Wheeler County, Texas

Wheeler County, Texas
County
Wheeler County Courthouse
Wheeler County Courthouse
Map of Texas highlighting Wheeler County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Coordinates: 35°24′N 100°16′W / 35.4°N 100.27°W / 35.4; -100.27
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1879
Named afterRoyall T. Wheeler
SeatWheeler
Largest cityShamrock
Area
 • Total
915 sq mi (2,370 km2)
 • Land915 sq mi (2,370 km2)
 • Water1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
4,990
 • Density5.45/sq mi (2.11/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district13th
Websitewww.wheelercounty.texas.gov Edit this at Wikidata
Wheeler County Veterans Memorial
John 14:6 sign along U.S. Route 66 in Wheeler County

Wheeler County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 4,990.[1] Its county seat is Wheeler.[2] The county was formed in 1876 and organized in 1879.[3] It is named for Royall Tyler Wheeler, a chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court.

Wheeler County was formerly one of 30 entirely dry counties in the state of Texas.[4] However, circa 2010, the community of Shamrock, located in Wheeler County at the intersection of Interstate 40 and U.S. Highway 83, voted to allow liquor sales. Within the city limits of Shamrock is the only place to purchase liquor in Wheeler County.

The Pioneer West Museum, the Wheeler County historical museum, is located in Shamrock off U.S. Highway 83.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 915 square miles (2,370 km2), of which 915 square miles (2,370 km2) are land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (0.1%) is covered by water.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880512—
189077852.0%
1900636−18.3%
19105,258726.7%
19207,39740.7%
193015,555110.3%
194012,411−20.2%
195010,317−16.9%
19607,947−23.0%
19706,434−19.0%
19807,13710.9%
19905,879−17.6%
20005,284−10.1%
20105,4102.4%
20204,990−7.8%
2023 (est.)4,804[6]−3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1850–1900[8] 1910[9]
1920[10] 1930[11] 1940[12]
1950[13] 1960[14] 1970[15]
1980[16] 1990[17] 2000[18]
2010[19] 2020[20]

Racial and ethnic composition

Wheeler 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[22] Pop 2020[20] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 4,386 3,847 3,469 83.01% 71.11% 69.52%
Black or African American alone (NH) 137 112 81 2.59% 2.07% 1.62%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 29 20 33 0.55% 0.37% 0.66%
Asian alone (NH) 29 23 24 0.55% 0.43% 0.48%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 4 0 2 0.08% 0.00% 0.04%
Other race alone (NH) 0 3 12 0.00% 0.06% 0.24%
Mixed or multiracial (NH) 35 61 142 0.66% 1.13% 2.85%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 664 1,344 1,227 12.57% 24.84% 24.59%
Total 5,284 5,410 4,990 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 4,990. The median age was 42.3 years. 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.3 males age 18 and over.[23]

The racial makeup of the county was 75.1% White, 1.7% Black or African American, 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 10.4% from some other race, and 11.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 24.6% of the population.[24]

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[25]

There were 2,001 households in the county, of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 55.2% were married-couple households, 17.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[23]

There were 2,598 housing units, of which 23.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.4% were owner-occupied and 23.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 18.3%.[23]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 5,284 people, 2,152 households, and 1,487 families resided in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km2). The 2,687 housing units had an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.83% White, 2.78% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 6.64% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. About 12.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[26]

Of the 2,152 households, 29.6% had children under 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were not families. About 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the age distribution was 24.9% under 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 22.50% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 20.90% who were 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,029, and for a family was $36,989. Males had a median income of $26,790 versus $19,091 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,083. About 11.6% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under 18 and 16.8% of those 65 or over.

Politics

Wheeler County is located in Texas House of Representatives District 88. The county was previously in District 68 from 2013 to 2023. Republican Ken King, a businessman from Canadian in Hemphill County, has represented Wheeler County in the Texas House of Representatives since the redistricting.[27][28]

Wheeler County is located within District 28 of the Texas Senate.


The representative from 1971 to 1979 was the Democrat Phil Cates, later a lobbyist in Austin.[29]

United States presidential election results for Wheeler County, Texas[30]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1912 35 6.31% 402 72.43% 118 21.26%
1916 56 8.00% 554 79.14% 90 12.86%
1920 198 26.33% 516 68.62% 38 5.05%
1924 197 17.12% 908 78.89% 46 4.00%
1928 1,038 57.86% 750 41.81% 6 0.33%
1932 165 6.75% 2,263 92.56% 17 0.70%
1936 277 10.24% 2,415 89.31% 12 0.44%
1940 517 16.55% 2,600 83.23% 7 0.22%
1944 511 19.54% 1,869 71.47% 235 8.99%
1948 370 15.04% 2,010 81.71% 80 3.25%
1952 1,645 51.37% 1,551 48.44% 6 0.19%
1956 1,178 48.22% 1,252 51.25% 13 0.53%
1960 1,428 58.43% 1,011 41.37% 5 0.20%
1964 1,138 44.11% 1,440 55.81% 2 0.08%
1968 1,176 45.97% 812 31.74% 570 22.28%
1972 1,766 77.87% 502 22.13% 0 0.00%
1976 1,273 44.08% 1,598 55.33% 17 0.59%
1980 1,626 59.28% 1,090 39.74% 27 0.98%
1984 2,251 73.51% 805 26.29% 6 0.20%
1988 1,703 61.33% 1,067 38.42% 7 0.25%
1992 1,458 52.69% 938 33.90% 371 13.41%
1996 1,355 59.20% 750 32.77% 184 8.04%
2000 1,787 74.80% 579 24.24% 23 0.96%
2004 1,960 81.87% 420 17.54% 14 0.58%
2008 1,918 85.43% 314 13.99% 13 0.58%
2012 1,878 88.25% 232 10.90% 18 0.85%
2016 2,087 90.50% 194 8.41% 25 1.08%
2020 2,159 92.38% 168 7.19% 10 0.43%
2024 2,093 92.04% 169 7.43% 12 0.53%
United States Senate election results for Wheeler County, Texas1[31]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 2,025 89.88% 192 8.52% 36 1.60%

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Education

School districts include:[32]

FECISD formed on August 10, 1991 by the merger of Briscoe ISD and Mobeetie ISD.[33]

The Texas Legislature assigns all of Wheeler County to Clarendon College.[34]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Wheeler County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  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 May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  4. ^ "Local Option Elections | TABC". Archived from the original on May 16, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  6. ^ "2023 Population Estimates (PEP)". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  7. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  8. ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of Texas By Counties And Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  9. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 30, 2025. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  10. ^ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^ "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). 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) – Wheeler County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wheeler County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wheeler County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  24. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  25. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  26. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  27. ^ "Amarillo House Districts Could Grow in Redistricting Proposal". Amarillo Pioneer, September 30, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  28. ^ "Redistricting Maps Finalized for 2022 Elections". Amarillo Pioneer, October 19, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  29. ^ "Phil Cates". Texas Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  30. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  31. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  32. ^ Geography Division (December 22, 2020). 2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Wheeler County, TX (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 5, 2025. - Text list
  33. ^ "Consolidations, Annexations, and Name Changes for Texas Public Schools Through School Year 2024-2025" (PDF). Texas Education Agency. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  34. ^ "Sec. 130.173. CLARENDON COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA". Government of Texas. Retrieved October 5, 2025.

35°24′N 100°16′W / 35.40°N 100.27°W / 35.40; -100.27

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