Gray County, Texas

Gray County, Texas
County
The Gray County Courthouse
The Gray County Courthouse
Map of Texas highlighting Gray County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Coordinates: 35°25′N 100°49′W / 35.41°N 100.81°W / 35.41; -100.81
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1902
Named afterPeter W. Gray
SeatPampa
Largest cityPampa
Area
 • Total
929 sq mi (2,410 km2)
 • Land926 sq mi (2,400 km2)
 • Water3.4 sq mi (8.8 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
21,227 Decrease
 • Density23/sq mi (8.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district13th
Websitewww.co.gray.tx.us Edit this at Wikidata

Gray County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 21,227.[1] The county seat is Pampa.[2] The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1902.[3] Gray County is named for Peter W. Gray,[4] a Confederate lawyer and soldier in the American Civil War. Gray County comprises the Pampa, TX micropolitan statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 929 square miles (2,410 km2), of which 926 sq mi (2,400 km2) are land and 3.4 sq mi (8.8 km2) (0.4%) are covered by water.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
188056—
1890203262.5%
1900480136.5%
19103,405609.4%
19204,66336.9%
193022,090373.7%
194023,9118.2%
195024,7283.4%
196031,53527.5%
197026,949−14.5%
198026,386−2.1%
199023,967−9.2%
200022,744−5.1%
201022,535−0.9%
202021,227−5.8%
2024 (est.)20,888Decrease[6]−1.6%
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

Gray 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) 17,800 15,564 13,025 78.26% 69.07% 61.36%
  Black or African American alone (NH) 1,309 1,055 835 5.76% 4.68% 3.93%
  Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 169 152 141 0.74% 0.67% 0.66%
Asian alone (NH) 88 83 127 0.39% 0.37% 0.60%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 4 1 0 0.02% 0.00% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 18 11 37 0.08% 0.05% 0.17%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 397 304 715 1.75% 1.35% 3.37%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,959 5,365 6,347 13.01% 23.81% 29.90%
Total 22,744 22,535 21,227 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 21,227. The median age was 39.2 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 111.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 111.7 males age 18 and over.[23][24]

The racial makeup of the county was 68.9% White, 4.1% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 12.6% from some other race, and 12.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 29.9% of the population.[24]

79.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 20.5% lived in rural areas.[25]

There were 7,939 households in the county, of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.9% were married-couple households, 18.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[23]

There were 9,996 housing units, of which 20.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.0% were owner-occupied and 27.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 19.6%.[23]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 22,744 people, 8,793 households, and 6,049 families were residing in the county.[26] The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km2). The 10,567 housing units averaged 11 units per square mile (4.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 82.15% White, 5.85% African American, 0.94% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 8.25% from other races, and 2.42% from two or more races. About 13.01% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 8,793 households, 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were not families. About 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39, and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the age distribution was 24.00% under 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 18.10% who were 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,368, and for a family was $40,019. Males had a median income of $32,401 versus $20,158 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,702. About 11.20% of families and 13.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Politics

Prior to 1952, Gray County was primarily Democratic similar to most of Texas and the Solid South. The county only gave a Republican presidential candidate a majority before 1952 in 1928, when Herbert Hoover won the county due to anti-Catholic sentiment towards Al Smith. Starting with the 1952 election, the county has become a Republican stronghold along with the rest of the Texas Panhandle. This level of Republican dominance has increased in recent years, as every Republican presidential candidate in the second millennium has racked up 80% of the county's vote. Additionally, after the 2008 election, Democrats Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden have failed to win even 1,000 votes total in the county.

United States presidential election results for Gray County, Texas[27]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1912 13 3.09% 272 64.61% 136 32.30%
1916 69 11.73% 482 81.97% 37 6.29%
1920 251 30.95% 529 65.23% 31 3.82%
1924 581 48.86% 608 51.14% 0 0.00%
1928 1,871 65.35% 986 34.44% 6 0.21%
1932 505 12.70% 3,446 86.69% 24 0.60%
1936 464 9.59% 4,347 89.83% 28 0.58%
1940 1,217 21.97% 4,315 77.89% 8 0.14%
1944 1,739 34.86% 3,067 61.48% 183 3.67%
1948 1,594 27.98% 3,699 64.94% 403 7.08%
1952 5,467 61.73% 3,367 38.02% 23 0.26%
1956 5,047 61.90% 3,034 37.21% 72 0.88%
1960 6,197 68.76% 2,802 31.09% 14 0.16%
1964 5,011 57.93% 3,633 42.00% 6 0.07%
1968 5,994 55.53% 2,374 21.99% 2,427 22.48%
1972 7,968 84.37% 1,367 14.47% 109 1.15%
1976 6,010 60.33% 3,872 38.87% 80 0.80%
1980 7,187 70.81% 2,786 27.45% 176 1.73%
1984 8,955 81.50% 2,003 18.23% 30 0.27%
1988 7,259 74.22% 2,460 25.15% 62 0.63%
1992 6,105 58.86% 2,426 23.39% 1,841 17.75%
1996 6,102 69.15% 2,114 23.96% 608 6.89%
2000 6,732 82.25% 1,376 16.81% 77 0.94%
2004 7,260 84.69% 1,289 15.04% 23 0.27%
2008 6,924 85.13% 1,153 14.18% 56 0.69%
2012 6,443 87.20% 886 11.99% 60 0.81%
2016 6,500 87.78% 701 9.47% 204 2.75%
2020 6,840 87.90% 829 10.65% 113 1.45%
2024 6,691 88.27% 845 11.15% 44 0.58%
United States Senate election results for Gray County, Texas1[28]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 6,489 86.29% 878 11.68% 153 2.03%

Education

School districts include:[29]

According to state law, all of the county is in the service area of Clarendon College.[30]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ "Gray County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. 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 23, 2015.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 142.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  6. ^ "QuickFacts: Gray County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  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.
  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) – Gray County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Gray 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) – Gray County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  24. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  25. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  26. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  27. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  28. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  29. ^ Geography Division (December 22, 2020). 2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Gray County, TX (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 10, 2025. - Text list
  30. ^ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.173. Clarendon College District Service Area.
  31. ^ "Phil Cates". Texas Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved June 29, 2015.

35°25′N 100°49′W / 35.41°N 100.81°W / 35.41; -100.81

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