Dawson County, Texas

County in Texas, United States

Not to be confused with Dawson, Texas.

County in Texas

Dawson County

County

The Dawson County Courthouse in Lamesa

Location within the U.S. state of Texas

Texas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 32°44′N 101°57′W﻿ / ﻿32.74°N 101.95°W﻿ / 32.74; -101.95
Country|  United States
State|  Texas
Founded| 1905
Named after| Nicholas Mosby Dawson
Seat| Lamesa
Largest city| Lamesa
Area

• Total

| 902 sq mi (2,340 km2)
• Land| 900 sq mi (2,000 km2)
• Water| 1.8 sq mi (5 km2)  0.2%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 12,456
• Density| 14/sq mi (5.3/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 19th
Website| www.co.dawson.tx.us

Dawson County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 12,456.[1][2] The county seat is Lamesa.[3] The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1905.[4] It is named for Nicholas Mosby Dawson,[5] a soldier of the Texas Revolution. Dawson County comprises the Lamesa, Texas micropolitan statistical area (μSA), and by population is the smallest μSA in the United States.

## History

[edit]

A Dawson County was founded in 1856 from Kinney County, Maverick County, and Uvalde County, but was divided in 1866 between Kinney and Uvalde Counties. The current Dawson County was founded in 1876.

In 1943, the discovery well for the Spraberry Trend, the third-largest oil field in the United States by remaining reserves,[6] was drilled in Dawson County on land owned by farmer Abner Spraberry, for whom the geological formation and associated field were named. While most of the oil fields are in the counties to the south, a small portion of the Spraberry Trend is in Dawson County. Production on the field did not begin until 1949, and by 1951, an oil boom was underway in the area, with Midland at its center.[7]

Like all Texas counties as stipulated in the Texas Constitution of 1876, Dawson County has four commissioners chosen by single-member district and a countywide-elected county judge, the chief administrator of the county.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 902 square miles (2,340 km2), of which 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2) (0.2%) are covered by water.[8]

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 87
* U.S. Highway 180
* State Highway 83
* State Highway 137

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Lynn County (north)
* Borden County (east)
* Howard County (southeast)
* Martin County (south)
* Gaines County (west)
* Terry County (northwest)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1880| 24| | —
1890| 29| | 20.8%
1900| 37| | 27.6%
1910| 2,320| | 6,170.3%
1920| 4,309| | 85.7%
1930| 13,573| | 215.0%
1940| 15,367| | 13.2%
1950| 19,113| | 24.4%
1960| 19,185| | 0.4%
1970| 16,604| | −13.5%
1980| 16,184| | −2.5%
1990| 14,349| | −11.3%
2000| 14,985| | 4.4%
2010| 13,833| | −7.7%
2020| 12,456| | −10.0%
2024 (est.)| 11,758| [9]| −5.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1850–2010[11] 2010[12] 2020[13]
Dawson 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)  | 6,439  | 5,402  | 4,590  | 42.37%  | 39.05%  | 36.85%
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 1,285  | 860  | 847  | 8.58%  | 6.22%  | 6.80%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 23  | 28  | 23  | 0.15%  | 0.20%  | 0.18%
Asian alone (NH)  | 32  | 46  | 56  | 0.21%  | 0.33%  | 0.45%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | 0  | 2  | 4  | 0.00%  | 0.01%  | 0.03%
Other race alone (NH)  | 10  | 13  | 17  | 0.07%  | 0.09%  | 0.14%
Multiracial (NH)  | 64  | 95  | 152  | 0.43%  | 0.69%  | 1.22%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 7,222  | 7,387  | 6,767  | 48.19%  | 53.40%  | 54.33%
Total | 14,985 | 13,833 | 12,456 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00%

As of the 2000 census,[15] 14,985 people, 4,726 households, and 3,501 families resided in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (6.6 people/km2). There were 5,500 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 72.47% White, 8.66% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 16.56% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more races. About 48.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 4,726 households, 35.1% had children under 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples] living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were not families. About 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.20. In the county, the population was distributed as 25.6% under 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 124.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 129.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,211, and for a family was $32,745. Males had a median income of $27,259 versus $16,739 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,011. About 16.40% of families and 19.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.20% of those under age 18 and 12.80% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit]

Medical Arts Hospital in Lamesa serves Dawson County residents.

### Cities

[edit]

* Ackerly (partly in Martin County)
* Lamesa (county seat)
* Los Ybanez
* O'Donnell (mostly in Lynn County)

### Census-designated place

[edit]

* Welch

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Arvana
* Hindman
* Key
* Klondike
* Midway
* Mungerville
* Patricia
* Sparenberg

### Ghost towns

[edit]

* Pride
* Sand

## Politics

[edit]

United States presidential election results for Dawson County, Texas[16] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 2,810  | 79.99% | 667  | 18.99%  | 36  | 1.02%
2020 | 2,951  | 77.88% | 808  | 21.32%  | 30  | 0.79%
2016 | 2,636  | 73.98% | 835  | 23.44%  | 92  | 2.58%
2012 | 2,591  | 71.14% | 1,019  | 27.98%  | 32  | 0.88%
2008 | 2,906  | 70.95% | 1,152  | 28.13%  | 38  | 0.93%
2004 | 3,419  | 75.23% | 1,114  | 24.51%  | 12  | 0.26%
2000 | 3,337  | 68.96% | 1,463  | 30.23%  | 39  | 0.81%
1996 | 2,319  | 55.53% | 1,612  | 38.60%  | 245  | 5.87%
1992 | 2,691  | 55.43% | 1,639  | 33.76%  | 525  | 10.81%
1988 | 3,154  | 59.32% | 2,155  | 40.53%  | 8  | 0.15%
1984 | 3,685  | 67.21% | 1,781  | 32.48%  | 17  | 0.31%
1980 | 3,267  | 62.77% | 1,867  | 35.87%  | 71  | 1.36%
1976 | 2,474  | 53.17% | 2,162  | 46.46%  | 17  | 0.37%
1972 | 3,247  | 79.29% | 846  | 20.66%  | 2  | 0.05%
1968 | 2,091  | 46.33% | 1,522  | 33.72%  | 900  | 19.94%
1964 | 1,691  | 34.74%  | 3,171  | 65.14% | 6  | 0.12%
1960 | 2,161  | 50.89% | 2,063  | 48.59%  | 22  | 0.52%
1956 | 1,615  | 44.01%  | 2,049  | 55.83% | 6  | 0.16%
1952 | 2,388  | 53.29% | 2,093  | 46.71%  | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 393  | 12.51%  | 2,605  | 82.94% | 143  | 4.55%
1944 | 472  | 16.43%  | 2,149  | 74.83% | 251  | 8.74%
1940 | 361  | 11.37%  | 2,808  | 88.47% | 5  | 0.16%
1936 | 156  | 7.83%  | 1,829  | 91.82% | 7  | 0.35%
1932 | 153  | 8.44%  | 1,659  | 91.51% | 1  | 0.06%
1928 | 1,448  | 77.23% | 427  | 22.77%  | 0  | 0.00%
1924 | 185  | 14.24%  | 1,079  | 83.06% | 35  | 2.69%
1920 | 75  | 17.90%  | 296  | 70.64% | 48  | 11.46%
1916 | 14  | 4.40%  | 288  | 90.57% | 16  | 5.03%
1912 | 7  | 8.14%  | 74  | 86.05% | 5  | 5.81%
United States Senate election results for Dawson County, Texas1[17] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 2,686  | 77.74% | 688  | 19.91%  | 81  | 2.34%

## Education

[edit]

School districts serving the county include:[18]

* Dawson Independent School District
* Klondike Independent School District
* Lamesa Independent School District
* O'Donnell Independent School District
* Sands Consolidated Independent School District

The county is in the service area of Howard County Junior College.[19]

## See also

[edit]

* Texas portal

* Dry counties
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Dawson County, Texas
* Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Dawson County

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Dawson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
2. ^ "Dawson 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. 101.
6. ^ Top 100 Oil and Gas Fields Archived May 15, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
7. ^ Handbook of Texas Online: Spraberry Oil Field
8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
9. ^ "QuickFacts: Dawson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
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 April 22, 2015.
12. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Dawson 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) – Dawson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
14. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Dawson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
17. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
18. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dawson County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022. \- list
19. ^ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.183. HOWARD COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.

## External links

[edit]

* Dawson County government's website
* Dawson County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of Texas
* TXGenWeb Project for Dawson County
* Dawson County History Archived July 21, 2015, at the Wayback Machine at HistoricTexas.net

Places adjacent to Dawson County, Texas

| Terry County | Lynn County |

|
|

|  |
Gaines County |

Dawson County, Texas

| Borden County
|  |
| Martin County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Dawson County, Texas, United States

County seat: Lamesa

Cities|

* Ackerly‡
* Lamesa
* Los Ybanez
* O'Donnell‡

Dawson County map

CDP|

* Welch

Other
communities|

* Arvana
* Hindman
* Key
* Klondike
* Midway
* Mungerville
* Patricia
* Sparenberg

Ghost towns|

* Pride
* Sand

Footnotes|

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

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32°44′N 101°57′W﻿ / ﻿32.74°N 101.95°W﻿ / 32.74; -101.95
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