Llano County, Texas

Llano County (/ˈlænoʊ/) is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 21,243.[1] Its county seat is Llano,[2] and the county is named for the Llano River.

Llano County
County
The Llano County Courthouse in Llano
The Llano County Courthouse in Llano
Map of Texas highlighting Llano County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°43′N 98°41′W
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1856
Named forLlano River
SeatLlano
Largest cityHorseshoe Bay
Area
 • Total966 sq mi (2,500 km2)
 • Land934 sq mi (2,420 km2)
 • Water32 sq mi (80 km2)  3.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total21,243
 • Density22/sq mi (8.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district11th
Websitewww.co.llano.tx.us

In 1869, pioneer rancher John Wesley Snyder led a cattle drive from Llano County along the Chisholm Trail to Abilene, Kansas.[3]

Cactus in spring bloom in rural Llano County

History
  • The Tonkawa tribe were the first inhabitants.[4]
  • 1842 April 20 – Adelsverein[5] Fisher-Miller Land Grant sets aside three million acres (12,000 km2) to settle 600 families and single men of German, Dutch, Swiss, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian ancestry in Texas.[6]
  • 1844 June 26 – Henry Francis Fisher sells interest in land grant to Adelsverein
  • 1845 December 20 – Henry Francis Fisher and Burchard Miller sell their rights in the land grant to Adelsverein.
  • 1847 Meusebach–Comanche Treaty[7] Bettina commune, last Adelsverein community in Texas, is established by a group of free thinking intellectuals, and named after German liberal Bettina Brentano von Arnim. The community fails within a year due to lack of any governing structure and conflict of authority.[8][9]
  • 1852 Settlers at Tow and Bluffton on the Colorado River.[4]
  • 1854 May 14–15, The Texas State Convention of Germans meet in San Antonio and adopt a political, social and religious platform, including: 1) Equal pay for equal work; 2) Direct election of the President of the United States; 3) Abolition of capital punishment; 4) "Slavery is an evil, the abolition of which is a requirement of democratic principles ..."'; 5) Free schools – including universities – supported by the state, without religious influence; and 6) Total separation of church and state.[10]
  • 1860 Population 1,101 – 21 slaveholders, 54 slaves[4]
  • 1862 One hundred Llano County volunteers join Major John George Walker Division of the Confederate States Army.
  • 1864 April – A cavalry company is formed in Llano County under Captain Brazeal to defend the area from Indian attacks. It served under Brig. Gen. John David McAdoo until the war's end, when it disbanded in June 1865.
  • 1873 August 4 – Packsaddle Mountain becomes the site of the region's last battle with the Indians. The county's farming economy begins to grow after threats of Indian attacks cease.[11]
  • 1892 June 7 – Llano branch of Austin and Northwestern Railroad arrives[4]
  • 1893 Completion of County Courthouse, designed by Austin architect A O Watson[12]
  • 1895 Llano County Jail erected by the Pauly Jail Building and Manufacturing Company of St Louis, MO[13][14]
  • 1900 Frank Teich establishes the Teich Monument Works[15]
  • 1901 Llano Women's Literary Society organized – 16 charter members[4]
  • 1901 The Victorian style Antlers Hotel, a railroad resort in Kingsland, opened for business.
  • 2021 Local political leaders ban books from public libraries.

Darmstadt Society of Forty
Further information: List of Darmstadt Society of Forty

Count Castell[16] of the Adelsverein negotiated with the separate Darmstadt Society of Forty to colonize 200 families on the Fisher–Miller Land Grant in Texas. In return, they were to receive $12,000 in money, livestock, and equipment, and provisions for a year. After the first year, the colonies were expected to support themselves.[17] The colonies attempted were Castell,[18] Leiningen, Bettina,[19] Schoenburg and Meerholz in Llano County; Darmstädler Farm in Comal County; and Tusculum in Kendall County.[20] Of these, only Castell survives. The colonies failed after the Adelsverein funding expired, and also due to conflict of structure and authorities. Some members moved to other Adelsverein settlements in Texas. Others moved elsewhere, or returned to Germany.

Library book bans

Llano county libraries were purged of books containing sex education and discussion of racism in 2021 and 2022 by county commissioners. Titles removed include In the Night Kitchen, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, and Between the World and Me. Librarian Suzette Baker in Kingsland was fired for her refusal to remove books from the shelves. The library board voted unanimously to close its meetings to the public in 2022.[21][22] After a lawsuit was filed, a federal judge ruled in March 2023 that at least 12 of the books must be placed back onto shelves.[23] In response, county commissioners will vote on April 13 on whether or not to close down the library in a special meeting.[24]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 966 square miles (2,500 km2), of which 934 square miles (2,420 km2) are land and 32 square miles (83 km2) (3.3%) are covered by water.[25]

Enchanted Rock, a designated state natural area and popular tourist destination, is located in southern Llano county.

Two significant rivers, the Llano and the Colorado, flow through Llano County. These rivers contribute to Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, and Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, which are all located partially within the county.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18601,101—
18701,37925.2%
18804,962259.8%
18906,77236.5%
19007,3017.8%
19106,520−10.7%
19205,360−17.8%
19305,5383.3%
19405,9968.3%
19505,377−10.3%
19605,240−2.5%
19706,97933.2%
198010,14445.4%
199011,63114.7%
200017,04446.5%
201019,30113.2%
202021,24310.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[26]
1850–2010[27] 2010[28] 2020[29]
Llano County, Texas – demographic profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[28] Pop 2020[29] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 17,303 17,530 89.65% 82.52%
Black or African American alone (NH) 102 97 0.53% 0.46%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 87 115 0.45% 0.54%
Asian alone (NH) 76 121 0.39% 0.57%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 5 4 0.03% 0.02%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 11 61 0.06% 0.29%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 175 807 0.91% 3.80%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,542 2,508 7.99% 11.81%
Total 19,301 21,243 100.00% 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 2000 census,[30] 17,044 people, 7,879 households, and 5,365 families resided in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (6.9 people/km2). There were 11,829 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.3% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. About 5.1% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 7,879 households, 16.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were not families. About 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.56.

In the county, the population was distributed as 15.9% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 18.4% from 25 to 44, 30.5% from 45 to 64, and 30.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,830, and for a family was $40,597. Males had a median income of $30,839 versus $21,126 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,547. About 7.2% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Notable people
  • Emil Kriewitz, who lived with the Penateka Comanche, served as guide for Fisher–Miller Land Grant settlers, 1870 Llano County justice of the peace, 1871 Llano County election judge, and postmaster of Castell from 1876 to 1883. He was buried in Llano County Cemetery.[31]

Politics
United States presidential election results for Llano County, Texas[32]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 10,079 79.61% 2,465 19.47% 116 0.92%
2016 8,299 79.44% 1,825 17.47% 323 3.09%
2012 7,610 79.62% 1,822 19.06% 126 1.32%
2008 7,281 75.62% 2,250 23.37% 98 1.02%
2004 7,241 75.72% 2,257 23.60% 65 0.68%
2000 6,295 72.97% 2,143 24.84% 189 2.19%
1996 4,290 55.45% 2,633 34.03% 814 10.52%
1992 3,056 41.96% 2,409 33.08% 1,818 24.96%
1988 3,550 57.24% 2,629 42.39% 23 0.37%
1984 4,042 67.89% 1,894 31.81% 18 0.30%
1980 2,866 56.23% 2,130 41.79% 101 1.98%
1976 1,947 45.03% 2,361 54.60% 16 0.37%
1972 2,164 73.53% 766 26.03% 13 0.44%
1968 1,079 38.19% 1,282 45.38% 464 16.42%
1964 655 27.47% 1,727 72.44% 2 0.08%
1960 704 38.26% 1,131 61.47% 5 0.27%
1956 672 39.32% 1,034 60.50% 3 0.18%
1952 840 43.21% 1,102 56.69% 2 0.10%
1948 253 15.06% 1,384 82.38% 43 2.56%
1944 198 12.87% 1,199 77.96% 141 9.17%
1940 238 13.78% 1,484 85.93% 5 0.29%
1936 107 7.59% 1,302 92.41% 0 0.00%
1932 108 8.08% 1,229 91.92% 0 0.00%
1928 439 46.07% 514 53.93% 0 0.00%
1924 88 8.17% 928 86.17% 61 5.66%
1920 184 16.85% 665 60.90% 243 22.25%
1916 72 8.86% 716 88.07% 25 3.08%
1912 29 5.32% 432 79.27% 84 15.41%

See also

References
  1. "Llano County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Anderson, H. Allan. "John Wesley Snyder". The Handbook of Texas. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  4. Speck, Ernest B. "Llano County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  5. Brister, Louis E. "Adelsverein". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  6. Ramos, Mary G. "The German Settlements in Central Texas". Texas Almanac. Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on February 7, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  7. "Comanche Indian Treaty". William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  8. German American annals. University of Michigan Library. 2010. p. 31.
  9. Heckert-Green, James B. "Castell, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  10. Biesele, R. L. (April 1930). "The Texas State Convention of Germans in 1854". Southwestern Historical Quarterly. Denton, TX: Texas State Historical Association. 33 (4): 247–261.
  11. Hazelwood, Claudia. "Packsaddle Mountain Fight". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  12. "Llano County Courthouse". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  13. "Llano County Jail". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  14. "Redtop Jail". Friends of the Llano Redtop Jail. Archived from the original on October 20, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  15. "Frank Teich". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  16. Brister, Louis E. "Count Carl of Castell-Castell". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  17. King (1967) p. 122
  18. Heckert-Greene, James B. "Castell, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  19. Lich, Glen E. "Bettina, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  20. Lich, Glen E. "The Forty". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  21. Gowen, Annie (April 17, 2022). "Censorship battles' new frontier: Your public library". The Washington Post.
  22. Cooley, Brigid (March 4, 2022). "Llano County Library Advisory Board closes meetings to the public". DailyTrib.com.
  23. Elassar, Alaa; Romine, Taylor; Rose, Andy (April 1, 2023). "Judge orders books removed from Texas public libraries due to LGBTQ and racial content must be returned within 24 hours". CNN. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  24. Freeman, Suzanne (April 10, 2023). "Llano County could close libraries". DailyTrib. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  25. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  26. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  27. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  28. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Llano County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  29. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Llano County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  30. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  31. Hadeler, Glenn. "Emil von Kriewitz de Czepry". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  32. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 26, 2018.

Further reading
  • Reinhardt, Louis (1900). "The Communistic Colony of Bettina". The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association. Denton, TX: Texas State Historical Association. 3: 33–40.

30.71°N 98.68°W / 30.71; -98.68

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