Dickens County, Texas

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 905 sqmi, of which 902 sqmi are land and 3.5 sqmi (0.4%) are covered by water.

Major highways

• [[Image:US 82.svg|20px]] [[Image:Texas 114.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 82 / State Highway 114
• [[Image:Texas 70.svg|20px]] State Highway 70
• [[Image:Texas 208.svg|20px]] State Highway 208

Adjacent counties

• Motley County (north)
• King County (east)
• Kent County (south)
• Crosby County (west)
• Garza County (southwest)
• Floyd County (northwest)
• Cottle County (northeast)
• Stonewall County (southeast)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1850–2010 2010 2020

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,770. The median age was 47.3 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 25.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.3 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 77.0% White, 1.7% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 9.2% from some other race, and 11.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 28.9% of the population.

There were 778 households in the county, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.1% were married-couple households, 21.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,165 housing units, of which 33.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.2% were owner-occupied and 23.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, 2,762 people, 980 households, and 638 families resided in the county. The population density was 3 /mi2. The 1,368 housing units averaged 2 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 77.62% White, 8.18% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.25% Pacific Islander, 12.35% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. About 23.90% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 980 households, 23.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.80% were not families. About 32.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was distributed as 18.50% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 19.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 130.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 141.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,898, and for a family was $32,500. Males had a median income of $25,000 versus $18,571 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,156. About 14.10% of families and 17.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.30% of those under age 18 and 18.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Dickens (county seat)
• Spur

Unincorporated communities

• Afton
• McAdoo

Notable people

• Red McCombs, businessman and sports franchise owner

Education

There are two school districts in the county: Patton Springs Independent School District and Spur Independent School District.

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

Elected leadership

Politics

Following redistricting after the 2020 census, effective January 1, 2023, Dickens County is in Texas House of Representatives District 83, represented by Republican Dustin Burrows, an attorney from Lubbock. Dickens County was previously in House District 68. In the Texas Senate, Dickens County is presently in District 28, represented by Republican Charles Perry.

Like much of West Texas, Dickens now leans heavily Republican, giving less than 15% of the vote to Hillary Clinton in 2016, though it did support her husband, Bill Clinton, in both 1992 and 1996, in the former election supporting him by double digits over Texas resident George H.W. Bush. However, the county historically leaned heavily Democratic, having previously even voted against Ronald Reagan in both his 1980 and 1984 landslides, and against native son Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956.

References

References

1. "Dickens County, Texas".
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (2008). "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". [[Newberry Library.
4. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". Govt. Print. Off..
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". [[US Census Bureau]].
7. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010". Texas Almanac.
8. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Dickens County, Texas".
9. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Dickens County, Texas".
10. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Dickens County, Texas".
11. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
13. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
14. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
15. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dickens County, TX". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
16. "Sec. 130.210. WESTERN TEXAS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.".
17. "Counties: Dickens - Texas State Directory Online".
18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
19. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".