Dallam County, Texas

County in Texas, United States

Not to be confused with Dallas County, Texas.

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County in Texas

Dallam County

County

1922 Dallam County Courthouse in Dalhart

Location within the U.S. state of Texas

Texas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 36°17′N 102°35′W﻿ / ﻿36.29°N 102.59°W﻿ / 36.29; -102.59
Country|  United States
State|  Texas
Founded| 1891
Seat| Dalhart
Largest city| Dalhart
Area

• Total

| 1,505 sq mi (3,900 km2)
• Land| 1,503 sq mi (3,890 km2)
• Water| 2.0 sq mi (5 km2)  0.1%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 7,115
• Density| 4.7/sq mi (1.8/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 13th
Website| www.dallam.org

Dallam County is the north-westernmost county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 Census, its population was 7,115.[1][2] Its county seat is Dalhart.[3] The county was founded in 1876 and later organized in 1891.[4] It is named for James Wilmer Dallam, a lawyer and newspaper publisher.

## History

[edit]

Dallam County was formed in 1876 from portions of Bexar County. It was named after James Wilmer Dallam, the lawyer who made the first digest of Texas laws.[5] The first settlement in the area followed in 1870, which resulted in the Red River War of 1874 and 1875 with the native Comanche and Kiowa tribes. In 1900–01, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad company built a stretch from Liberal, Kansas, to Tucumcari, New Mexico, which ran through the county.[citation needed] The location where the tracks met those of the Fort Worth and Denver Railway was named Dalhart. The name is taken from the first letters of Dallam County and Hartley County, between which the town's area is divided. Within a short time, the small railroad stop turned into a sizable town and was named county seat in 1903.[6]

Dallam County was one of the hardest-hit areas in the Dust Bowl.[7]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,505 square miles (3,900 km2), of which 1,503 square miles (3,890 km2) are land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2) (0.1%) are covered by water.[8]

Dallam County is one of only three counties in Texas to border two other U.S. states (the others being Bowie and Cass). Dallam County forms part of the tripoint—of Texas-Oklahoma-New Mexico.[citation needed]

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 54
* U.S. Highway 87
* U.S. Highway 287
* U.S. Highway 385
* State Highway 102

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Cimarron County, Oklahoma (north)
* Sherman County (east)
* Moore County (southeast)
* Hartley County (south)
* Union County, New Mexico (west)

### National protected area

[edit]

* Rita Blanca National Grassland (part)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1890| 112| | —
1900| 146| | 30.4%
1910| 4,001| | 2,640.4%
1920| 4,528| | 13.2%
1930| 7,830| | 72.9%
1940| 6,494| | −17.1%
1950| 7,640| | 17.6%
1960| 6,302| | −17.5%
1970| 6,012| | −4.6%
1980| 6,531| | 8.6%
1990| 5,461| | −16.4%
2000| 6,222| | 13.9%
2010| 6,703| | 7.7%
2020| 7,115| | 6.1%
2024 (est.)| 7,526| [9]| 5.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1850–2010[11] 2010[12] 2020[13]
Dallam 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)  | 4,257  | 3,726  | 3,119  | 68.42%  | 55.59%  | 43.84%
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 100  | 81  | 74  | 1.61%  | 1.21%  | 1.04%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 35  | 34  | 51  | 0.56%  | 0.51%  | 0.72%
Asian alone (NH)  | 13  | 37  | 10  | 0.21%  | 0.55%  | 0.14%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | 0  | 5  | 3  | 0.00%  | 0.07%  | 0.04%
Other race alone (NH)  | 1  | 17  | 10  | 0.02%  | 0.25%  | 0.14%
Mixed race or multiracial (NH)  | 50  | 86  | 141  | 0.80%  | 1.28%  | 1.98%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 1,766  | 2,717  | 3,707  | 28.38%  | 40.53%  | 52.10%
Total | 6,222 | 6,703 | 7,115 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00%

As of the census[15] of 2000, 6,222 people, 2,317 households, and 1,628 families were residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km2). The 2,697 housing units had an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 82.64% White, 1.64% Black or African American, 0.90% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 12.41% from other races, and 2.20% from two or more races. About 28.38% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. About 19.6% were German, 8.2% were Irish, 7.1% were English, 5.5% were American, 2.8% were French, 2.7% were Scotch-Irish, and 1.6% were Dutch in ancestry.[16]

Of the 2,317 households, 39.0% had children under 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were not families. About 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.24.[17]

In the county, the age distribution was 31.8% under 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.00 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 101.30 males.[18]

The median income for a household in the county was $27,946, and for a family was $33,558. Males had a median income of $27,244 versus $19,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,653. About 11.3% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under 18 and 24.8% of those 65 or over.[19]

## Politics

[edit]

Dallam County is located within District 86 of the Texas House of Representatives. The seat has been held by Amarillo attorney John T. Smithee, a Republican, since 1985. Dallam County as a whole is heavily Republican in orientation. Joe Biden's 12.24% showing in the 2020 election is the lowest amount of the vote received by a Democrat since the county's organization in 1891.[citation needed]

United States presidential election results for Dallam County, Texas[20] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 1,285  | 88.80% | 152  | 10.50%  | 10  | 0.69%
2020 | 1,389  | 86.33% | 197  | 12.24%  | 23  | 1.43%
2016 | 1,261  | 81.67% | 222  | 14.38%  | 61  | 3.95%
2012 | 1,248  | 81.36% | 253  | 16.49%  | 33  | 2.15%
2008 | 1,269  | 79.86% | 302  | 19.01%  | 18  | 1.13%
2004 | 1,473  | 82.66% | 305  | 17.12%  | 4  | 0.22%
2000 | 1,385  | 79.42% | 341  | 19.55%  | 18  | 1.03%
1996 | 970  | 59.36% | 483  | 29.56%  | 181  | 11.08%
1992 | 922  | 54.78% | 434  | 25.79%  | 327  | 19.43%
1988 | 1,205  | 64.72% | 645  | 34.64%  | 12  | 0.64%
1984 | 1,594  | 75.80% | 496  | 23.59%  | 13  | 0.62%
1980 | 965  | 58.88% | 632  | 38.56%  | 42  | 2.56%
1976 | 936  | 46.64%  | 1,029  | 51.27% | 42  | 2.09%
1972 | 1,271  | 78.02% | 327  | 20.07%  | 31  | 1.90%
1968 | 990  | 49.30% | 588  | 29.28%  | 430  | 21.41%
1964 | 700  | 39.80%  | 1,058  | 60.15% | 1  | 0.06%
1960 | 961  | 53.15% | 835  | 46.18%  | 12  | 0.66%
1956 | 1,018  | 48.41%  | 1,074  | 51.07% | 11  | 0.52%
1952 | 1,464  | 54.77% | 1,197  | 44.78%  | 12  | 0.45%
1948 | 399  | 20.54%  | 1,504  | 77.41% | 40  | 2.06%
1944 | 323  | 20.06%  | 1,118  | 69.44% | 169  | 10.50%
1940 | 427  | 21.63%  | 1,539  | 77.96% | 8  | 0.41%
1936 | 220  | 12.74%  | 1,436  | 83.15% | 71  | 4.11%
1932 | 341  | 14.83%  | 1,935  | 84.13% | 24  | 1.04%
1928 | 618  | 53.00% | 539  | 46.23%  | 9  | 0.77%
1924 | 254  | 24.31%  | 506  | 48.42% | 285  | 27.27%
1920 | 195  | 26.49%  | 478  | 64.95% | 63  | 8.56%
1916 | 81  | 16.53%  | 363  | 74.08% | 46  | 9.39%
1912 | 18  | 5.28%  | 247  | 72.43% | 76  | 22.29%
United States Senate election results for Dallam County, Texas1[21] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 1,229  | 86.25% | 158  | 11.09%  | 38  | 2.67%

## Education

[edit]

The following school districts serve Dallam County:[22]

* Dalhart Independent School District
* Stratford Independent School District
* Texline Independent School District

Dallam County is in the service area of Frank Phillips College (known in legislation as Borger Junior College).[23]

## Communities

[edit]

### City

[edit]

* Dalhart (county seat) (partly in Hartley County)

### Town

[edit]

* Texline

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Coldwater
* Conlen
* Kerrick

### Ghost towns

[edit]

* Chamberlin
* Perico
* Ware

## Gallery

[edit]

* XIT Museum in Dalhart

* Area affected by 1930s Dust Bowl

## See also

[edit]

* Texas portal

* List of museums in the Texas Panhandle
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Dallam County, Texas
* Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Dallam County

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Dallam County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
2. ^ "Dallam 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. 99.
6. ^ Abbe, Donald R.; Anderson, H. Allen. "Dallam County". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
7. ^ Laskin, David (December 17, 2005). "Laying Bare Dust Bowl's Scar Tissue". The New York Times. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
9. ^ "QuickFacts: Dallam County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
10. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". 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) - Dallam 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) - Dallam County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
14. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Dallam County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
16. ^ <https://data.census.gov/profile/Dallam_County,_Texas?g=050XX00US48111>
17. ^ https://data.census.gov/profile/Dallam_County,_Texas?g=050XX00US48111 [bare URL]
18. ^ https://data.census.gov/profile/Dallam_County,_Texas?g=050XX00US48111 [bare URL]
19. ^ <https://data.census.gov/profile/Dallam_County,_Texas?g=050XX00US48111>
20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
21. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
22. ^ Geography Division (December 22, 2020). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dallam County, TX (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 27, 2025. \- Text list
23. ^ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.198. SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dallam County, Texas.

* Dallam County commissioners' website
* Dallam County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of Texas
* Dallam County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties Archived June 6, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
* The XIT Ranch claims to have been the largest range in the world "under fence"

Places adjacent to Dallam County, Texas

|  | Cimarron County, Oklahoma |

|
|

|  |
Union County, New Mexico |

Dallam County, Texas

| Sherman County
|  |
| Hartley County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Dallam County, Texas, United States

County seat: Dalhart

City|

* Dalhart‡

Dallam County map

Town|

* Texline

Unincorporated
communities|

* Coldwater
* Conlen
* Kerrick
* Perico

Ghost town|

* Chamberlin
* Ware

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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36°17′N 102°35′W﻿ / ﻿36.29°N 102.59°W﻿ / 36.29; -102.59
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