Martin County, Texas

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 916 sqmi, of which 0.7 sqmi (0.08%) is covered by water. The northern portion of the Spraberry Trend, the second-largest oil field in the United States by 2013 estimated crude oil production, underlies much of the county.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

• Dawson County (north)
• Howard County (east)
• Glasscock County (southeast)
• Midland County (south)
• Andrews County (west)
• Gaines County (northwest)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 2010 2020

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 5,237 and a median age of 35.1 years. 29.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.2% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.3 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 68.4% White, 1.7% Black or African American, 1.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian,

There were 1,846 households in the county, of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 58.4% were married-couple households, 16.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 2,114 housing units, of which 12.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.4% were owner-occupied and 25.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.3%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 4,746 people, 1,624 households, and 1,256 families resided in the county. Its population density was 5 /mi2. The 1,894 housing units had an average density of 2 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 79.01% White, 1.58% African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 16.06% from other races, and 2.36% from two or more races; 40.56% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 1,624 households, 42.7% had children under 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.60 were not families. About 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the county, The age distribution was 33.9% under 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,836, and for a family was $35,965. Males had a median income of $29,360 versus $19,063 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,647. About 14.90% of families and 18.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.90% of those under age 18 and 17.10% of those age 65 or over.

Media

The county is served by a weekly newspaper, local station KKJW (FM), nearby (Lamesa, Texas) stations KBXJ (FM) and KPET (AM), and the various Midland and Odessa radio and TV stations.

Communities

Cities

• Ackerly (partly in Dawson County)
• Midland (mostly in Midland County)
• Stanton (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Lenorah
• Tarzan

Government and politics

Government

Martin County, like all counties in Texas, is governed by a commissioners' court, which consists of the county judge (the chairperson of the court), who is elected county-wide, and four commissioners who are elected by the voters in each of four precincts.

The commissioners' court is the policy-making body for the county; in addition, the county judge is the senior executive and administrative position in the county. The court sets the county tax rate, adopts the budget, appoints boards and commissions, approves grants and personnel actions, and oversees the administration of county government. Martin County is one of only a few Texas counties where the county and district clerks have been combined into one position.

Martin County is represented in the United States Congress as part of Texas's 19th congressional district, by Republican Jodey Arrington of Lubbock. Its two senators are Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, both Republicans. At the state level, Martin County is represented in the Texas State Legislature as part of Texas's 82nd House of Representatives district, by Republican Tom R. Craddock, and the Texas Senate, District 31, by Kevin Sparks.

County commissioners

County officials

Politics

Martin County, like most other Southern counties, was once deeply Democratic. It continuously gave over 70% of the vote to the Democratic candidate, and only voted twice for Republicans (both during national landslides) between statehood and 1980, after which it swung sharply to the right. Since then, it has followed the rest of West Texas in becoming one of the most loyally Republican areas in the state and has only swung further towards Republicans in the 21st century due to the rapidly liberalizing social policies of the Democratic Party, as well as concerns over Democratic climate policy, which is considered unattractive by West Texans due to their predominantly fossil fuel production-based economy. In 2024, Republican Donald Trump received 87.6% of the vote, the best a Republican has ever received in the county.

Until November 2018, Martin County was one of six remaining entirely dry counties in Texas. During that month, Martin County changed from a dry county to a partially wet county after Stanton residents voted to approve the sale of beer and wine within city limits. Five dry counties remain.

Education

School districts include:

• Grady Independent School District
• Klondike Independent School District
• Sands Consolidated Independent School District
• Stanton Independent School District

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

References

References

1. "Martin County, Texas".
2. "Decennial Census by Decade". [[US Census Bureau]].
3. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Martin County, Texas".
4. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Martin County, Texas".
5. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Martin County, Texas".
6. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
7. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
8. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
9. Who Represents Me. https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/map?county=159, Downloaded 09/27/25
10. (November 5, 2024). "Martin County Texas General Election 2024".
11. Cohn, Nate (April 24, 2014). [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/24/upshot/southern-whites-loyalty-to-gop-nearing-that-of-blacks-to-democrats.html 'Demographic Shift: Southern Whites' Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats']. ''[[The New York Times]]''.
12. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
13. Geography Division. (December 22, 2020). "2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Martin County, TX". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
14. "Sec. 130.183. HOWARD COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.".
15. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
16. (2008). "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". [[Newberry Library.
17. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". U.S. Government Printing Office.
18. "Wet and Dry Counties".
19. "Wet and Dry Counties".
20. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
21. "Top 100 U.S. Oil and Gas Fields". U.S. Energy Information Administration.
22. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010". Texas Almanac.
23. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
24. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
25. . (November 9, 2018). ["It's WET"](https://www.martincountymessenger.com/articles/2018/11/09/it%E2%80%99s-wet). *Martin County Messenger*.
26. Marks, Michael. (December 17, 2018). "Texas Has Just Five Dry Counties Left. Why Is That?". keranews.org.
27. (November 6, 2018). "Wet/Dry Status of Texas Counties". Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.