Menard County, Texas

Menard County
County
The Menard County Courthouse in Menard
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°54′N99°49′W / 30.9°N 99.82°W / 30.9; -99.82
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1871
Named for	Michel Branamour Menard
Seat	Menard
Largest city	Menard
Area
• Total	902 sq mi (2,340 km2)
• Land	902 sq mi (2,340 km2)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.03%
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,962
• Density	2.2/sq mi (0.84/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	11th
Website	co.menard.tx.us

Historic Pioneer Rest Cemetery in Menard has graves dating to the 19th century.

Menard County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,962. ^[1] The county seat is Menard. ^[2] The county was created in 1858 and later organized in 1871. ^[3] It is named for Michel Branamour Menard, the founder of Galveston, Texas. ^[4]

History

Around 8000 BC, Native American inhabitants arrived. Later Native Americans included Comanche and Lipan Apache. ^[5] In 1757, Father Alonso Giraldo de Terreros founded Presidio San Luis de las Amarillas, as a support for Santa Cruz de San Sabá Mission, for the Apache Indians. ^[6] In the 1830s, James Bowie and Rezin P. Bowie scoured the San Saba valley seeking a silver mine that the Spanish had believed to be in the area. They were unsuccessful, but the legend of the Lost Bowie Mine, also known as the Lost San Saba Mine or the Los Almagres Mine, fed the imaginations of treasure-seekers for the next 150 years. ^{[7] [8]}

Camp San Saba was established in 1852 to protect settlers from Indian attacks. ^{[9] [10]} The state legislature formed Menard County from Bexar County in 1858. The county was named for Michel Branamour Menard, the founder of Galveston. Menardville, later known as Menard, became the county seat. ^[11]

By 1870, the county population was 667: 295 were white, and 372 were black, possibly due to the Buffalo Soldiers at Fort McKavett. ^{[5] [9]} The next year, county residents elected their own officials. ^[5] The county had an immigrant influx from Mexico. ^[5] In 1911, the Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railroad Company arrived. ^[5] Gas deposits were tapped in 1929, but plugged for lack of a market. ^[5] The local Parent-Teacher Association offered free lunches for needy children in 1931. ^[5]

In 1934, the Texas Relief Cannery was in operation. The Drought Relief Program bought cattle and sheep from area ranchers. ^{[5] [12]} A gas well was redrilled in 1941, and produced about seven million cubic feet of gas. ^[5] In 1946, a small oilfield was discovered northeast of Fort McKavett, but was abandoned the following year. ^[5] By the 1960s, oil and gas production had an average annual yield more than 270,000 barrels (43,000 m³). ^[5] In the 1980s, of the county's 40 oilfields, about 20 were still active, producing 132,000 to 185,000 barrels (29,400 m³) annually. ^[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 902 square miles (2,340 km²), of which 902 square miles (2,340 km²) are land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km²) (0.03%) is covered by water. ^[13]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 83
• U.S. Highway 190
• U.S. Highway 377
• State Highway 29

Adjacent counties

• Concho County (north)
• McCulloch County (northeast)
• Mason County (east)
• Kimble County (south)
• Schleicher County (west)
• Sutton County (southwest)
• Tom Green County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	667		—
1880	1,239		85.8%
1890	1,215		−1.9%
1900	2,011		65.5%
1910	2,707		34.6%
1920	3,162		16.8%
1930	4,447		40.6%
1940	4,521		1.7%
1950	4,175		−7.7%
1960	2,964		−29.0%
1970	2,646		−10.7%
1980	2,346		−11.3%
1990	2,252		−4.0%
2000	2,360		4.8%
2010	2,242		−5.0%
2020	1,962		−12.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [14] 1850–2010 [15] 2010 [16] 2020 [17]

Menard 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 [18]	Pop 2010 [16]	Pop 2020 [17]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	1,567	1,425	1,231	66.40%	63.56%	62.74%
Black or African American alone (NH)	10	11	12	0.42%	0.49%	0.61%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	13	6	7	0.55%	0.27%	0.36%
Asian alone (NH)	8	3	5	0.34%	0.13%	0.25%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	1	0	3	0.04%	0.00%	0.15%
Other race alone (NH)	3	1	8	0.13%	0.04%	0.41%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	10	6	34	0.42%	0.27%	1.73%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	748	790	662	31.69%	35.24%	33.74%
Total	2,360	2,242	1,962	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census ^[19] of 2000, 2,360 people, 990 households, and 665 families resided in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1.2 people/km²). The 1,607 housing units averaged 2 units per square mile (0.77/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.54% White, 0.51% African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 9.79% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. About 31.69% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 990 households, 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.00% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.80% were not families. Around 30.40% of all households was made up of individuals, and 17.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was distributed as 24.20% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 21.90% from 25 to 44, 26.60% from 45 to 64, and 21.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,762, and for a family was $30,872. Males had a median income of $21,953 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,987. About 20.00% of families and 25.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.90% of those under age 18 and 19.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Menard (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Callan
• Erna
• Hext
• Saline

Ghost towns

• Fort McKavett
• Sunnyside

Politics

United States presidential election results for Menard County, Texas ^[20]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	823	80.06%	197	19.16%	8	0.78%
2016	682	78.94%	154	17.82%	28	3.24%
2012	665	78.33%	171	20.14%	13	1.53%
2008	712	69.94%	295	28.98%	11	1.08%
2004	761	68.99%	331	30.01%	11	1.00%
2000	642	64.85%	334	33.74%	14	1.41%
1996	443	42.47%	490	46.98%	110	10.55%
1992	354	27.72%	553	43.30%	370	28.97%
1988	552	47.14%	614	52.43%	5	0.43%
1984	725	64.44%	394	35.02%	6	0.53%
1980	548	52.19%	489	46.57%	13	1.24%
1976	441	44.10%	543	54.30%	16	1.60%
1972	644	69.92%	273	29.64%	4	0.43%
1968	491	50.57%	362	37.28%	118	12.15%
1964	397	40.30%	588	59.70%	0	0.00%
1960	608	55.32%	491	44.68%	0	0.00%
1956	614	65.88%	318	34.12%	0	0.00%
1952	843	67.87%	399	32.13%	0	0.00%
1948	283	28.41%	663	66.57%	50	5.02%
1944	96	8.56%	776	69.16%	250	22.28%
1940	246	17.57%	1,153	82.36%	1	0.07%
1936	115	13.48%	734	86.05%	4	0.47%
1932	150	14.25%	901	85.57%	2	0.19%
1928	589	71.57%	234	28.43%	0	0.00%
1924	247	42.73%	304	52.60%	27	4.67%
1920	203	47.65%	197	46.24%	26	6.10%
1916	44	12.83%	267	77.84%	32	9.33%
1912	15	7.50%	109	54.50%	76	38.00%

In popular culture

The 1968 movie Journey to Shiloh features a group known as the "Concho County Comanches," and mentions Menard County.

See also

• Texas portal

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

References

1. "Menard County, Texas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved February 23, 2021.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p.  205.
5. Smyrl, Vivian Elizabeth. "Menard County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
6. Robinson III, Charles M (2003). The Plains Wars 1757-1900. Routledge. pp. 11–13. ISBN   978-0-415-96912-3.
7. Graves, John; Wyman Meinzer (2002). Texas Rivers. University of Texas Press. p. 79. ISBN   978-0-292-70198-4.
8. "The Lost San Saba Mines". Tex Files. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
9. "Fort McKavett". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
10. Parent, Laurence (1997). Official Guide to Texas State Parks . University of Texas Press. pp.  71–72. ISBN   978-0-292-76575-7.
11. "Menard, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
12. "Texas Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes - Article 2372e. Buildings For Canneries For Unemployment Relief". Texas Vernon. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
13. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
14. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
15. "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.
16. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Menard County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
17. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Menard County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
18. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Menard County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
19. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
20. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 27, 2018.

External links

• Library of Congress Historic American Buildings Survey (Menard Co)
• Menard County from the Handbook of Texas Online
• Texas Beyond History, Mission San Saba

30°54′N99°49′W / 30.90°N 99.82°W / 30.90; -99.82