Archer County, Texas

History

In 1858, the Texas Legislature established Archer County from portions of Fannin County, and it organized in 1880. It is named for Branch Tanner Archer, a commissioner for the Republic of Texas.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 925 sqmi, of which 903 sqmi are land and 22 sqmi (2.4%) are covered by water.

Major highways

• [[Image:US 82.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 82
• [[Image:US 277.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 277
• [[Image:US 281.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 281
• [[Image:Texas 25.svg|20px]] State Highway 25
• [[Image:Texas 79.svg|20px]] State Highway 79
• [[Image:Texas 114.svg|20px]] State Highway 114

Adjacent counties

• Wichita County (north)
• Clay County (east)
• Jack County (southeast)
• Young County (south)
• Baylor County (west)
• Wilbarger County (northwest)

Geology

Archer County is part of the Texas Red Beds, which are strata of red-colored sedimentary rock from the Early Permian. One of the most prominent red-bed fossil sites in the county is the Geraldine Bonebed. The fossils of Permian-period vertebrates in the Texas Red Beds were first discovered by Edward Drinker Cope in 1877. Cope, E. D. Descriptions of extinct vertebrata from the Permian and Triassic formations of the United States. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, 1877. Volume 17:182–195. JSTOR. Accessed on August 28, 2017. Subsequent research has revealed rare fossils of Permian period amphibians such as Trimerorhachis,Henry, Randy. NRCS and Landowner Team Up With Houston Museum after Rare Species Discovery. Natural Resources Conservation Service. Accessed on August 28, 2017. and rich deposits of other Permian tetrapods such as Dimetrodon and Diadectes.

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1850–1900 1910 1920 1930 1940

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020\n

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,560. The median age was 44.2 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.0 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 88.2% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 1.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian,

12.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 87.4% lived in rural areas.

There were 3,396 households in the county, of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 59.5% were married-couple households, 16.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 20.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 3,865 housing units, of which 12.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 84.3% were owner-occupied and 15.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.9%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, 8,854 people, 3,345 households, and 2,515 families resided in the county. The population density was 10 /mi2. The 3,871 housing units averaged 4 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 95.54% White, 0.08% African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.28% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. About 4.87% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 3,345 households, 37.20% had children under 18 living with them, 65.00% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.80% were not families. Of all unmarried partner households, 89.8% were heterosexual, 1.9% were same-sex male, and 8.3% were same-sex female. About 21.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.20% had someone who was 65 or older living alone. The average household size was 2.63, and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the age distribution was 28.20% under 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,514, and for a family was $45,984. Males had a median income of $31,386 versus $22,119 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,300. About 6.80% of families and 9.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.90% of those under age 18 and 10.80% of those age 65 or over.

Education

These school districts serve Archer County:

• Archer City Independent School District
• Holliday Independent School District
• Iowa Park Consolidated Independent School District (partial)
• Jacksboro Independent School District (partial)
• Olney Independent School District (partial)
• Windthorst Independent School District

Megargel Independent School District once served portions of Archer County, but it closed in 2006.

The county is in the service area of Vernon College.

Ranching industry

The Seymour Division of the sprawling 320,000-deeded-acre (1400 km2) La Escalera Ranch is located north of Seymour, Texas in Baylor County with portions in Archer County. The Seymour Division consists of 34,000 acre, which formerly was known as the Cross Bar Ranch when it was owned by the Claude Cowan Sr. Trust. The ranch was purchased in January 2005 by the Gerald Lyda family and La Escalera Limited Partnership, and is managed by partner Jo Lyda Granberg and her husband K. G. Granberg of Seymour. La Escalera Ranch also extends over much of Pecos County and portions of Reeves and Brewster Counties. It is known for its herd of Black Angus cattle and its abundant wildlife.

Joseph Sterling Bridwell, a Wichita Falls philanthropist and oilman, also owned a ranch in Archer County.

Dairy industry

Archer County is one of the more prominent areas of dairy product production in Texas. The two southeastern Archer County cities of Scotland and Windthorst have 37 functioning dairy farms nearby as of 2019. The dairy industry moved to the area in the early 1900s and has persisted through the years. Though this area has many operating dairies, the number of dairy cattle makes up a fractions of the numbers that are raised in the other dairy pockets of Texas such as Dalhart/Dumas and the Stephenville area. Every dairy farm in the Scotland/Windthorst area is family owned, and this is from where most of the economy of the two cities derives.

Politics

Archer County is represented in the Texas House of Representatives by Republican James Frank, a businessman from Wichita Falls. Archer County is heavily Republican, and has voted for the presidential candidate of that party in every election since 1980.

Communities

Cities

• Archer City (county seat)
• Holliday
• Scotland

Towns

• Lakeside City
• Megargel
• Windthorst (partly in Clay County)

Unincorporated communities

• Dads Corner
• Dundee
• Mankins

Ghost towns

• Anarene
• Huff

References

References

1. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Archer County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Archer County, Texas".
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. (2008). "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". [[Newberry Library.
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. [https://books.google.com/books?id=9DIloiBThhIC&dq=eryops+archer+county&pg=PA94 The Book Of Life: An Illustrated History of the Evolution of Life on Earth.] W.W. Norton: 2001, pg. 94. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
7. Case, E.C.[https://www.jstor.org/stable/30060764 The Red Beds between Wichita Falls, Texas, and Las Vegas, New Mexico, in Relation to Their Vertebrate Fauna.] The Journal of Geology, vol. 22, no. 3, 1914, pp. 243–259. JSTOR. Accessed on August 28, 2017.
8. Caulfield, Dave. [http://www.newschannel6now.com/story/30368034/prehistoric-predators-fossil-findings-in-seymour-redefining Prehistoric Predators: Fossil Findings in Seymour 'Redefining'.] Newschannel 6: October 25, 2015. Accessed on August 28, 2017.
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13. "1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
14. "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
15. "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
16. "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
17. "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
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20. "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas".
21. "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas".
22. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Archer County, Texas".
23. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Archer County, Texas".
24. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Archer County, Texas".
25. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
26. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
27. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
28. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
29. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Archer County, TX". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
30. [[Texas Education Agency]]: See map of [https://web.archive.org/web/20040625173809/http://penick.tea.state.tx.us/schooldistrictlocator/adobe/counties/archer.pdf Archer County]. Retrieved on April 9, 2020.
31. "Mergargel School Closes Its Doors". [[KAUZ-TV]].
32. [https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.207. VERNON REGIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA].
33. (June 12, 2010). "Jack O. Loftin, "Joseph Sterling Bridwell"". [[Texas State Historical Association]] online.
34. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
35. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".