Dawson County, Texas

Not to be confused with Dawson, Texas.

Dawson County, Texas
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
Coordinates: 32°44′N 101°57′W / 32.74°N 101.95°W / 32.74; -101.95
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1905
Named afterNicholas Mosby Dawson
SeatLamesa
Largest cityLamesa
Area
 • Total
902 sq mi (2,340 km2)
 • Land900 sq mi (2,300 km2)
 • Water1.8 sq mi (4.7 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
12,456
 • Density14/sq mi (5.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district19th
Websitewww.co.dawson.tx.us Edit this at Wikidata

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, Texas micropolitan statistical area (μSA), and by population is the smallest μSA in the United States.

History

A Dawson County was founded in 1856 from Kinney County, Maverick County, and Uvalde County, but was divided in 1866 between Kinney and Uvalde Counties. 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 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%
2024 (est.)11,758[9]−5.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1850–2010[11] 2010[12] 2020[13]
Dawson 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[14] Pop 2010[12] Pop 2020[13] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 6,439 5,402 4,590 42.37% 39.05% 36.85%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,285 860 847 8.58% 6.22% 6.80%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 23 28 23 0.15% 0.20% 0.18%
Asian alone (NH) 32 46 56 0.21% 0.33% 0.45%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 2 4 0.00% 0.01% 0.03%
Other race alone (NH) 10 13 17 0.07% 0.09% 0.14%
Multiracial (NH) 64 95 152 0.43% 0.69% 1.22%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7,222 7,387 6,767 48.19% 53.40% 54.33%
Total 14,985 13,833 12,456 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 12,456, with a median age of 37.3 years; 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.8% were 65 years of age or older, and for every 100 females there were 120.7 males while 128.3 males were present for every 100 females age 18 and over.[15]

The racial makeup of the county was 61.1% White, 7.2% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 14.6% from some other race, and 15.8% from two or more races, while Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 54.3% of the population.[16]

Seventy.1 percent of residents lived in urban areas and 29.9% lived in rural areas.[17]

There were 4,079 households, of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18. Of all households, 49.0% were married-couple households, 18.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present; about 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]

There were 4,859 housing units, 16.1% of which were vacant; among occupied units, 72.4% were owner-occupied and 27.6% were renter-occupied, with a homeowner vacancy rate of 1.8% and a rental vacancy rate of 15.6%.[15]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,[18] 14,985 people, 4,726 households, and 3,501 families lived 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, while about 48.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 4,726 households, 35.1% had children under 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were not families. About 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 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 25.6% under 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 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

Ghost towns

Politics

Dawson County is located within District 82 of the Texas House of Representatives. Dawson County is located within District 31 of the Texas Senate.

United States presidential election results for Dawson County, Texas[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1912 7 8.14% 74 86.05% 5 5.81%
1916 14 4.40% 288 90.57% 16 5.03%
1920 75 17.90% 296 70.64% 48 11.46%
1924 185 14.24% 1,079 83.06% 35 2.69%
1928 1,448 77.23% 427 22.77% 0 0.00%
1932 153 8.44% 1,659 91.51% 1 0.06%
1936 156 7.83% 1,829 91.82% 7 0.35%
1940 361 11.37% 2,808 88.47% 5 0.16%
1944 472 16.43% 2,149 74.83% 251 8.74%
1948 393 12.51% 2,605 82.94% 143 4.55%
1952 2,388 53.29% 2,093 46.71% 0 0.00%
1956 1,615 44.01% 2,049 55.83% 6 0.16%
1960 2,161 50.89% 2,063 48.59% 22 0.52%
1964 1,691 34.74% 3,171 65.14% 6 0.12%
1968 2,091 46.33% 1,522 33.72% 900 19.94%
1972 3,247 79.29% 846 20.66% 2 0.05%
1976 2,474 53.17% 2,162 46.46% 17 0.37%
1980 3,267 62.77% 1,867 35.87% 71 1.36%
1984 3,685 67.21% 1,781 32.48% 17 0.31%
1988 3,154 59.32% 2,155 40.53% 8 0.15%
1992 2,691 55.43% 1,639 33.76% 525 10.81%
1996 2,319 55.53% 1,612 38.60% 245 5.87%
2000 3,337 68.96% 1,463 30.23% 39 0.81%
2004 3,419 75.23% 1,114 24.51% 12 0.26%
2008 2,906 70.95% 1,152 28.13% 38 0.93%
2012 2,591 71.14% 1,019 27.98% 32 0.88%
2016 2,636 73.98% 835 23.44% 92 2.58%
2020 2,951 77.88% 808 21.32% 30 0.79%
2024 2,810 79.99% 667 18.99% 36 1.02%
United States Senate election results for Dawson County, Texas1[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 2,686 77.74% 688 19.91% 81 2.34%

Education

School districts serving the county include:[21]

The county is in the service area of Howard County Junior College.[22]

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. ^ {{cite web Decrease |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/dawsoncountytexas/PST045224 |title=QuickFacts: Dawson County, Texas |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=June 13, 2025}}
  10. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ a b "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.
  13. ^ a b "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.
  14. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Dawson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  16. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  17. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  18. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  20. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  21. ^ "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
  22. ^ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.183. HOWARD COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.

32°44′N 101°57′W / 32.74°N 101.95°W / 32.74; -101.95

allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawson_County,_Texas