Hamilton County, Texas

History

Indigenous peoples were the first inhabitants of the area. Later Native American tribes settled in the area, including Tawakoni, Tonkawa, Waco, and Comanche. In 1821, shortly after Mexico claimed its independence from Spain, Anglo settlers from the north came to Texas, claiming Mexican citizenship.

Following Texas's independence from Mexico (1836) and its annexation by the United States (1845), Robert Carter and family became the first permanent White settlers in the county in 1854. The next year, settlers James Rice, Henry Standefer, Frederic Bookerman, William Beauchamp, and Asa Langford formed a community that later became the town of Hamilton. Asa Langford began Langford's Cove, which later grew into present-day Evant. In 1858, the Sixth Texas Legislature formed Hamilton County, named after James Hamilton Jr., from parts of Comanche, Bosque, and Lampasas Counties. In 1858, Hamilton was named the county seat.

Despite growing White settlements in Texas, Indian tribal presences remained. In 1867, Comanche raiders attacked a school where Ann Whitney was the teacher. She helped students escape before finally succumbing to 18 Comanche arrows.

In 1882, the Hico community initiated the annual Hico Old Settlers' Reunion.

By 1900, cotton cultivation had spread to almost 47500 acre of county land. By 1907, the Stephenville North and South Texas Railway had connected Hamilton with Stephenville. The St. Louis Southwestern Railway of Texas connected Hamilton with Gatesville and Comanche in 1911.

In 1934, the Civil Works Administration's payroll included 747 Hamilton County men, who together earned about $2,000 per day.

In 1950, Ollie P. Roberts (also known as Ollie L. Roberts, "Brushy Bill" Roberts, or William Henry Roberts), a resident of Hico during the late 1940s, claimed to have been the outlaw Billy the Kid. The assertion is based on a legend that Patrick F. Garrett helped Billy fake his own death. Hico Chamber of Commerce responded by opening a Billy the Kid Museum. vandalism In 2009, Hamilton was invaded by the West Texas Rattlesnake. --

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 836 sqmi, of which 0.5 sqmi (0.06%) is covered by water.

Major highways

• [[Image:US 84.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 84
• [[Image:US 281.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 281
• [[Image:Texas 6.svg|20px]] State Highway 6
• [[Image:Texas 22.svg|20px]] State Highway 22
• [[Image:Texas 36.svg|20px]] State Highway 36
• [[Image:Texas 220.svg|20px]] State Highway 220

Adjacent counties

• Erath County (north)
• Bosque County (northeast)
• Coryell County (southeast)
• Lampasas County (south)
• Mills County (southwest)
• Comanche County (northwest)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1850–2010 2010 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 8,222. The median age was 47.4 years, with 21.1% of residents under the age of 18 and 25.9% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.2 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 86.8% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian,

There were 3,365 households in the county, of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.4% were married-couple households, 17.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 4,331 housing units, of which 22.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.4% were owner-occupied and 25.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 15.9%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, about 2.9 same-sex couples per 1,000 households lived in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 8,229 people, 3,374 households, and 2,324 families were residing in the county. The population density was 10 /mi2. The 4,455 housing units had an average density of five per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 93.81% White, 0.15% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.05%Pacific Islander, 4.36% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. About 7.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 3,374 households, 27.4% had children under 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were not families. About 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.89. In the county, the age distribution was 23.8% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,150, and for a family was $39,494. Males had a median income of $26,703 versus $20,192 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,800. About 10.6% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.2% of those under 18 and 13.8% of those 65 or over.

Notable person

• Brushy Bill, the man who claimed to be the infamous outlaw, Billy the Kid, died in Hico, Texas and is buried in Hamilton County. --

Media

Hamilton County is currently listed as part of the Dallas-Fort Worth designated market area. Local media outlets include: KDFW-TV, KXAS-TV, WFAA-TV, KTVT-TV, KERA-TV, KTXA-TV, KDFI-TV, KDAF-TV, and KFWD-TV. Because the county is located in Central Texas and neighbors the Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood metropolitan statistical area, all of the Waco/Temple/Killeen market stations also provide coverage for Hamilton County. They include: KCEN-TV, KWTX-TV, KXXV-TV, KWKT-TV, KNCT (TV), and KAKW-DT.

Communities

Cities

• Cranfills Gap (mostly in Bosque County)
• Hamilton (county seat)
• Hico

Town

• Evant (partly in Coryell County)

Census-designated place

• Carlton

Unincorporated communities

• Aleman
• Fairy
• Gentry's Mill
• Indian Gap
• Jonesboro (also in Coryell County)
• Olin
• Pottsville
• Shive
• Whiteway

Ghost Town

• McGirk

Education

School districts include:

• Cranfills Gap Independent School District
• Evant Independent School District
• Goldthwaite Consolidated Independent School District
• Hamilton Independent School District
• Hico Independent School District
• Jonesboro Independent School District

Hamilton County is in the service area, defined by the Texas Education Code, of Central Texas College.

Gallery

File: Hamilton County Historical Marker.jpg | Hamilton County historical marker File: Brushy Bill Gravesite.jpg | Gravestone of Brushy Bill Roberts, who claimed to be Billy the Kid File: Hico31 (1 of 1).jpg | Billy the Kid statue in Hico File: St.olaf.kirke.jpg | St. Olaf Kirke, just outside of Cranfills Gap

Politics

References

References

1. "Hamilton 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. [https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hch03 Handbook of Texas, Hamilton County]
6. link. (March 1, 2012)
7. [http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasPersonalities/Ann-Whitney.htm Texas Escapes, Details of Comanche Attack]
8. [http://hico-tx.com/hico-old-settlers-reunion.html Hico Old Settlers' Reunion] {{webarchive. link. (March 25, 2010)
9. [http://hico-tx.com/billy-the-kid-legend.html Billy The Kid Legend] {{webarchive. link. (March 30, 2010)
10. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
11. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". [[US Census Bureau]].
12. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010". Texas Almanac.
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
15. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
16. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Hamilton County, Texas".
17. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Hamilton County, Texas".
18. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Hamilton County, Texas".
19. (June 26, 2015). "Where Same-Sex Couples Live". The New York Times.
20. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
21. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hamilton County, TX". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
22. [https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Section 130.171, "Central Texas College District Service Area"].
23. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
24. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".