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Hamilton County, Texas

Coordinates: 31°42′N 98°07′W / 31.70°N 98.11°W / 31.70; -98.11
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Hamilton County
County
The Hamilton County Courthouse in Hamilton, Texas. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 4, 1980.
The Hamilton County Courthouse in Hamilton, Texas. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 4, 1980.
Map of Texas highlighting Hamilton 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°42′N 98°07′W / 31.7°N 98.11°W / 31.7; -98.11
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1858
Named forJames Hamilton Jr.
SeatHamilton
Largest cityHamilton
Area
 • Total
836 sq mi (2,170 km2)
 • Land836 sq mi (2,170 km2)
 • Water0.5 sq mi (1 km2)  0.06%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
8,222
 • Density9.8/sq mi (3.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district31st
Websitewww.hamiltoncountytx.org

Hamilton County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 8,222.[1] The county seat is Hamilton.[2] The county was created in 1858.[3] It is named for James Hamilton Jr.,[4] a former governor of South Carolina who gave financial aid to the Republic of Texas.

History

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Indigenous peoples were the first inhabitants of the area. Later Native American tribes settled in the area, including Tawakoni, Tonkawa, Waco and Comanche.[5]

In 1821, shortly after Mexico claimed its independence from Spain, Anglo settlers from the North came to Texas, claiming Mexican citizenship.

Following Texas's independence from Mexico (1836) and its annexation by the United States (1845), Robert Carter and family became the first permanent white settlers in the county in 1854. The next year, settlers James Rice, Henry Standefer, Frederic Bookerman, William Beauchamp, and Asa Langford formed a community that later becomes the town of Hamilton. Asa Langford began Langford's Cove, which later grows into present-day Evant. In 1858 the Sixth Texas Legislature formed Hamilton County, named after James Hamilton Jr., from parts of Comanche, Bosque, and Lampasas counties. In 1858, Hamilton was named the county seat.

Despite growing white settlements in Texas, Indian tribal presences remained. In 1867, Comanche raiders attacked a school where Ann Whitney was the teacher. She helped students escape before finally succumbing to 18 Comanche arrows.[6][7]

In 1882, the Hico community initiated the annual Hico Old Settlers' Reunion.[8]

By 1900, cotton cultivation had spread to almost 47,500 acres (192 km2) of county land. By 1907, the Stephenville North and South Texas Railway had connected Hamilton with Stephenville. The St. Louis Southwestern Railway of Texas connected Hamilton with Gatesville and Comanche in 1911.

In 1934, the Civil Works Administration's payroll included 747 Hamilton County men, who together earned about $2,000 per day.

In 1950, Ollie P. Roberts (also known as Ollie L. Roberts, "Brushy Bill" Roberts, or William Henry Roberts), a resident of Hico during the late 1940s, claimed to have been the outlaw Billy The Kid. The assertion is based on a legend that Patrick F. Garrett helped Billy fake his own death. Hico Chamber of Commerce responded by opening a Billy The Kid Museum.[9]

In 2009, Hamilton was invaded by the West Texas Rattlesnake.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 836 square miles (2,170 km2), of which 836 square miles (2,170 km2) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2) (0.06%) is water.[10]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860489—
187073349.9%
18806,365768.3%
18906,313−0.8%
190013,520114.2%
191015,31513.3%
192014,676−4.2%
193013,523−7.9%
194013,303−1.6%
195010,660−19.9%
19608,488−20.4%
19707,198−15.2%
19808,29715.3%
19907,733−6.8%
20008,2296.4%
20108,5173.5%
20208,222−3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1850–2010[12] 2010[13] 2020[14]
Hamilton 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[15] Pop 2010[13] Pop 2020[14] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 7,498 7,495 6,805 91.12% 88.00% 82.77%
Black or African American alone (NH) 11 38 32 0.13% 0.45% 0.39%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 34 31 37 0.41% 0.36% 0.45%
Asian alone (NH) 12 31 36 0.15% 0.36% 0.44%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 4 1 2 0.05% 0.01% 0.02%
Other Race alone (NH) 1 3 17 0.01% 0.04% 0.21%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) 59 55 248 0.72% 0.65% 3.02%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 610 863 1,045 7.41% 10.13% 12.71%
Total 8,229 8,517 8,222 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 8,229 people, 3,374 households, and 2,324 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (3.9 people/km2). There were 4,455 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.81% White, 0.15% (12) Black or African American, 0.44% (36) Native American, 0.15% (12) Asian, 0.05% (4) Pacific Islander, 4.36% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. 7.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,374 households, out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 28.40% 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 2.37 and the average family size was 2.89. As of the 2010 census, there were about 2.9 same-sex couples per 1,000 households in the county.[17]

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.80% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 23.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,150, and the median income for a family was $39,494. Males had a median income of $26,703 versus $20,192 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,800. About 10.60% of families and 14.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.20% of those under age 18 and 13.80% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person

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Media

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Hamilton County is currently listed as part of the Dallas-Fort Worth DMA. Local media outlets include: KDFW-TV, KXAS-TV, WFAA-TV, KTVT-TV, KERA-TV, KTXA-TV, KDFI-TV, KDAF-TV, and KFWD-TV. Because the county is located in Central Texas and neighbors the Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area, all of the Waco/Temple/Killeen market stations also provide coverage for Hamilton County. They include: KCEN-TV, KWTX-TV, KXXV-TV, KWKT-TV, KNCT (TV), and KAKW-DT.

Communities

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Cities

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Town

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost Town

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Education

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School districts include:[18]

Hamilton County is in the service area, defined by the Texas Education Code, of Central Texas College.[19]

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Politics

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United States presidential election results for Hamilton County, Texas[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 3,809 85.02% 625 13.95% 46 1.03%
2020 3,616 83.11% 641 14.73% 94 2.16%
2016 3,060 84.53% 479 13.23% 81 2.24%
2012 2,918 82.15% 591 16.64% 43 1.21%
2008 2,876 76.12% 863 22.84% 39 1.03%
2004 2,856 76.57% 845 22.65% 29 0.78%
2000 2,447 72.48% 878 26.01% 51 1.51%
1996 1,493 49.26% 1,200 39.59% 338 11.15%
1992 1,232 37.80% 1,100 33.75% 927 28.44%
1988 1,718 55.67% 1,355 43.91% 13 0.42%
1984 2,118 65.01% 1,130 34.68% 10 0.31%
1980 1,683 51.52% 1,526 46.71% 58 1.78%
1976 1,176 36.88% 1,981 62.12% 32 1.00%
1972 1,931 73.79% 685 26.18% 1 0.04%
1968 1,266 44.67% 1,116 39.38% 452 15.95%
1964 1,006 32.92% 2,048 67.02% 2 0.07%
1960 1,592 58.17% 1,136 41.51% 9 0.33%
1956 1,709 60.11% 1,124 39.54% 10 0.35%
1952 2,130 61.77% 1,313 38.08% 5 0.15%
1948 478 20.44% 1,725 73.75% 136 5.81%
1944 344 13.77% 1,790 71.63% 365 14.61%
1940 655 22.42% 2,263 77.45% 4 0.14%
1936 202 9.47% 1,929 90.48% 1 0.05%
1932 164 6.21% 2,474 93.64% 4 0.15%
1928 927 48.38% 989 51.62% 0 0.00%
1924 202 8.68% 2,035 87.45% 90 3.87%
1920 422 25.24% 1,075 64.29% 175 10.47%
1916 201 13.76% 1,231 84.26% 29 1.98%
1912 67 5.42% 992 80.26% 177 14.32%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Hamilton County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 148.
  5. ^ Handbook of Texas, Hamilton County
  6. ^ Texas Historical Markers, Ann Whitney Archived March 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Texas Escapes, Details of Comanche Attack
  8. ^ Hico Old Settlers' Reunion Archived March 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Billy The Kid Legend Archived March 30, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  11. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  13. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Hamilton County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Hamilton County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Hamilton County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  17. ^ "Where Same-Sex Couples Live", The New York Times, June 26, 2015, retrieved July 6, 2015
  18. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hamilton County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 24, 2024. - Text list
  19. ^ Texas Education Code, Section 130.171, "Central Texas College District Service Area".
  20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
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31°42′N 98°07′W / 31.70°N 98.11°W / 31.70; -98.11

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