Stephens County
County
The Stephens County Courthouse in Breckenridge
The Stephens County Courthouse in Breckenridge
Map of Texas highlighting Stephens County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°44′N 98°50′W / 32.74°N 98.84°W / 32.74; -98.84
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1876
Named forAlexander H. Stephens
SeatBreckenridge
Largest cityBreckenridge
Area
 • Total921 sq mi (2,390 km2)
 • Land897 sq mi (2,320 km2)
 • Water25 sq mi (60 km2)  2.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total9,101
 • Density9.9/sq mi (3.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district25th
Websitewww.co.stephens.tx.us

Stephens County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 9,101.[1] Its county seat is Breckenridge.[2] The county was created in 1858 and organized in 1876.[3] It was originally named Buchanan County, after U.S. President James Buchanan, but was renamed in 1861 for Alexander H. Stephens, the vice president of the Confederate States of America.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 921 square miles (2,390 km2), of which 897 square miles (2,320 km2) are land and 25 square miles (65 km2) (2.7%) are covered by water.[4]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860230—
187033043.5%
18804,7251,331.8%
18904,9264.3%
19006,46631.3%
19107,98023.4%
192015,40393.0%
193016,5607.5%
194012,356−25.4%
195010,597−14.2%
19608,885−16.2%
19708,414−5.3%
19809,92618.0%
19909,010−9.2%
20009,6747.4%
20109,630−0.5%
20209,101−5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1850–2010[6] 2010[7] 2020[8]
Stephens County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[7] Pop 2020[8] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 7,289 6,256 75.69% 68.74%
Black or African American alone (NH) 195 237 2.02% 2.60%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 43 36 0.45% 0.40%
Asian alone (NH) 31 60 0.32% 0.66%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 1 1 0.01% 0.01%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 0 27 0.00% 0.30%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 60 280 0.62% 3.08%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,011 2,204 20.88% 24.22%
Total 9,630 9,101 100.00% 100.00%

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[9] of 2000, 9,674 people, 3,661 households, and 2,591 families resided in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4.2 people/km2). The 4,893 housing units averaged 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.89% White, 2.92% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 8.15% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. About 14.66% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 3,661 households, 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were not families. Around 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was distributed as 24.40% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,583, and for a family was $35,293. Males had a median income of $26,421 versus $21,280 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,475. About 12.60% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.60% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

Politics

Stephens County is a powerfully Republican county. In 2016, the Democrat for president, Hillary Clinton, received just 10% of the county's vote. The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election was southerner Jimmy Carter, and the last Democrat to receive over 1,000 votes in the county was southerner Bill Clinton. The Democrat who has come closest to 1,000 votes since then is southerner Al Gore, who got 811 votes.[11]

United States presidential election results for Stephens County, Texas[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,385 88.96% 397 10.43% 23 0.60%
2016 3,034 87.44% 348 10.03% 88 2.54%
2012 2,892 84.76% 475 13.92% 45 1.32%
2008 2,869 81.37% 626 17.75% 31 0.88%
2004 2,803 79.65% 703 19.98% 13 0.37%
2000 2,425 73.69% 811 24.64% 55 1.67%
1996 1,714 52.27% 1,218 37.15% 347 10.58%
1992 1,573 41.88% 1,115 29.69% 1,068 28.43%
1988 2,342 60.45% 1,519 39.21% 13 0.34%
1984 2,898 73.27% 1,046 26.45% 11 0.28%
1980 2,161 59.89% 1,372 38.03% 75 2.08%
1976 1,621 47.27% 1,796 52.38% 12 0.35%
1972 2,259 76.73% 678 23.03% 7 0.24%
1968 1,287 42.18% 1,239 40.61% 525 17.21%
1964 1,119 38.94% 1,753 61.00% 2 0.07%
1960 1,664 54.94% 1,357 44.80% 8 0.26%
1956 1,832 61.66% 1,126 37.90% 13 0.44%
1952 2,272 60.64% 1,471 39.26% 4 0.11%
1948 572 19.79% 2,132 73.77% 186 6.44%
1944 217 7.74% 2,104 75.04% 483 17.23%
1940 471 14.61% 2,750 85.32% 2 0.06%
1936 681 22.11% 2,380 77.27% 19 0.62%
1932 256 8.62% 2,684 90.40% 29 0.98%
1928 1,789 60.60% 1,163 39.40% 0 0.00%
1924 372 13.98% 2,184 82.07% 105 3.95%
1920 141 16.69% 643 76.09% 61 7.22%
1916 12 1.75% 572 83.26% 103 14.99%
1912 11 1.93% 462 80.91% 98 17.16%

See also

References

  1. ^ "Stephens County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  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 26, 2015.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  5. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  6. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  7. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Stephens County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  8. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Stephens County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  10. ^ Mark Odintz. "Rupert N. Richardson". The Handbook of Texas. tshaonline.org. Retrieved October 10, 2009.
  11. ^ a b Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 30, 2018.

External links

Media related to Stephens County, Texas at Wikimedia Commons

32°44′N 98°50′W / 32.74°N 98.84°W / 32.74; -98.84

Places adjacent to Stephens County, Texas
Municipalities and communities of Stephens County, Texas, United States
Counties of Texas
State of Texas
Authority control databases
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