Eastland County, Texas

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 932 sqmi, of which 5.4 sqmi (0.6%) are covered by water.

Major highways

• [[File:I-20 (TX).svg|20px]] Interstate 20
• [[File:US 183.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 183
• [[File:Texas 6.svg|20px]] State Highway 6
• [[File:Texas 16.svg|20px]] State Highway 16
• [[File:Texas 36.svg|20px]] State Highway 36
• [[File:Texas 112.svg|20px]] State Highway 112

Adjacent counties

• Stephens County (north)
• Palo Pinto County (northeast)
• Erath County (east)
• Comanche County (southeast)
• Brown County (south)
• Callahan County (west)
• Shackelford County (northwest)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1850–2010 2010 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 17,725. The median age was 43.4 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.5 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 82.8% White, 2.0% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 5.4% from some other race, and 8.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 16.6% of the population.

There were 7,167 households in the county, of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.2% were married-couple households, 18.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 9,341 housing units, of which 23.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.9% were owner-occupied and 27.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.9%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 18,297 people, 7,321 households, and 5,036 families resided in the county. The population density was 20 PD/sqmi. The 9,547 housing units averaged 10 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 91.03% White, 2.18% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 4.85% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. About 10.80% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 7,321 households, 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were not families. About 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was distributed as 23.20% under 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 22.30% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 20.90% who were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,832, and for a family was $33,562. Males had a median income of $25,598 versus $17,112 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,870. About 12.10% of families and 16.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.10% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.

Eastland Complex fires of 2022

On March 17, 2022, a fire complex formed approximately 3 km southeast of Romney. It was claimed to have been started by drought condition and is now 60% contained. The biggest fire so far is the Kidd fire, burning about 42,333 acres.

Smoke from the fires reached as far as Houston.

Education

School districts include:

• Cisco Independent School District
• Cross Plains Independent School District
• De Leon Independent School District
• Eastland Independent School District
• Gorman Independent School District
• Huckabay Independent School District
• Lingleville Independent School District
• Ranger Independent School District
• Rising Star Independent School District

Despite its small population, the county is home to two community colleges – Cisco College and Ranger College, located in their respective towns.

The service area of Cisco College in the county is Cisco ISD, as per the Texas Education Code. The service area of Ranger College in the county is the portion of Ranger ISD in that county, except for the "old Bullock School Land", as per the Texas Education Code. the TEC does not specify community college service areas for the remainder of the county.

Media

Eastland County is part of the Abilene/Sweetwater/Brownwood television viewing area in west-central Texas. Local news media outlets include KRBC-TV, KTXS-TV, KXVA, and KTAB-TV. In the cities of Eastland, Ranger, and Cisco on Suddenlink Communications Cable Television service, residents can view the Dallas/Fort Worth market stations WFAA-TV and KERA-TV.

Eastland County is also served by four local newspapers: the Eastland Telegram, the Rising Star, Ranger Times, and Cisco Press.

Communities

Cities

• Cisco
• Eastland (county seat)
• Gorman
• Ranger

Towns

• Carbon
• Rising Star

Unincorporated communities

• Kokomo
• Morton Valley
• Nimrod
• Olden
• Romney

Ghost towns

• Mangum

Politics

References

References

1. "Eastland County, Texas".
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (2008). "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". [[Newberry Library.
4. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
5. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". [[US Census Bureau]].
6. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010". Texas Almanac.
7. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
8. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
9. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
10. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Eastland County, Texas".
11. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Eastland County, Texas".
12. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Eastland County, Texas".
13. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
14. (March 18, 2022). "Area wildfires: Buildings in Ranger catch fire; Eastland, Coleman counties hit hard too". [[Abilene Reporter-News]].
15. (March 21, 2022). "178 Texas fires have torched more than 108,000 acres in the past week. But one major fire is now under control".
16. (March 19, 2022). "What we know about the Eastland Complex fires". [[Abilene Reporter-News]].
17. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Eastland County, TX". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
18. "Sec. 130.172. CISCO JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.".
19. "Sec. 130.196. RANGER JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.".
20. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
21. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".