Wilbarger County, Texas
Wilbarger County (/ˈwɪlbɑːrɡər/ WIL-bar-gər) is a county located in the North Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,887.[1] The county seat is Vernon.[2] The county was created in 1858 and later organized in 1881.[3] Wilbarger is named for Josiah Pugh Wilbarger and Mathias Wilbarger, two early settlers.
Geography
[edit | edit source]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 978 square miles (2,530 km2), of which 971 sq mi (2,510 km2) are land and 7.0 sq mi (18 km2) (0.7%) are covered by water.[4]
Major highways
[edit | edit source]- File:US 70.svg U.S. Highway 70
- File:US 183.svg U.S. Highway 183
- File:US 283.svg U.S. Highway 283
- File:US 287.svg U.S. Highway 287
Adjacent counties
[edit | edit source]- Tillman County, Oklahoma (north)
- Wichita County (east)
- Baylor County (south)
- Foard County (west)
- Hardeman County (west)
- Jackson County, Oklahoma (northwest)
Demographics
[edit | edit source]Census-designated places
[edit | edit source]Population
[edit | edit source]Racial and ethnic composition
[edit | edit source]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[5] | Pop 2010[6] | Pop 2020[7] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 10,083 | 8,585 | 7,012 | 68.70% | 63.43% | 54.41% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,278 | 1,049 | 1,013 | 8.71% | 7.75% | 7.86% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 78 | 115 | 96 | 0.53% | 0.85% | 0.74% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 91 | 97 | 566 | 0.62% | 0.72% | 4.39% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0.03% | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 7 | 6 | 32 | 0.05% | 0.04% | 0.25% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 120 | 169 | 434 | 0.82% | 1.25% | 3.37% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3,015 | 3,508 | 3,734 | 20.54% | 25.92% | 28.97% |
| Total | 14,676 | 13,535 | 12,887 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 12,887. The median age was 39.3 years. 23.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.4 males age 18 and over.[8]
The racial makeup of the county was 62.8% White, 8.2% Black or African American, 1.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 12.7% from some other race, and 10.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 29.0% of the population.[9]
73.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 26.1% lived in rural areas.[10]
There were 4,944 households in the county, of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.0% were married-couple households, 20.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[8]
There were 5,836 housing units, of which 15.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.6% were owner-occupied and 36.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 15.4%.[8]
2000 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2000 census[11] of 2000, 14,676 people, 5,537 households, and 3,748 families were residing in the county. The population density was 15 people/sq mi (5.8 people/km2). The 6,371 housing units averaged 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 78.17% White, 8.86% African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 9.76% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. About 20.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 5,537 households, 32.20% had children under 18 living with them, 53.10% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were not families. About 29.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.90% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48, and the average family size was 3.07.
In the county, the age distribution was 27.90% under 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males. The median income for a household in the county was $29,500, and for a family was $38,685. Males had a median income of $26,001 versus $19,620 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,520. About 9.00% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.00% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
[edit | edit source]County Seat
[edit | edit source]- Vernon (county seat)
Census-designated places
[edit | edit source]Unincorporated communities
[edit | edit source]Education
[edit | edit source]School districts serving sections of the county include:[13]
- Chillicothe Independent School District
- Harrold Independent School District
- Northside Independent School District
- Vernon Independent School District
The county is in the service area of Vernon College.[14]
Notable people
[edit | edit source]- Clyde Gates, wide receiver for the New York Jets
- Jack English Hightower, Memphis, Texas, native; former member of both houses of the Texas State Legislature, and former U.S. Representative
- Roy Orbison, singer/songwriter, was born in Wilbarger County.
- Daryl Richardson, running back for the St. Louis Rams
- Bernard Scott, running back for the Cincinnati Bengals
- Jack Teagarden, bandleader and trombonist
- John Clay Wolfe, American radio personality who began his career in Wilbarger County on KSEY
Politics
[edit | edit source]Wilbarger County is located within District 69 of the Texas House of Representatives. Wilbarger County is located within District 28 of the Texas Senate.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 44 | 3.38% | 993 | 76.33% | 264 | 20.29% |
| 1916 | 99 | 6.79% | 1,242 | 85.13% | 118 | 8.09% |
| 1920 | 335 | 21.73% | 1,118 | 72.50% | 89 | 5.77% |
| 1924 | 269 | 17.05% | 1,222 | 77.44% | 87 | 5.51% |
| 1928 | 1,590 | 52.30% | 1,447 | 47.60% | 3 | 0.10% |
| 1932 | 199 | 5.51% | 3,397 | 94.13% | 13 | 0.36% |
| 1936 | 316 | 8.75% | 3,279 | 90.76% | 18 | 0.50% |
| 1940 | 697 | 17.64% | 3,249 | 82.21% | 6 | 0.15% |
| 1944 | 517 | 11.70% | 3,382 | 76.53% | 520 | 11.77% |
| 1948 | 529 | 13.92% | 2,963 | 77.97% | 308 | 8.11% |
| 1952 | 3,019 | 53.28% | 2,646 | 46.70% | 1 | 0.02% |
| 1956 | 2,230 | 48.62% | 2,347 | 51.17% | 10 | 0.22% |
| 1960 | 2,796 | 54.51% | 2,319 | 45.21% | 14 | 0.27% |
| 1964 | 1,539 | 32.45% | 3,200 | 67.48% | 3 | 0.06% |
| 1968 | 1,909 | 36.73% | 1,996 | 38.40% | 1,293 | 24.87% |
| 1972 | 3,183 | 70.44% | 1,139 | 25.20% | 197 | 4.36% |
| 1976 | 2,145 | 39.17% | 3,280 | 59.90% | 51 | 0.93% |
| 1980 | 3,031 | 55.48% | 2,347 | 42.96% | 85 | 1.56% |
| 1984 | 3,644 | 64.23% | 2,011 | 35.45% | 18 | 0.32% |
| 1988 | 2,669 | 54.15% | 2,248 | 45.61% | 12 | 0.24% |
| 1992 | 1,959 | 36.69% | 1,924 | 36.03% | 1,457 | 27.28% |
| 1996 | 2,037 | 47.73% | 1,730 | 40.53% | 501 | 11.74% |
| 2000 | 3,138 | 68.56% | 1,356 | 29.63% | 83 | 1.81% |
| 2004 | 3,685 | 73.85% | 1,284 | 25.73% | 21 | 0.42% |
| 2008 | 3,283 | 72.81% | 1,196 | 26.52% | 30 | 0.67% |
| 2012 | 2,956 | 74.27% | 971 | 24.40% | 53 | 1.33% |
| 2016 | 3,166 | 77.13% | 809 | 19.71% | 130 | 3.17% |
| 2020 | 3,524 | 77.90% | 956 | 21.13% | 44 | 0.97% |
| 2024 | 3,566 | 79.83% | 860 | 19.25% | 41 | 0.92% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
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See also
[edit | edit source]- List of museums in North Texas
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Wilbarger County, Texas
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Wilbarger County
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Wilbarger 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 27, 2015.
- ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
- ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wilbarger County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wilbarger County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wilbarger County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
- ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ↑ "TSHA | Elliott, TX (Wilbarger County)".
- ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wilbarger County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022. - Text list
- ↑ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.207. VERNON REGIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
External links
[edit | edit source] |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wilbarger County, Texas. |
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- Template:Handbook of Texas
- Vernon Daily Record - Wilbarger County News
- Josiah Wilbarger's entry in the Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
- Wilbarger County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties Archived September 18, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
Template:Wilbarger County, Texas Template:Texas counties Template:Texas Coordinates: 34°05′N 99°14′W / 34.08°N 99.24°W