Martin County, Texas

Martin County
County
The Martin County Courthouse in Stanton
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°18′N101°58′W / 32.3°N 101.96°W / 32.3; -101.96
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1884
Named for	Wylie Martin [1]
Seat	Stanton
Largest city	Midland
Area
• Total	916 sq mi (2,370 km2)
• Land	915 sq mi (2,370 km2)
• Water	0.7 sq mi (2 km2)  0.08%
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,237
• Density	5.7/sq mi (2.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	19th

Martin County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 5,237. ^[2] Its county seat is Stanton. ^[3] The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1884. ^[4] It is named for Wylie Martin, an early settler. ^[1]

Until November 2018, Martin County was one of six ^[5] entirely dry counties in Texas. During that month, Martin County changed from a dry county to a partially wet ^[6] county after Stanton residents voted to approve the sale of beer and wine within city limits. ^[7] Five dry counties remain. ^{[8] [9]}

Martin County is included in the Midland–Odessa combined statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 916 square miles (2,370 km²), of which 915 square miles (2,370 km²) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) (0.08%) is water. ^[10] The northern portion of the Spraberry Trend, the second-largest oil field in the United States by 2013 estimated crude oil production, underlies much of the county. ^[11]

Major highways

• I-20
• I-20 BL
• US 87
• SH 115
• SH 137
• SH 176
• SH 349

Adjacent counties

• Dawson County (north)
• Howard County (east)
• Glasscock County (southeast)
• Midland County (south)
• Andrews County (west)
• Gaines County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	12		—
1890	264		2,100.0%
1900	332		25.8%
1910	1,549		366.6%
1920	1,146		−26.0%
1930	5,785		404.8%
1940	5,556		−4.0%
1950	5,541		−0.3%
1960	5,068		−8.5%
1970	4,774		−5.8%
1980	4,684		−1.9%
1990	4,956		5.8%
2000	4,746		−4.2%
2010	4,799		1.1%
2020	5,237		9.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [12] 1850-2010 [13] 2010 [14] 2020 [15]

Martin 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 [16]	Pop 2010 [14]	Pop 2020 [15]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	2,696	2,578	2,780	56.81%	53.72%	53.08%
Black or African American alone (NH)	74	67	81	1.56%	1.40%	1.55%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	8	15	22	0.17%	0.31%	0.42%
Asian alone (NH)	8	11	9	0.17%	0.23%	0.17%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	3	1	0.00%	0.06%	0.02%
Other race alone (NH)	0	7	19	0.00%	0.15%	0.36%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	35	32	70	0.74%	0.67%	1.34%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,925	2,086	2,255	40.56%	43.47%	43.06%
Total	4,746	4,799	5,237	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census ^[17] of 2000, there were 4,746 people, 1,624 households, and 1,256 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (1.9 people/km²). There were 1,894 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.01% White, 1.58% Black or African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 16.06% from other races, and 2.36% from two or more races. 40.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,624 households, out of which 42.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.30% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.60% were non-families. 21.70% 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 2.87 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 33.90% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 19.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,836, and the median income for a family was $35,965. Males had a median income of $29,360 versus $19,063 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,647. About 14.90% of families and 18.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.90% of those under age 18 and 17.10% of those age 65 or over.

Media

The county is served by a weekly newspaper, local station KKJW (FM), nearby stations KBXJ (FM) and KPET (AM), and the various Midland and Odessa radio and TV stations.

Communities

Martin County Hospital, a 20-bed facility, serves the community.

Cities

• Ackerly (partly in Dawson County)
• Midland (mostly in Midland County)
• Stanton (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Lenorah
• Tarzan

Politics

United States presidential election results for Martin County, Texas ^[18]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	1,857	85.97%	288	13.33%	15	0.69%
2016	1,455	82.58%	266	15.10%	41	2.33%
2012	1,368	84.24%	248	15.27%	8	0.49%
2008	1,389	80.99%	314	18.31%	12	0.70%
2004	1,514	83.79%	288	15.94%	5	0.28%
2000	1,520	77.99%	415	21.29%	14	0.72%
1996	973	54.88%	643	36.27%	157	8.86%
1992	986	49.60%	641	32.24%	361	18.16%
1988	1,017	61.60%	632	38.28%	2	0.12%
1984	1,218	70.00%	512	29.43%	10	0.57%
1980	1,093	63.69%	605	35.26%	18	1.05%
1976	698	43.14%	907	56.06%	13	0.80%
1972	935	75.22%	287	23.09%	21	1.69%
1968	343	27.33%	373	29.72%	539	42.95%
1964	402	30.99%	892	68.77%	3	0.23%
1960	350	29.09%	831	69.08%	22	1.83%
1956	318	25.92%	903	73.59%	6	0.49%
1952	562	37.07%	952	62.80%	2	0.13%
1948	77	7.15%	945	87.74%	55	5.11%
1944	131	13.29%	758	76.88%	97	9.84%
1940	136	11.52%	1,044	88.40%	1	0.08%
1936	70	8.20%	775	90.75%	9	1.05%
1932	44	5.91%	694	93.28%	6	0.81%
1928	330	60.77%	213	39.23%	0	0.00%
1924	92	21.60%	327	76.76%	7	1.64%
1920	33	18.86%	136	77.71%	6	3.43%
1916	14	8.70%	125	77.64%	22	13.66%
1912	9	14.52%	50	80.65%	3	4.84%

See also

• Texas portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Martin County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Martin County

References

1. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p.  201.
2. "Martin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved February 23, 2021.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
5. "Wet and Dry Counties". Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Archived from the original on September 3, 2018.
6. "Wet/Dry Status of Texas Counties". Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on December 11, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
7. "It's WET". Martin County Messenger. November 9, 2018. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
8. "Wet and Dry Counties". Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
9. Marks, Michael (December 17, 2018). "Texas Has Just Five Dry Counties Left. Why Is That?". keranews.org. Archived from the original on December 17, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
10. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
11. "Top 100 U.S. Oil and Gas Fields" (PDF). U.S. Energy Information Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 11, 2015.
12. "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
13. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
14. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Martin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
15. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Martin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
16. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Martin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 20, 2018.

External links

• Martin County Government’s Website
• Martin County from the Handbook of Texas Online

32°18′N101°58′W / 32.30°N 101.96°W / 32.30; -101.96