Dimmit County, Texas

Dimmit County (/ˈdɪmɪt/ DIM-it) is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 8,615.[1] The county seat is Carrizo Springs.[2] The county was founded in 1858 and later organized in 1880.[3] It is named after Philip Dimmitt,[4] a major figure in the Texas Revolution. The spelling of the county name and the individual's name differ because of a spelling error in the bill creating the county name.

Not to be confused with Dimmitt, Texas.

Dimmit County
County
Dimmit County Courthouse in Carrizo Springs located off U.S. Highway 277
Dimmit County Courthouse in Carrizo Springs located off U.S. Highway 277
Map of Texas highlighting Dimmit County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 28°25′N 99°45′W
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1858
Named forPhilip Dimmitt
SeatCarrizo Springs
Largest cityCarrizo Springs
Area
 • Total1,335 sq mi (3,460 km2)
 • Land1,329 sq mi (3,440 km2)
 • Water5.6 sq mi (15 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total8,615
 • Density6.5/sq mi (2.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district23rd
Websitewww.dimmitcounty.org

History

Native Americans

Paleo-Indians artifacts indicate these people lived in Dimmit County as far back as 9200 BC. The archaic period (6000 BC to AD 1000) up to the arrival of the Spanish brought increased hunter-gatherers to the area. These Indians subsisted mostly on game, wild fruits, seeds, and roots.[5] They carved tools from wood and stone, wove baskets, and sewed rabbitskin robes. They also made pottery and hunted with bows and arrows.[6] Their most effective weapon was the atlatl, a throwing stick that greatly increased the deadliness of their spears. Coahuiltecan Indians native to now-Dimmit County were later squeezed out by Apache and Comanche. Hostile tribes harassed settlers, forcing some to pull up stakes. Texas Rangers and local volunteers, as well as disease, ran the Indians out of the county by 1877.[7][8]

The Wild Horse Desert

The area between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River, which included the county, became disputed territory known as the Wild Horse Desert, where neither the Republic of Texas nor the Mexican government had clear control. Ownership was in dispute until the Mexican–American War. The area became filled with lawless characters, who deterred settlers in the area. An agreement signed between Mexico and the United States in the 1930s put the liability of payments to the descendants of the original land grants on Mexico.[9][10]

County established and settlements

Dimmit County was officially established in 1858 from parts of Bexar, Webb, Maverick, and Uvalde Counties. The county was organized in 1880. Carrizo Springs became the county seat.[8][11]

Early settlers found Dimmit County to be an abundant grassland with mesquite, oak, and ash trees and wildlife that included buffalo, deer, turkeys, feral horses (mustangs), panthers, and javelinas. Artesian springs, bubbling up from a vast reservoir of underground water, fed into running streams that harbored giant catfish, crawfish, and mussels. Explorers found the area a good place to hunt mustangs, and to feed and water cattle.[12]

Pioneering cattleman Levi English settled Carrizo Springs in 1865 with a group of 15 families from Atascosa County. Within two years, they were joined by a second group of settlers from Goliad County. Early dwellings were crude adobe structures or dugouts. In 1880, Levi English donated land for a county courthouse, schools, and churches in the town.[13][14]

Lawlessness, banditry, and in particular, cattle rustling from both sides of the Mexican border, pervaded until the 1880s. Marshal J. King Fisher, managed to bring about a reduction in the lawlessness. King also staunchly enforced the "dry county" law once the residents voted to outlaw the sale of alcohol.[8][15]

Dimmit County's first producing oil well was drilled in 1943. In 1980, Dimmit County farmers earned about $20 million for their crops, while about $60 million in oil and gas were produced.[8]

Formation of the 1914 White Man's Primary Association was designed to exclude Mexican Americans from any meaningful participation in county politics. In the 1944 Smith v. Allwright case, the United States Supreme Court found the White Primary to be unconstitutional.[16][17]

Water

D.C. Frazier drilled the first artesian well, which produced gallons of water a minute, near Carrizo Springs in 1884.[18] By 1900, about 25 artesian wells were flowing in the Carrizo Springs area, but most of the water was wasted, and very little was used for irrigation. Colonel J.S. Taylor introduced large-scale Bermuda onion and strawberry farming to the area, and was the first to use irrigation on a large scale in Dimmit County. In 1899, Taylor built a 30 ft dam across the Nueces River to irrigate 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) of farmland. He also drilled a deep artesian well. By 1910, Taylor's methods were being imitated by a number of other developers and vegetable farmers.[19] Irrigation helped make Dimmit County part of the Texas Winter Garden region.[20] By the 1920s, however, artesian water began to dry up. The necessity of installing expensive pumps drove many farmers out of business. By 1934, the United States Department of the Interior concluded that the existing water supply would not support substantial additional development. By 1965, only about 15,000 acres (61 km2) were being irrigated. Much of the land reverted to rangeland.[8]

Oil
San Miguel and Olmos Formations stratigraphic column

The Big Wells oil field, east of Big Wells, was discovered in 1969. The field produces from the Cretaceous San Miguel Formation sandstone underlying the Olmos Formation sandstone. The field extends north into Zavala.[21]

The Eagle Ford oil field was reported to be under development in 2011, with 3,000 wells projected to extract oil by hydraulic fracturing from tight shale formations. The oil play has improved business activity in the county, but raised fears regarding the adequacy of water supplies, as fracking requires injection of large quantities of water under pressure into wells to break surrounding rock.[22]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,335 sq mi (3,460 km2), of which { 5.6 square miles (15 km2) (0.4%) are covered by water.[23]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870109—
1880665510.1%
18901,04957.7%
19001,1065.4%
19103,460212.8%
19205,29653.1%
19308,82866.7%
19408,542−3.2%
195010,65424.7%
196010,095−5.2%
19709,039−10.5%
198011,36725.8%
199010,433−8.2%
200010,248−1.8%
20109,996−2.5%
20208,615−13.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[24]
1850–2010[25] 2010–2020[1]
Dimmit County racial/ethnic composition[26][27]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[lower-alpha 1]
Race Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 1,217 898 12.17% 10.42%
Black or African American (NH) 81 72 0.81% 0.84%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 7 8 0.07% 0.09%
Asian (NH) 51 68 0.51% 0.79%
Pacific Islander (NH) 0 10 0.0% 0.12%
Some other race (NH) 10 12 0.1% 0.14%
Mixed/multiracial (NH) 14 60 0.14% 0.7%
Hispanic or Latino 8,616 7,487 86.19% 86.91%
Total 9,996 8,615

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,615 people, 3,178 households, and 2,427 families residing in the county.

As of the census[30] of 2000, 10,248 people, 3,308 households, and 2,646 families were residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km2). The 4,112 housing units averaged 3 units per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.95% White, 0.88% African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 18.3% from other races, and 2.51% from two or more races. About 84.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 3,308 households, 42.0% had children under 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.0% were not families. About 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 age or older. The average household size was 3.06, and the average family size was 3.48.

In the county, the age distribution was 33.2% under 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 24.70% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $21,917, and for a family was $24,579. Males had a median income of $25,000 versus $15,370 for females. The per capita income for the county was $9,765. About 33.20% of the population and 29.70% of families were below the poverty line. Of the total population, 40.30% of those under the age of 18 and 31.50% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. The county's per capita income makes it one of the poorest counties in the United States.

Politics

Like most of heavily Hispanic South Texas, Dimmit is heavily Democratic. While the state of Texas went strongly for Republican George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election, Dimmit County was a traditional stronghold of the Democratic Party, supporting U.S. Senator John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, with 2,365 votes for Kerry to 1,188 for Bush. The last Republican to win a majority in Dimmit County was Richard Nixon in 1972.[31] In 1892, Dimmit County gave all its few votes to Populist James B. Weaver, thus making it his leading county.

United States presidential election results for Dimmit County, Texas[32]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 1,384 37.75% 2,264 61.76% 18 0.49%
2016 974 30.20% 2,173 67.38% 78 2.42%
2012 762 26.12% 2,141 73.40% 14 0.48%
2008 874 24.37% 2,692 75.05% 21 0.59%
2004 1,188 33.31% 2,365 66.32% 13 0.36%
2000 1,032 27.50% 2,678 71.36% 43 1.15%
1996 604 20.19% 2,242 74.96% 145 4.85%
1992 844 19.27% 3,172 72.42% 364 8.31%
1988 900 24.65% 2,735 74.91% 16 0.44%
1984 1,338 34.38% 2,546 65.42% 8 0.21%
1980 1,173 35.30% 2,102 63.26% 48 1.44%
1976 890 33.92% 1,721 65.59% 13 0.50%
1972 1,172 51.81% 1,078 47.66% 12 0.53%
1968 584 35.18% 896 53.98% 180 10.84%
1964 501 29.68% 1,184 70.14% 3 0.18%
1960 648 42.16% 886 57.64% 3 0.20%
1956 705 61.90% 427 37.49% 7 0.61%
1952 954 65.34% 503 34.45% 3 0.21%
1948 384 29.14% 863 65.48% 71 5.39%
1944 328 33.57% 554 56.70% 95 9.72%
1940 340 31.51% 736 68.21% 3 0.28%
1936 296 28.99% 704 68.95% 21 2.06%
1932 241 22.11% 843 77.34% 6 0.55%
1928 626 70.81% 258 29.19% 0 0.00%
1924 180 36.51% 289 58.62% 24 4.87%
1920 108 31.49% 231 67.35% 4 1.17%
1916 74 27.61% 193 72.01% 1 0.37%
1912 131 27.58% 292 61.47% 52 10.95%

Education
The Dimmit County Library in Carrizo Springs

All of Dimmit County is served by the Carrizo Springs Independent School District.[33]

Asherton Independent School District closed in 1999 and joined Carrizo Springs ISD.[34]

The designated community college is Southwest Texas Junior College.[35]

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

See also

References
  1. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Dimmit County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 106.
  5. "Native Peoples of the South Texas Plains During Early Historic Times". Texas Beyond History. UT-Austin. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  6. "Distant Connections". Texas Beyond History. UT-Austin. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  7. Wishhart, David J (2004). "The Spanish and the Great Plains 1540–1821". Encyclopedia of the Great Plains. University of Nebraska Press. pp. 345, 346. ISBN 978-0-8032-4787-1.
  8. Leffler, John (June 12, 2010). "Dimmit County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  9. Wranker, Ralph. "The South Texas Area". Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  10. Bartlett, Richard C; Williamson, Leroy; Sansom, Andrew; Thornton III, Robert L (1995). "The South Texas Plains". The Wild Horse Desert. University of Texas Press. pp. 123–141. ISBN 978-0-292-70835-8.
  11. "Carrizo Springs, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  12. "Nature's Harvest". Texas Beyond History. UT-Austin. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  13. Leffler, John (June 12, 2010). "Levi English". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  14. Leffler, John (June 12, 2010). "Carrizo Springs". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  15. Adams, Paul (June 12, 2010). "John King Fisher". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  16. "321 U.S. 649 Smith v. Allwright". Decided: April 3, 1944. Cornell University Law School. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  17. Long, Christopher (June 15, 2010). "The White Man's Union Associations". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  18. Taylor, Paul Schuster (1981). Labor on the land: collected writings 1930–1970. Arno Press. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-405-14208-6.
  19. Cindy, Wilke (June 15, 2010). "Onion Culture". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  20. Odintz, Mark (June 15, 2010). "Winter Garden Region". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  21. Layden, R.L. (1976). Braunstein, Jules (ed.). Big Wells Field, Dimmit and Zavala Counties, Texas, in North American Oil and Gas Fields. Tulsa: The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. pp. 145–156. ISBN 978-0891813002.
  22. Krauss, Clifford (May 27, 2011). "Shale Boom in Texas Could Increase U.S. Oil Output". The New York Times. Retrieved May 28, 2011. the hottest new oil play in the country
  23. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  24. "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  25. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  26. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  27. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  28. http://www.census.gov
  29. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  30. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  31. Sullivan, Robert David; ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’; America Magazine in The National Catholic Review; June 29, 2016
  32. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  33. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dimmit County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022. - Text list
  34. "CONSOLIDATIONS, ANNEXATIONS AND NAME CHANGES FOR TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS" (PDF). Texas Education Agency. September 10, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  35. Texas Education Code: Sec. 130.200. SOUTHWEST TEXAS JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
  1. 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.[28][29]
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