Wheeler County, Texas

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 915 sqmi, of which 915 sqmi are land and 1.0 sqmi (0.1%) is covered by water.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

• Hemphill County (north)
• Roger Mills County, Oklahoma (northeast)
• Beckham County, Oklahoma (east)
• Collingsworth County (south)
• Gray County (west)
• Donley County (southwest)
• Roberts County (northwest)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1850–1900 1910 1920 1930 1940

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 4,990. The median age was 42.3 years. 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.2 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 75.1% White, 1.7% Black or African American, 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian,

There were 2,001 households in the county, of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 55.2% were married-couple households, 17.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 2,598 housing units, of which 23.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.4% were owner-occupied and 23.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 18.3%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 5,284 people, 2,152 households, and 1,487 families resided in the county. The population density was 6 /mi2. The 2,687 housing units had an average density of 3 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 87.83% White, 2.78% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 6.64% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. About 12.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 2,152 households, 29.6% had children under 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were not families. About 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the age distribution was 24.9% under 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 22.50% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 20.90% who were 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,029, and for a family was $36,989. Males had a median income of $26,790 versus $19,091 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,083. About 11.6% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under 18 and 16.8% of those 65 or over.

Politics

Wheeler County is located in Texas House of Representatives District 88. The county was previously in District 68 from 2013 to 2023. Republican Ken King, a businessman from Canadian in Hemphill County, has represented Wheeler County in the Texas House of Representatives since the redistricting.

The representative from 1971 to 1979 was the Democrat Phil Cates, later a lobbyist in Austin.

Communities

Cities

• Mobeetie
• Shamrock
• Wheeler (county seat)

Census-designated places

• Allison

Other unincorporated communities

• Benonine
• Briscoe
• Kelton
• Twitty

Education

School districts include:

• Fort Elliott Consolidated Independent School District
• Kelton Independent School District
• McLean Independent School District
• Shamrock Independent School District
• Wheeler Independent School District

FECISD formed on August 10, 1991 by the merger of Briscoe ISD and Mobeetie ISD.

The Texas Legislature assigns all of Wheeler County to Clarendon College.

References

References

1. "Wheeler County, Texas".
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (2008). "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". [[Newberry Library.
4. "Local Option Elections | TABC".
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. "Decennial Census by Decade". [[US Census Bureau]].
7. "1900 Census of Population - Population of Texas By Counties And Minor Civil Divisions".
8. "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for Texas".
9. "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
10. "1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
11. "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
12. "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
13. "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
14. "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
15. "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
16. "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas".
17. "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas".
18. "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas".
19. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wheeler County, Texas". [[United States Census Bureau]].
20. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wheeler County, Texas".
21. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wheeler County, Texas".
22. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
23. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
24. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
25. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
26. "Amarillo House Districts Could Grow in Redistricting Proposal". Amarillo Pioneer, September 30, 2021.
27. "Redistricting Maps Finalized for 2022 Elections". Amarillo Pioneer, October 19, 2021.
28. "Phil Cates". Texas Legislative Reference Library.
29. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
30. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
31. Geography Division. (December 22, 2020). "2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Wheeler County, TX". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
32. "Consolidations, Annexations, and Name Changes for Texas Public Schools Through School Year 2024-2025". [[Texas Education Agency]].
33. "Sec. 130.173. CLARENDON COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.". Government of Texas.