Butterfield Overland Mail,[8] which operated from 1858 to 1861, crossed through the center of the county. In 1878, Camp Grierson's Spring was established as a subpost of Fort Concho and named in honor of Col. Benjamin H. Grierson.[9]
In 1923, oil was discovered at the Big Lake Oilfield in the Permian Basin. Big Lake Oilfield, located on University of Texas System land, opened the Permian Basin to oil production and endowed the Permanent University Fund. The rig was named Santa Rita #1 for The Patron Saint of the Impossible.[12]Big Lake was incorporated as a city.[13][14] In 1924, shortly after the oil boom, the town community of Best plunged into vice and violence, necessitating the intervention of the Texas Rangers. The Rangers destroyed buildings that were being used as brothels, gambling houses, and saloons.[15] In 1925, the county seat was moved to Big Lake by a vote.[14] The following year, the Big Lake Oil Company established Texon for its employees and their families, with a devotion to family life.[16]
In 1951, there was a renewed oil boom from production in the Spraberry Trend.[12]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,176 square miles (3,050 km2), of which 1,175 square miles (3,040 km2) are land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (0.06%) 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]
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 can be of any race.
As of the census[23] of 2000, 3,326 people, 1,107 households, and 872 families were residing in the county. The population density was 3 inhabitants per square mile (1.2/km2). The 1,452 housing units had an average density of 1 per square mile (0.39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 64.64% White, 3.01% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 29.56% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. About 49.49% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
Of the1,107 households, 46.8% had children under 18 living with them, 68.1% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were not families. About 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.96, and the average family size was 3.42.
In the county, the age distribution was 34.2% under 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.50 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 100.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,231, and for a family was $36,806. Males had a median income of $31,228 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,174. About 9.3% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 23.6% of those age 65 or over.
^ abOlien, Roger M and Diana (2002). "Oil in Cow Country". Oil in Texas: The Gusher Age, 1895–1945. University of Texas Press. pp. 138–167. ISBN978-0-292-76056-1.
^"Big Lake, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
United States
Texas
