Dawson County, Texas

Dawson County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 12,456.[1][2] The county seat is Lamesa.[3] The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1905.[4] It is named for Nicholas Mosby Dawson,[5] a soldier of the Texas Revolution. Dawson County comprises the Lamesa, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA), and it is, by population, the smallest Micropolitan Statistical Area in the United States.

Not to be confused with Dawson, Texas.

Dawson County
County
The Dawson County Courthouse in Lamesa
The Dawson County Courthouse in Lamesa
Map of Texas highlighting Dawson 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 101°57′W
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1905
Named forNicholas Mosby Dawson
SeatLamesa
Largest cityLamesa
Area
 • Total902 sq mi (2,340 km2)
 • Land900 sq mi (2,000 km2)
 • Water1.8 sq mi (5 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total12,456
 • Density14/sq mi (5.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district19th
Websitewww.co.dawson.tx.us

History

A Dawson County was founded in 1856 from Kinney County, Maverick County and Uvalde County, but was divided in 1866 between Kinney County and Uvalde County. The current Dawson County was founded in 1876.

In 1943, the discovery well for the Spraberry Trend, the third-largest oil field in the United States by remaining reserves,[6] was drilled in Dawson County on land owned by farmer Abner Spraberry, for whom the geological formation and associated field were named. While most of the oil fields are in the counties to the south, a small portion of the Spraberry Trend is in Dawson County. Production on the field did not begin until 1949, and by 1951, an oil boom was underway in the area, with Midland at its center.[7]

Like all Texas counties as stipulated in the Texas Constitution of 1876, Dawson County has four commissioners chosen by single-member district and a countywide-elected county judge, the chief administrator of the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 902 square miles (2,340 km2), of which 900 square miles (2,300 km2) are land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2) (0.2%) are covered by water.[8]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
188024—
18902920.8%
19003727.6%
19102,3206,170.3%
19204,30985.7%
193013,573215.0%
194015,36713.2%
195019,11324.4%
196019,1850.4%
197016,604−13.5%
198016,184−2.5%
199014,349−11.3%
200014,9854.4%
201013,833−7.7%
202012,456−10.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1850–2010[10] 2010[11] 2020[12]
Dawson County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[11] Pop 2020[12] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 5,402 4,590 39.05% 36.85%
Black or African American alone (NH) 860 847 6.22% 6.80%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 28 23 0.20% 0.18%
Asian alone (NH) 46 56 0.33% 0.45%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 2 4 0.01% 0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 13 17 0.09% 0.14%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 95 152 0.69% 1.22%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7,387 6,767 53.40% 54.33%
Total 13,833 12,456 100.00% 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[13] of 2000, 14,985 people, 4,726 households, and 3,501 families resided in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (6.6 people/km2). There were 5,500 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 72.47% White, 8.66% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 16.56% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more races. About 48.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 4,726 households, 35.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were not families. About 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the county, the population was distributed as 25.60% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 124.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 129.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,211, and for a family was $32,745. Males had a median income of $27,259 versus $16,739 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,011. About 16.40% of families and 19.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.20% of those under age 18 and 12.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities
Medical Arts Hospital in Lamesa serves Dawson County residents.

Cities

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Politics
United States presidential election results for Dawson County, Texas[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 2,951 77.88% 808 21.32% 30 0.79%
2016 2,636 73.98% 835 23.44% 92 2.58%
2012 2,591 71.14% 1,019 27.98% 32 0.88%
2008 2,906 70.95% 1,152 28.13% 38 0.93%
2004 3,419 75.23% 1,114 24.51% 12 0.26%
2000 3,337 68.96% 1,463 30.23% 39 0.81%
1996 2,319 55.53% 1,612 38.60% 245 5.87%
1992 2,691 55.43% 1,639 33.76% 525 10.81%
1988 3,154 59.32% 2,155 40.53% 8 0.15%
1984 3,685 67.21% 1,781 32.48% 17 0.31%
1980 3,267 62.77% 1,867 35.87% 71 1.36%
1976 2,474 53.17% 2,162 46.46% 17 0.37%
1972 3,247 79.29% 846 20.66% 2 0.05%
1968 2,091 46.33% 1,522 33.72% 900 19.94%
1964 1,691 34.74% 3,171 65.14% 6 0.12%
1960 2,161 50.89% 2,063 48.59% 22 0.52%
1956 1,615 44.01% 2,049 55.83% 6 0.16%
1952 2,388 53.29% 2,093 46.71% 0 0.00%
1948 393 12.51% 2,605 82.94% 143 4.55%
1944 472 16.43% 2,149 74.83% 251 8.74%
1940 361 11.37% 2,808 88.47% 5 0.16%
1936 156 7.83% 1,829 91.82% 7 0.35%
1932 153 8.44% 1,659 91.51% 1 0.06%
1928 1,448 77.23% 427 22.77% 0 0.00%
1924 185 14.24% 1,079 83.06% 35 2.69%
1920 75 17.90% 296 70.64% 48 11.46%
1916 14 4.40% 288 90.57% 16 5.03%
1912 7 8.14% 74 86.05% 5 5.81%

Education

School districts serving the county include:[15]

The county is in the service area of Howard County Junior College.[16]

See also

References
  1. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Dawson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  2. "Dawson 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 April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 101.
  6. Top 100 Oil and Gas Fields Archived May 15, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Handbook of Texas Online: Spraberry Oil Field
  8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  9. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  10. "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.
  11. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Dawson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  12. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Dawson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  15. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dawson County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022. - list
  16. Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.183. HOWARD COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.

32.74°N 101.95°W / 32.74; -101.95

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