Howard County, Texas

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 904.205 sqmi, of which 900.791 sqmi are land and 3.414 sqmi (0.4%) are covered by water.

Howard County is located at the boundary between the Llano Estacado to the north and the Edwards Plateau to the south. Beals Creek, a tributary of the Colorado River, flows through the center of Big Spring and divides these two major physiographic regions.

Major highways

• [[File:I-20 (TX).svg|20px]] Interstate 20
• [[File:Business Loop 20.svg|20px]] Interstate 20 Business
• [[File:US 87.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 87
• [[File:Texas 176.svg|20px]] State Highway 176
• [[File:Texas 350.svg|20px]] State Highway 350
• [[File:Texas FM 669.svg|20px]] Farm to Market Road 669
• [[File:Texas FM 700.svg|20px]] Farm to Market Road 700

Adjacent counties

• Borden County (north)
• Mitchell County (east)
• Sterling County (southeast)
• Glasscock County (south)
• Martin County (west)
• Dawson County (northwest)
• Scurry County (northeast)

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 34,860, 11,674 households, and 7,739 families. The median age was 37.7 years, 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18, 5.8% were under the age of 5, and 14.4% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 129.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 137.6 males age 18 and over.

Of the 11,674 households, 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 44.4% were married-couple households, 21.5% 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 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 14,000 housing units, of which 16.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 65.5% were owner-occupied and 34.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 19.5%. The racial makeup of the county was 67.9% White, 4.9% Black or African American, 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 10.8% from some other race, and 14.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 46.4% of the population.

83.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 16.9% lived in rural areas.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 33,627 people, 11,389 households and 7,949 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 /mi2. There were 13,589 housing units at an average density of 15 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 80.14% White, 4.13% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 12.43% from other races, and 2.10% from two or more races. 37.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,389 households, of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.30% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

24.20% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 30.90% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 118.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.50 males.

The median household income was $30,805 and the median family income was $37,262. Males had a median income of $28,971 and females $21,390. The per capita income was $15,027. About 14.50% of families and 18.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 15.50% of those age 65 or over.

Media

The county is served by a daily newspaper, local radio stations KBST (AM), KBST-FM, KBTS (FM), KBYG (AM), nearby stations KBXJ (FM), KPET (AM) and KWDC (FM), and the various Midland and Odessa radio and TV stations.

Communities

Cities

• Big Spring (county seat)
• Forsan

Towns

• Coahoma

Census-designated place

• Sand Springs

Unincorporated communities

• Elbow
• Knott
• Ross City
• Vealmoor

Ghost town

• Soash

Politics

From 1912 through 1964, Howard County voters, in common with the Solid South, voted predominantly for the Democratic candidate in presidential elections. Since 1980, the trend has swung to voting chiefly for the Republican candidate.

Education

School districts include:

• Big Spring Independent School District
• Borden County Independent School District
• Coahoma Independent School District
• Forsan Independent School District
• Sands Consolidated Independent School District
• Stanton Independent School District

All of Howard County is in the service area of Howard County Junior College District.

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
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. "2010 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States 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 – Howard County, Texas".
9. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Howard County, Texas".
10. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Howard 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. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
15. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
16. Geography Division. (December 22, 2020). "2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Howard County, TX". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
17. "Sec. 130.183. HOWARD COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.".