Young County, Texas

Young County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 18,550.[1] Its county seat is Graham.[2] The county was created in 1856 and organized in 1874.[3] It is named for William Cocke Young, an early Texas settler and soldier.[4]

Young County
U.S. county
The Young County Courthouse in Graham
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°11′N 98°42′W
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1874
SeatGraham
Largest cityGraham
Area
 • Total931 sq mi (2,410 km2)
 • Land914 sq mi (2,370 km2)
 • Water16 sq mi (40 km2)  1.8%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total18,550
 • Estimate 
(2018)
18,045
 • Density20/sq mi (7.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district19th
Websitewww.co.young.tx.us

History

Native Americans

The Brazos Indian Reservation, founded by General Randolph B. Marcy in 1854, provided a refuge from warring Comanche for the Delaware, Shawnee, Tonkawa, Wichita, Choctaw, and Caddo peoples, who had migrated into Texas from other areas. Within the reservation, each tribe had its own village and cultivated agricultural crops. Government-contracted beef cattle were delivered each week. But most settlers were unable to distinguish between reservation and non-reservation tribes, blaming the reservation Indians for the raids by the Comanche and Kiowa. A newspaper in Jacksboro, Texas, titled The White Man (or Whiteman), advocated removal of all tribes from North Texas.[5][6]

During December 1858, Choctaw Tom, a Yowani married to a Hasinai woman, at times served as an interpreter to Sam Houston. He was among a group of reservation Indians who received permission to hunt outside the reservation boundaries. But on December 27, Captain Peter Garland and a vigilante group attacked Choctaw Tom's camp, indiscriminately murdering and injuring women and children along with the men.[7]

Governor Hardin Richard Runnels[8] ordered Major John Henry Brown of the state militia to the area, with 100 troops to control potential retaliation and unrest.[9] An examining trial was conducted about the Choctaw Tom raid, but no indictments resulted of any militia.

In May 1859, John Baylor[10] led a number of whites who confronted the United States troops defending the reservation, demanding the surrender of certain men from the tribe who they thought were responsible for raids. The military balked, and Baylor retreated, but he killed an Indian woman and an old man in the process. Baylor's group was later attacked by Indians off the reservation, where the military had no authority to intervene.

In May 1871, Kiowa medicine man Satank (Sitting Bear),[11] and Kiowa chiefs Satanta (White Bear),[12] Addo-etta (Big Tree)[13] and Maman-ti (Skywalker)[14] led a force of over 100 Kiowa, Comanche, Kiowa-Apaches, Arapaho, and Cheyenne warriors from the Oklahoma Fort Sill Reservation into Texas. On May 18, the Indians attacked a wagon train belonging to Henry Warren, killing all but five who escaped. Commanding General of the United States Army William Tecumseh Sherman personally arrested Satank, Satanta, and Big Tree at Fort Sill and had them tried in civil court in Jacksboro. Satank was killed in an attempted escape, and others were found guilty and sentenced to hang. Their sentences were commuted by Governor Edmund J. Davis at the request of a group of Quakers, and they were later paroled. The incident was a key element that contributed to the Red River War.[15]

Explorers and settlers

Spanish explorer Diego Ortiz Parrilla[16] the county en route to the Taovaya Indian Village on Red River. Pedro Vial came through the region in 1789 while charting the Santa Fe Trail.

The county was included in the 1841 Republic of Texas empresario Peters Colony land grant.[17] The Young County portion of the grant remained unsettled until the 1850s.

In 1851, Bvt. Brig. Gen. William G. Belknap founded the United States Army Fort Belknap.[18] The fort was surrendered to the Confederacy in 1861, and reoccupied by federal troops in 1867. John and Will Peveler[19] established a ranch 2 mi (3 km) below Fort Belknap, becoming the first settlers.

County established

Young County was established by the Texas Legislature in 1856 from Bosque and Fannin Counties and organized later that same year. Belknap became the county seat. Many of the citizens abandoned the area during the American Civil War due to Indian depredations. In 1865, the county's government was dissolved, and the county records were transferred to Jacksboro. The county was reorganized in 1874, and the county records were brought back from Jacksboro. This time, the new town of Graham, platted in 1873, was chosen as the county seat.

Gustavus and Edwin Graham began the town of Graham[20] in 1872, and opened the saltworks in 1869. An 1876 area rancher meeting in Graham, regarding cattle rustling, became the beginnings of what is now known as the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. In 1891, a group of investors formed the Graham Mining Company in hopes of mining gold, silver, and coal in the area.

Between 1874 and 1910, railroad lines contributed to the county economy and facilitated transportation, including the Chicago, Rock Island and Gulf Railway,[21] the Wichita Falls and Southern,[22] and the Gulf, Texas and Western Railroad.

Federal programs came to the assistance of farmers and ranchers during the Great Depression. The Work Projects Administration restored old Fort Belknap in 1936. In the 1930s, Young County also joined 65 other counties to form the Brazos River Conservation and Reclamation District.[23] Oil exploration and production opened the 20th century, and had Lindy Lou No. 1 well come in. Actual production of petroleum began in 1920, and boom towns sprang up around the county. By 1990, 3,431,000 barrels (545,500 m3) had been produced.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 931 square miles (2,410 km2), of which 914 square miles (2,370 km2) are land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (1.8%) are covered by water.[24]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1860592—
1870135−77.2%
18804,7263,400.7%
18905,0496.8%
19006,54029.5%
191013,657108.8%
192013,379−2.0%
193020,12850.4%
194019,004−5.6%
195016,810−11.5%
196017,2542.6%
197015,400−10.7%
198019,00123.4%
199018,126−4.6%
200017,943−1.0%
201018,5503.4%
2019 (est.)18,010[25]−2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[26]
1850–2010[27] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[28] of 2000, 17,943 people, 7,167 households, and 5,081 families resided in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (8/km2). The 8,504 housing units averaged 9 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.98% White, 1.21% Black, 0.64% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.28% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. About 10.62% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 7,167 households, 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were not families. Around 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.94.

A Williams Institute analysis of 2010 census data found about 2.6 same-sex couples per 1,000 households were in the county.[29]

In the county, the population was distributed as 25.00% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 24.70% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 19.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,499, and for a family was $36,698. Males had a median income of $30,257 versus $19,441 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,710. About 12.00% of families and 15.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Republican Drew Springer, Jr., a businessman from Muenster in Cooke County, has represented Young County in the Texas House of Representatives since January 2013.[30]

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[31]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 85.7% 6,601 11.4% 876 3.0% 230
2012 85.1% 6,225 13.6% 992 1.4% 99
2008 81.3% 5,942 17.8% 1,303 0.8% 60
2004 79.3% 5,874 20.4% 1,511 0.3% 24
2000 72.2% 5,022 26.5% 1,843 1.3% 89
1996 54.5% 3,647 35.8% 2,394 9.8% 656
1992 37.7% 2,894 32.1% 2,464 30.2% 2,317
1988 57.8% 4,156 41.8% 3,007 0.4% 30
1984 70.4% 5,282 29.4% 2,203 0.2% 18
1980 59.1% 4,153 39.0% 2,740 1.8% 129
1976 43.0% 2,652 56.3% 3,473 0.7% 41
1972 69.3% 3,353 30.7% 1,486 0.0% 1
1968 34.8% 1,860 46.4% 2,482 18.8% 1,004
1964 32.0% 1,600 68.0% 3,395 0.0% 1
1960 45.8% 2,067 53.7% 2,419 0.5% 23
1956 50.4% 2,083 49.1% 2,028 0.5% 19
1952 51.0% 2,649 48.8% 2,536 0.1% 7
1948 13.2% 516 81.5% 3,175 5.3% 207
1944 8.0% 327 77.4% 3,183 14.7% 604
1940 11.4% 478 88.5% 3,712 0.1% 5
1936 9.0% 304 90.7% 3,065 0.4% 12
1932 9.2% 320 90.6% 3,156 0.2% 6
1928 58.9% 1,826 41.1% 1,275
1924 13.6% 322 84.3% 2,000 2.2% 51
1920 14.2% 209 82.6% 1,214 3.2% 47
1916 5.1% 71 84.7% 1,175 10.2% 142
1912 3.0% 35 77.7% 922 19.3% 229

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  4. "Young, William Cocke". The Handbook of Texas Online. The Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  5. Crouch, Carrie J: Brazos Indian Reservation from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 05 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
  6. Minor, David: Young County, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 05 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
  7. "Choctaw Tom". Fort Tours. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  8. "Texas Governor Harden Richard Runnels". State of Texas. Retrieved 5 May 2010. Texas State Library and Archives Commission
  9. Baker, Erma: Young County, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 05 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
  10. Thompson, Jerry: John Robert Baylor from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 05 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
  11. Hosmer, Brian C: Satank from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 05 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
  12. Hosmer, Brian C: Satanta from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 05 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
  13. Hosmer, Brian C: Addo-etta Big Tree from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 05 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
  14. Anderson, H. Allen: Maman-ti from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 05 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
  15. Hamilton, Allen Lee: Warren Wagon Train Raid from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 05 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
  16. Weddle, Robert S: Ortiz Parrilla, Diego, Red River Campaign from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 05 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
  17. "Young County Timeline". Peters Colony Historical Society of Dallas County, Texas. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  18. Neighbours, Kenneth F: Fort Belknap from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 05 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
  19. "Young County Timeline". Young County TxGenWeb. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  20. "Graham, Texas". Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved 5 May 2010. Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
  21. "CPI, Pac Railroad". American Rails. Retrieved 5 May 2010. American Rails
  22. Anderson, H Allen: Wichita Falls and Southern Railroad from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 05 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
  23. Leffler, John: Young County from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 05 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
  24. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  25. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  26. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  27. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  28. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  29. Leonhardt, David; Quealy, Kevin (June 26, 2015), "Where Same-Sex Couples Live", The New York Times, retrieved July 6, 2015
  30. "State Rep. Springer announces district tour July 30". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, July 16, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  31. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 11 April 2018.

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