Wilbarger County, Texas

County in Texas, United States

County in Texas

Wilbarger County

County

The Wilbarger County Courthouse

Location within the U.S. state of Texas

Texas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 34°05′N 99°14′W﻿ / ﻿34.08°N 99.24°W﻿ / 34.08; -99.24
Country|  United States
State|  Texas
Founded| 1881
Named after| Josiah Pugh Wilbarger and Mathias Wilbarger
Seat| Vernon
Largest city| Vernon
Area

• Total

| 978 sq mi (2,530 km2)
• Land| 971 sq mi (2,510 km2)
• Water| 7.0 sq mi (18 km2)  0.7%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 12,887
• Density| 13/sq mi (5.1/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 13th
Website| www.co.wilbarger.tx.us
"Wilbarger County Remembers", says the veteran's memorial at the courthouse. Confederate soldier monument at Wilbarger County Courthouse

Wilbarger County (/ˈwɪlbɑːrɡər/ WIL-bar-gər) is a county located in the North Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,887.[1] The county seat is Vernon.[2] The county was created in 1858 and later organized in 1881.[3] Wilbarger is named for Josiah Pugh Wilbarger and Mathias Wilbarger, two early settlers.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 978 square miles (2,530 km2), of which 971 sq mi (2,510 km2) are land and 7.0 sq mi (18 km2) (0.7%) are covered by water.[4]

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 70
* U.S. Highway 183
* U.S. Highway 283
* U.S. Highway 287

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Tillman County, Oklahoma (north)
* Wichita County (east)
* Baylor County (south)
* Foard County (west)
* Hardeman County (west)
* Jackson County, Oklahoma (northwest)

## Demographics

[edit]

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Harrold
* Lockett
* Oklaunion

### Population

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1880| 126| | —
1890| 7,092| | 5,528.6%
1900| 5,759| | −18.8%
1910| 12,000| | 108.4%
1920| 15,112| | 25.9%
1930| 24,579| | 62.6%
1940| 20,474| | −16.7%
1950| 20,552| | 0.4%
1960| 17,748| | −13.6%
1970| 15,355| | −13.5%
1980| 15,931| | 3.8%
1990| 15,121| | −5.1%
2000| 14,676| | −2.9%
2010| 13,535| | −7.8%
2020| 12,887| | −4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1850–2010[6] 2010[7] 2020[8]
Wilbarger 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[9] | Pop 2010[7] | Pop 2020[8] | % 2000  | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 10,083  | 8,585  | 7,012  | 68.70%  | 63.43%  | 54.41%
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 1,278  | 1,049  | 1,013  | 8.71%  | 7.75%  | 7.86%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 78  | 115  | 96  | 0.53%  | 0.85%  | 0.74%
Asian alone (NH)  | 91  | 97  | 566  | 0.62%  | 0.72%  | 4.39%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | 4  | 6  | 0  | 0.03%  | 0.04%  | 0.00%
Other race alone (NH)  | 7  | 6  | 32  | 0.05%  | 0.04%  | 0.25%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)  | 120  | 169  | 434  | 0.82%  | 1.25%  | 3.37%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 3,015  | 3,508  | 3,734  | 20.54%  | 25.92%  | 28.97%
Total | 14,676 | 13,535 | 12,887 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00%

As of the census[10] of 2000, 14,676 people, 5,537 households, and 3,748 families were residing in the county. The population density was 15 people/sq mi (5.8 people/km2). The 6,371 housing units averaged 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 78.17% White, 8.86% African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 9.76% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. About 20.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 5,537 households, 32.20% had children under 18 living with them, 53.10% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were not families. About 29.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.90% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48, and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the age distribution was 27.90% under 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males. The median income for a household in the county was $29,500, and for a family was $38,685. Males had a median income of $26,001 versus $19,620 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,520. About 9.00% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.00% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit]

### County Seat

[edit]

* Vernon (county seat)

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Odell[11]
* Harrold
* Lockett
* Oklaunion

## Education

[edit]

School districts serving sections of the county include:[12]

* Chillicothe Independent School District
* Harrold Independent School District
* Northside Independent School District
* Vernon Independent School District

The county is in the service area of Vernon College.[13]

## Notable people

[edit]

* Clyde Gates, wide receiver for the New York Jets
* Jack English Hightower, Memphis, Texas, native; former member of both houses of the Texas State Legislature, and former U.S. Representative
* Roy Orbison, singer/songwriter, was born in Wilbarger County.
* Daryl Richardson, running back for the St. Louis Rams
* Bernard Scott, running back for the Cincinnati Bengals
* Jack Teagarden, bandleader and trombonist
* John Clay Wolfe, American radio personality who began his career in Wilbarger County on KSEY

## Politics

[edit]

United States presidential election results for Wilbarger County, Texas[14] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 3,566  | 79.83% | 860  | 19.25%  | 41  | 0.92%
2020 | 3,524  | 77.90% | 956  | 21.13%  | 44  | 0.97%
2016 | 3,166  | 77.13% | 809  | 19.71%  | 130  | 3.17%
2012 | 2,956  | 74.27% | 971  | 24.40%  | 53  | 1.33%
2008 | 3,283  | 72.81% | 1,196  | 26.52%  | 30  | 0.67%
2004 | 3,685  | 73.85% | 1,284  | 25.73%  | 21  | 0.42%
2000 | 3,138  | 68.56% | 1,356  | 29.63%  | 83  | 1.81%
1996 | 2,037  | 47.73% | 1,730  | 40.53%  | 501  | 11.74%
1992 | 1,959  | 36.69% | 1,924  | 36.03%  | 1,457  | 27.28%
1988 | 2,669  | 54.15% | 2,248  | 45.61%  | 12  | 0.24%
1984 | 3,644  | 64.23% | 2,011  | 35.45%  | 18  | 0.32%
1980 | 3,031  | 55.48% | 2,347  | 42.96%  | 85  | 1.56%
1976 | 2,145  | 39.17%  | 3,280  | 59.90% | 51  | 0.93%
1972 | 3,183  | 70.44% | 1,139  | 25.20%  | 197  | 4.36%
1968 | 1,909  | 36.73%  | 1,996  | 38.40% | 1,293  | 24.87%
1964 | 1,539  | 32.45%  | 3,200  | 67.48% | 3  | 0.06%
1960 | 2,796  | 54.51% | 2,319  | 45.21%  | 14  | 0.27%
1956 | 2,230  | 48.62%  | 2,347  | 51.17% | 10  | 0.22%
1952 | 3,019  | 53.28% | 2,646  | 46.70%  | 1  | 0.02%
1948 | 529  | 13.92%  | 2,963  | 77.97% | 308  | 8.11%
1944 | 517  | 11.70%  | 3,382  | 76.53% | 520  | 11.77%
1940 | 697  | 17.64%  | 3,249  | 82.21% | 6  | 0.15%
1936 | 316  | 8.75%  | 3,279  | 90.76% | 18  | 0.50%
1932 | 199  | 5.51%  | 3,397  | 94.13% | 13  | 0.36%
1928 | 1,590  | 52.30% | 1,447  | 47.60%  | 3  | 0.10%
1924 | 269  | 17.05%  | 1,222  | 77.44% | 87  | 5.51%
1920 | 335  | 21.73%  | 1,118  | 72.50% | 89  | 5.77%
1916 | 99  | 6.79%  | 1,242  | 85.13% | 118  | 8.09%
1912 | 44  | 3.38%  | 993  | 76.33% | 264  | 20.29%
United States Senate election results for Wilbarger County, Texas1[15] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 3,419  | 77.13% | 926  | 20.89%  | 88  | 1.99%

## See also

[edit]

* Texas portal

* List of museums in North Texas
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Wilbarger County, Texas
* Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Wilbarger County

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Wilbarger 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 27, 2015.
4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
5. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
6. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
7. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wilbarger County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
8. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wilbarger County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
9. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wilbarger County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
11. ^ "TSHA | Elliott, TX (Wilbarger County)".
12. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wilbarger County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022. \- Text list
13. ^ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.207. VERNON REGIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
15. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Vernon Daily Record \- Wilbarger County News
* Wilbarger County, Texas Official Website
* Wilbarger County from the Handbook of Texas Online
* Josiah Wilbarger's entry in the Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
* Wilbarger County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties

Places adjacent to Wilbarger County, Texas

| Jackson County, Oklahoma | Tillman County, Oklahoma |

|
|

|  |
Hardeman County and Foard County |

Wilbarger County, Texas

| Wichita County
|  |
| Baylor County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Wilbarger County, Texas, United States

County seat: Vernon

City|

* Vernon

Wilbarger County map

CDPs|

* Harrold
* Lockett
* Oklaunion

Other
community|

* Odell

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34°05′N 99°14′W﻿ / ﻿34.08°N 99.24°W﻿ / 34.08; -99.24
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