Mason County, Texas

County in Texas, United States

County in Texas

Mason County

County

The Mason County Courthouse in Mason

Location within the U.S. state of Texas

Texas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 30°43′N 99°13′W﻿ / ﻿30.72°N 99.22°W﻿ / 30.72; -99.22
Country|  United States
State|  Texas
Founded| 1858
Named after| Fort Mason
Seat| Mason
Largest city| Mason
Area

• Total

| 932 sq mi (2,410 km2)
• Land| 929 sq mi (2,410 km2)
• Water| 3.4 sq mi (9 km2)  0.4%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 3,953
• Density| 4.2/sq mi (1.6/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 11th
Website| www.co.mason.tx.us

Mason County is a rural county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. At the 2020 census, its population was 3,953.[1] Its county seat is Mason.[2] The county is named for Fort Mason, which was located in the county.

## History

[edit]

This section is in list format but may read better as prose. You can help by converting this section, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (December 2013)

|

* Original inhabitants Lipan Apache, Comanches[3]
* 1847 Meusebach–Comanche Treaty[4]
* 1851, July 6 – Fort Mason is established.[5]
* 1858, January 22 – Mason County, named for Fort Mason, is established by an act of Texas state legislature.[6] First post offices are established.
* 1860 Population of 630 includes 18 slaves.
* 1861,

February – County, spurred in part by anti-slavery sentiments of German residents, overwhelmingly votes against secession from the Union.
March – Fort Mason surrendered to the Confederacy, who leave it mostly vacant and thereby cause an uptick in Indian attacks on the area.[7][8]
May 20 – Voters select town of Mason as County Seat.[9]

* 1866–1868 Federal troops occupy Fort Mason, only to eventually abandon it.[10]
* 1869 Courthouse and jail are erected.[11]
* 1870 May 16 – Herman Lehmann and brother Willie are captured by Apaches, but Willie escapes within days.[12][13]
* 1870–1898 The county had four women homesteaders: Louisa J. Hendryx, Mahala Hunnicutt, Sarah E. Morris and Priscilla Sparks[14]
* 1875–1877

County’s first newspaper begins publication.[15]
Hoo Doo War over cattle rustling.[16]
Most famous participant in the war is Johnny Ringo, who on September 25, 1875, kills James Cheyney.[17][18][19]
Courthouse fire destroys all records.[11]

* 1878, May 12 – Herman Lehmann, escorted by soldiers, finally returns to his family.[12]
* 1880s Manganese is discovered. Wakefield Company opens Spiller mines. Iron ore is discovered. Prospecting begins for gold, silver and coal.[20]
* 1882–83 Hereford cattle are introduced into the county.[21] Provisions made for county wide road work.
* 1887 The county petitions for state aid for needy residents.
* 1890s County places a bounty on wolves, wildcats and mountain lions.[citation needed]
* 1902 Mason installs its first telephone in the county judge's office.
* 1918 October 3 – Eighteen months after United States Congress declares war on Germany, the Mason County Council of Defense draws up resolution to abandon the use of the German language in the county. The majority of County residents are of German heritage.[3]
* 1919 First oil and gas lease in the county. Construction begins on the Mason County section of the Puget Sound-to-the-Gulf Highway.
* 1920s Radios come to Mason County.
* 1938 Pedernales Electric Cooperative is formed to provide rural electrification. Mason County joins in June.[22]
* 1946 Local soil-conservation board organized. County schools consolidated.
* 2021 Mason County Courthouse (Texas), constructed in 1909, burns down as a result of arson.

## Geography

[edit]

Ranchland in the Edwards Plateau, Mason County, Texas, USA (April 17, 2015).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 932 square miles (2,410 km2), of which 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) (0.4%) are covered by water.[23]

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 87
* U.S. Highway 377
* State Highway 29
* State Highway 71

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* McCulloch County (north)
* San Saba County (northeast)
* Llano County (east)
* Gillespie County (south)
* Kimble County (southwest)
* Menard County (west)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1860| 630| | —
1870| 678| | 7.6%
1880| 2,655| | 291.6%
1890| 5,180| | 95.1%
1900| 5,573| | 7.6%
1910| 5,683| | 2.0%
1920| 4,824| | −15.1%
1930| 5,511| | 14.2%
1940| 5,378| | −2.4%
1950| 4,945| | −8.1%
1960| 3,780| | −23.6%
1970| 3,356| | −11.2%
1980| 3,683| | 9.7%
1990| 3,423| | −7.1%
2000| 3,738| | 9.2%
2010| 4,012| | 7.3%
2020| 3,953| | −1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[24]
1850–2010[25] 2010[26] 2020[27]
Mason 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[28] | Pop 2010[26] | Pop 2020[27] | % 2000  | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 2,912  | 3,092  | 2,948  | 77.90%  | 77.07%  | 74.58%
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 5  | 14  | 4  | 0.13%  | 0.35%  | 0.10%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 16  | 11  | 0  | 0.43%  | 0.27%  | 0.00%
Asian alone (NH)  | 2  | 7  | 2  | 0.05%  | 0.17%  | 0.05%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0.00%  | 0.00%  | 0.00%
Other race alone (NH)  | 5  | 4  | 16  | 0.13%  | 0.10%  | 0.40%
Mixed race or multiracial (NH)  | 15  | 20  | 100  | 0.40%  | 0.50%  | 2.53%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 783  | 864  | 883  | 20.95%  | 21.54%  | 22.34%
Total | 3,738 | 4,012 | 3,953 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00%

At the 2000 census,[29] 3,738 people, 1,607 households and 1,110 families were residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km2). The 2,372 housing units had an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.60% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.75% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. About 20.95% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 1,607 households, 25.9% had children under 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were not families. About 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.83.

The county's age distribution was 22.4% under of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 20.7% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.40 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

The median household income was $30,921 and the median family income was $39,360. Males had a median income of $28,125 compared with $20,000 for females. The per capita income was $20,931. About 10.10% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.50% of those under 18 and 13.3% of those 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit]

### City

[edit]

* Mason (county seat)

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Art
* Fredonia
* Grit
* Hedwigs Hill
* Hilda
* Katemcy
* Loyal Valley
* Pontotoc

## Notable people

[edit]

* Anna Mebus Martin (1820–1864): Chartered the Commercial Bank of Mason, wealthy businesswoman and rancher
* Louis (Ludwig) Martin (1820–1864): Co-founder of Hedwigs Hill, Mason County justice of the peace
* Governor Coke Stevenson (1888–1975): Born in Mason County
* Leonie von Meusebach–Zesch (1882–1944): Born in Mason County, pioneer dentist
* Gene Zesch (1932–): Sculptor
* Fred Gipson (February 7, 1908 – August 14, 1973): Author of Old Yeller

## Politics

[edit]

United States presidential election results for Mason County, Texas[30] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 2,076  | 82.09% | 434  | 17.16%  | 19  | 0.75%
2020 | 1,991  | 80.48% | 457  | 18.47%  | 26  | 1.05%
2016 | 1,656  | 80.51% | 354  | 17.21%  | 47  | 2.28%
2012 | 1,565  | 79.52% | 380  | 19.31%  | 23  | 1.17%
2008 | 1,544  | 72.80% | 546  | 25.74%  | 31  | 1.46%
2004 | 1,600  | 77.03% | 459  | 22.10%  | 18  | 0.87%
2000 | 1,352  | 75.07% | 417  | 23.15%  | 32  | 1.78%
1996 | 949  | 54.70% | 618  | 35.62%  | 168  | 9.68%
1992 | 776  | 45.06% | 570  | 33.10%  | 376  | 21.84%
1988 | 975  | 58.91% | 671  | 40.54%  | 9  | 0.54%
1984 | 1,168  | 67.01% | 570  | 32.70%  | 5  | 0.29%
1980 | 966  | 59.59% | 630  | 38.86%  | 25  | 1.54%
1976 | 805  | 49.09%  | 814  | 49.63% | 21  | 1.28%
1972 | 1,096  | 73.71% | 369  | 24.82%  | 22  | 1.48%
1968 | 789  | 51.98% | 560  | 36.89%  | 169  | 11.13%
1964 | 590  | 38.44%  | 941  | 61.30% | 4  | 0.26%
1960 | 833  | 58.79% | 575  | 40.58%  | 9  | 0.64%
1956 | 885  | 63.67% | 504  | 36.26%  | 1  | 0.07%
1952 | 1,069  | 63.71% | 606  | 36.11%  | 3  | 0.18%
1948 | 498  | 36.73%  | 836  | 61.65% | 22  | 1.62%
1944 | 420  | 28.07%  | 822  | 54.95% | 254  | 16.98%
1940 | 634  | 37.25%  | 1,065  | 62.57% | 3  | 0.18%
1936 | 359  | 31.30%  | 787  | 68.61% | 1  | 0.09%
1932 | 309  | 27.08%  | 828  | 72.57% | 4  | 0.35%
1928 | 807  | 76.64% | 244  | 23.17%  | 2  | 0.19%
1924 | 171  | 23.82%  | 384  | 53.48% | 163  | 22.70%
1920 | 269  | 39.97%  | 304  | 45.17% | 100  | 14.86%
1916 | 157  | 27.30%  | 386  | 67.13% | 32  | 5.57%
1912 | 152  | 17.21%  | 472  | 53.45% | 259  | 29.33%
United States Senate election results for Mason County, Texas1[31] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 2,027  | 80.85% | 441  | 17.59%  | 39  | 1.56%

## See also

[edit]

* Texas portal

* Adelsverein
* German Texan
* Honey Creek
* List of museums in Central Texas
* Meusebach Homesite
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Mason County, Texas
* Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Mason County
* Spy Rock

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Mason County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ a b Rhoades, Alice J. "Mason County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
4. ^ "Comanche Indian Treaty". William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
5. ^ DeVos, Julius E. "Fort Mason, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
6. ^ "Mason County – Mason vicinity". Texas State Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
7. ^ "Texas Forts Trails". Texas Monthly: 72. June 1991.
8. ^ "Texas Escapes-Fort Mason, Texas". Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
9. ^ Rhoades, Alice J. "Mason, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
10. ^ "History Fort Mason (1851–1871)". Texas Forts of the Old West. Legends of America. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
11. ^ a b "Mason County Courthouse". Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
12. ^ a b Lehmann, Herman; Hunter, J Marvin; Giese, Dale F (1993). Nine Years Among the Indians, 1870–1879: The Story of the Captivity and Life of a Texan Among the Indians. University of New Mexico Press. ISBN 978-0-8263-1417-8.
13. ^ Hudspeth, Brewster. "The Savage Life Of Herman Lehmann". Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 27, 2010. Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
14. ^ Gould, Florence C; Pando, Patricia N. "Mason Co Tx Women Homesteaders". Tx Gen Web. Archived from the original on October 20, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
15. ^ "Gem of the Hill Country-Mason, Tex". Hill Country Portal. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
16. ^ Johnson, David; Miller, Rick (2009). The Mason County ""Hoo Doo"" War, 1874–1902 (A.C. Greene Series). University of North Texas Press. ISBN 978-1-57441-262-8.
17. ^ Johnson, David; Parsons, Chuck (2008). John Ringo, King of the Cowboys: His Life and Times from the Hoo Doo War to Tombstone, Second Edition (A. C. Greene). University of North Texas Press. ISBN 978-1-57441-243-7.
18. ^ Hadeler, Glenn. "The Mason County Hoo Doo Wars". TexFiles. Archived from the original on May 12, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2010. TexFiles
19. ^ "Johnny Ringo and the Hoo Doo War". Retrieved April 30, 2010.
20. ^ Garner, L Edwin. "Mineral Resources and Mining". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Society. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
21. ^ Leatherwood, Art. "Hereford Cattle". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
22. ^ Wentsch, George M. "Pedernales Electric Coop". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Society. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
23. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
24. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
25. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
26. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mason County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
27. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mason County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
28. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Mason County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
29. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
30. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
31. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Library of Congress Historic American Buildings Survey (Mason Co)
* Mason County government's website
* Mason County from the Handbook of Texas Online
* Texas Beyond History, Honey Creek

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Mason County, Texas

|  | McCulloch County | San Saba County

|
|

|  |
Menard County |

Mason County, Texas

| Llano County
|  |
Kimble County | Gillespie County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Mason County, Texas, United States

County seat: Mason

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* Mason

Mason County map

Unincorporated
communities|

* Art
* Fredonia
* Grit
* Hedwigs Hill
* Hilda
* Katemcy
* Loyal Valley
* Pontotoc

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30°43′N 99°13′W﻿ / ﻿30.72°N 99.22°W﻿ / 30.72; -99.22
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