Potter County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 35°24′N101°53′W / 35.4°N 101.89°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Texas |
Founded | 1887 |
Named for | Robert Potter |
Seat | Amarillo |
Largest city | Amarillo |
Area | |
• Total | 922 sq mi (2,390 km2) |
• Land | 908 sq mi (2,350 km2) |
• Water | 14 sq mi (40 km2) 1.5% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 118,525 |
• Density | 130/sq mi (50/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 13th |
Website | www |
Potter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 118,525. [1] Its county seat is Amarillo. [2] The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1887. [3] It is named for Robert Potter, a politician, signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, and the Texas Secretary of the Navy. Potter County is included in the Amarillo metropolitan area.
The LX Ranch was established in the county by W.H. "Deacon" Bates and David T. Beals by 1877. In July 1876, Bates, along with some cowboys that included Charlie Siringo, established a herd of steers and ranch headquarters along Ranch Creek on the north bank of the Canadian River. The headquarters eventually included a bunkhouse, kitchen, storeroom, stables, corrals, blacksmith shop, wagon sheds, and a post office named Wheeler. The LX also established the county's first cemetery. The ranch eventually extended from Dumas to the Palo Duro Canyon and 35 miles east to west. By 1884, the ranch encompassed 187,000 acres, 45,000 cattle, and 1000 horses, when the operation was sold to the American Pastoral Company. In 1902, the ranch headquarters were moved to Bonita Creek, on the south bank of the Canadian River. On 6 October 1910, that company sold 30,354 acres south of the river to Lee Bivins, and on 1 June 1911, R.B. "Ben" Masterson acquired 89,139 acres on the north side. On 19 May 1915, Bivins bought an additional 53,329 LX acres, which included the LX brand. [4] [5] [6] [7]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 922 square miles (2,390 km2), of which 14 square miles (36 km2) (1.5%) are covered by water. [8]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1880 | 28 | — | |
1890 | 849 | 2,932.1% | |
1900 | 1,820 | 114.4% | |
1910 | 12,424 | 582.6% | |
1920 | 16,710 | 34.5% | |
1930 | 46,080 | 175.8% | |
1940 | 54,265 | 17.8% | |
1950 | 73,366 | 35.2% | |
1960 | 115,580 | 57.5% | |
1970 | 90,511 | −21.7% | |
1980 | 98,637 | 9.0% | |
1990 | 97,874 | −0.8% | |
2000 | 113,546 | 16.0% | |
2010 | 121,073 | 6.6% | |
2020 | 118,525 | −2.1% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [9] 1850–2010 [10] 2010 [11] 2020 [12] |
Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 [11] | Pop 2020 [12] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH) | 59,322 | 50,153 | 49.00% | 42.31% |
Black or African American alone (NH) | 11,823 | 11,999 | 9.77% | 10.12% |
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 602 | 636 | 0.50% | 0.54% |
Asian alone (NH) | 4,675 | 6,036 | 3.86% | 5.09% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 43 | 20 | 0.04% | 0.02% |
Some other race alone (NH) | 155 | 613 | 0.13% | 0.52% |
Mixed/multiracial (NH) | 1,761 | 3,875 | 1.45% | 3.27% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 42,692 | 45,193 | 32.56% | 38.13% |
Total | 121,073 | 118,525 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
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 can be of any race.
As of the census [13] of 2000, 113,546 people, 40,760 households, and 27,472 families were residing in the county. The population density was 125 people per square mile (48 people/km2). The 44,598 housing units had an average density of 49 units per square mile (19 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 68.60% White, 9.96% African American, 0.87% Native American, 2.49% Asian, 15.48% from other races, and 2.60% from two or more races. About 28.11% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
Of the 40,760 households, 34.7% had children under 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were not families. About 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.61, and the average family size was 3.21.
In the county, the age distribution was 28.0% under 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.90 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 100.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,492, and for a family was $35,321. Males had a median income of $26,123 versus $20,275 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,947. About 15.2% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under 18 and 12.3% of those 65 or over.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice Clements Unit and Neal Unit are located in unincorporated Potter County, east of the City of Amarillo. [14]
Potter County has supported Republican presidential candidates in every election since 1968, usually by lopsided margins. However, as the county's population has increased, the percentage of Democratic voters has also. According to the 2020 Election, it is the most liberal county in the Texas Panhandle. [15] In 2004, George W. Bush received 21,401 votes (74% of the total) in the county to just 7,489 votes (25%) for his opponent, John Kerry. In 2020, Donald J. Trump received 22,820 votes (69%) in the county as opposed to Joseph R. Biden, who received 9,921 votes (30% of the total).
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 22,820 | 68.45% | 9,921 | 29.76% | 596 | 1.79% |
2016 | 19,630 | 68.09% | 7,657 | 26.56% | 1,544 | 5.36% |
2012 | 18,918 | 71.52% | 7,126 | 26.94% | 406 | 1.53% |
2008 | 20,761 | 69.17% | 8,939 | 29.78% | 313 | 1.04% |
2004 | 21,401 | 73.65% | 7,489 | 25.77% | 166 | 0.57% |
2000 | 17,629 | 69.47% | 7,242 | 28.54% | 505 | 1.99% |
1996 | 14,995 | 57.13% | 9,273 | 35.33% | 1,977 | 7.53% |
1992 | 13,510 | 48.64% | 9,527 | 34.30% | 4,738 | 17.06% |
1988 | 16,400 | 62.76% | 9,563 | 36.60% | 168 | 0.64% |
1984 | 20,396 | 70.57% | 8,365 | 28.94% | 141 | 0.49% |
1980 | 16,327 | 60.85% | 9,633 | 35.90% | 871 | 3.25% |
1976 | 13,819 | 53.08% | 11,917 | 45.77% | 300 | 1.15% |
1972 | 18,891 | 74.56% | 6,264 | 24.72% | 180 | 0.71% |
1968 | 13,338 | 49.27% | 8,238 | 30.43% | 5,496 | 20.30% |
1964 | 11,505 | 47.11% | 12,850 | 52.62% | 64 | 0.26% |
1960 | 14,202 | 61.14% | 8,989 | 38.70% | 38 | 0.16% |
1956 | 11,943 | 57.66% | 8,720 | 42.10% | 49 | 0.24% |
1952 | 14,931 | 61.62% | 9,259 | 38.21% | 42 | 0.17% |
1948 | 4,110 | 28.90% | 9,622 | 67.66% | 490 | 3.45% |
1944 | 2,759 | 27.36% | 6,519 | 64.65% | 806 | 7.99% |
1940 | 2,285 | 24.02% | 7,203 | 75.71% | 26 | 0.27% |
1936 | 1,018 | 13.32% | 6,496 | 84.99% | 129 | 1.69% |
1932 | 1,233 | 16.13% | 6,366 | 83.29% | 44 | 0.58% |
1928 | 3,627 | 57.90% | 2,637 | 42.10% | 0 | 0.00% |
1924 | 831 | 21.81% | 2,394 | 62.82% | 586 | 15.38% |
1920 | 358 | 20.21% | 1,374 | 77.58% | 39 | 2.20% |
1916 | 166 | 10.65% | 1,288 | 82.62% | 105 | 6.74% |
1912 | 41 | 3.86% | 801 | 75.42% | 220 | 20.72% |
School districts include: [17]
All of the county is in the service area of Amarillo College. [18]
Yoakum County is a county located in the far western portion of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,694. Its county seat is Plains. The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1907. It is named for Henderson King Yoakum, a Texas historian.
Swisher County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 6,971. Its county seat is Tulia. The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1890. It is named for James G. Swisher, a soldier of the Texas Revolution and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
Randall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 140,753. Its county seat is Canyon. The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1889. It is named for Horace Randal, a Confederate brigadier general killed at the Battle of Jenkins Ferry. The reason the county name differs from his is because the bill creating the county misspelled Randal's name.
Parmer County is a county located in the southwestern Texas Panhandle on the High Plains of the Llano Estacado in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 9,869. The county seat is Farwell. The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1907. It is named in honor of Martin Parmer, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and early judge. Parmer County was one of 10 prohibition, or entirely dry, counties in the state of Texas, but is now a wet county.
Oldham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,758. Its county seat is Vega. The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1881. Oldham County is included in the Amarillo, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Matagorda County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,255. Its county seat is Bay City, not to be confused with the larger Baytown in Harris and Chambers Counties. Matagorda County is named for the canebrakes that once grew along the coast.
Lubbock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. The 2020 census placed the population at 310,639. Its county seat and largest city is Lubbock. The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1891. It is named for Thomas Saltus Lubbock, a Confederate colonel and Texas Ranger.
Hutchinson County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 20,617. Its county seat is Stinnett. The county was created in 1876, but not organized until 1901. It is named for Andrew Hutchinson, an early Texas attorney.
Floyd County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 5,402. The seat of the county is Floydada. The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1890. It is named for Dolphin Ward Floyd, who died on his 32nd birthday, March 6, 1836, defending the Alamo.
Castro County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 7,371. Its county seat is Dimmitt. The county was named for Henri Castro, who was consul general to France for the Republic of Texas and the founder of a colony in Texas.
Carson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 5,807. The county seat is Panhandle. The county was founded in 1876 and later organized in 1888. It is named for Samuel Price Carson, the first secretary of state of the Republic of Texas.
Armstrong County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population of Armstrong County was 1,848. It is in the Texas Panhandle and its county seat is Claude.
Claude is a city in and the county seat of Armstrong County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,196 at the 2010 census. It is located east of Amarillo in the south Texas Panhandle. Claude is part of the Amarillo Metropolitan Statistical Area but is some thirty miles east of Amarillo.
Panhandle is the county seat of Carson County, Texas, United States. The population of the town was 2,452 at the 2010 census. Panhandle is part of the Amarillo metropolitan statistical area.
Clarendon is a city in Donley County, Texas, United States. Its population was 2,026 at the 2010 census. The county seat of Donley County, Clarendon is located on U.S. Highway 287 in the Texas Panhandle, 60 miles (97 km) east of Amarillo.
Stanton is a city in and the county seat of Martin County, Texas, United States. Stanton was founded as Marienfeld by German immigrants that were some of the first settlers in this region of Texas. The population was 2,492 at the 2010 census.
Vega is a city and county seat of Oldham County, Texas, United States. The population was 884 at the 2010 census, down from 936 at the 2000 census.
Canyon is a city in, and the county seat of, Randall County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,836 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Amarillo, Texas, metropolitan statistical area. Canyon is the home of West Texas A&M University and Panhandle–Plains Historical Museum, and the outdoor musical drama Texas.
Tulia is a city in, and county seat of, Swisher County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,967 at the 2010 census; in the 2018 census estimate, it had fallen to 4,682. The city is at the junction of U.S. Route 87 and Texas State Highway 86, about 2 miles (3 km) east of Interstate 27. Tulia is a center for farming and agribusiness activities.
Moore County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 21,358. The county seat is Dumas. The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1892. It is named for Edwin Ward Moore, the commander of the Texas Navy. The Dumas micropolitan statistical area includes all of Moore County.