Wikipedia

Terry County, Texas

Terry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 11,831.[1] Its county seat is Brownfield.[2] The county was demarked in 1876 and organized in 1904.[3] It is named for Benjamin Franklin Terry, a colonel in the Confederate Army. Terry County was one of 46 dry counties in the state of Texas, but is now a moist county.[4] Terry County is one of the most productive pumpkin producing counties in the United States.[5]

Terry County
County
The Terry County Courthouse in Brownfield
The Terry County Courthouse in Brownfield
Map of Texas highlighting Terry County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°10′N 102°20′W / 33.17°N 102.34°W / 33.17; -102.34
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1904
Named forBenjamin Franklin Terry
SeatBrownfield
Largest cityBrownfield
Area
 • Total
891 sq mi (2,310 km2)
 • Land889 sq mi (2,300 km2)
 • Water2.1 sq mi (5 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
11,831
 • Density13/sq mi (5.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district19th
Websitewww.co.terry.tx.us

History

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Terry County was formed from Bexar County in 1876 and named for Col. Benjamin Franklin Terry, who commanded the Terry's Texas Rangers in the Civil War.[6]

In 1877, the ill-fated Nolan Expedition crossed the county in search of livestock stolen by Comanche renegades. The various Indian tribes had moved on by the time of white settlement, due to the depletion of the buffalo herds by hunters.[7]

Terry County was organized in 1904, with Brownfield as the county seat.[8]

The county was settled by ranchers such as Ira J. Coulver, J. R. Quinn, Englishman Q. Bone, and Marion V. Brownfield.[8] By 1910 Terry County had 235 farms and 23,000 acres (93 km2) of improved land, with corn being the most important crop.[8]

Terry County lies in the oil-rich north Permian Basin, and the discovery of oil in 1940 quickly led to production.[8] By 1991 almost 363,143,000 barrels (57,735,100 m3) of crude had been extracted from Terry County lands since 1940.[9]

In 1991, Terry County was among the leading cotton counties in Texas.[8]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 891 square miles (2,310 km2), of which 889 square miles (2,300 km2) are land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) (0.2%) are covered by water.[10]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
189021—
190048128.6%
19101,4742,970.8%
19202,23651.7%
19308,883297.3%
194011,16025.6%
195013,10717.4%
196016,28624.3%
197014,118−13.3%
198014,5813.3%
199013,218−9.3%
200012,761−3.5%
201012,651−0.9%
202011,831−6.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1850–2010[12] 2010[13] 2020[14]
Terry 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 2010[13] Pop 2020[14] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 5,747 4,599 45.43% 38.87%
Black or African American alone (NH) 565 389 4.47% 3.29%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 28 29 0.22% 0.25%
Asian alone (NH) 23 37 0.18% 0.31%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 5 24 0.04% 0.20%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 72 184 0.57% 1.56%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6,211 6,569 49.09% 55.52%
Total 12,651 11,831 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census[15] of 2000, 12,761 people, 4,278 households, and 3,247 families were residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). The 5,087 housing units had an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.55% White, 5.00% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 14.30% from other races, and 3.40% from two or more races. About 44.09% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 4,278 households, 35.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.10% were not families. About 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76, and the average family size was 3.23.

The county's age distribution was 28.40% under 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,090, and for a family was $33,339. Males had a median income of $24,321 versus $20,131 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,860. About 19.20% of families and 23.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.50% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.

Media

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The county is served by a weekly newspaper, nearby station KPET 690 AM (Lamesa), and the various Lubbock radio and TV stations. KKUB-AM and KTTU-FM are licensed to Brownfield, but operate primarily from offices and studios in Lubbock.

Communities

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Cities

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Town

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Unincorporated communities

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Politics

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United States presidential election results for Terry County, Texas[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,812 77.85% 757 20.96% 43 1.19%
2016 2,459 73.29% 753 22.44% 143 4.26%
2012 2,602 70.15% 1,059 28.55% 48 1.29%
2008 2,879 67.27% 1,379 32.22% 22 0.51%
2004 3,166 79.75% 794 20.00% 10 0.25%
2000 2,910 71.78% 1,108 27.33% 36 0.89%
1996 2,013 56.43% 1,272 35.66% 282 7.91%
1992 2,309 52.54% 1,461 33.24% 625 14.22%
1988 2,645 57.50% 1,941 42.20% 14 0.30%
1984 3,181 67.34% 1,535 32.49% 8 0.17%
1980 3,178 61.17% 1,945 37.44% 72 1.39%
1976 2,113 42.25% 2,859 57.17% 29 0.58%
1972 3,057 72.96% 1,099 26.23% 34 0.81%
1968 1,948 44.00% 1,625 36.71% 854 19.29%
1964 1,592 34.37% 3,034 65.50% 6 0.13%
1960 1,908 45.84% 2,237 53.75% 17 0.41%
1956 1,473 41.78% 2,050 58.14% 3 0.09%
1952 1,823 46.37% 2,105 53.55% 3 0.08%
1948 236 8.79% 2,283 85.03% 166 6.18%
1944 273 9.82% 2,304 82.88% 203 7.30%
1940 145 6.41% 2,116 93.59% 0 0.00%
1936 87 5.06% 1,619 94.18% 13 0.76%
1932 87 5.64% 1,448 93.84% 8 0.52%
1928 622 60.45% 407 39.55% 0 0.00%
1924 160 15.98% 823 82.22% 18 1.80%
1920 39 10.99% 270 76.06% 46 12.96%
1916 1 0.68% 146 99.32% 0 0.00%
1912 6 5.71% 96 91.43% 3 2.86%

Education

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School districts serving the county include:[17]

The county is in the service area of South Plains College.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Terry 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. ^ "Wet/Dry Status of Texas Counties as of November 2010". Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  5. ^ Ramos, Elliot (October 22, 2021). "Map: Where America's pumpkins come from". NBC News. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  6. ^ "TSHA | Terry County".
  7. ^ "Buffalo Hunted to Near-Extinction Due to Lack of Government Regulation?". A Beginner's Guide to Freedom. August 2, 2007. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  8. ^ a b c d e Leffler, John; Hunt, William R. "Terry County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  9. ^ Anderson, Kenneth C. (March 1953). "Wellman Field, Terry County, Texas". AAPG Bulletin. 37 (3). American Association of Petroleum Geologists. doi:10.1306/5CEADC80-16BB-11D7-8645000102C1865D. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  10. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  11. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Terry County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Terry County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  17. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Terry County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022. - list
  18. ^ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.198. SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
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