Deaf Smith County, Texas

Deaf Smith County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,583.[1][2] The county seat is Hereford,[3] which is known as the "Beef Capital of the World". The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1890.[4] The Hereford, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Deaf Smith County.

Not to be confused with Smith County, Texas.

Deaf Smith County
County
Deaf Smith County Courthouse in Hereford
Deaf Smith County Courthouse in Hereford
Map of Texas highlighting Deaf Smith County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°58′N 102°36′W
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1890
Named forDeaf Smith
SeatHereford
Largest cityHereford
Area
 • Total1,498 sq mi (3,880 km2)
 • Land1,497 sq mi (3,880 km2)
 • Water1.5 sq mi (4 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total18,583 Decrease
 • Density12/sq mi (5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district13th
Websitewww.co.deaf-smith.tx.us

History

In 1876, the state legislature defined and named the county, but it was not organized until 1890, with the town of La Plata as the original county seat. The county was named for Erastus "Deaf" Smith[5] (1787–1837), a partially deaf scout and soldier who served in the Texas Revolution, and was the first to reach the Alamo after its fall in 1836. The pronunciation of "Deaf", as used by Smith himself, is /diːf/ DEEF; however, most residents pronounce it /dɛf/ DEF.

  • Deaf Smith as he appears at the Deaf Smith County Museum
    Deaf Smith as he appears at the Deaf Smith County Museum
  • The Deaf Smith County Historical Museum in Hereford
    The Deaf Smith County Historical Museum in Hereford
  • The Deaf Smith County Library formerly housed the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame on the ground floor. The museum is now located in a new building in the Historic District of Fort Worth.
    The Deaf Smith County Library formerly housed the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame on the ground floor. The museum is now located in a new building in the Historic District of Fort Worth.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,498 sq mi (3,880 km2), of which 1,497 sq mi (3,880 km2) are land and 1.5 sq mi (3.9 km2) (0.1%) are covered by water.[6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
188038—
1890179371.1%
1900843370.9%
19103,942367.6%
19203,747−4.9%
19305,97959.6%
19406,0561.3%
19509,11150.4%
196013,18744.7%
197018,99944.1%
198021,16511.4%
199019,153−9.5%
200018,561−3.1%
201019,3724.4%
202018,583−4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1850–2010[8] 2010[9] 2020[10]
Deaf Smith County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[9] Pop 2020[10] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 5,939 4,233 30.66% 22.78%
Black or African American alone (NH) 158 107 0.82% 0.58%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 52 47 0.27% 0.25%
Asian alone (NH) 56 44 0.29% 0.24%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 2 0 0.01% 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 29 40 0.15% 0.22%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 97 187 0.50% 1.01%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13,039 13,925 67.31% 74.93%
Total 19,372 18,583 100.00% 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[11] of 2000, 18,561 people, 6,180 households, and 4,832 families resided in the county. The population density was 12 people/sq mi (4.6 people/km2). The 6,914 housing units averaged 5 per square mile (1.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 72.28% White, 1.51% African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 22.92% from other races, and 2.11% from two or more races. About 57.40% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 6,180 households, 41.00% had children under 18 living with them, 61.00% were married couples living together, 12.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.80% were not families. Around 19.70% of all households was made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.41.

In the county, the age distribution was 33.30% under 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 19.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.

The median income for a household was $29,601, and for a family was $32,391. Males had a median income of $26,090 versus $19,113 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,119. About 19.30% of families and 20.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.30% of those under age 18 and 15.70% of those age 65 or over.

Infrastructure

The headquarters of the Deaf Smith Electric Cooperative are located in Hereford. The cooperative provides electricity for Deaf Smith, as well as Castro, Parmer, and Oldham Counties.[12]

Communities

City

Unincorporated communities

Politics

Deaf Smith County was the most Hispanic county or equivalent to vote for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.

United States presidential election results for Deaf Smith County, Texas[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 3,294 71.45% 1,264 27.42% 52 1.13%
2016 2,911 69.05% 1,185 28.11% 120 2.85%
2012 3,042 70.60% 1,239 28.75% 28 0.65%
2008 3,466 73.06% 1,247 26.29% 31 0.65%
2004 4,139 78.23% 1,133 21.41% 19 0.36%
2000 3,687 73.98% 1,240 24.88% 57 1.14%
1996 3,051 60.44% 1,655 32.79% 342 6.77%
1992 3,137 56.43% 1,642 29.54% 780 14.03%
1988 3,744 65.39% 1,930 33.71% 52 0.91%
1984 4,762 75.79% 1,485 23.64% 36 0.57%
1980 4,073 69.46% 1,666 28.41% 125 2.13%
1976 2,776 51.08% 2,613 48.08% 46 0.85%
1972 3,690 73.67% 1,240 24.76% 79 1.58%
1968 2,474 52.49% 1,545 32.78% 694 14.73%
1964 1,793 46.01% 2,094 53.73% 10 0.26%
1960 2,024 60.44% 1,299 38.79% 26 0.78%
1956 1,685 55.16% 1,361 44.55% 9 0.29%
1952 2,468 70.86% 1,006 28.88% 9 0.26%
1948 535 25.61% 1,496 71.61% 58 2.78%
1944 508 28.14% 1,117 61.88% 180 9.97%
1940 423 25.68% 1,219 74.01% 5 0.30%
1936 142 10.24% 1,236 89.11% 9 0.65%
1932 198 13.16% 1,307 86.84% 0 0.00%
1928 570 58.10% 411 41.90% 0 0.00%
1924 192 25.16% 538 70.51% 33 4.33%
1920 205 30.78% 459 68.92% 2 0.30%
1916 77 17.04% 356 78.76% 19 4.20%
1912 21 7.81% 221 82.16% 27 10.04%

Education

School districts:[14]

All of the county is in the service area of Amarillo College.[15]

See also

References
  1. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Deaf Smith County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  2. "Deaf Smith County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 102.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  7. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  8. "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.
  9. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Deaf Smith County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  10. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Deaf Smith County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. Spotlight on CRC Member: Deaf Smith Electric Cooperative. Cooperative Response Center.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  14. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Deaf Smith County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022. - list
  15. Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.164. AMARILLO COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA..

34.97°N 102.60°W / 34.97; -102.60

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