Coleman County, Texas

Coleman County
County
The Coleman County Courthouse in Coleman
The Coleman County Courthouse in Coleman
Map of Texas highlighting Coleman County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°46′N 99°27′W / 31.77°N 99.45°W / 31.77; -99.45
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1864
Named forRobert M. Coleman
SeatColeman
Largest cityColeman
Area
 • Total
1,281 sq mi (3,320 km2)
 • Land1,262 sq mi (3,270 km2)
 • Water19 sq mi (50 km2)  1.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
7,684
 • Density6.0/sq mi (2.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district11th
Websitewww.co.coleman.tx.us

Coleman County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 7,684.[1][2] The county seat is Coleman.[3] The county was founded in 1858 and organized in 1864.[4] It is named for Robert M. Coleman, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto.

History

Around 10,000 BC, indigenous peoples of the Americas were the first inhabitants. Later inhabitants included the Jumano, Lipan Apache, and Comanche.[5]

In 1632, Father Salas led an expedition to the upper Colorado River.[5] In 1650, Captains Hernán Martín and Diego del Castillo explored the western portion of the county to the Concho River, and returned with pearls.[5] Diego de Guadalajara followed the same path as Martín and Castillo in 1654.[5] From 1683 to 1684, Juan Domínguez de Mendoza established a short-lived Quicuchabe mission.[6]

In 1855, the county's oldest community, Trickham, was founded as a trading post for the ranching activities of John Chisum.[7] Coleman County was formed from Brown and Travis Counties in 1858. The county is named for Robert M. Coleman, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence.[5]

In 1861, Rich Coffey settled the communities of Leaday and Voss.[8]

In 1876, the site was chosen for Coleman, the county seat.[9]

The community of Santa Anna was established in 1879. It is named after the Santa Anna Mountains, which in turn, are named after Comanche Chief Santana.[10]

In 1886, the Santa Fe Railway completed a spur to Coleman from nearby Coleman Junction (now San Angelo[11] Junction).[12]

In 1908, the county's first oil well came in near Trickham.[13]

In 1914, the Santa Fe completed the Coleman Cutoff between Coleman, Lubbock, and Clovis.[14] This linked its California lines with the Texas Gulf Coast and put Coleman on the road's main line. Coleman's distinctive[15] brick-and-stucco Santa Fe depot was completed in 1915.

Oil was discovered north of Coleman on the J. P. Morris ranch in 1917.[5]

The Coleman County Medical Center opened in 1923.[5]

By 1925, tenant farmers comprised 63% of local agriculture.[5]

In 1930, the Coleman County population peaked at 23,669.[5]

The Coleman County oilfields produced over a million barrels in 1948.[5]

In 2000, Wind Clean Corporation, harnessing energy from wind power, was founded.[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,281 square miles (3,320 km2), of which 1,262 square miles (3,270 km2) are land and 19 square miles (49 km2) (1.5%) are covered by water.[16]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870347—
18803,603938.3%
18906,11269.6%
190010,07764.9%
191022,618124.5%
192018,805−16.9%
193023,66925.9%
194020,571−13.1%
195015,503−24.6%
196012,458−19.6%
197010,288−17.4%
198010,4391.5%
19909,710−7.0%
20009,235−4.9%
20108,895−3.7%
20207,684−13.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[17]
1850–2010[18] 2010[19] 2020[20]
Coleman County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
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 may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[21] Pop 2010[19] Pop 2020[20] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 7,599 7,123 6,013 82.28% 80.08% 78.25%
Black or African American alone (NH) 199 186 142 2.15% 2.09% 1.85%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 39 40 36 0.42% 0.45% 0.47%
Asian alone (NH) 20 32 32 0.22% 0.36% 0.42%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 1 0 0.00% 0.01% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 4 4 29 0.04% 0.04% 0.38%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 85 90 240 0.92% 1.01% 3.12%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,289 1,419 1,192 13.96% 15.95% 15.51%
Total 9,235 8,895 7,684 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census[22] of 2000, 9,235 people, 3,889 households, and 2,609 families resided in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km2). The 5,248 housing units averaged 4 units per square mile (1.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.53% White, 2.19% African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 6.53% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. About 14% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 3,889 households, 27.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were not families; 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33, and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was distributed as 23.60% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 22.70% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 23.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,658, and for a family was $31,168. Males had a median income of $25,993 versus $17,378 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,911. About 15.50% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.40% of those under age 18 and 14.90% of those age 65 or over.

Education

These school districts serve Coleman County:

Communities

Cities

Town

CDP

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Politics

At the presidential level, Coleman County voted predominantly for the Democratic candidate from 1912 through 1948, with that tendency changing when native son Dwight D. Eisenhower ran successfully in 1952. Thenceforth, GOP candidates have carried the county in most campaigns, with increasingly wide margins in the 21st century.

United States presidential election results for Coleman County, Texas[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,641 88.18% 451 10.92% 37 0.90%
2016 3,177 87.21% 388 10.65% 78 2.14%
2012 3,012 86.25% 442 12.66% 38 1.09%
2008 3,011 81.33% 643 17.37% 48 1.30%
2004 3,035 79.33% 778 20.33% 13 0.34%
2000 2,687 75.10% 853 23.84% 38 1.06%
1996 1,793 49.19% 1,488 40.82% 364 9.99%
1992 1,462 35.33% 1,579 38.16% 1,097 26.51%
1988 2,340 54.15% 1,978 45.78% 3 0.07%
1984 2,790 66.16% 1,420 33.67% 7 0.17%
1980 2,228 55.78% 1,719 43.04% 47 1.18%
1976 1,669 42.20% 2,264 57.24% 22 0.56%
1972 2,386 76.67% 721 23.17% 5 0.16%
1968 1,507 36.68% 1,449 35.26% 1,153 28.06%
1964 1,434 34.93% 2,670 65.04% 1 0.02%
1960 2,127 53.48% 1,835 46.14% 15 0.38%
1956 2,247 58.50% 1,577 41.06% 17 0.44%
1952 2,555 58.24% 1,824 41.58% 8 0.18%
1948 545 15.89% 2,695 78.59% 189 5.51%
1944 498 13.44% 2,887 77.94% 319 8.61%
1940 454 12.19% 3,257 87.48% 12 0.32%
1936 269 8.47% 2,900 91.28% 8 0.25%
1932 235 7.51% 2,881 92.10% 12 0.38%
1928 1,645 53.00% 1,459 47.00% 0 0.00%
1924 502 15.03% 2,763 82.70% 76 2.27%
1920 355 16.03% 1,445 65.27% 414 18.70%
1916 96 4.85% 1,700 85.86% 184 9.29%
1912 52 3.72% 1,280 91.56% 66 4.72%

See also

References

  1. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Coleman County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  2. ^ "Coleman 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Tate, Rusty. "Coleman County". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  6. ^ Hundell, Ken and Sharon (2005). Spirits of the Border V: The History and Mystery of the Lone Star State. Omega Press. p. 176. ISBN 978-0-9626087-9-7.
  7. ^ "Trickham, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  8. ^ Lucko, Paul M. "Richard Coffey". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  9. ^ "Coleman, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  10. ^ "Santa Anna, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  11. ^ "Coleman Junction". texassantafehistory.com.
  12. ^ Hunt, William R. "Coleman, Texas". tshaonline.org.
  13. ^ Warner, C A; Thompson, Ernest O (2007). Texas Oil & Gas Since 1543. Copano Bay Press. p. 213. ISBN 978-0-9767799-5-7.
  14. ^ Blaszak, Michael W. "ATSF Internet Research Center - Santa Fe: A Chronology". atsfirc.qstation.org.
  15. ^ "Santa Fe Surviving Depots, Osage City, KS and Coleman, TX". atsfrailfan.net.
  16. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  17. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  19. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Coleman County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  20. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Coleman County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Coleman County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  23. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 20, 2018.

31°46′N 99°27′W / 31.77°N 99.45°W / 31.77; -99.45