Wheeler County, Texas
County in Texas, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wheeler County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 4,990.[1] Its county seat is Wheeler.[2] The county was formed in 1876 and organized in 1879.[3] It is named for Royall Tyler Wheeler, a chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court.
Wheeler County, Texas | |
|---|---|
Wheeler County Courthouse | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Texas | |
| Coordinates: 35°24′N 100°16′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1879 |
| Named after | Royall T. Wheeler |
| Seat | Wheeler |
| Largest city | Shamrock |
| Area | |
• Total | 915 sq mi (2,370 km2) |
| • Land | 915 sq mi (2,370 km2) |
| • Water | 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2) 0.1% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 4,990 |
• Estimate (2025) | 4,773  |
| • Density | 5.45/sq mi (2.11/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 13th |
| Website | www |
Wheeler County was formerly one of 30 entirely dry counties in the state of Texas.[4] However, circa 2010, the community of Shamrock, located in Wheeler County at the intersection of Interstate 40 and U.S. Highway 83, voted to allow liquor sales. Within the city limits of Shamrock is the only place to purchase liquor in Wheeler County.
The Pioneer West Museum, the Wheeler County historical museum, is located in Shamrock off U.S. Highway 83.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 915 square miles (2,370 km2), of which 915 square miles (2,370 km2) are land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (0.1%) is covered by water.[5]
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Hemphill County (north)
- Roger Mills County, Oklahoma (northeast)
- Beckham County, Oklahoma (east)
- Collingsworth County (south)
- Gray County (west)
- Donley County (southwest)
- Roberts County (northwest)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 512 | — | |
| 1890 | 778 | 52.0% | |
| 1900 | 636 | −18.3% | |
| 1910 | 5,258 | 726.7% | |
| 1920 | 7,397 | 40.7% | |
| 1930 | 15,555 | 110.3% | |
| 1940 | 12,411 | −20.2% | |
| 1950 | 10,317 | −16.9% | |
| 1960 | 7,947 | −23.0% | |
| 1970 | 6,434 | −19.0% | |
| 1980 | 7,137 | 10.9% | |
| 1990 | 5,879 | −17.6% | |
| 2000 | 5,284 | −10.1% | |
| 2010 | 5,410 | 2.4% | |
| 2020 | 4,990 | −7.8% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 4,773 | [6] | −4.3% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1850–1900[8] 1910[9] 1920[10] 1930[11] 1940[12] 1950[13] 1960[14] 1970[15] 1980[16] 1990[17] 2000[18] 2010[19] 2020[20] | |||
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[21] | Pop 2010[22] | Pop 2020[20] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 4,386 | 3,847 | 3,469 | 83.01% | 71.11% | 69.52% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 137 | 112 | 81 | 2.59% | 2.07% | 1.62% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 29 | 20 | 33 | 0.55% | 0.37% | 0.66% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 29 | 23 | 24 | 0.55% | 0.43% | 0.48% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0.08% | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 0 | 3 | 12 | 0.00% | 0.06% | 0.24% |
| Mixed or multiracial (NH) | 35 | 61 | 142 | 0.66% | 1.13% | 2.85% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 664 | 1,344 | 1,227 | 12.57% | 24.84% | 24.59% |
| Total | 5,284 | 5,410 | 4,990 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 4,990. The median age was 42.3 years. 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.3 males age 18 and over.[23]
The racial makeup of the county was 75.1% White, 1.7% Black or African American, 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 10.4% from some other race, and 11.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 24.6% of the population.[24]
About 0.1% of the residents lived in urban areas, while almost 100% lived in rural areas.[25]
Of the 2,001 households in the county, 32.5% had children under 18 living in them. Of all households, 55.2% were married-couple households, 17.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.[23]
Of the 2,598 housing units, 23.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.4% were owner-occupied and 23.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 18.3%.[23]
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, 5,284 people, 2,152 households, and 1,487 families resided in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km2). The 2,687 housing units had an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.83% White, 2.78% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 6.64% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. About 12.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[26]
Of the 2,152 households, 29.6% had children under 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were not families. About 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county, the age distribution was 24.9% under 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 22.50% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 20.90% who were 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,029, and for a family was $36,989. Males had a median income of $26,790 versus $19,091 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,083. About 11.6% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under 18 and 16.8% of those 65 or over.
Politics
Wheeler County is located in Texas House of Representatives District 88. The county was previously in District 68 from 2013 to 2023. Republican Ken King, a businessman from Canadian in Hemphill County, has represented Wheeler County in the Texas House of Representatives since the redistricting.[27][28]
Wheeler County is located within District 28 of the Texas Senate.
The representative from 1971 to 1979 was the Democrat Phil Cates, later a lobbyist in Austin.[29]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 35 | 6.31% | 402 | 72.43% | 118 | 21.26% |
| 1916 | 56 | 8.00% | 554 | 79.14% | 90 | 12.86% |
| 1920 | 198 | 26.33% | 516 | 68.62% | 38 | 5.05% |
| 1924 | 197 | 17.12% | 908 | 78.89% | 46 | 4.00% |
| 1928 | 1,038 | 57.86% | 750 | 41.81% | 6 | 0.33% |
| 1932 | 165 | 6.75% | 2,263 | 92.56% | 17 | 0.70% |
| 1936 | 277 | 10.24% | 2,415 | 89.31% | 12 | 0.44% |
| 1940 | 517 | 16.55% | 2,600 | 83.23% | 7 | 0.22% |
| 1944 | 511 | 19.54% | 1,869 | 71.47% | 235 | 8.99% |
| 1948 | 370 | 15.04% | 2,010 | 81.71% | 80 | 3.25% |
| 1952 | 1,645 | 51.37% | 1,551 | 48.44% | 6 | 0.19% |
| 1956 | 1,178 | 48.22% | 1,252 | 51.25% | 13 | 0.53% |
| 1960 | 1,428 | 58.43% | 1,011 | 41.37% | 5 | 0.20% |
| 1964 | 1,138 | 44.11% | 1,440 | 55.81% | 2 | 0.08% |
| 1968 | 1,176 | 45.97% | 812 | 31.74% | 570 | 22.28% |
| 1972 | 1,766 | 77.87% | 502 | 22.13% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 1,273 | 44.08% | 1,598 | 55.33% | 17 | 0.59% |
| 1980 | 1,626 | 59.28% | 1,090 | 39.74% | 27 | 0.98% |
| 1984 | 2,251 | 73.51% | 805 | 26.29% | 6 | 0.20% |
| 1988 | 1,703 | 61.33% | 1,067 | 38.42% | 7 | 0.25% |
| 1992 | 1,458 | 52.69% | 938 | 33.90% | 371 | 13.41% |
| 1996 | 1,355 | 59.20% | 750 | 32.77% | 184 | 8.04% |
| 2000 | 1,787 | 74.80% | 579 | 24.24% | 23 | 0.96% |
| 2004 | 1,960 | 81.87% | 420 | 17.54% | 14 | 0.58% |
| 2008 | 1,918 | 85.43% | 314 | 13.99% | 13 | 0.58% |
| 2012 | 1,878 | 88.25% | 232 | 10.90% | 18 | 0.85% |
| 2016 | 2,087 | 90.50% | 194 | 8.41% | 25 | 1.08% |
| 2020 | 2,159 | 92.38% | 168 | 7.19% | 10 | 0.43% |
| 2024 | 2,093 | 92.04% | 169 | 7.43% | 12 | 0.53% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 2,025 | 89.88% | 192 | 8.52% | 36 | 1.60% |
Communities
Education
School districts include:[32]
FECISD formed on August 10, 1991 by the merger of Briscoe ISD and Mobeetie ISD.[33]
The Texas Legislature assigns all of Wheeler County to Clarendon College.[34]
