%66239.88%38323.07%
1972 1,15372.11%44627.89%00.00%
1976 75543.77%95755.48%130.75%
1980 1,18862.63%67735.69%321.69%
1984 1,21969.66%52129.77%100.57%
1988 1,18354.02%98945.16%180.82%
1992 98252.01%55829.56%34818.43%
1996 94653.93%70340.08%1055.99%
2000 1,30273.56%45425.65%140.79%
2004 1,48081.68%32617.99%60.33%
2008 1,35677.49%37521.43%191.09%
2012 1,26380.96%27917.88%181.15%
2016 1,22582.55%23015.50%291.95%
2020 1,41385.48%23113.97%90.54%
2024 1,37485.93%21313.32%120.75%
United States Senate election results for Garza County, Texas1 [26]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№ %№ %№ %
2024 1,31884.00%22314.21%281.78%

Education

School districts serving the county include: [27]

The county is in the service area of South Plains College. [28]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing, 2000 [United States]: County-to-County Worker Flow Files" . ICPSR Data Holdings. October 1, 2003. doi:10.3886/icpsr13405 . Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  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 23, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Leffler, John (June 15, 2010). "Garza County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  5. ↑ Holden, William Curry (June 12, 2010). "Curry Comb Ranch". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  6. ↑ Orozco, Cynthia E (June 15, 2010). "José Antonio de la Garza". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  7. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 135.
  8. ↑ Holden, William Curry (June 15, 2010). "Square and Compass Ranch". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  9. ↑ Woolley, Bryan (2004). "Pack Rat". Texas Road Trip. Texas Christian University Press. pp. 25–36. ISBN   978-0-87565-291-7.
  10. ↑ "Post, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  11. ↑ Pearce, William M (June 15, 2010). "Charles William Post". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Alumni Notes". The Alcalde: 52. September–October 1985.
  13. 1 2 Howard, Margaret Ann (June 12, 2010). "Cowhead Mesa". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  14. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  16. ↑ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  17. 1 2 "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Garza County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  18. 1 2 "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Garza County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  19. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Garza County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  20. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  21. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  22. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  23. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  24. ↑ "State Rep. Springer announces district tour July 30". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, July 16, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  25. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  26. ↑ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  27. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Garza County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022. - list
  28. ↑ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.198. SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.

33°11′N101°18′W / 33.18°N 101.30°W / 33.18; -101.30

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.