Howard County, Texas

Last updated

Howard County
County
Howard County, TX, Courthouse, Big Spring, TX IMG 1443.JPG
Howard County Court House in downtown Big Spring
Map of Texas highlighting Howard County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas in United States.svg
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°19′N101°26′W / 32.31°N 101.44°W / 32.31; -101.44
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Texas.svg  Texas
Founded1882
Named for Volney E. Howard
Seat Big Spring
Largest cityBig Spring
Area
 • Total
904 sq mi (2,340 km2)
 • Land901 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Water3 sq mi (8 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
34,860
 • Estimate 
(2023)
30,554 Decrease2.svg
 • Density33.9/sq mi (13.10/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 19th
Website www.co.howard.tx.us
Howard County, TX, line marker IMG 1814.JPG
Howard County Library in Big Spring Howard County, TX, Library IMG 1457.JPG
Howard County Library in Big Spring

Howard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. At the 2020 census, its population was 34,860. [1] Its county seat is Big Spring. [2] The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1882. [3] It is named for Volney E. Howard, a U.S. Congressman from Texas. [4]

Contents

Howard County is included in the Big Spring, Texas micropolitan statistical area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 904.205 square miles (2,341.88 km2), of which 900.791 square miles (2,333.04 km2) are land and 3.414 square miles (8.84 km2) (0.4%) are covered by water. [5]

Howard County is located at the boundary between the Llano Estacado to the north and the Edwards Plateau to the south. Beals Creek, a tributary of the Colorado River, flows through the center of Big Spring and divides these two major physiographic regions.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880 50—
1890 1,2102,320.0%
1900 2,528108.9%
1910 8,881251.3%
1920 6,962−21.6%
1930 22,888228.8%
1940 20,990−8.3%
1950 26,72227.3%
1960 40,13950.2%
1970 37,796−5.8%
1980 33,142−12.3%
1990 32,343−2.4%
2000 33,6274.0%
2010 35,0124.1%
2020 34,860−0.4%
2023 (est.)30,554 [6] −12.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]
1850–2010 [8]
2010–2020 [1]

2020 census

Howard 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 [9] Pop 2010 [10] Pop 2020 [11] % 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)19,09618,80115,67256.79%53.70%44.96%
Black or African American alone (NH)1,2922,0791,5203.84%5.94%4.36%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1222202110.36%0.63%0.61%
Asian alone (NH)1962563860.58%0.73%1.11%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)113120.00%0.04%0.03%
Other race alone (NH)876680.02%0.22%0.20%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)3153128170.94%0.89%2.34%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)12,59713,25516,17437.46%37.86%46.40%
Total33,62735,01234,860100.00%100.00%100.00%

As of the 2020 census, there were 34,860 people, 11,674 households, and 7,739 families residing in the county. [12] The population density was 900.79 inhabitants per square mile (347.8/km2). There were 14,000 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 67.9% White, 4.9% African American, 1.2% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 10.8% from some other races and 14.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 46.4% of the population. [13] 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18, 5.8% were under 5 years of age, and 13.9% were 65 and older.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 33,627 people, 11,389 households and 7,949 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14 people/km2). There were 13,589 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.14% White, 4.13% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 12.43% from other races, and 2.10% from two or more races. 37.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,389 households, of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.30% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

24.20% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 30.90% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 118.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.50 males.

The median household income was $30,805 and the median family income was $37,262. Males had a median income of $28,971 and females $21,390. The per capita income was $15,027. About 14.50% of families and 18.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 15.50% of those age 65 or over.

Media

The county is served by a daily newspaper, local radio stations KBST (AM), KBST-FM, KBTS (FM), KBYG (AM), nearby stations KBXJ (FM), KPET (AM) and KWDC (FM), and the various Midland and Odessa radio and TV stations.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Politics

From 1912 through 1964, Howard County voters, in common with the Solid South, voted predominantly for the Democratic candidate in presidential elections. Since 1980, the trend has swung to voting chiefly for the Republican candidate.

United States presidential election results for Howard County, Texas [14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 7,81781.08%1,75918.24%650.67%
2020 8,05478.64%2,06920.20%1181.15%
2016 6,63776.09%1,77020.29%3163.62%
2012 6,45374.22%2,11024.27%1321.52%
2008 7,02972.55%2,54526.27%1151.19%
2004 7,48073.33%2,66326.11%580.57%
2000 6,66869.84%2,74428.74%1361.42%
1996 5,00750.80%3,73237.86%1,11811.34%
1992 5,12947.17%3,73534.35%2,00918.48%
1988 6,02457.28%4,44542.26%480.46%
1984 7,51964.31%4,11535.20%570.49%
1980 6,65858.86%4,45139.35%2031.79%
1976 4,89940.92%6,98458.34%890.74%
1972 7,34372.85%2,71426.92%230.23%
1968 3,81236.30%3,89737.11%2,79226.59%
1964 3,27234.93%6,08364.94%120.13%
1960 3,40340.83%4,84458.12%881.06%
1956 3,05140.30%4,50659.52%140.18%
1952 3,41241.60%4,77958.27%110.13%
1948 56111.10%4,17982.72%3126.18%
1944 3347.71%3,58882.79%4129.51%
1940 3677.80%4,32992.05%70.15%
1936 2306.90%3,09492.86%80.24%
1932 1495.15%2,73394.40%130.45%
1928 81254.86%66544.93%30.20%
1924 18612.85%1,10076.02%16111.13%
1920 10711.80%70377.51%9710.69%
1916 303.42%74785.18%10011.40%
1912 223.14%53075.61%14921.26%

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  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 April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  162.
  5. ↑ "2010 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023" . Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  9. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Howard County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  10. ↑ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Howard County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  11. ↑ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Howard County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  12. ↑ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  13. ↑ "How many people live in Howard County, Texas". USA Today. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  14. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 25, 2018.

32°19′N101°26′W / 32.31°N 101.44°W / 32.31; -101.44

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