Runnels County, Texas

Runnels County
County
The Runnels County Courthouse in Ballinger
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°50′N99°58′W / 31.83°N 99.97°W / 31.83; -99.97
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1880
Named for	Hiram G. Runnels
Seat	Ballinger
Largest city	Ballinger
Area
• Total	1,057 sq mi (2,740 km2)
• Land	1,051 sq mi (2,720 km2)
• Water	6.2 sq mi (16 km2)  0.6%
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,900
• Density	9.4/sq mi (3.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	11th
Website	www.co.runnels.tx.us

Runnels County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 9,900. ^[1] Its county seat is Ballinger. ^[2] The county was created in 1858 and later organized in 1880. ^[3] It is named for Hiram G. Runnels, a Texas state legislator.

History

The original inhabitants of the area were the Jumano, followed by the Comanche. ^[4] In 1683–84, Juan Domínguez de Mendoza established a short-lived mission. ^[5] Fort Chadbourne was established in 1852, as part of a chain of forts in West Texas. ^[6] Runnels County was formed from Bexar and Travis Counties. It was named in honor of Hiram G. Runnels. Runnels City was the original county seat. ^[7]

In 1862, Pickettville was established by Mr. and Mrs. John Guest and their three sons, Henry and Robert K. Wylie and their cowboys and a black servant, and Mrs. Felicia Gordon and her five sons. ^[8] Ballinger was settled by Richard Coffey and family. ^[9]

The county was organized in 1880, with a population of 980. ^[4] Ballinger, namesake of William Pitt Ballinger, was selected as the new county seat eight years later. ^[9] The stone county courthouse was erected in the Second Empire style soon after (1889). Architect Eugene T. Heiner designed the building. ^[10]

In 1899, the community of Pumphrey, originally named New Hope, was established by William M. Pumphrey. ^[11] The Santa Fe Depot was built in 1911 by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. The Ballinger Carnegie Library in Ballinger was dedicated. ^[4] The Charles H. Noyes statue on the Ballinger Courthouse lawn, dedicated to the "Spirit of the Texas Cowboy", was sculpted by Pompeo Coppini in 1919. ^[12]

The MacMillan oil field was discovered near Ballinger in 1927. ^[4] Eighteen new oil fields were explored by 1949. ^[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,057 square miles (2,740 km²), of which 1,051 square miles (2,720 km²) is land and 6.2 square miles (16 km²) (0.6%) is water. ^[13]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 67
• U.S. Highway 83
• State Highway 153
• State Highway 158

Adjacent counties

• Taylor County (north)
• Coleman County (east)
• Concho County (south)
• Tom Green County (southwest)
• Coke County (west)
• Nolan County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	980		—
1890	3,193		225.8%
1900	5,379		68.5%
1910	20,858		287.8%
1920	17,074		−18.1%
1930	21,821		27.8%
1940	18,903		−13.4%
1950	16,771		−11.3%
1960	15,016		−10.5%
1970	12,108		−19.4%
1980	11,872		−1.9%
1990	11,294		−4.9%
2000	11,495		1.8%
2010	10,501		−8.6%
2020	9,900		−5.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [14] 1850–2010 [15] 2010 [16] 2020 [17]

Runnels 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)	7,793	6,841	6,062	67.79%	65.15%	61.23%
Black or African American alone (NH)	154	165	132	1.34%	1.57%	1.33%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	30	43	39	0.26%	0.41%	0.39%
Asian alone (NH)	37	19	24	0.32%	0.18%	0.24%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	2	0	6	0.02%	0.00%	0.06%
Other Race alone (NH)	7	15	15	0.06%	0.14%	0.15%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH)	100	57	268	0.87%	0.54%	2.71%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3,372	3,361	3,354	29.33%	32.01%	33.88%
Total	11,495	10,501	9,900	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census ^[19] of 2000, there were 11,495 people, 4,428 households, and 3,157 families residing in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4.2 people/km²). There were 5,400 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.44% White, 1.40% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 14.31% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. 29.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,428 households, out of which 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.70% 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 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.90% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 19.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,806, and the median income for a family was $32,917. Males had a median income of $25,223 versus $18,988 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,577. About 14.90% of families and 19.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.10% of those under age 18 and 19.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Ballinger (county seat)
• Miles
• Winters

Unincorporated communities

• Benoit
• Norton
• Rowena
• Wingate

Politics

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

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,580	88.26%	452	11.14%	24	0.59%
2020	3,807	86.35%	552	12.52%	50	1.13%
2016	3,250	85.93%	453	11.98%	79	2.09%
2012	3,104	84.62%	519	14.15%	45	1.23%
2008	3,118	80.63%	720	18.62%	29	0.75%
2004	3,239	80.00%	792	19.56%	18	0.44%
2000	3,020	74.64%	969	23.95%	57	1.41%
1996	1,941	51.58%	1,417	37.66%	405	10.76%
1992	1,653	38.09%	1,401	32.28%	1,286	29.63%
1988	2,417	58.28%	1,720	41.48%	10	0.24%
1984	2,968	71.06%	1,179	28.23%	30	0.72%
1980	2,532	59.82%	1,648	38.93%	53	1.25%
1976	2,203	51.45%	2,068	48.30%	11	0.26%
1972	2,752	78.83%	739	21.17%	0	0.00%
1968	1,707	44.65%	1,448	37.88%	668	17.47%
1964	1,480	35.82%	2,645	64.01%	7	0.17%
1960	2,128	52.22%	1,938	47.56%	9	0.22%
1956	2,416	62.54%	1,442	37.33%	5	0.13%
1952	2,622	58.53%	1,853	41.36%	5	0.11%
1948	526	14.55%	2,954	81.72%	135	3.73%
1944	685	18.09%	2,657	70.16%	445	11.75%
1940	835	21.25%	3,088	78.60%	6	0.15%
1936	313	9.44%	2,985	89.99%	19	0.57%
1932	235	7.30%	2,975	92.39%	10	0.31%
1928	1,645	52.26%	1,494	47.46%	9	0.29%
1924	458	14.48%	2,564	81.09%	140	4.43%
1920	332	17.90%	1,197	64.53%	326	17.57%
1916	195	10.71%	1,487	81.66%	139	7.63%
1912	56	3.85%	1,117	76.82%	281	19.33%

Education

School districts include: ^[21]

• Ballinger Independent School District
• Bronte Independent School District
• Coleman Independent School District
• Jim Ned Consolidated Independent School District
• Miles Independent School District
• Olfen Independent School District
• Panther Creek Consolidated Independent School District
• Winters Independent School District

The Texas Legislature designated the county as being in the Western Texas College District. ^[22]

See also

• Texas portal

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

References

1. "Runnels 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 26, 2015.
4. Pinkney, Katherine. "Runnels County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
5. Hundell, Ken and Sharon (2005). Spirits of the Border V: The History and Mystery of the Lone Star State. Omega Press. p. 176. ISBN   978-0-9626087-9-7.
6. Aston, B W; Taylor, Ira Donathon (1997). Along the Texas Forts Trail. University of North Texas Press. pp. 51–56. ISBN   978-1-57441-035-8.
7. "Runnels City". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
8. "Picketville". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
9. "Ballinger". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
10. "Runnels County Courthouse". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
11. "Pumphrey". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
12. "The Charles H. Noyes Statue". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
13. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 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. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
16. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Runnels 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) – Runnels County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
18. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Runnels 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.
21. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Runnels County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved September 22, 2024. - Text list
22. "Sec. 130.210. WESTERN TEXAS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA" . Retrieved September 22, 2024.

External links

• Runnels County government’s website
• Runnels County from the Handbook of Texas Online

31°50′N99°58′W / 31.83°N 99.97°W / 31.83; -99.97