Upton County, Texas

Last updated

Upton County
County
Upton county tx courthouse 2014.jpg
The Upton County Courthouse in Rankin
Map of Texas highlighting Upton County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas in United States.svg
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°22′N102°02′W / 31.36°N 102.04°W / 31.36; -102.04
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Texas.svg  Texas
Founded1910
Seat Rankin
Largest city McCamey
Area
 • Total
1,242 sq mi (3,220 km2)
 • Land1,241 sq mi (3,210 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.01%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
3,308
 • Density2.7/sq mi (1.0/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 23rd
Website www.co.upton.tx.us

Upton County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 3,308. [1] Its county seat is Rankin. [2] The county was created in 1887 and later organized in 1910. [3] It is named for two brothers: John C. and William F. Upton, both colonels in the Confederate Army.

Contents

History

Native Americans

Native Americans were the first inhabitants of the area. Tribes present at the time of conquest included the Comanches and Apache. [4]

Trails

One of the first routes bringing people through the area was the Chihuahua Trail [5] [6] connecting Mexico's state of Chihuahua with Santa Fe, New Mexico. The trail served as a trade route for nomadic tribes of Indians and Spaniards, as well as traders from both Mexico and Texas.

The Butterfield Overland Mail crossed the area from 1858 to 1861. [7]

The Goodnight-Loving Trail served as a cattle-drive trail from 1866 to 1888. The trail began at Young County, Texas, and passed along the Pecos River to Fort Sumner, New Mexico, and into Colorado before ending in Cheyenne, Wyoming. [8]

Establishment of the county

Upton was formed in 1887 from Tom Green County, Texas. The county was named after John C. Upton and his brother William F. Upton. of Tennessee. [9] Cattleman George Elliott became the first to establish a homestead in Upton County in 1880. [10] Beginning as open range, the land was shared with sheepmen by the 1890s. The United States Census counted 52 people living in the county in 1890, and only 48 in 1900; most of these were either members of three families, or were in their employ. The agricultural sector of the county has been outpaced by cattle and sheep ranching. In 1982, about 92% of the land in Upton County was in farms and ranches, but less than 1% of the county was considered prime farmland, and only 2% of the county was cultivated. [4] In the fall of 1911, the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway reached the townsite of Rankin, and by January 1912, most of the people living in Upland had moved to Rankin. [11]

Oil

Wildcatter George McCamey's Baker No. 1 in September 1925 opened up the McCamey Oil Field, established the town of McCamey and brought the subsequent oil boom to Upton County. [12] The Yates Oil Field in Crockett and Pecos Counties resulted in a financial boon for the town of Rankin, which served as a supply and service center. The resulting financial windfall benefitted infrastructure in Rankin. [13] [14] In 1946, Mike Benedum began wildcatting in Upton County and opened up what would become known as the Benedum Oil Field. [15] The Weir No. 1 gushed in 1961 and enabled Upton County to continue as an outstanding Texas production area. [16]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,242 square miles (3,220 km2), of which 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.01%) is covered by water. [17] The Spraberry Trend, the third-largest oil field in the United States by remaining reserves, underlies much of the county. [18] Bobcat Hills, a summit with an elevation of 2,697 ft (822 m), is found in Upton County. [19]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890 52—
1900 48−7.7%
1910 501943.8%
1920 253−49.5%
1930 5,9682,258.9%
1940 4,297−28.0%
1950 5,30723.5%
1960 6,23917.6%
1970 4,697−24.7%
1980 4,619−1.7%
1990 4,447−3.7%
2000 3,404−23.5%
2010 3,355−1.4%
2020 3,308−1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [20]
1850–2010 [21] 2010 [22] 2020 [23]
Upton 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 [24] Pop 2010 [22] Pop 2020 [23] % 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)1,8541,6111,31854.47%48.02%39.84%
Black or African American alone (NH)5249591.53%1.46%1.78%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)2828110.82%0.83%0.33%
Asian alone (NH)0040.00%0.00%0.12%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)2000.06%0.00%0.00%
Other race alone (NH)0430.00%0.12%0.09%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)19191160.56%0.57%3.51%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)1,4491,6441,79742.57%49.00%54.32%
Total3,4043,3553,308100.00%100.00%100.00%

As of the census [25] of 2000, 3,404 people, 1,256 households, and 934 families were residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1.2 people/km2). The 1,609 housing units averaged 1 units per square mile (0.39 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.79% White, 1.62% African American, 1.20% Native American, 0.03% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 17.95% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. About 42.57% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,256 households, 36.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.10% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were not families. Around 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68, and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the age distribution was 29.30% under 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 24.90% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,977, and for a family was $37,083. Males had a median income of $30,729 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,274. About 18.10% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.60% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated community

Ghost towns

Politics

United States presidential election results for Upton County, Texas [26]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 1,14988.18%14611.20%80.61%
2020 1,17886.11%17012.43%201.46%
2016 1,00774.76%28621.23%544.01%
2012 95373.31%33325.62%141.08%
2008 89875.02%28824.06%110.92%
2004 1,00984.29%18515.46%30.25%
2000 98277.14%26620.90%251.96%
1996 68556.89%42435.22%957.89%
1992 90851.71%48927.85%35920.44%
1988 1,18968.33%54431.26%70.40%
1984 1,60380.39%38019.06%110.55%
1980 1,16969.42%48528.80%301.78%
1976 86955.67%68643.95%60.38%
1972 1,18681.07%25617.50%211.44%
1968 66441.87%46329.19%45928.94%
1964 63639.65%95859.73%100.62%
1960 79845.34%93052.84%321.82%
1956 99954.29%83445.33%70.38%
1952 94052.43%85047.41%30.17%
1948 15515.14%81179.20%585.66%
1944 10511.48%74281.09%687.43%
1940 37025.84%1,06274.16%00.00%
1936 819.96%72889.54%40.49%
1932 928.29%1,01291.17%60.54%
1928 27058.82%18941.18%00.00%
1924 410.00%3587.50%12.50%
1920 2535.21%4664.79%00.00%
1916 612.24%4285.71%12.04%
1912 25.71%2880.00%514.29%

Education

Two school districts serve sections of the county: [27]

All of the county is in the service area of Odessa College. [28]

See also

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Rankin is a city in and the county seat of Upton County, Texas, United States. Its population was 780 at the 2020 census. It is named after F.E. Rankin, a local rancher. In 2020, only 3,308 people lived in the entire county, and McCamey was the only larger town. During the early 20th century, the town grew due to the discovery of oil in the nearby Yates Oil Field. However, following a second oil boom in the '80s the town saw a decline in its economy and population.

References

  1. ↑ "Upton 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 27, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Leffler, John; Hunt, William R. "Upton County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  5. ↑ Perry, Ann; Smith, Deborah; Simons, Helen; Hoyt, Catherine A (1996). A Guide to Hispanic Texas. University of Texas Press. p. 6. ISBN   978-0-292-77709-5.
  6. ↑ Sharp, Jay W. "Desert Trails: The Chihuahua Trail". Desert USA. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  7. ↑ Allen, Jon L (1996). Texas on Stamps. Texas Christian University Press. p. 16. ISBN   978-0-87565-164-4.
  8. ↑ Janin, Hunt; Carlson, Ursula B (2009). Trails of Historic New Mexico: Routes Used by Indian, Spanish and American Travelers through 1886. McFarland. pp. 141–149. ISBN   978-0-7864-4010-8.
  9. ↑ "John C. Upton and His Brother, W. F. Upton - Rankin, Upton County, Texas". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Elliott Ranch - Rankin, Upton County, Texas". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Rankin, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  12. ↑ Warner, C A; Thompson, Ernest O (2007). Texas Oil & Gas Since 1543. Copano Bay Press. p. 292. ISBN   978-0-9767799-5-7.
  13. ↑ Hyne, Norman J. Nontechnical Guide to Petroleum Geology, Exploration, Drilling, and Production, 2nd edition. PennWell Books, 2001. ISBN   0-87814-823-X, ISBN   0-87814-823-X p. 105.
  14. ↑ "University of Texas Oil Connections". UT Watch. Archived from the original on December 13, 2010. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  15. ↑ Murphy, Charles J W (February 16, 1948). "Old Mike's Big Strike". Life. pp. 51, 52, 54, 56, 58.
  16. ↑ "Weir No. 1 Oil Well - Rankin, Upton County, Texas". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  17. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  18. ↑ Top 100 Oil and Gas Fields Archived May 15, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  19. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bobcat Hills
  20. ↑ "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  21. ↑ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  22. 1 2 "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Upton County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  23. 1 2 "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Upton County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  24. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Upton County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  25. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  26. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  27. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ward County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022. - Text list
  28. ↑ Texas Education Code, Section 130.193, "Odessa College District Service Area".

31°22′N102°02′W / 31.36°N 102.04°W / 31.36; -102.04

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