Taylor County, Texas
County in Texas, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Taylor County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 143,208.[1][2] Its county seat is Abilene.[3] The county was created in 1858 and later organized in 1878.[4] It is named for Edward Taylor, George Taylor, and James Taylor, three brothers who died at the Battle of the Alamo.
Taylor County, Texas | |
|---|---|
New Taylor County Courthouse in Abilene | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Texas | |
| Coordinates: 32°19′N 99°53′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1878 |
| Named after | Edward, George, and James Taylor |
| Seat | Abilene |
| Largest city | Abilene |
| Area | |
• Total | 919.3 sq mi (2,381 km2) |
| • Land | 915.6 sq mi (2,371 km2) |
| • Water | 3.8 sq mi (9.8 km2) 0.4% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 143,208 |
• Estimate (2025) | 150,077  |
| • Density | 160/sq mi (62/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 19th |
| Website | www |
Taylor County is included in the Abilene, TX metropolitan statistical area, and is considered part of West Texas.
History
Among first inhabitants of the area were the Penteka.[5] In 1849, Capt. Randolph Marcy, a U. S. Army engineer, passed through, scouting out West Texas-to-California routes.[6] The Texas Legislature established Taylor County in 1858 from Bexar and Travis Counties. The county is named for Alamo defenders Edward, James, and George Taylor. The Butterfield Overland Mail established the Mountain Pass Station at Merkel; it was in continual use until 1861.[5]
By 1872, the first cattlemen had ventured into present Taylor County.[5] Six years later, Taylor County was organized. Buffalo Gap was named county seat.[5][7] In 1880, the Texas & Pacific Railroad signed an agreement to run tracks through the future city of Abilene.[6] Abilene was established in 1882, and named after Abilene, Kansas.[8] Abilene became the county seat in 1883.[8] A wagon train of 10 Baptist families arrived in the county that year.[5]
The Abilene Board of Trade was organized in 1890, when 587 farms and ranches were in the county.[5] The next year, Hardin-Simmons University was established as Abilene Baptist College by the Sweetwater Baptist Association.[9] Lytle Lake was created in 1897.[5]
The State Epileptic Colony opened in Abilene in 1904.[10] In 1906, Abilene Christian University opened its doors as Childers Classical Institute.[11] In the 1920s, Hendricks Medical Center opened in Abilene as West Texas Baptist Sanitarium (1924) and the West Texas Historical Association was chartered in Abilene.[5] The first senior class of McMurry University graduated (1926).[12] Oil was discovered in the county a few years later (1929).[13]
In 1933, Abilene donated land for use by the Civilian Conservation Corps.[14]
Dyess Air Force Base was established as Abilene AFB in 1942; it is named in honor of Texas native and Bataan Death March survivor Lieutenant Colonel William Dyess.[15] The Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra was created, with Jay Dietzer as the first conductor, in 1950.[5] The Buffalo Gap Historic Village opened in 1956.[16]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 919 sq mi (2,380 km2), of which 916 sq mi (2,370 km2) are land and 3.8 sq mi (9.8 km2) (0.4%) are covered by water.[17]
Major highways
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Adjacent counties
- Jones County (north)
- Shackelford County (northeast)
- Callahan County (east)
- Coleman County (southeast)
- Runnels County (south)
- Nolan County (west)
- Fisher County (northwest)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 1,736 | — | |
| 1890 | 6,957 | 300.7% | |
| 1900 | 10,499 | 50.9% | |
| 1910 | 26,293 | 150.4% | |
| 1920 | 24,081 | −8.4% | |
| 1930 | 41,023 | 70.4% | |
| 1940 | 44,147 | 7.6% | |
| 1950 | 63,370 | 43.5% | |
| 1960 | 101,078 | 59.5% | |
| 1970 | 97,853 | −3.2% | |
| 1980 | 110,932 | 13.4% | |
| 1990 | 119,655 | 7.9% | |
| 2000 | 126,555 | 5.8% | |
| 2010 | 131,506 | 3.9% | |
| 2020 | 143,208 | 8.9% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 150,077 | [18] | 4.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[19] 1850–2010[20] 2010[21] 2020[22] | |||
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[23] | Pop 1990[24] | Pop 2000[25] | Pop 2010[21] | Pop 2020[22] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 89,703 | 92,955 | 91,999 | 88,121 | 87,316 | 80.86% | 77.69% | 72.69% | 67.01% | 60.97% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 6,590 | 7,336 | 8,243 | 9,122 | 10,980 | 5.94% | 6.13% | 6.51% | 6.94% | 7.67% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 307 | 366 | 494 | 532 | 589 | 0.28% | 0.31% | 0.39% | 0.40% | 0.41% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 751 | 1,342 | 1,523 | 1,978 | 2,815 | 0.68% | 1.12% | 1.20% | 1.50% | 1.97% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [26] | x [27] | 67 | 105 | 161 | x | x | 0.05% | 0.08% | 0.11% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 378 | 145 | 104 | 133 | 468 | 0.34% | 0.12% | 0.08% | 0.10% | 0.33% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [28] | x [29] | 1,797 | 2,441 | 6,123 | x | x | 1.42% | 1.86% | 4.28% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 13,203 | 17,511 | 22,328 | 29,074 | 34,756 | 11.90% | 14.63% | 17.64% | 22.11% | 24.27% |
| Total | 110,932 | 119,655 | 126,555 | 131,506 | 143,208 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 143,208. The median age was 34.6 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.5 males age 18 and over.[30][31]
The racial makeup of the county was 69.3% White, 8.2% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.0% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 7.4% from some other race, and 12.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 24.3% of the population.[31]
82.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 17.5% lived in rural areas.[32]
There were 54,489 households in the county, of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.1% were married-couple households, 19.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[30]
There were 60,817 housing units, of which 10.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 59.7% were owner-occupied and 40.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.1%.[30]
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, 126,555 people, 47,274 households, and 32,524 families resided in the county.[33] The population density was 138 people per square mile (53 people/km2). The 52,056 housing units averaged 57 units per square mile (22 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.61% White, 6.73% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 8.35% from other races, and 2.42% from two or more races. About 17.64% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 47,274 households, 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were not families. About 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the county, the age distribution was as 26.60% under 18, 13.80% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 19.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,035, and for a family was $40,859. Males had a median income of $28,964 versus $21,021 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,176. About 10.40% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Politics
Taylor County is part of the 71st district for elections to the Texas House of Representatives.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 59 | 3.14% | 1,536 | 81.79% | 283 | 15.07% |
| 1916 | 120 | 5.05% | 2,134 | 89.89% | 120 | 5.05% |
| 1920 | 300 | 12.31% | 1,932 | 79.25% | 206 | 8.45% |
| 1924 | 441 | 12.05% | 3,157 | 86.26% | 62 | 1.69% |
| 1928 | 4,050 | 68.07% | 1,891 | 31.78% | 9 | 0.15% |
| 1932 | 639 | 10.86% | 5,235 | 88.95% | 11 | 0.19% |
| 1936 | 678 | 9.83% | 6,169 | 89.43% | 51 | 0.74% |
| 1940 | 983 | 11.11% | 7,852 | 88.72% | 15 | 0.17% |
| 1944 | 602 | 6.18% | 7,975 | 81.86% | 1,165 | 11.96% |
| 1948 | 1,658 | 15.98% | 8,184 | 78.90% | 531 | 5.12% |
| 1952 | 10,260 | 56.22% | 7,936 | 43.48% | 55 | 0.30% |
| 1956 | 9,488 | 56.82% | 7,177 | 42.98% | 34 | 0.20% |
| 1960 | 12,258 | 56.62% | 9,347 | 43.17% | 45 | 0.21% |
| 1964 | 9,220 | 40.76% | 13,366 | 59.09% | 34 | 0.15% |
| 1968 | 12,218 | 47.68% | 9,107 | 35.54% | 4,301 | 16.78% |
| 1972 | 22,417 | 78.02% | 6,024 | 20.97% | 290 | 1.01% |
| 1976 | 19,822 | 57.38% | 14,453 | 41.84% | 268 | 0.78% |
| 1980 | 22,961 | 62.00% | 13,245 | 35.77% | 826 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | 34,444 | 77.92% | 9,628 | 21.78% | 130 | 0.29% |
| 1988 | 28,563 | 67.97% | 13,073 | 31.11% | 388 | 0.92% |
| 1992 | 22,614 | 49.75% | 12,382 | 27.24% | 10,458 | 23.01% |
| 1996 | 23,682 | 59.17% | 13,213 | 33.02% | 3,126 | 7.81% |
| 2000 | 31,701 | 73.69% | 10,504 | 24.42% | 815 | 1.89% |
| 2004 | 37,197 | 77.33% | 10,648 | 22.14% | 254 | 0.53% |
| 2008 | 34,317 | 72.34% | 12,690 | 26.75% | 432 | 0.91% |
| 2012 | 32,904 | 76.06% | 9,750 | 22.54% | 609 | 1.41% |
| 2016 | 33,250 | 72.66% | 10,085 | 22.04% | 2,424 | 5.30% |
| 2020 | 39,547 | 71.60% | 14,588 | 26.41% | 1,098 | 1.99% |
| 2024 | 41,198 | 74.34% | 13,624 | 24.58% | 595 | 1.07% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 39,509 | 71.51% | 14,479 | 26.21% | 1,264 | 2.29% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 39,887 | 72.37% | 13,704 | 24.87% | 1,522 | 2.76% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2022 | 30,030 | 76.12% | 8,888 | 22.53% | 535 | 1.36% |
Education
School districts include:[37]
- Abilene Independent School District
- Blackwell Consolidated Independent School District
- Clyde Consolidated Independent School District
- Eula Independent School District
- Jim Ned Consolidated Independent School District
- Merkel Independent School District
- Trent Independent School District
- Winters Independent School District
- Wylie Independent School District
The Texas Legislature designated the county as being in the Cisco Junior College District.[38]
See also
- Abilene State Park, recreational facility
- Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center, the world's largest wind farm
- Gary D. McCaleb, former mayor of Abilene
- List of museums in West Texas
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Taylor County, Texas
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Taylor County
- Charles Perry, member of the Texas Senate from Lubbock, was born in Taylor County in 1962.
