Howard County, Texas

Howard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. At the 2020 census, its population was 34,860.[1] Its county seat is Big Spring.[2] The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1882.[3] It is named for Volney E. Howard, a U.S. Congressman from Texas.[4]

Howard County
County
Howard County Court House in downtown Big Spring
Howard County Court House in downtown Big Spring
Map of Texas highlighting Howard 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°19′N 101°26′W
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1882
Named forVolney E. Howard
SeatBig Spring
Largest cityBig Spring
Area
 • Total904 sq mi (2,340 km2)
 • Land901 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Water3 sq mi (8 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total34,860
 • Density39/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district19th
Websitewww.co.howard.tx.us
Howard County Library in Big Spring

Howard County is included in the Big Spring, Texas micropolitan statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 904 square miles (2,340 km2), of which 901 square miles (2,330 km2) are land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) (0.4%) are covered by water.[5]

Howard County is located at the boundary between the Llano Estacado to the north and the Edwards Plateau to the south. Beals Creek, a tributary of the Colorado River, flows through the center of Big Spring and divides these two major physiographic regions.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
188050—
18901,2102,320.0%
19002,528108.9%
19108,881251.3%
19206,962−21.6%
193022,888228.8%
194020,990−8.3%
195026,72227.3%
196040,13950.2%
197037,796−5.8%
198033,142−12.3%
199032,343−2.4%
200033,6274.0%
201035,0124.1%
202034,860−0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1850–2010[7] 2010[8] 2020[9]
Howard County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[8] Pop 2020[9] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 18,801 15,672 53.70% 44.96%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,079 1,520 5.94% 4.36%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 220 211 0.63% 0.61%
Asian alone (NH) 256 386 0.73% 1.11%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 13 12 0.04% 0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 76 68 0.22% 0.20%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 312 817 0.89% 2.34%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13,255 16,174 37.86% 46.40%
Total 35,012 34,860 100.00% 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 the 2000 census,[10] there were 33,627 people, 11,389 households and 7,949 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14 people/km2). There were 13,589 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.14% White, 4.13% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 12.43% from other races, and 2.10% from two or more races. 37.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,389 households, of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.30% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

24.20% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 30.90% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 118.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.50 males.

The median household income was $30,805 and the median family income was $37,262. Males had a median income of $28,971 and females $21,390. The per capita income was $15,027. About 14.50% of families and 18.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 15.50% of those age 65 or over.

According to the United States Census Bureau Howard County, Texas has an estimated population of 36,459 as of July 1, 2018. That's a 4.1% increase from the 2010 census. 21.7% of the people are under 18 years old and 12.9% are older than 65 years old. Of the current population, 42.8% are female. In regards to race, 87.8% are white, 7.3% are black and 42.4% are Hispanic. The owner occupied housing rate is at 68.1%, with the median value of owner occupied housing being $85,700. High School graduates make up 82.1% of the population while only 12.9% have a Bachelor's degree or higher.[11]

Media

The county is served by a daily newspaper, local radio stations KBST (AM), KBST-FM, KBTS (FM), KBYG (AM), nearby stations KBXJ (FM), KPET (AM) and KWDC (FM), and the various Midland and Odessa radio and TV stations.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Politics

From 1912 through 1964, Howard County voters, in common with the Solid South, voted predominantly for the Democratic candidate in presidential elections. Since 1980, the trend has swung to voting chiefly for the Republican candidate.

United States presidential election results for Howard County, Texas[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 8,054 78.64% 2,069 20.20% 118 1.15%
2016 6,637 76.09% 1,770 20.29% 316 3.62%
2012 6,453 74.22% 2,110 24.27% 132 1.52%
2008 7,029 72.55% 2,545 26.27% 115 1.19%
2004 7,480 73.33% 2,663 26.11% 58 0.57%
2000 6,668 69.84% 2,744 28.74% 136 1.42%
1996 5,007 50.80% 3,732 37.86% 1,118 11.34%
1992 5,129 47.17% 3,735 34.35% 2,009 18.48%
1988 6,024 57.28% 4,445 42.26% 48 0.46%
1984 7,519 64.31% 4,115 35.20% 57 0.49%
1980 6,658 58.86% 4,451 39.35% 203 1.79%
1976 4,899 40.92% 6,984 58.34% 89 0.74%
1972 7,343 72.85% 2,714 26.92% 23 0.23%
1968 3,812 36.30% 3,897 37.11% 2,792 26.59%
1964 3,272 34.93% 6,083 64.94% 12 0.13%
1960 3,403 40.83% 4,844 58.12% 88 1.06%
1956 3,051 40.30% 4,506 59.52% 14 0.18%
1952 3,412 41.60% 4,779 58.27% 11 0.13%
1948 561 11.10% 4,179 82.72% 312 6.18%
1944 334 7.71% 3,588 82.79% 412 9.51%
1940 367 7.80% 4,329 92.05% 7 0.15%
1936 230 6.90% 3,094 92.86% 8 0.24%
1932 149 5.15% 2,733 94.40% 13 0.45%
1928 812 54.86% 665 44.93% 3 0.20%
1924 186 12.85% 1,100 76.02% 161 11.13%
1920 107 11.80% 703 77.51% 97 10.69%
1916 30 3.42% 747 85.18% 100 11.40%
1912 22 3.14% 530 75.61% 149 21.26%

See also

References
  1. "Howard County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  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 24, 2015.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 162.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  6. "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  7. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  8. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Howard County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  9. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Howard County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  11. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Howard County, Texas". Census.gov. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  12. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
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