Floyd County, Texas
Floyd County, Texas | |
|---|---|
The Floyd County Courthouse in Floydada | |
Location within the U.S. state of Texas | |
| Coordinates: 34°04′N 101°18′W / 34.07°N 101.3°W | |
| Country | |
| State | |
| Founded | 1890 |
| Named after | Dolphin Ward Floyd |
| Seat | Floydada |
| Largest city | Floydada |
| Area | |
• Total | 993 sq mi (2,570 km2) |
| • Land | 992 sq mi (2,570 km2) |
| • Water | 0.4 sq mi (1.0 km2) 0.04% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,402 |
| • Density | 5.45/sq mi (2.10/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 19th |
| Website | www |
Floyd County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 5,402.[1] The seat of the county is Floydada.[2] The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1890.[3] It is named for Dolphin Ward Floyd,[4] who died on his 32nd birthday, March 6, 1836, defending the Alamo.
The Matador Ranch, based in Motley County, once reached into Floyd County, as well.[5]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 993 square miles (2,570 km2), of which 992 square miles (2,570 km2) are land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) (0.04%) is covered by water.[6]
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Briscoe County (north)
- Motley County (east)
- Dickens County (southeast)
- Crosby County (south)
- Lubbock County (southwest)
- Hale County (west)
- Swisher County (northwest)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 3 | — | |
| 1890 | 529 | 17,533.3% | |
| 1900 | 2,020 | 281.9% | |
| 1910 | 4,638 | 129.6% | |
| 1920 | 9,758 | 110.4% | |
| 1930 | 12,409 | 27.2% | |
| 1940 | 10,659 | −14.1% | |
| 1950 | 10,535 | −1.2% | |
| 1960 | 12,369 | 17.4% | |
| 1970 | 11,044 | −10.7% | |
| 1980 | 9,834 | −11.0% | |
| 1990 | 8,497 | −13.6% | |
| 2000 | 7,771 | −8.5% | |
| 2010 | 6,446 | −17.1% | |
| 2020 | 5,402 | −16.2% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 5,042 | [7] | −6.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1850–2010[9] 2010[10] 2020[11] | |||
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[12] | Pop 2010[10] | Pop 2020[11] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 3,875 | 2,777 | 2,079 | 49.86% | 43.08% | 38.49% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 252 | 211 | 125 | 3.24% | 3.27% | 2.31% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 33 | 16 | 7 | 0.42% | 0.25% | 0.13% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 12 | 11 | 12 | 0.15% | 0.17% | 0.22% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0.04% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 3 | 1 | 13 | 0.04% | 0.02% | 0.24% |
| Multiracial (NH) | 24 | 19 | 98 | 0.31% | 0.29% | 1.81% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3,569 | 3,410 | 3,067 | 45.93% | 52.90% | 56.78% |
| Total | 7,771 | 6,446 | 5,402 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 5,402. The median age was 40.3 years, with 27.3% of residents under the age of 18 and 20.5% aged 65 years or older. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.0 males age 18 and over.[13]
The racial makeup of the county was 57.4% White, 2.9% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 12.2% from some other race, and 26.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 56.8% of the population.[14]
Less than 0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[15]
There were 2,125 households in the county, of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.6% were married-couple households, 18.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[13]
There were 2,603 housing units, of which 18.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.2% were owner-occupied and 27.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 14.1%.[13]
2010 census
As of the 2010 census[16], the county had 6,446 people.
Historical population
In 1880, only three white men (Richard H. Woolf, Samuel Mobly, and A.S. Presley, all three of whom worked as cattle ranchers and/or cowboys and were aged 23 years old) resided in Floyd County, TX, but the population of the county soon grew to 529 people by 1890, and to 2020 by 1900, and even larger in the following decades.
2000 census
The 2000 census showed 2,730 households and 2,110 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km2). The3,221 housing units averaged of 3 per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 74.16% White, 3.38% African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 19.66% from other races, and 1.81% from two or more races. About 45.93% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 2,730 households, 39.4% had children under 18 living with them, 63.9% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were not families. Around 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the county, the population was distributed as 31.40% under 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 20.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 89.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,851 and for a family was $32,123. Males had a median income of $25,487 versus $18,929 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,206. About 19.50% of families and 21.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.60% of those under 18 and 16.50% of those 65 or over.
Wind energy development
Floyd County is ideal for wind development. It is located in what many call the wind corridor of the United States, which stretches from the Panhandle of Texas north into Minnesota, including some of the most wind-rich states in the country. Reasons include the quality of wind in the region, the possibilities of connecting into two different electric grid systems, and the scheduled transmission line build-out in the area.[citation needed]
Communities
City
- Floydada (county seat)
Town
Unincorporated communities
Media
Floyd County is home to two general news organizations and two radio stations. In addition, Floydada is the corporate headquarters for Paramount Broadcasting Corp., which provides daily agricultural programming to All Ag, All Day affiliates (KFLP (AM) in Floydada, and KPUR (AM) in Amarillo, Texas), as well as All Ag Network affiliates from Fresno, California, to Utica, New York.[17] For the first 23 years, the West Texas Friday Night Scoreboard show was produced and syndicated from the downtown Floydada studios before moving to its current Lubbock studios in 2019.[18]
Online
Radio
Politics
Republican Drew Springer, Jr., a businessman from Muenster in Cooke County, has represented Floyd County in the Texas House of Representatives since January 2013.[19]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 22 | 4.79% | 381 | 83.01% | 56 | 12.20% |
| 1916 | 48 | 6.55% | 600 | 81.86% | 85 | 11.60% |
| 1920 | 167 | 15.67% | 841 | 78.89% | 58 | 5.44% |
| 1924 | 166 | 11.93% | 1,197 | 85.99% | 29 | 2.08% |
| 1928 | 1,176 | 63.84% | 666 | 36.16% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 145 | 6.82% | 1,976 | 92.94% | 5 | 0.24% |
| 1936 | 217 | 10.36% | 1,863 | 88.93% | 15 | 0.72% |
| 1940 | 484 | 20.41% | 1,880 | 79.29% | 7 | 0.30% |
| 1944 | 370 | 15.11% | 1,756 | 71.73% | 322 | 13.15% |
| 1948 | 344 | 12.97% | 2,174 | 81.94% | 135 | 5.09% |
| 1952 | 2,066 | 58.46% | 1,463 | 41.40% | 5 | 0.14% |
| 1956 | 1,445 | 44.86% | 1,767 | 54.86% | 9 | 0.28% |
| 1960 | 1,580 | 51.94% | 1,437 | 47.24% | 25 | 0.82% |
| 1964 | 1,229 | 33.94% | 2,383 | 65.81% | 9 | 0.25% |
| 1968 | 1,465 | 40.50% | 1,305 | 36.08% | 847 | 23.42% |
| 1972 | 2,181 | 72.17% | 841 | 27.83% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 1,402 | 41.07% | 1,991 | 58.32% | 21 | 0.62% |
| 1980 | 2,043 | 57.45% | 1,477 | 41.54% | 36 | 1.01% |
| 1984 | 2,092 | 66.75% | 1,023 | 32.64% | 19 | 0.61% |
| 1988 | 1,741 | 55.48% | 1,391 | 44.33% | 6 | 0.19% |
| 1992 | 1,676 | 55.70% | 947 | 31.47% | 386 | 12.83% |
| 1996 | 1,530 | 57.78% | 986 | 37.24% | 132 | 4.98% |
| 2000 | 1,830 | 75.62% | 580 | 23.97% | 10 | 0.41% |
| 2004 | 2,032 | 78.64% | 545 | 21.09% | 7 | 0.27% |
| 2008 | 1,784 | 70.77% | 730 | 28.96% | 7 | 0.28% |
| 2012 | 1,523 | 73.05% | 551 | 26.43% | 11 | 0.53% |
| 2016 | 1,474 | 75.24% | 435 | 22.21% | 50 | 2.55% |
| 2020 | 1,584 | 77.65% | 438 | 21.47% | 18 | 0.88% |
| 2024 | 1,715 | 82.06% | 358 | 17.13% | 17 | 0.81% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 1,420 | 75.81% | 406 | 21.68% | 47 | 2.51% |
Education
School districts serving the county include:[22]
- Floydada Independent School District
- Lockney Independent School District
- Motley County Independent School District
- Petersburg Independent School District
- Plainview Independent School District
- Turkey-Quitaque Independent School District
The county is in the service area of South Plains College.[23]
See also
- Dry county
- Quitaque Creek
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Floyd County, Texas
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Floyd County
- Floydada Economic Development Corporation
References
- ^ "Floyd County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 127.
- ^ "Matador Ranch", Historical marker, Texas Historical Commission, Motley County, Texas
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
- ^ {{cite web
|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/floydcountytexas/PST045224
|title=QuickFacts: Floyd County, Texas
|publisher=United States Census Bureau
|access-date=June 13, 2025}}
- ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Floyd County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Floyd County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Floyd County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ "ON THE RECORD: All Ag, All Day celebrates 20 years". Floyd County Record. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
- ^ "Floyd County's Orr Returns for 27th Scoreboard Season". Floyd County Record. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ "State Rep. Springer announces district tour July 30". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, July 16, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ^ Geography Division (December 22, 2020). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Floyd County, TX (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022. - list
- ^ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.198. SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
External links
- Official website

- Floyd County from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Floyd County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties Archived June 9, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
