Parmer County, Texas
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.[1] The county seat is Farwell.[2] The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1907.[3] 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[4] prohibition, or entirely dry, counties in the state of Texas, but is now a wet county.
Geography
[edit | edit source]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 885 square miles (2,290 km2), of which 881 square miles (2,280 km2) are land and 4.4 square miles (11 km2) (0.5%) are covered by water.[5]
Major highways
[edit | edit source]- File:US 60.svg U.S. Highway 60
- File:US 70.svg U.S. Highway 70
- File:US 84.svg U.S. Highway 84
- File:Texas 86.svg State Highway 86
- File:Texas 214.svg State Highway 214
Adjacent counties
[edit | edit source]- Deaf Smith County (north)
- Castro County (east)
- Lamb County (southeast)
- Bailey County (south)
- Curry County, New Mexico (west/Mountain Time Zone)
Demographics
[edit | edit source]2020 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 9,869. The median age was 34.0 years. 28.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 105.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.8 males age 18 and over.[6]
The racial makeup of the county was 56.5% White, 0.8% Black or African American, 1.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 23.8% from some other race, and 17.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 65.9% of the population.[7]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[8]
There were 3,332 households in the county, of which 40.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 57.2% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 20.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 3,737 housing units, of which 10.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.5% were owner-occupied and 33.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%.[6]
Racial and ethnic composition
[edit | edit source]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[9] | Pop 2010[10] | Pop 2020[11] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 4,876 | 3,943 | 3,187 | 48.68% | 38.40% | 32.29% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 93 | 91 | 53 | 0.93% | 0.89% | 0.54% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 31 | 17 | 11 | 0.31% | 0.17% | 0.11% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 28 | 18 | 14 | 0.28% | 0.18% | 0.14% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 2 | 2 | 39 | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.40% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 59 | 26 | 61 | 0.59% | 0.25% | 0.62% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4,927 | 6,164 | 6,504 | 49.19% | 60.03% | 65.90% |
| Total | 10,016 | 10,269 | 9,869 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2000 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2000 census, 10,016 people, 3,322 households, and 2,614 families resided in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4.2 people/km2). The 3,732 housing units averaged four units per square mile (1.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 66.01% White, 1.01% Black or African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 29.51% from other races, and 2.35% from two or more races. About 49.19% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 3,322 households, 42.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% were not families. About 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.43.
In the county, the population was distributed as 32.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,813, and for a family was $34,149. Males had a median income of $26,966 versus $19,650 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,184. About 14.2% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
[edit | edit source]Cities
[edit | edit source]Unincorporated community
[edit | edit source]Education
[edit | edit source]School districts:[12]
- Bovina Independent School District
- Farwell Independent School District
- Friona Independent School District
- Hereford Independent School District
- Lazbuddie Independent School District
All of the county is in the service area of Amarillo College.[13]
Gallery
[edit | edit source]-
Grain elevator in northwestern Parmer County
-
Ozark Trail monument in Farwell
-
Weathered building and grain elevator in Farwell
Politics
[edit | edit source]Parmer County is located within District 86 of the Texas House of Representatives. Parmer County is located within District 31 of the Texas Senate.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 6 | 3.35% | 107 | 59.78% | 66 | 36.87% |
| 1916 | 64 | 23.36% | 194 | 70.80% | 16 | 5.84% |
| 1920 | 140 | 41.06% | 189 | 55.43% | 12 | 3.52% |
| 1924 | 91 | 26.69% | 214 | 62.76% | 36 | 10.56% |
| 1928 | 620 | 65.75% | 315 | 33.40% | 8 | 0.85% |
| 1932 | 148 | 11.22% | 1,154 | 87.49% | 17 | 1.29% |
| 1936 | 135 | 12.52% | 936 | 86.83% | 7 | 0.65% |
| 1940 | 370 | 25.78% | 1,062 | 74.01% | 3 | 0.21% |
| 1944 | 415 | 29.99% | 810 | 58.53% | 159 | 11.49% |
| 1948 | 280 | 19.70% | 1,091 | 76.78% | 50 | 3.52% |
| 1952 | 1,503 | 69.39% | 663 | 30.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,028 | 42.76% | 1,362 | 56.66% | 14 | 0.58% |
| 1960 | 1,674 | 60.09% | 1,090 | 39.12% | 22 | 0.79% |
| 1964 | 1,216 | 43.76% | 1,556 | 55.99% | 7 | 0.25% |
| 1968 | 1,539 | 49.61% | 833 | 26.85% | 730 | 23.53% |
| 1972 | 2,304 | 81.62% | 495 | 17.53% | 24 | 0.85% |
| 1976 | 1,487 | 43.52% | 1,914 | 56.01% | 16 | 0.47% |
| 1980 | 2,640 | 77.69% | 707 | 20.81% | 51 | 1.50% |
| 1984 | 2,524 | 81.37% | 567 | 18.28% | 11 | 0.35% |
| 1988 | 2,061 | 72.60% | 764 | 26.91% | 14 | 0.49% |
| 1992 | 1,829 | 60.30% | 637 | 21.00% | 567 | 18.69% |
| 1996 | 2,042 | 70.71% | 676 | 23.41% | 170 | 5.89% |
| 2000 | 2,274 | 82.87% | 447 | 16.29% | 23 | 0.84% |
| 2004 | 2,375 | 85.65% | 389 | 14.03% | 9 | 0.32% |
| 2008 | 2,969 | 79.96% | 719 | 19.36% | 25 | 0.67% |
| 2012 | 2,011 | 78.74% | 529 | 20.71% | 14 | 0.55% |
| 2016 | 1,915 | 77.66% | 485 | 19.67% | 66 | 2.68% |
| 2020 | 2,135 | 80.57% | 488 | 18.42% | 27 | 1.02% |
| 2024 | 2,123 | 84.78% | 368 | 14.70% | 13 | 0.52% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
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See also
[edit | edit source]- Dry counties
- List of museums in the Texas Panhandle
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Parmer County
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Parmer County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
- ↑ "TABC Local Option Elections". Archived from the original on July 29, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
- ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "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.
- ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Parmer County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Parmer County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Parmer County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Parmer County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022. - list
- ↑ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.164. AMARILLO COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA..
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 28, 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 Parmer County, Texas at Wikimedia Commons- No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.
- Template:Handbook of Texas
- Unofficial Parmer County information website
- Parmer County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties
Template:Parmer County, Texas Template:Texas counties Template:Texas