Limestone County, Texas

Limestone County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 23,384.[1] Its county seat is Groesbeck.[2] The county was created in 1846.[3]

Limestone County
U.S. county
The Limestone County Courthouse in Groesbeck
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°32′N 96°35′W
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1846
SeatGroesbeck
Largest cityMexia
Area
 • Total933 sq mi (2,420 km2)
 • Land905 sq mi (2,340 km2)
 • Water28 sq mi (70 km2)  3.0%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total23,384
 • Density26/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district17th
Websitewww.co.limestone.tx.us

History

Native Americans

Indians friendly to the settlers resided in East Texas[4] before the Kiowa, Apache and Comanche intruded upon their territory.[5] These tribes hunted, farmed the land, and were adept traders. The Tawakoni[6] branch of Wichita Indians originated north of Texas, but migrated south into east Texas. From 1843 onward, the Tawakoni were part of treaties made by both the Republic of Texas and the United States. Tawakoni were also sometimes known as Tehuacana. The Limestone County town of Tehuacana[7][8] was settled on the former site of a Tehuacana village. The Waco people[9] were also a branch of the Wichita Indians.

Fort Parker massacre

Arguably the most infamous Indian depredation in Texas happened in Limestone County on May 19, 1836, when an odd alliance of Comanche, Kiowa, Caddo, and Wichita approached Fort Parker surreptitiously under a flag of peace. The Indians subsequently attacked the fort, killing or kidnapping all but about 18 settlers who managed to escape to Fort Houston.[10][11] Captured[12] in the Fort Parker massacre were Elizabeth Kellogg,[13] Rachel Plummer[14] and her son James Pratt Plummer,[15] John Richard Parker[16] and his sister Cynthia Ann Parker, who later became mother of Comanche Chief Quanah Parker.[17]

Settlers

Limestone County was part of the Haden Harrison Edwards (800 families) and Robertson's Colony (800 families) empresario grants[18] made by the Coahuila y Texas legislature in 1825. By contracting how many families each grantee could settle, the government sought to have some control over colonization.

Baptist spiritual leader Daniel Parker[19] and eight other men organized the Pilgrim Predestinarian Regular Baptist Church in Lamotte, Illinois. The fellowship in its entirety migrated in 1833 to the new frontier of Texas. Among this group of settlers were Silas M. Parker, Moses Herrin, Elisha Anglin, Luther T. M. Plummer, David Faulkenberry, Joshua Hadley, and Samuel Frost. Fort Parker, near the Navasota River in what is now central Limestone County, was the earliest actual settlement in the vicinity. Following on the heels of the original settlers, other communities were established.

County established

On April 11, 1846, Limestone County was formed from Robertson County. On August 18, 1846, the county was organized. Springfield became the county seat. The county seat was moved to Groesbeck in 1873 after boundary changes, and the Springfield courthouse had burned down.[20]

Homesteaders became self-sustaining farmers and ranchers, who also hunted wild game. Support businesses were connected to the repair and maintenance of farm equipment and livestock. The population of 1860 was 4,537. Of these, 3,464 were White, 1,072 were slaves, and one was a free Black female.[21]

Civil War and Reconstruction

Limestone County voted 525-9 in favor of secession from the Union, and sent its men to fight for the Confederate States of America. Lochlin Johnson Farrar[22] raised the first Confederate company from the county. Reconstruction in the county was so contentious, with racial violence and threats against the government, that on October 9, 1871, Texas Governor Edmund J. Davis[23][24] declared the county under martial law.

Post-Civil War development

The Houston and Texas Central Railway[25] laid tracks in 1869, terminating near Kosse[26] which was named after the railway's chief engineer Theodore Kosse. The Trinity and Brazos Valley Railway,[27] laid track in 1903 from Cleburne to Mexia. Several towns were established on these routes.

The Thornton Institute was founded in 1877 by Edward Coke Chambers, and was chartered in 1881 as the Thornton Male and Female Institute. The school provided a type of dormitory for the students, and sent many graduates out to teach in rural Texas. Henry P. Davis acquired the school in 1889,[28] and in 1891 the school was given to the Thornton[29] Independent School District.

Oil and gas were discovered[30] in Mexia[31] between 1913 and 1920, creating jobs and a population boom - from just 3,482 people to 35,000 in 1922. Martial law had to be briefly declared in Mexia. The population began to decline during the Great Depression. Camp Mexia, a German prisoner of war camp[32][33] was built during World War II.

The Work Projects Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps helped ease the county economy during the Great Depression. The Civilian Conservation Corps built Fort Parker State Recreation Area.[34] The WPA erected a number of buildings in the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 933 square miles (2,420 km2), of which 905 square miles (2,340 km2) are land and 28 square miles (73 km2) (3.0%) are covered by water.[35]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18502,608—
18604,53774.0%
18708,59189.4%
188016,24689.1%
189021,67833.4%
190032,57350.3%
191034,6216.3%
192033,283−3.9%
193039,49718.7%
194033,781−14.5%
195025,251−25.3%
196020,413−19.2%
197018,100−11.3%
198020,22411.7%
199020,9463.6%
200022,0515.3%
201023,3846.0%
2019 (est.)23,437[36]0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[37]
1850–2010[38] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[39] of 2000, 22,051 people, 7,906 households, and 5,652 families resided in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9/km2). The 9,725 housing units averaged 11 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 70.75% White 19.07% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.12% Asian]], 8.11% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. About 12.97% of the population was Latino of any race.

Of the 7,906 households, 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.00% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were not families. About 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was distributed as 25.40% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,366, and for a family was $36,924. Males had a median income of $28,069 versus $18,893 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,352. About 14.40% of families and 17.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.90% of those under age 18 and 15.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Notable residents
  • Alfonso Steele (1817–1911) was born in 1817 in Hardin County, Kentucky, and is buried in Mexia.[41]
  • Anna Nicole Smith (1967–2007) lived briefly in Mexia.
  • Don the Beachcomber (1907–1989) was born Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt in Limestone County.
  • Bob Wills (1905-1975) was born on a farm in Kosse, in the southern portion of Limestone County.[42]

Politics
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[43]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 74.7% 6,789 24.3% 2,213 1.0% 93
2016 74.9% 5,796 23.0% 1,778 2.1% 165
2012 69.9% 5,288 29.2% 2,208 0.9% 67
2008 66.2% 5,079 32.8% 2,516 1.0% 77
2004 64.3% 5,028 35.2% 2,752 0.5% 38
2000 59.5% 4,212 39.1% 2,768 1.4% 95
1996 40.5% 2,691 48.7% 3,236 10.8% 719
1992 33.4% 2,358 45.2% 3,188 21.5% 1,514
1988 48.2% 3,257 51.4% 3,476 0.4% 30
1984 55.6% 4,063 44.2% 3,228 0.2% 14
1980 44.9% 2,835 53.9% 3,403 1.3% 81
1976 34.7% 2,045 64.8% 3,825 0.5% 30
1972 66.7% 2,949 32.8% 1,452 0.5% 22
1968 26.1% 1,485 49.2% 2,796 24.7% 1,402
1964 28.1% 1,478 71.8% 3,777 0.2% 8
1960 36.7% 2,023 63.0% 3,472 0.3% 16
1956 40.6% 2,097 59.3% 3,067 0.1% 7
1952 37.5% 2,485 62.4% 4,132 0.2% 10
1948 15.2% 688 72.6% 3,289 12.2% 555
1944 4.7% 239 85.0% 4,299 10.3% 520
1940 10.5% 559 89.5% 4,784 0.0% 2
1936 4.8% 196 95.1% 3,857 0.1% 5
1932 4.6% 215 95.3% 4,416 0.1% 4
1928 38.6% 1,642 61.4% 2,608
1924 9.6% 523 89.6% 4,868 0.8% 43
1920 12.0% 408 63.9% 2,165 24.1% 817
1916 8.9% 225 86.6% 2,188 4.5% 113
1912 7.2% 153 78.4% 1,667 14.4% 307

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 18, 2011. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  4. Moore, R Edward. "East Texas Indian Lands". Texas Indians. Retrieved May 1, 2010. R E. Moore and Texarch Associates
  5. "The Passing of the Indian Era". Texas Beyond History. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas Beyond History
  6. Krieger, Margery H: Tawakoni Indians from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  7. "Tehuacana, Texas". Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
  8. Smyrl, Vivian Elizabeth: Tehuacana, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  9. Moore, R Edward. "The Waco Indians". Texas Indians. Retrieved May 1, 2010. R E. Moore and Texarch Associates
  10. "Fort Houston, Texas". Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
  11. Watts, Mrs. Harmon: Fort Houston from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  12. "Fort Parker Massacre". Texas Historical Markers. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  13. Heard, J Norman: Kellogg, Elizabeth from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  14. Exley, Jo Ella Powell: Plummer, Rachel from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  15. "Plummer, James Pratt". Ancestry.com. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  16. Friend, Llerena B: Parker, John Richard from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  17. Hacker, Margaret Schmidt: Parker, Cynthia Ann from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  18. "Empresario Contracts in the Colonization of Texas 1825-1834". Texas A & M UNiversity. Archived from the original on June 15, 2010. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Wallace L. McKeehan,
  19. Bob Bowman. "The Parker Family". Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
  20. "Limestone County Courthouse". Texas Historical Markers. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  21. Maschino, Ellen: Limestone County from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  22. "Field Officers Serving in Texas Confederate Regiments". Texas in the Civil War. Archived from the original on March 7, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  23. "Governors of Texas". Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Retrieved May 1, 2010. State of Texas
  24. "Limestone County". Texas Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2010.Texas Association of Counties
  25. Werner, George C: Houston Texas and Central Railway from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  26. "Kosse, Texas". Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
  27. "Trinity and Brazos Valley Railway". Don's Depot. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  28. Walter, Ray A: Thornton Institute from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  29. "Thornton, Texas". Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
  30. "Oil and Texas: A Cultural History". Texas Almanac. November 29, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2018. Texas State Historical Association
  31. "Mexia, Texas". Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
  32. "Camp Mexia". Guðmundur Helgason. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Guðmundur Helgason
  33. "Mexia School Campus Houses Little-Known Remnants of WW II POW Camp". Texas Health and Human Services. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas Health and Human Services
  34. "Old Fort Parker". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved May 1, 2010. Texas Health and Human Services
  35. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  36. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  37. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  38. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  39. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  40. "Victoria, Texas (Limestone County)". Texas State Historical Association. June 15, 2010. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  41. "You Looking at Me? | Texas Senator Kirk Watson".
  42. San Antonio Rose: The Life And Music Of Bob Wills. Charles R. Townsend. 1976. University of Illinois. p. 1. ISBN 0-252-00470-1.
  43. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 26, 2018.

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