Montague County, Texas
Montague County (/ˈmɒnteɪɡ/ MON-tayg)[1][2] is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas, established in 1857. As of the 2020 census, its population was 19,965.[3] The county seat is Montague.[4] The county was created in 1857 and organized the next year.[5] It is named for Daniel Montague, a surveyor and soldier in the Mexican–American War.
History
[edit | edit source]In the mid- to late 19th century, the county was the site of the trading post known as Red River Station, established near the river of the same name by Jesse Chisholm, a Cherokee merchant who also served as an important interpreter for the Republic of Texas and the United States. Together with Black Bear, a Lenape guide, he had scouted and developed what became known as the Chisholm Trail north through Indian Territory, where he had more trading posts, and into Kansas.
In the post-Civil War period, ranchers suffered from low prices for their beef cattle, as overproduction had occurred during the war, when their regular markets were cut off. Learning about high prices and demand in the East, they began to have their cattle driven to railheads in Kansas for shipment to the east. Red River Station became the southern terminus for the Chisholm Trail, and the gathering place for thousands of Texas Longhorns during annual cattle drives to railheads in Kansas. Over the years, an estimated five million cattle were driven north to Kansas. The cattle were gathered by cowboys from ranches in East and West Texas; the cattle were then driven overland north to Kansas. They were shipped east, where they could command much higher prices. After railroads were constructed into Texas, the cattle drives to Kansas ended.
Geography
[edit | edit source]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 938 sq mi (2,430 km2), of which 931 sq mi (2,410 km2) are land and 7.4 sq mi (19 km2) (0.8%) are covered by water.[6]
Adjacent counties
[edit | edit source]- Jefferson County, Oklahoma (north)
- Love County, Oklahoma (northeast)
- Cooke County (east)
- Wise County (south)
- Jack County (southwest)
- Clay County (west)
National protected area
[edit | edit source]Demographics
[edit | edit source]Racial and ethnic composition
[edit | edit source]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[7] | Pop 2010[8] | Pop 2020[9] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 17,717 | 17,347 | 16,342 | 92.68% | 87.97% | 81.85% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 28 | 38 | 73 | 0.15% | 0.19% | 0.37% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 123 | 137 | 155 | 0.64% | 0.69% | 0.78% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 49 | 59 | 84 | 0.26% | 0.30% | 0.42% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Other Race alone (NH) | 2 | 3 | 34 | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.17% |
| Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) | 160 | 202 | 912 | 0.84% | 1.02% | 4.57% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,035 | 1,930 | 2,361 | 5.41% | 9.79% | 11.83% |
| Total | 19,117 | 19,719 | 19,965 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 19,965, a median age of 45.1 years, 22.1% of residents under the age of 18, and 23.1% aged 65 years or older. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.3 males age 18 and over.[10]
The racial makeup of the county as of the 2020 census was 85.5% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.6% from some other race, and 9.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 11.8% of the population.[11]
As of the 2020 census, 27.1% of residents lived in urban areas while 72.9% lived in rural areas.[12]
As of the 2020 census, there were 8,112 households in the county, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.8% were married-couple households, 18.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[10]
As of the 2020 census there were 10,248 housing units, of which 20.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.8% were owner-occupied and 24.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.8%.[10]
2000 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2000 census, 19,117 people, 7,770 households, and 5,485 families were residing in the county.[13] The population density was 20 people/sq mi (7.7 people/km2). The 9,862 housing units averaged 11 per square mile (4.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.95% White, 0.18% African American, 0.74% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 1.67% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. About 5.41% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 7,770 households, 28.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were not families. About 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41, and the average family size was 2.91.
In the county, the age distribution was 24.00% under 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 19.80% who were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,048, and for a family was $38,226. Males had a median income of $31,585 versus $19,589 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,115. About 10.00% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.80% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.
Education
[edit | edit source]These school districts serve Montague County:
- Alvord ISD (mostly in Wise County)
- Bowie ISD (small portion in Clay, Jack Counties)
- Forestburg ISD
- Gold-Burg ISD (small portion in Clay County)
- Montague ISD
- Nocona ISD
- Prairie Valley ISD
- Saint Jo ISD (small portion in Cooke County)
- Slidell ISD (partly in Wise, Denton counties; small portion in Cooke County)
In addition, a branch of North Central Texas College operates in Bowie.
Transportation
[edit | edit source]Major highways
[edit | edit source]- File:US 81.svg U.S. Highway 81
- File:US 82.svg U.S. Highway 82
- File:US 287.svg U.S. Highway 287
- File:Texas 59.svg State Highway 59
- File:Texas 101.svg State Highway 101
- File:Texas 175.svg State Highway 175
Farm to Market Roads
[edit | edit source]- File:Texas FM 103.svg FM 103
- File:Texas FM 174.svg FM 174
- File:Texas FM 455.svg FM 455
- File:Texas FM 677.svg FM 677
- File:Texas FM 730.svg FM 730
- File:Texas FM 922.svg FM 922
- File:Texas FM 1106.svg FM 1106
- File:Texas FM 1125.svg FM 1125
- File:Texas FM 1630.svg FM 1630
- File:Texas FM 1655.svg FM 1655
- File:Texas FM 1749.svg FM 1749
- File:Texas FM 1758.svg FM 1758
- File:Texas FM 1759.svg FM 1759
- File:Texas FM 1806.svg FM 1806
- File:Texas FM 1815.svg FM 1815
- File:Texas FM 1816.svg FM 1816
- File:Texas FM 1956.svg FM 1956
- File:Texas FM 2382.svg FM 2382
- File:Texas FM 2634.svg FM 2634
- File:Texas FM 2849.svg FM 2849
- File:Texas FM 2953.svg FM 2953
- File:Texas FM 3043.svg FM 3043
- File:Texas FM 3301.svg FM 3301
- File:Texas FM 3394.svg FM 3394
- File:Texas FM 3428.svg FM 3428
Communities
[edit | edit source]Cities
[edit | edit source]Census-designated places
[edit | edit source]- Montague (county seat)
- Nocona Hills
- Ringgold
- Sunset
Other unincorporated communities
[edit | edit source]Ghost towns
[edit | edit source]Politics
[edit | edit source]Republican Drew Springer, a businessman from Muenster in Cooke County, represents Montague County in the Texas House of Representatives. He carried the county in the 2012 Republican runoff election.[14]
Prior to 1996, Montague County was strongly Democratic in presidential elections. The only Republican Party candidates who managed to win the county from 1912 to 1992 were Herbert Hoover in 1928 and Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan in their 49-state landslides of 1972 and 1984, respectively. Since 1996, the county has swung hard to the supporting Republican Party, in similar fashion to almost all white-majority rural counties in the Solid South.
Montague County is located within District 68 of the Texas House of Representatives. Montague County is located within District 30 of the Texas Senate.| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 151 | 7.04% | 1,531 | 71.34% | 464 | 21.62% |
| 1916 | 245 | 10.68% | 1,803 | 78.56% | 247 | 10.76% |
| 1920 | 474 | 19.79% | 1,714 | 71.57% | 207 | 8.64% |
| 1924 | 586 | 17.93% | 2,236 | 68.40% | 447 | 13.67% |
| 1928 | 1,519 | 51.13% | 1,452 | 48.87% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 262 | 7.75% | 3,090 | 91.39% | 29 | 0.86% |
| 1936 | 324 | 10.36% | 2,789 | 89.16% | 15 | 0.48% |
| 1940 | 530 | 13.63% | 3,352 | 86.21% | 6 | 0.15% |
| 1944 | 429 | 11.56% | 2,900 | 78.17% | 381 | 10.27% |
| 1948 | 475 | 13.35% | 2,872 | 80.74% | 210 | 5.90% |
| 1952 | 2,367 | 43.97% | 3,012 | 55.95% | 4 | 0.07% |
| 1956 | 2,003 | 45.81% | 2,358 | 53.93% | 11 | 0.25% |
| 1960 | 2,101 | 47.05% | 2,346 | 52.54% | 18 | 0.40% |
| 1964 | 1,106 | 22.78% | 3,746 | 77.14% | 4 | 0.08% |
| 1968 | 1,736 | 33.35% | 2,555 | 49.09% | 914 | 17.56% |
| 1972 | 3,463 | 72.63% | 1,286 | 26.97% | 19 | 0.40% |
| 1976 | 2,182 | 34.67% | 4,087 | 64.93% | 25 | 0.40% |
| 1980 | 3,143 | 48.56% | 3,233 | 49.95% | 96 | 1.48% |
| 1984 | 4,406 | 62.67% | 2,602 | 37.01% | 22 | 0.31% |
| 1988 | 3,475 | 48.36% | 3,689 | 51.34% | 22 | 0.31% |
| 1992 | 2,304 | 30.61% | 2,885 | 38.33% | 2,337 | 31.05% |
| 1996 | 3,029 | 45.71% | 2,718 | 41.02% | 879 | 13.27% |
| 2000 | 4,951 | 67.54% | 2,256 | 30.78% | 123 | 1.68% |
| 2004 | 5,910 | 74.84% | 1,946 | 24.64% | 41 | 0.52% |
| 2008 | 6,245 | 78.55% | 1,597 | 20.09% | 108 | 1.36% |
| 2012 | 6,549 | 84.49% | 1,116 | 14.40% | 86 | 1.11% |
| 2016 | 7,526 | 87.47% | 885 | 10.29% | 193 | 2.24% |
| 2020 | 8,615 | 87.62% | 1,097 | 11.16% | 120 | 1.22% |
| 2024 | 9,825 | 88.51% | 1,208 | 10.88% | 68 | 0.61% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
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See also
[edit | edit source]- National Register of Historic Places listings in Montague County, Texas
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Montague County
- Buford T. Justice
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "How to Pronounce: M Cities". September 23, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
- ↑ "Texas Almanac Town Pronunciation Guide" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022.
- ↑ "Montague County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Montague County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Montague County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Montague County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
- ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ↑ "State Rep. Springer announces district tour July 30". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. July 16, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
- ↑ Nelson, Jane (November 5, 2024). "PRESIDENT/VICE-PRESIDENT". Secretary of State of Texas. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
External links
[edit | edit source]
Media related to Montague County, Texas at Wikimedia Commons- No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.
- Template:Handbook of Texas
- Historic Montague County materials, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
- Montague County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau
Template:Montague County, Texas Template:Texas counties Template:Texas