Erath County, Texas

Not to be confused with Earth, Texas.

Erath County, Texas
County
Erath County Courthouse in Stephenville, Texas.
Map of Texas highlighting Erath County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Coordinates: 32°14′N 98°13′W / 32.23°N 98.22°W / 32.23; -98.22
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1856
Named afterGeorge Bernard Erath
SeatStephenville
Largest cityStephenville
Area
 • Total
1,090 sq mi (2,800 km2)
 • Land1,083 sq mi (2,800 km2)
 • Water6.7 sq mi (17 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
42,545
 • Density39.28/sq mi (15.17/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district25th
Websitewww.co.erath.tx.us

Erath County (/ˈiːræθ/) is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. According to the United States Census bureau, its population was 42,545 in 2020.[1] The county seat is Stephenville.[2] The county is named for George Bernard Erath, an early surveyor and a soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto.

Erath County is included in the Stephenville, Texas, Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Erath County contains two of North America's largest renewable natural gas plants. The largest is at Huckabay Ridge, near Stephenville. The second-largest is outside Dublin at Rio Leche Estates.

History

Native Americans

Caddo tribe Anadarko villages were scattered along the Trinity and Brazos Rivers.[3] French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe developed camaraderie among the Anadarko in 1719 when he established Fort Saint Louis de los Cadodaquious.[4] The Anadarko became entangled with the French battles with the Spanish and later the Anglos and suffered the consequences, including diseases to which they had no immunity. By 1860, these tribes moved to Oklahoma. Erath County falls into Comancheria and found itself raided by Comanches until their removal to Oklahoma after 1875.[5]

County established and growth

Erath County was formed from Bosque and Coryell counties in 1856 and named for George Bernard Erath, one of the area's original surveyors.[6] In 1856, John M. Stephen offered to donate land for a townsite. It was named Stephenville after him and became the county seat.[7]

Jones Barbee founded the community of Dublin in 1854.[8] His children were the first citizens to be buried in Erath County in the community of Edna Hill, in Southern Erath. Barbee Cemetery is named after him. Jones traveled with his wife and children across the country from North Carolina. He is the grandson of Christopher "Old Kit" Barbee, North Carolina's wealthiest landowner and the largest land donor for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[9] Barbee served as board president; a bronze statue of him is in the university. Jones had many children who went on to populate the county, with names such as Barbee, White, Durham, and Brambeletts. Some of his great-grandchildren still live in the community. His great-great-great-granddaughter, Carolina, lives on his land today in Edna Hill and is the sixth generation to continually live on his old homestead. Her children are the seventh. The families of other early settlers also remain there. Dublin later became famous as the early boyhood home of the PGA, U.S. Open and Masters golf champion Ben Hogan.[10]

In 1857, thirty pioneers settled in the county, led by George Erath. The group included brothers William F. and John M. Stephen and a black family whose name and fate is unknown.[11]

Erath, an immigrant from Vienna, Austria, was a Texas Ranger and member of Billingsley's Company C, 1st Regiment of Texas Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Charles Burleson at the Battle of San Jacinto, and a member of the Confederate Home Guard.[12] As a Freemason, he was a charter member and secretary of Bosque Lodge #92, from 1852 to 1855. The lodge's name changed to Waco #92 in 1857. It is the oldest continuous organization in Waco, Texas.[13]

Cotton became the major crop between 1875 and 1915, with the largest harvest in 1906. The industry was helped in 1879 when the Texas Central Railroad reached Dublin, and in 1889 when the Fort Worth and Rio Grande railroad was completed through Stephenville. This opened eastern markets for the county's cotton crops. By 1910, soil erosion and the boll weevil caused diversity planning that led to dairy farms, fruit orchards, nurseries, peanuts, feed crops, and poultry.[6]

The community of Thurber was created by the Johnson Coal Company.[14] From 1888 to 1921, the Texas Pacific Coal Company mined coal near Thurber, making it a leading coal producer in the state. Fifty-two percent of the miners were of Italian ancestry, creating the "Italian Hill" community just outside Thurber. In 1903, the United Mine Workers sent Joe Fenoglio to organize the Italian workers, beginning the Thurber Coal Miners Strike. In the 1970s, the area began bituminous coal production for fuel in the cement industry.[15]

Tarleton State University was founded in 1893 as Stephenville College. It was renamed in 1899 after local rancher John Tarleton rescued the institution from financial difficulties.[16]

On November 4, 2008, Erath County voters elected to allow the sale of beer and wine in the county for off-premises consumption.

Courthouse

Erath's original 1866 wooden courthouse burned to the ground, destroying county documents along with it. A second stone courthouse was built in 1877 but eventually razed. The cornerstone for the current courthouse was laid in 1891. The architects James Riely Gordon and D. E. Laub designed the three-story showcase Victorian structure. Gordon also designed the Arizona State Capitol and courthouses in Aransas, Bexar, Brazoria, Comal, Ellis, Fayette, Gonzales, Harrison, Hopkins, Lee, McLennan, Victoria and Wise Counties.[17] The building was completed in 1893 with limestone from the Leon River and red sandstone from Pecos County. Its central 95-foot tower has a bell tower and creates a chandeliered atrium from the first floor to the third. The interior is east Texas pine, with cast and wrought-iron stairways, and tessellated imported marble floors. It was renovated in 1988.[18]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,090 square miles (2,800 km2), of which 1,083 square miles (2,800 km2) is land and 6.7 square miles (17 km2) (0.6%) is water.[19]

Major highways

State Highway 108 as S Graham Avenue in Stephenville

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18602,425—
18701,801−25.7%
188011,796555.0%
189021,58483.0%
190029,96638.8%
191032,0957.1%
192028,385−11.6%
193020,804−26.7%
194020,760−0.2%
195018,434−11.2%
196016,236−11.9%
197018,14111.7%
198022,56024.4%
199027,99124.1%
200033,00117.9%
201037,89014.8%
202042,54512.3%
2024 (est.)44,496[20]4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[21]
1850–2010[22] 2010[23] 2020[24]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 42,545. The median age was 31.5 years. 20.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.3 males age 18 and over.[25]

The racial makeup of the county was 76.8% White, 2.9% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 8.6% from some other race, and 9.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 21.8% of the population.[26]

49.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 51.0% lived in rural areas.[27]

There were 15,858 households in the county, of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.6% were married-couple households, 20.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[25]

There were 18,325 housing units, of which 13.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 58.8% were owner-occupied and 41.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 14.2%.[25]

Racial and ethnic composition

Erath 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[28] Pop 2010[23] Pop 2020[24] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 27,269 29,382 30,006 82.63% 77.55% 70.53%
Black or African American alone (NH) 257 431 1,194 0.78% 1.14% 2.81%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 127 170 215 0.38% 0.45% 0.51%
Asian alone (NH) 117 240 348 0.35% 0.63% 0.82%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 9 12 13 0.03% 0.03% 0.03%
Other Race alone (NH) 20 18 104 0.06% 0.05% 0.24%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) 243 358 1,411 0.74% 0.94% 3.32%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4,959 7,279 9,254 15.03% 19.21% 21.75%
Total 33,001 37,890 42,545 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2010 census

At the 2010 census,[29] there were 37,890 people, 14,569 households and 9,003 families residing in the county. The racial makeup of the county was 85.6% White, 1.2% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.0003% Pacific Islander, 10% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. 19.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,569 households, of which 29.59% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.03% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 38.2% were non-families. 27% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.06.

22.29% of the population were under the age of 18, 19.40% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.5 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Politics

At the presidential level, Erath County is predominantly Republican. In 2012, Mitt Romney won the county in the presidential election with over 80% of the vote. The last Democrat to win the county was Jimmy Carter, in 1976 and 1980.[30]

United States presidential election results for Erath County, Texas[30]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№  % №  % №  %
1912 156 8.19% 1,569 82.36% 180 9.45%
1916 184 7.32% 2,024 80.57% 304 12.10%
1920 358 13.05% 1,914 69.78% 471 17.17%
1924 406 10.27% 3,396 85.89% 152 3.84%
1928 1,923 56.94% 1,372 40.63% 82 2.43%
1932 284 7.83% 3,319 91.46% 26 0.72%
1936 290 9.68% 2,694 89.95% 11 0.37%
1940 646 15.67% 3,459 83.90% 18 0.44%
1944 411 9.85% 3,330 79.84% 430 10.31%
1948 598 14.94% 3,172 79.26% 232 5.80%
1952 3,249 54.93% 2,664 45.04% 2 0.03%
1956 2,775 53.66% 2,377 45.97% 19 0.37%
1960 2,696 51.69% 2,490 47.74% 30 0.58%
1964 1,642 29.87% 3,851 70.04% 5 0.09%
1968 2,209 36.46% 2,915 48.11% 935 15.43%
1972 4,777 74.26% 1,648 25.62% 8 0.12%
1976 2,925 37.55% 4,821 61.89% 44 0.56%
1980 3,981 47.93% 4,156 50.04% 169 2.03%
1984 6,122 65.16% 3,234 34.42% 39 0.42%
1988 5,427 56.71% 4,113 42.98% 30 0.31%
1992 3,835 36.77% 3,531 33.85% 3,065 29.38%
1996 4,750 49.49% 3,664 38.17% 1,184 12.34%
2000 8,126 73.11% 2,804 25.23% 185 1.66%
2004 9,506 77.40% 2,710 22.07% 65 0.53%
2008 10,768 76.81% 3,128 22.31% 123 0.88%
2012 10,329 82.81% 1,965 15.75% 179 1.44%
2016 11,210 80.69% 2,160 15.55% 523 3.76%
2020 13,684 81.08% 2,916 17.28% 277 1.64%
2024 15,349 83.42% 2,871 15.60% 180 0.98%
United States Senate election results for Erath County, Texas1[31]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№  % №  % №  %
2024 14,672 80.71% 3,126 17.20% 380 2.09%

Media

Two newspapers have offices in Erath County, The Stephenville Empire-Tribune and The Dublin Citizen. Local television stations that provide coverage for Erath County and surrounding areas come from the Dallas/Fort Worth and Waco/Temple/Killeen metropolitan areas.

Five radio stations have their main studios and offices in Erath County: KEQX 89.5, KTRL 90.5, KSTV-FM 93.1, KXTR-LP 100.7 and KSTV (AM) 1510. KTRL and KXTR-LP are operated by Tarleton State University.

Several scenes in the Paul Greengrass Western movie News of the World take place in a fictionalized Erath County shortly after the end of the Civil War.[32]

In 2023 television and film producer Taylor Sheridan's company used several Erath County locations, including the Court House Square, to film The Bass Reeves Story for Netflix as the Yellowstone franchise evolved to include additional places, times and events. Downtown Stephenville was transformed for several weeks into a 19th-century facsimile of Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Erath County is home to several nationally famous people, including 7-time American Rodeo Association World Champion and co-founder of Professional Bull Riders (PBR Rodeo) Tye Murray; comedic actress and winner of the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress (1972) and 5-time Emmy Award nominee Ruth Buzzi; and activist Taya Kyle, widow of Navy Seal Cris Kyle, who was murdered in Erath County. It is the birthplace of country singer-songwriter Johnny Duncan. Stephenville is also home to NFL player Cody Davis and 3-time college football national "coach of the year" Arthur "Art" Briles, who now coaches an Italian professional football team and formerly coached the Houston Cougars and Baylor Bears.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Erath 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. ^ "Anadarko Indian History". Access Genealogy. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
    - "Caddo Indian History". Access Genealogy. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  4. ^ Weddle, Robert S (1991). "Cannibal Coast". The French Thorn: Rival Explorers in the Spanish Sea, 1682-1762. TAMU Press. pp. 208–228. ISBN 978-0-89096-480-4.
  5. ^ "Texas Indian Lands". R E. Moore and Texarch Associates. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  6. ^ a b Young, Dan M (June 12, 2010). "Erath County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  7. ^ "Stephenville, Texas". Texas Escapes. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  8. ^ "Dublin, Texas". Texas Escapes. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  9. ^ "Early Land Donations · Carolina's Early Benefactors · Carolina Story: Virtual Museum of University History".
  10. ^ "Beh Hogan bio". World Golf Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  11. ^ Longwell, Evelyn Clark (June 15, 2010). "Neil McLennan". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  12. ^ "Officers and Enlisted Men Battle of San Jacinto 21st April 1836". Sons of Dewitt Colony Texas. Archived from the original on December 5, 2010. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  13. ^ "George B. Erath - Texas Mason Honored in Stephenville". The Grand Lodge of Texas Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  14. ^ "Thurber, Texas". Texas Escapes. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  15. ^ "The Italian Presence in the Coal Camp of Thurber, Texas". Thurber, Texas. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
    - Taylor, Wilma Rugh (2005). "Finding Surprises in East Texas". Gospel Tracks through Texas: The Mission of Chapel Car Good Will. TAMU Press. pp. 47–56. ISBN 978-1-58544-434-2.
  16. ^ Dethloff, Henry C (1996). Texas A&M University: A Pictorial History, 1876-1996, Second Edition. TAMU Press. pp. 62–64. ISBN 978-0-89096-704-1.
    - Peterson's (2008). Colleges in the South: Compare Colleges in Your Region. Peterson's. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-7689-2695-8.
  17. ^ Lurie, Maxine N; Mappen, Marc; Siegel, Michael (2004). Encyclopedia of New Jersey. Rutgers University Press. p. 324. ISBN 978-0-8135-3325-4.
  18. ^ Herda, Ed.D., Lou Ann. "Erath County Courthouse". Texas Escapes. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  19. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  20. ^ "QuickFacts: Erath County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  21. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  22. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  23. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Erath County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  24. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Erath County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  25. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  26. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  27. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  28. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Erath County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  29. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  30. ^ a b Leip, Dave. "United States Presidential Election Results". Atlas of US Presidential Elections.
  31. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  32. ^ Tallerico, Brian. "News of the World movie review (2020) | Roger Ebert". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved April 13, 2021.

32°14′N 98°13′W / 32.23°N 98.22°W / 32.23; -98.22

allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephenville,_TX_Micropolitan_Statistical_Area