Donley County, Texas

Donley County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,677.[1] Its county seat is Clarendon.[2] The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1882.[3]

Donley County
U.S. county
1890 Donley County Courthouse in Clarendon
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°58′N 100°49′W
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1882
SeatClarendon
Largest cityClarendon
Area
 • Total933 sq mi (2,420 km2)
 • Land927 sq mi (2,400 km2)
 • Water6.2 sq mi (16 km2)  0.7%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2015)
3,499
 • Density4.0/sq mi (1.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district13th
Websitewww.co.donley.tx.us

History

Donley County was established in 1876 from land given by the Bexar District.[4] It is named for Stockton P. Donley, justice of the state supreme court.[5]

Several historical sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Donley County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 933 square miles (2,420 km2), of which 927 square miles (2,400 km2) are land and 5.6 square miles (15 km2) (0.7%) are covered by water.[6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1880160—
18901,056560.0%
19002,756161.0%
19105,28491.7%
19208,03552.1%
193010,26227.7%
19407,487−27.0%
19506,216−17.0%
19604,449−28.4%
19703,641−18.2%
19804,07511.9%
19903,696−9.3%
20003,8283.6%
20103,677−3.9%
2019 (est.)3,278[7]−10.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1850–2010[9] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[10] of 2000, 3,828 people, 1,578 households, and 1,057 families resided in the county. The population density was four people per square mile (2/km2). The 2,378 housing units averaged 3 per square mile (1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.41% White, 3.94% Black or African American, 0.89% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 2.72% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. About 6.35% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,578 households, 24.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were not families. About 31.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the county, the population was distributed as 22.40% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 20.60% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 21.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,006, and for a family was $37,287. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $18,882 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,958. About 10.50% of families and 15.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.90% of those under age 18 and 15.90% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

The Saints' Roost Museum in Clarendon is dedicated to the American West.

The Harold Dow Bugbee Ranch, formerly owned by the Western artist and his second wife, Olive Vandruff Bugbee, also an artist, is located in Donley County.

The legendary cattle baron Charles Goodnight spent his later years in Donley County. It was also the home of historian Harley True Burton, author of A History of the JA Ranch, which Goodnight formerly co-owned. Burton was president of Clarendon College and the mayor of Clarendon from 1955 to 1963. The JA Ranch is located in the counties of Donley, Hall, Briscoe, and Armstrong.

U.S. Highway 287, which runs through the county, has a modern rest area, but no longer offers wi-fi. The rest area also offers sanctuary from weather offering a tornado shelter in the main building.[11]

Communities
Veterans Memorial at Donley County Courthouse

Cities

Unincorporated community

Notable residents

Politics
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 87.3% 1,438 12.0% 198 0.7% 12
2016 83.6% 1,225 13.0% 191 3.3% 49
2012 83.8% 1,287 14.7% 226 1.4% 22
2008 81.3% 1,374 17.2% 291 1.5% 25
2004 80.1% 1,429 19.6% 349 0.3% 6
2000 77.6% 1,333 20.9% 360 1.5% 26
1996 62.3% 988 31.2% 495 6.4% 102
1992 51.5% 893 33.3% 578 15.2% 264
1988 60.9% 1,043 38.6% 661 0.5% 9
1984 70.8% 1,297 28.9% 529 0.3% 5
1980 58.6% 1,106 39.8% 751 1.7% 31
1976 39.0% 704 60.7% 1,095 0.3% 5
1972 77.7% 1,229 22.1% 350 0.1% 2
1968 50.2% 816 33.4% 543 16.5% 268
1964 39.9% 708 60.1% 1,068
1960 55.3% 951 44.4% 764 0.3% 5
1956 47.7% 826 52.2% 903 0.1% 2
1952 55.9% 1,150 43.8% 900 0.3% 6
1948 14.2% 241 81.1% 1,372 4.7% 79
1944 17.9% 280 74.9% 1,170 7.2% 112
1940 11.6% 213 87.9% 1,619 0.6% 11
1936 8.0% 133 90.9% 1,513 1.1% 18
1932 8.0% 141 91.7% 1,626 0.3% 6
1928 68.9% 1,092 31.0% 491 0.1% 2
1924 22.1% 273 72.4% 893 5.5% 68
1920 20.6% 206 76.5% 766 2.9% 29
1916 5.6% 42 85.1% 636 9.2% 69
1912 2.7% 12 88.4% 387 8.9% 39

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 18, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  4. Alvarez, Elizabeth Cruce (November 8, 2011). Texas Almanac 2012–2013. Texas A&M University Press. pp. Contents. ISBN 9780876112571. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 107.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  9. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 12, 2007. Retrieved May 12, 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 21, 2018.

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