Mason County, Texas

Last updated

Mason County
County
Mason County Courthouse August 2020.jpg
The Mason County Courthouse in Mason
Map of Texas highlighting Mason County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas in United States.svg
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°43′N99°13′W / 30.72°N 99.22°W / 30.72; -99.22
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Texas.svg  Texas
Founded1858
Named for Fort Mason
Seat Mason
Largest cityMason
Area
 • Total
932 sq mi (2,410 km2)
 • Land929 sq mi (2,410 km2)
 • Water3.4 sq mi (9 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
3,953
 • Density4.2/sq mi (1.6/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 11th
Website www.co.mason.tx.us

Mason County is a rural county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. At the 2020 census, its population was 3,953. [1] Its county seat is Mason. [2] The county is named for Fort Mason, which was located in the county.

Contents

History

February – County, spurred in part by anti-slavery sentiments of German residents, overwhelmingly votes against secession from the Union.
March – Fort Mason surrendered to the Confederacy, who leave it mostly vacant and thereby cause an uptick in Indian attacks on the area. [7] [8]
May 20 – Voters select town of Mason as County Seat. [9]
County’s first newspaper begins publication. [15]
Hoo Doo War over cattle rustling. [16]
Most famous participant in the war is Johnny Ringo, who on September 25, 1875, kills James Cheyney. [17] [18] [19]
Courthouse fire destroys all records. [11]

Geography

Ranchland in the Edwards Plateau, Mason County, Texas, USA (April 17, 2015). Ranchland in the Edwards Plateau, Mason County, Texas, USA (17 April 2015).jpg
Ranchland in the Edwards Plateau, Mason County, Texas, USA (April 17, 2015).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 932 square miles (2,410 km2), of which 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) (0.4%) are covered by water. [23]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860 630—
1870 6787.6%
1880 2,655291.6%
1890 5,18095.1%
1900 5,5737.6%
1910 5,6832.0%
1920 4,824−15.1%
1930 5,51114.2%
1940 5,378−2.4%
1950 4,945−8.1%
1960 3,780−23.6%
1970 3,356−11.2%
1980 3,6839.7%
1990 3,423−7.1%
2000 3,7389.2%
2010 4,0127.3%
2020 3,953−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [24]
1850–2010 [25] 2010 [26] 2020 [27]
Mason 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 [28] Pop 2010 [26] Pop 2020 [27] % 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)2,9123,0922,94877.90%77.07%74.58%
Black or African American alone (NH)51440.13%0.35%0.10%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)161100.43%0.27%0.00%
Asian alone (NH)2720.05%0.17%0.05%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)0000.00%0.00%0.00%
Other race alone (NH)54160.13%0.10%0.40%
Mixed race or multiracial (NH)15201000.40%0.50%2.53%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)78386488320.95%21.54%22.34%
Total3,7384,0123,953100.00%100.00%100.00%

At the 2000 census, [29] 3,738 people, 1,607 households and 1,110 families were residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km2). The 2,372 housing units had an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.60% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.75% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. About 20.95% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 1,607 households, 25.9% had children under 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were not families. About 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.83.

The county's age distribution was 22.4% under of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 20.7% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.40 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

The median household income was $30,921 and the median family income was $39,360. Males had a median income of $28,125 compared with $20,000 for females. The per capita income was $20,931. About 10.10% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.50% of those under 18 and 13.3% of those 65 or over.

Communities

City

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

Politics

United States presidential election results for Mason County, Texas [30]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 2,07682.09%43417.16%190.75%
2020 1,99180.48%45718.47%261.05%
2016 1,65680.51%35417.21%472.28%
2012 1,56579.52%38019.31%231.17%
2008 1,54472.80%54625.74%311.46%
2004 1,60077.03%45922.10%180.87%
2000 1,35275.07%41723.15%321.78%
1996 94954.70%61835.62%1689.68%
1992 77645.06%57033.10%37621.84%
1988 97558.91%67140.54%90.54%
1984 1,16867.01%57032.70%50.29%
1980 96659.59%63038.86%251.54%
1976 80549.09%81449.63%211.28%
1972 1,09673.71%36924.82%221.48%
1968 78951.98%56036.89%16911.13%
1964 59038.44%94161.30%40.26%
1960 83358.79%57540.58%90.64%
1956 88563.67%50436.26%10.07%
1952 1,06963.71%60636.11%30.18%
1948 49836.73%83661.65%221.62%
1944 42028.07%82254.95%25416.98%
1940 63437.25%1,06562.57%30.18%
1936 35931.30%78768.61%10.09%
1932 30927.08%82872.57%40.35%
1928 80776.64%24423.17%20.19%
1924 17123.82%38453.48%16322.70%
1920 26939.97%30445.17%10014.86%
1916 15727.30%38667.13%325.57%
1912 15217.21%47253.45%25929.33%

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Mason County, Texas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Rhoades, Alice J. "Mason County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Comanche Indian Treaty". William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  5. ↑ DeVos, Julius E. "Fort Mason, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Mason County – Mason vicinity". Texas State Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Texas Forts Trails". Texas Monthly: 72. June 1991.
  8. ↑ "Texas Escapes-Fort Mason, Texas". Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  9. ↑ Rhoades, Alice J. "Mason, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  10. ↑ "History Fort Mason (1851–1871)". Texas Forts of the Old West. Legends of America. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  11. 1 2 "Mason County Courthouse". Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  12. 1 2 Lehmann, Herman; Hunter, J Marvin; Giese, Dale F (1993). Nine Years Among the Indians, 1870–1879: The Story of the Captivity and Life of a Texan Among the Indians . University of New Mexico Press. ISBN   978-0-8263-1417-8.
  13. ↑ Hudspeth, Brewster. "The Savage Life Of Herman Lehmann". Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 27, 2010. Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
  14. ↑ Gould, Florence C; Pando, Patricia N. "Mason Co Tx Women Homesteaders". Tx Gen Web. Archived from the original on October 20, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Gem of the Hill Country-Mason, Tex". Hill Country Portal. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  16. ↑ Johnson, David; Miller, Rick (2009). The Mason County ""Hoo Doo"" War, 1874–1902 (A.C. Greene Series). University of North Texas Press. ISBN   978-1-57441-262-8.
  17. ↑ Johnson, David; Parsons, Chuck (2008). John Ringo, King of the Cowboys: His Life and Times from the Hoo Doo War to Tombstone, Second Edition (A. C. Greene). University of North Texas Press. ISBN   978-1-57441-243-7.
  18. ↑ Hadeler, Glenn. "The Mason County Hoo Doo Wars". TexFiles. Archived from the original on May 12, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2010. TexFiles
  19. ↑ "Johnny Ringo and the Hoo Doo War" . Retrieved April 30, 2010.
  20. ↑ Garner, L Edwin. "Mineral Resources and Mining". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Society. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  21. ↑ Leatherwood, Art. "Hereford Cattle". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  22. ↑ Wentsch, George M. "Pedernales Electric Coop". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Society. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  23. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  25. ↑ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  26. 1 2 "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mason County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  27. 1 2 "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mason County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  28. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Mason County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  29. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  30. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 11, 2018.

30°43′N99°13′W / 30.72°N 99.22°W / 30.72; -99.22

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