Runnels County, Texas

County in Texas, United States

County in Texas

Runnels County

County

The Runnels County Courthouse in Ballinger

Location within the U.S. state of Texas

Texas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 31°50′N 99°58′W﻿ / ﻿31.83°N 99.97°W﻿ / 31.83; -99.97
Country|  United States
State|  Texas
Founded| 1880
Named after| Hiram G. Runnels
Seat| Ballinger
Largest city| Ballinger
Area

• Total

| 1,057 sq mi (2,740 km2)
• Land| 1,051 sq mi (2,720 km2)
• Water| 6.2 sq mi (16 km2)  0.6%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 9,900
• Density| 9.4/sq mi (3.6/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 11th
Website| www.co.runnels.tx.us

Runnels County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 9,900.[1] Its county seat is Ballinger.[2] The county was created in 1858 and later organized in 1880.[3] It is named for Hiram G. Runnels, a Texas state legislator.

## History

[edit]

The original inhabitants of the area were the Jumano, followed by the Comanche.[4] In 1683–84, Juan Domínguez de Mendoza established a short-lived mission.[5] Fort Chadbourne was established in 1852, as part of a chain of forts in West Texas.[6] Runnels County was formed from Bexar and Travis Counties. It was named in honor of Hiram G. Runnels. Runnels City was the original county seat.[7]

In 1862, Pickettville was established by Mr. and Mrs. John Guest and their three sons, Henry and Robert K. Wylie and their cowboys and a black servant, and Mrs. Felicia Gordon and her five sons.[8] Ballinger was settled by Richard Coffey and family.[9]

The county was organized in 1880, with a population of 980.[4] Ballinger, namesake of William Pitt Ballinger, was selected as the new county seat eight years later.[9] The stone county courthouse was erected in the Second Empire style soon after (1889). Architect Eugene T. Heiner designed the building.[10]

In 1899, the community of Pumphrey, originally named New Hope, was established by William M. Pumphrey.[11] The Santa Fe Depot was built in 1911 by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. The Ballinger Carnegie Library in Ballinger was dedicated.[4] The Charles H. Noyes statue on the Ballinger Courthouse lawn, dedicated to the "Spirit of the Texas Cowboy", was sculpted by Pompeo Coppini in 1919.[12]

The MacMillan oil field was discovered near Ballinger in 1927.[4] Eighteen new oil fields were explored by 1949.[4]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,057 square miles (2,740 km2), of which 1,051 square miles (2,720 km2) is land and 6.2 square miles (16 km2) (0.6%) is water.[13]

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 67
* U.S. Highway 83
* State Highway 153
* State Highway 158

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Taylor County (north)
* Coleman County (east)
* Concho County (south)
* Tom Green County (southwest)
* Coke County (west)
* Nolan County (northwest)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1880| 980| | —
1890| 3,193| | 225.8%
1900| 5,379| | 68.5%
1910| 20,858| | 287.8%
1920| 17,074| | −18.1%
1930| 21,821| | 27.8%
1940| 18,903| | −13.4%
1950| 16,771| | −11.3%
1960| 15,016| | −10.5%
1970| 12,108| | −19.4%
1980| 11,872| | −1.9%
1990| 11,294| | −4.9%
2000| 11,495| | 1.8%
2010| 10,501| | −8.6%
2020| 9,900| | −5.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1850–2010[15] 2010[16] 2020[17]
Runnels 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[18] | Pop 2010[16] | Pop 2020[17] | % 2000  | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 7,793  | 6,841  | 6,062  | 67.79%  | 65.15%  | 61.23%
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 154  | 165  | 132  | 1.34%  | 1.57%  | 1.33%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 30  | 43  | 39  | 0.26%  | 0.41%  | 0.39%
Asian alone (NH)  | 37  | 19  | 24  | 0.32%  | 0.18%  | 0.24%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | 2  | 0  | 6  | 0.02%  | 0.00%  | 0.06%
Other Race alone (NH)  | 7  | 15  | 15  | 0.06%  | 0.14%  | 0.15%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH)  | 100  | 57  | 268  | 0.87%  | 0.54%  | 2.71%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 3,372  | 3,361  | 3,354  | 29.33%  | 32.01%  | 33.88%
Total | 11,495 | 10,501 | 9,900 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00%

As of the census[19] of 2000, there were 11,495 people, 4,428 households, and 3,157 families residing in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4.2 people/km2). There were 5,400 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 81.44% White, 1.40% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 14.31% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. 29.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,428 households, out of which 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.90% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 19.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,806, and the median income for a family was $32,917. Males had a median income of $25,223 versus $18,988 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,577. About 14.90% of families and 19.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.10% of those under age 18 and 19.00% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Ballinger (county seat)
* Miles
* Winters

### Census-designated place

[edit]

* Wingate

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Benoit
* Norton
* Rowena

## Politics

[edit]

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

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 3,580  | 88.26% | 452  | 11.14%  | 24  | 0.59%
2020 | 3,807  | 86.35% | 552  | 12.52%  | 50  | 1.13%
2016 | 3,250  | 85.93% | 453  | 11.98%  | 79  | 2.09%
2012 | 3,104  | 84.62% | 519  | 14.15%  | 45  | 1.23%
2008 | 3,118  | 80.63% | 720  | 18.62%  | 29  | 0.75%
2004 | 3,239  | 80.00% | 792  | 19.56%  | 18  | 0.44%
2000 | 3,020  | 74.64% | 969  | 23.95%  | 57  | 1.41%
1996 | 1,941  | 51.58% | 1,417  | 37.66%  | 405  | 10.76%
1992 | 1,653  | 38.09% | 1,401  | 32.28%  | 1,286  | 29.63%
1988 | 2,417  | 58.28% | 1,720  | 41.48%  | 10  | 0.24%
1984 | 2,968  | 71.06% | 1,179  | 28.23%  | 30  | 0.72%
1980 | 2,532  | 59.82% | 1,648  | 38.93%  | 53  | 1.25%
1976 | 2,203  | 51.45% | 2,068  | 48.30%  | 11  | 0.26%
1972 | 2,752  | 78.83% | 739  | 21.17%  | 0  | 0.00%
1968 | 1,707  | 44.65% | 1,448  | 37.88%  | 668  | 17.47%
1964 | 1,480  | 35.82%  | 2,645  | 64.01% | 7  | 0.17%
1960 | 2,128  | 52.22% | 1,938  | 47.56%  | 9  | 0.22%
1956 | 2,416  | 62.54% | 1,442  | 37.33%  | 5  | 0.13%
1952 | 2,622  | 58.53% | 1,853  | 41.36%  | 5  | 0.11%
1948 | 526  | 14.55%  | 2,954  | 81.72% | 135  | 3.73%
1944 | 685  | 18.09%  | 2,657  | 70.16% | 445  | 11.75%
1940 | 835  | 21.25%  | 3,088  | 78.60% | 6  | 0.15%
1936 | 313  | 9.44%  | 2,985  | 89.99% | 19  | 0.57%
1932 | 235  | 7.30%  | 2,975  | 92.39% | 10  | 0.31%
1928 | 1,645  | 52.26% | 1,494  | 47.46%  | 9  | 0.29%
1924 | 458  | 14.48%  | 2,564  | 81.09% | 140  | 4.43%
1920 | 332  | 17.90%  | 1,197  | 64.53% | 326  | 17.57%
1916 | 195  | 10.71%  | 1,487  | 81.66% | 139  | 7.63%
1912 | 56  | 3.85%  | 1,117  | 76.82% | 281  | 19.33%

## Education

[edit]

School districts include:[21]

* Ballinger Independent School District
* Bronte Independent School District
* Coleman Independent School District
* Jim Ned Consolidated Independent School District
* Miles Independent School District
* Olfen Independent School District
* Panther Creek Consolidated Independent School District
* Winters Independent School District

The Texas Legislature designated the county as being in the Western Texas College District.[22]

## See also

[edit]

* Texas portal

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Runnels County, Texas
* Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Runnels County

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Runnels 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 26, 2015.
4. ^ a b c d e Pinkney, Katherine. "Runnels County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
5. ^ Hundell, Ken and Sharon (2005). Spirits of the Border V: The History and Mystery of the Lone Star State. Omega Press. p. 176\. ISBN 978-0-9626087-9-7.
6. ^ Aston, B W; Taylor, Ira Donathon (1997). Along the Texas Forts Trail. University of North Texas Press. pp. 51–56\. ISBN 978-1-57441-035-8.
7. ^ "Runnels City". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
8. ^ "Picketville". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
9. ^ a b "Ballinger". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
10. ^ "Runnels County Courthouse". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
11. ^ "Pumphrey". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
12. ^ "The Charles H. Noyes Statue". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
13. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
14. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
15. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
16. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Runnels County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
17. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Runnels County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
18. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Runnels County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
19. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
21. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Runnels County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 22, 2024. \- Text list
22. ^ "Sec. 130.210. WESTERN TEXAS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA". Retrieved September 22, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Runnels County government’s website
* Runnels County from the Handbook of Texas Online

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Runnels County, Texas

| Nolan County | Taylor County |

|
|

|  |
Coke County |

Runnels County, Texas

| Coleman County
|  |
Tom Green County | Concho County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Runnels County, Texas, United States

County seat: Ballinger

Cities|

* Ballinger
* Miles
* Winters

Runnels County map

CDPs|

* Rowena
* Wingate

Other
communities|

* Benoit
* Norton

* Texas portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

Counties of Texas

* Anderson
* Andrews
* Angelina
* Aransas
* Archer
* Armstrong
* Atascosa
* Austin
* Bailey
* Bandera
* Bastrop
* Baylor
* Bee
* Bell
* Bexar
* Blanco
* Borden
* Bosque
* Bowie
* Brazoria
* Brazos
* Brewster
* Briscoe
* Brooks
* Brown
* Burleson
* Burnet
* Caldwell
* Calhoun
* Callahan
* Cameron
* Camp
* Carson
* Cass
* Castro
* Chambers
* Cherokee
* Childress
* Clay
* Cochran
* Coke
* Coleman
* Collin
* Collingsworth
* Colorado
* Comal
* Comanche
* Concho
* Cooke
* Coryell
* Cottle
* Crane
* Crockett
* Crosby
* Culberson
* Dallam
* Dallas
* Dawson
* Deaf Smith
* Delta
* Denton
* DeWitt
* Dickens
* Dimmit
* Donley
* Duval
* Eastland
* Ector
* Edwards
* El Paso
* Ellis
* Erath
* Falls
* Fannin
* Fayette
* Fisher
* Floyd
* Foard
* Fort Bend
* Franklin
* Freestone
* Frio
* Gaines
* Galveston
* Garza
* Gillespie
* Glasscock
* Goliad
* Gonzales
* Gray
* Grayson
* Gregg
* Grimes
* Guadalupe
* Hale
* Hall
* Hamilton
* Hansford
* Hardeman
* Hardin
* Harris
* Harrison
* Hartley
* Haskell
* Hays
* Hemphill
* Henderson
* Hidalgo
* Hill
* Hockley
* Hood
* Hopkins
* Houston
* Howard
* Hudspeth
* Hunt
* Hutchinson
* Irion
* Jack
* Jackson
* Jasper
* Jeff Davis
* Jefferson
* Jim Hogg
* Jim Wells
* Johnson
* Jones
* Karnes
* Kaufman
* Kendall
* Kenedy
* Kent
* Kerr
* Kimble
* King
* Kinney
* Kleberg
* Knox
* La Salle
* Lamar
* Lamb
* Lampasas
* Lavaca
* Lee
* Leon
* Liberty
* Limestone
* Lipscomb
* Live Oak
* Llano
* Loving
* Lubbock
* Lynn
* Madison
* Marion
* Martin
* Mason
* Matagorda
* Maverick
* McCulloch
* McLennan
* McMullen
* Medina
* Menard
* Midland
* Milam
* Mills
* Mitchell
* Montague
* Montgomery
* Moore
* Morris
* Motley
* Nacogdoches
* Navarro
* Newton
* Nolan
* Nueces
* Ochiltree
* Oldham
* Orange
* Palo Pinto
* Panola
* Parker
* Parmer
* Pecos
* Polk
* Potter
* Presidio
* Rains
* Randall
* Reagan
* Real
* Red River
* Reeves
* Refugio
* Roberts
* Robertson
* Rockwall
* Runnels
* Rusk
* Sabine
* San Augustine
* San Jacinto
* San Patricio
* San Saba
* Schleicher
* Scurry
* Shackelford
* Shelby
* Sherman
* Smith
* Somervell
* Starr
* Stephens
* Sterling
* Stonewall
* Sutton
* Swisher
* Tarrant
* Taylor
* Terrell
* Terry
* Throckmorton
* Titus
* Tom Green
* Travis
* Trinity
* Tyler
* Upshur
* Upton
* Uvalde
* Val Verde
* Van Zandt
* Victoria
* Walker
* Waller
* Ward
* Washington
* Webb
* Wharton
* Wheeler
* Wichita
* Wilbarger
* Willacy
* Williamson
* Wilson
* Winkler
* Wise
* Wood
* Yoakum
* Young
* Zapata
* Zavala

* v
* t
* e

State of Texas

Austin (capital)

Topics|

* Outline
* Architecture
* Climate (Climate change)
* Cuisine
* Dialects
* Geography
* Government
* Healthcare
* History
* Languages
* Law
* Literature
* Mass media
* Newspapers
* Radio
* TV
* National Historic Landmarks
* National Register of Historic Places Sites
* Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks
* Sports
* Symbols
* Texans
* Time
* Tourist attractions
* Transportation

Society|

* Abortion
* Culture
* Crime
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Gambling
* Gun laws
* Homelessness
* LGBT rights
* Politics

Regions|

* Ark‑La‑Tex
* Big Bend
* Boca Chica
* Blackland Prairies
* Brazos Valley
* Central Texas
* Coastal Bend
* Concho Valley
* Cross Timbers
* East Texas
* Edwards Plateau
* Golden Triangle
* Hill Country
* Llano Estacado
* Northeast Texas
* North Texas
* Osage Plains
* Panhandle
* Permian Basin
* Piney Woods
* Rio Grande Valley
* Southeast Texas
* South Plains
* South Texas
* Texoma
* Trans-Pecos
* West Texas

Metropolitan
areas|

* Abilene
* Amarillo
* Austin–Round Rock (Greater Austin)
* Beaumont–Port Arthur
* Brownsville–Harlingen
* College Station–Bryan
* Corpus Christi
* Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington (DFW)
* El Paso
* Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land (Greater Houston)
* Killeen–Temple
* Laredo
* Longview/Kilgore
* Lubbock
* McAllen–Edinburg–Mission
* Midland
* Odessa
* San Angelo
* San Antonio–New Braunfels
* Sherman–Denison
* Texarkana
* Tyler
* Victoria
* Waco
* Wagner Creek
* Wichita Falls

Counties|

See: List of counties in Texas

Texas portal

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* Israel

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

Other|

* NARA

31°50′N 99°58′W﻿ / ﻿31.83°N 99.97°W﻿ / 31.83; -99.97
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template