Nolan County, Texas

Nolan County, Texas
County
Nolan County Courthouse
Nolan County Courthouse
Map of Texas highlighting Nolan County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Coordinates: 32°19′N 100°24′W / 32.31°N 100.4°W / 32.31; -100.4
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1881
Named afterPhilip Nolan
SeatSweetwater
Largest citySweetwater
Area
 • Total
914 sq mi (2,370 km2)
 • Land912 sq mi (2,360 km2)
 • Water2.0 sq mi (5.2 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
14,738
 • Density16.2/sq mi (6.24/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district19th
Websitewww.co.nolan.tx.us

Nolan County is a county located in the west-central region of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 14,738.[1] Its county seat is Sweetwater.[2] The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1881.[3] It is named for Philip Nolan, one of the first American traders to visit Texas. Nolan County comprises the Sweetwater micropolitan statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 914 square miles (2,370 km2), of which 2.0 sq mi (5.2 km2) (0.2%) are covered by water.[4]

Nolan County is in the Cross Timbers region for wildlife management.[5] Geologically Nolan County occupies part of the Rolling Plains in the North and South,[6] separated by an isolated part of the Edwards Plateau[7] in much of the center. The uplifted plateau, rising up to 500[8] feet above the surrounding plains, gives Nolan county an advantage on production of wind energy.

West of Highland School, the Bench Mountain, at 2607 feet above sea level, is listed as the highest point in Nolan County.

Plateau areas of the Cretaceous Period[7] and much of the county are underlain by petroleum deposits from the Pennsylvanian Period.[9]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880640—
18901,573145.8%
19002,61166.0%
191011,999359.6%
192010,868−9.4%
193019,32377.8%
194017,309−10.4%
195019,80814.4%
196018,963−4.3%
197016,220−14.5%
198017,3597.0%
199016,594−4.4%
200015,802−4.8%
201015,216−3.7%
202014,738−3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1850–2010[11] 2010[12] 2020[13]

Racial and ethnic composition

Nolan 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) 10,480 9,191 8,138 66.32% 60.40% 55.22%
Black or African American alone (NH) 713 666 625 4.51% 4.38% 4.24%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 25 44 53 0.16% 0.29% 0.36%
Asian alone (NH) 33 58 103 0.21% 0.38% 0.70%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 1 0 2 0.01% 0.00% 0.01%
Other race alone (NH) 2 8 31 0.01% 0.05% 0.21%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 117 146 432 0.74% 0.96% 2.93%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4,431 5,103 5,354 28.04% 33.54% 36.33%
Total 15,802 15,216 14,738 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 14,738 and a median age of 40.0 years. 25.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.8 males age 18 and over.[15]

The racial makeup of the county was 69.4% White, 4.8% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 10.5% from some other race, and 13.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 36.3% of the population.[16]

70.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 29.6% lived in rural areas.[17]

There were 5,857 households in the county, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.5% were married-couple households, 20.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]

There were 7,123 housing units, of which 17.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.2% were owner-occupied and 33.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 17.4%.[15]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 15,802 people, 6,170 households, and 4,288 families resided in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (6.6 people/km2). The 7,112 housing units averaged 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km2).[18] The racial makeup of the county was 78.45% White, 4.68% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 14.02% from other races, and 2.07% from two or more races. About 28.04% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 6,170 households, 32.20% had children under 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 12.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were not families. Around 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48, and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was distributed as 27.10% under 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,209, and for a family was $32,004. Males had a median income of $28,674 versus $19,335 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,077. About 18.30% of families and 21.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.50% of those under age 18 and 18.50% of those age 65 or over.

Wind power

Nolan County has established itself as a center for wind power generation. As of July 2008, Nolan County generated more wind energy than the entire state of California, and would have ranked sixth in the world for wind power generation if it were counted as its own country.[19] In 2013, there were more than 13,000 operational wind turbines.[20]

A branch of Texas State Technical College, near Sweetwater, offers the first community-college program for wind energy in Texas beginning in 2007. Wind energy investments in the county of about $3 billion since 1999 have resulted in about 1,330 direct wind-related jobs created in Nolan County alone (in 2009), with almost $18,000,000 in annual landowner royalties and over $12,000,000 in annual local school taxes (2007),[21] and about $1.7 million more in county property taxes. The majority of investments come from Epplament Energy, E.ON, Invenergy, Lestis Private Capital Group, NextEra, and Lattner Energy.

Nolan County is a hub of the Public Utility Commission's $5 billion CREZ wind-energy transmission line expansion project in Texas.[22]

Communities

Abandoned grain elevator in Wastella

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Politics

Nolan County is part of the 71st district for elections to the Texas House of Representatives. The Republican state representative Stan Lambert represents the district which also covers Callahan, Jones and Taylor Counties.[26]

United States presidential election results for Nolan County, Texas[27]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№  % №  % №  %
1912 60 7.34% 655 80.17% 102 12.48%
1916 91 7.47% 1,048 85.97% 80 6.56%
1920 175 15.16% 923 79.98% 56 4.85%
1924 337 18.32% 1,421 77.23% 82 4.46%
1928 1,475 58.76% 1,035 41.24% 0 0.00%
1932 219 8.19% 2,453 91.70% 3 0.11%
1936 268 8.39% 2,913 91.15% 15 0.47%
1940 471 12.41% 3,314 87.35% 9 0.24%
1944 322 8.59% 3,071 81.96% 354 9.45%
1948 552 13.57% 3,408 83.76% 109 2.68%
1952 2,907 48.11% 3,123 51.68% 13 0.22%
1956 2,232 46.69% 2,535 53.03% 13 0.27%
1960 2,421 42.66% 3,247 57.22% 7 0.12%
1964 1,610 31.19% 3,540 68.58% 12 0.23%
1968 1,969 33.16% 2,784 46.88% 1,185 19.96%
1972 3,634 73.03% 1,338 26.89% 4 0.08%
1976 2,431 43.84% 3,094 55.80% 20 0.36%
1980 2,781 48.83% 2,796 49.10% 118 2.07%
1984 3,608 58.80% 2,524 41.13% 4 0.07%
1988 2,734 48.74% 2,853 50.86% 22 0.39%
1992 1,993 33.48% 2,490 41.83% 1,469 24.68%
1996 2,166 40.18% 2,582 47.89% 643 11.93%
2000 3,337 62.82% 1,874 35.28% 101 1.90%
2004 3,722 70.37% 1,541 29.14% 26 0.49%
2008 3,485 68.83% 1,521 30.04% 57 1.13%
2012 3,282 71.74% 1,216 26.58% 77 1.68%
2016 3,552 73.13% 1,029 21.19% 276 5.68%
2020 4,131 76.97% 1,162 21.65% 74 1.38%
2024 4,048 79.03% 1,020 19.91% 54 1.05%
United States Senate election results for Nolan County, Texas1[28]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№  % №  % №  %
2024 3,808 75.56% 1,123 22.28% 109 2.16%

Education

School districts include:[29]

The Texas Legislature designated the county as being in the Western Texas College District.[30]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Nolan County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  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. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  5. ^ "North Central Texas Wildlife Management". tpwd.texas.gov. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  6. ^ "TPWD: Ecological Regions of North Central Texas". tpwd.texas.gov. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "TPWD:Edwards Plateau". tpwd.texas.gov. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  8. ^ "Worldwide Elevation Finder". elevation.maplogs.com. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  9. ^ "ABSTRACT: Canyon (Pennsylvanian) Sand Prospecting in Nolan County, Texas, Using Electrotelluric Survey Methods, by Robert B. Lanter and Michael R. Birkos; #91037 (2010)". www.searchanddiscovery.com. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  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 May 5, 2015.
  12. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Nolan 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) – Nolan County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Nolan County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  16. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  17. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  18. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  19. ^ Reed, Dan (July 11, 2008). "Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens wants to supplant oil with wind". USA Today.
  20. ^ Selcraig, Bruce (July–August 2014). "The Mayor of Wind". Sierra Club. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  21. ^ Wind Economics In Nolan County https://www.scribd.com/doc/280240711/nolan-county-case-study-070908 accessed November 19, 2018
  22. ^ "Renewable Energy". Sweetwater Economic Development. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  23. ^ TSHA, Support. "Hylton TX (Nolan County)". TSHA Online. TSHA. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  24. ^ Ghost Town https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hvd13 accessed November 19, 2018
  25. ^ TSHA, Support. "Divide TX (Nolan County)". TSHA Online. TSHA. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  26. ^ "Susan King". Texas Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  27. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  28. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  29. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Nolan County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 22, 2024. - Text list
  30. ^ "Sec. 130.210. WESTERN TEXAS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA". Retrieved September 22, 2024.

32°19′N 100°24′W / 32.31°N 100.40°W / 32.31; -100.40

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