Upton County, Texas

Upton County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,355.[1] Its county seat is Rankin.[2] The county was created in 1887 and later organized in 1910.[3] It is named for two brothers: John C. and William F. Upton, both colonels in the Confederate Army.

Upton County
U.S. county
The Upton County Courthouse in Rankin
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°22′N 102°02′W
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1910
SeatRankin
Largest cityMcCamey
Area
 • Total1,242 sq mi (3,220 km2)
 • Land1,241 sq mi (3,210 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.01%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total3,355
 • Density2.7/sq mi (1.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district23rd
Websitewww.co.upton.tx.us

History

Native Americans

Native Americans were the first inhabitants of the area. Tribes present at the time of conquest included the Comanches and Apache.[4]

Trails

One of the first routes bringing people through the area was the Chihuahua Trail [5][6] connecting Mexico's state of Chihuahua with Santa Fe, New Mexico. The trail served as a trade route for nomadic tribes of Indians and Spaniards, as well as traders from both Mexico and Texas.

The Butterfield Overland Mail crossed the area from 1858 to 1861.[7]

The Goodnight-Loving Trail served as a cattle-drive trail from 1866 to 1888. The trail began at Young County, Texas, and passed along the Pecos River to Fort Sumner, New Mexico, and into Colorado before ending in Cheyenne, Wyoming.[8]

Establishment of the county

Upton was formed in 1887 from Tom Green County, Texas. The county was named after John C. Upton and his brother William F. Upton. of Tennessee.[9] Cattleman George Elliott became the first to establish a homestead in Upton County in 1880.[10] Beginning as open range, the land was shared with sheepmen by the 1890s. The United States Census counted 52 people living in the county in 1890, and only 48 in 1900; most of these were either members of three families, or were in their employ. The agricultural sector of the county has been outpaced by cattle and sheep ranching. In 1982, about 92% of the land in Upton County was in farms and ranches, but less than 1% of the county was considered prime farmland, and only 2% of the county was cultivated.[4] In the fall of 1911, the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway reached the townsite of Rankin, and by January 1912, most of the people living in Upland had moved to Rankin.[11]

Oil

Wildcatter George McCamey's Baker No. 1 in September 1925 opened up the McCamey Oil Field, established the town of McCamey and brought the subsequent oil boom to Upton County.[12] The Yates Oil Field in Crockett and Pecos Counties resulted in a financial boon for the town of Rankin, which served as a supply and service center. The resulting financial windfall benefitted infrastructure in Rankin.[13][14] In 1946, Mike Benedum began wildcatting in Upton County and opened up what would become known as the Benedum Oil Field.[15] The Weir No. 1 gushed in 1961 and enabled Upton County to continue as an outstanding Texas production area.[16]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,242 square miles (3,220 km2), of which 1,241 square miles (3,210 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.01%) is water.[17] The Spraberry Trend, the third-largest oil field in the United States by remaining reserves, underlies much of the county.[18] Bobcat Hills, a summit with an elevation of 2,697 ft (822 m), is found in Upton County.[19]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
189052—
190048−7.7%
1910501943.8%
1920253−49.5%
19305,9682,258.9%
19404,297−28.0%
19505,30723.5%
19606,23917.6%
19704,697−24.7%
19804,619−1.7%
19904,447−3.7%
20003,404−23.5%
20103,355−1.4%
2019 (est.)3,657[20]9.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[21]
1850–2010[22] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[23] of 2000, 3,404 people, 1,256 households, and 934 families were residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km2). The 1,609 housing units averaged 1 per square mile (0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.79% White, 1.62% African American, 1.20% Native American, 0.03% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 17.95% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. About 42.57% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,256 households, 36.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.10% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were not families. Around 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68, and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the age distribution was 29.30% under 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 24.90% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,977, and for a family was $37,083. Males had a median income of $30,729 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,274. About 18.10% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.60% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated community

Ghost towns

Politics
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[24]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 74.8% 1,007 21.2% 286 4.0% 54
2012 73.3% 953 25.6% 333 1.1% 14
2008 75.0% 898 24.1% 288 0.9% 11
2004 84.3% 1,009 15.5% 185 0.3% 3
2000 77.1% 982 20.9% 266 2.0% 25
1996 56.9% 685 35.2% 424 7.9% 95
1992 51.7% 908 27.9% 489 20.4% 359
1988 68.3% 1,189 31.3% 544 0.4% 7
1984 80.4% 1,603 19.1% 380 0.6% 11
1980 69.4% 1,169 28.8% 485 1.8% 30
1976 55.7% 869 44.0% 686 0.4% 6
1972 81.1% 1,186 17.5% 256 1.4% 21
1968 41.9% 664 29.2% 463 28.9% 459
1964 39.7% 636 59.7% 958 0.6% 10
1960 45.3% 798 52.8% 930 1.8% 32
1956 54.3% 999 45.3% 834 0.4% 7
1952 52.4% 940 47.4% 850 0.2% 3
1948 15.1% 155 79.2% 811 5.7% 58
1944 11.5% 105 81.1% 742 7.4% 68
1940 25.8% 370 74.2% 1,062
1936 10.0% 81 89.5% 728 0.5% 4
1932 8.3% 92 91.2% 1,012 0.5% 6
1928 58.8% 270 41.2% 189
1924 10.0% 4 87.5% 35 2.5% 1
1920 35.2% 25 64.8% 46
1916 12.2% 6 85.7% 42 2.0% 1
1912 5.7% 2 80.0% 28 14.3% 5


See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  4. Leffler, John; Hunt, William R. "Upton County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  5. Perry, Ann; Smith, Deborah; Simons, Helen; Hoyt, Catherine A (1996). A Guide to Hispanic Texas. University of Texas Press. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-292-77709-5.
  6. Sharp, Jay W. "Desert Trails: The Chihuahua Trail". Desert USA. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  7. Allen, Jon L (1996). Texas on Stamps. Texas Christian University Press. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-87565-164-4.
  8. Janin, Hunt; Carlson, Ursula B (2009). Trails of Historic New Mexico: Routes Used by Indian, Spanish and American Travelers through 1886. McFarland. pp. 141–149. ISBN 978-0-7864-4010-8.
  9. "John C. Upton and His Brother, W. F. Upton - Rankin, Upton County, Texas". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  10. "Elliott Ranch - Rankin, Upton County, Texas". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  11. "Rankin, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  12. Warner, C A; Thompson, Ernest O (2007). Texas Oil & Gas Since 1543. Copano Bay Press. p. 292. ISBN 978-0-9767799-5-7.
  13. Hyne, Norman J. Nontechnical Guide to Petroleum Geology, Exploration, Drilling, and Production, 2nd edition. PennWell Books, 2001. ISBN 0-87814-823-X, ISBN 0-87814-823-X p. 105.
  14. "University of Texas Oil Connections". UT Watch. Archived from the original on 13 December 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  15. Murphy, Charles J W (16 February 1948). "Old Mike's Big Strike". Life: 51, 52, 54, 56, 58.
  16. "Weir No. 1 Oil Well - Rankin, Upton County, Texas". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  17. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  18. Top 100 Oil and Gas Fields Archived 2009-05-15 at the Wayback Machine
  19. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bobcat Hills
  20. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  21. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  22. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  23. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  24. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-08-01.

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