Wichita County, Texas

County in Texas, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wichita County (/ˈwɪɪtɔː/ WITCH-ih-taw) is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 129,350.[1] The county seat is Wichita Falls.[2] The county was created in 1858 and organized in 1882.[3] Wichita County is part of the Wichita Falls, Texas, TX metropolitan statistical area.

Country United States
FoundedFebruary 1, 1882
Quick facts Country, State ...
Wichita County, Texas
The Wichita County Courthouse in downtown Wichita Falls
The Wichita County Courthouse in downtown Wichita Falls
Map of Texas highlighting Wichita County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Coordinates: 33°59′N 98°43′W
Country United States
State Texas
FoundedFebruary 1, 1882
SeatWichita Falls
Largest cityWichita Falls
Area
  Total
633 sq mi (1,640 km2)
  Land628 sq mi (1,630 km2)
  Water5.3 sq mi (14 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
129,350
  Estimate 
(2025)
129,555 Increase
  Density206/sq mi (79.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district13th
Websitewichitacountytx.com Edit this at Wikidata
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Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 633 square miles (1,640 km2), of which 5.3 square miles (14 km2) (0.8%) are covered by water.[4] The county is drained by the Wichita River and other streams.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Geology

Wichita County is part of the Texas Red Beds, which are strata of red-colored sedimentary rock from the Early Permian. The fossils of Permian period vertebrates in the Texas Red Beds were first discovered by Edward Drinker Cope in 1877.[6][7] Subsequent research has revealed rare fossils of Permian period amphibians like Trimerorhachis,[8] as well as rich deposits of other Permian tetrapods such as Dimetrodon and Diadectes.[9]

Demographics

More information Census, Pop. ...
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880433
18904,8311,015.7%
19005,80620.2%
191016,094177.2%
192072,911353.0%
193074,4162.1%
194073,604−1.1%
195098,49333.8%
1960123,52825.4%
1970120,563−2.4%
1980121,0820.4%
1990122,3781.1%
2000131,6647.6%
2010131,500−0.1%
2020129,350−1.6%
2025 (est.)129,555[10] Increase0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1850–2010[12] 2010-2020[1]
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Racial and ethnic composition

More information Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic), Pop 1980 ...
Wichita County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[13] Pop 1990[14] Pop 2000[15] Pop 2010[16] Pop 2020[17] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 100,300 98,127 96,490 90,001 79,694 82.84% 80.18% 73.29% 68.44% 61.61%
Black or African American alone (NH) 10,773 10,986 13,243 13,322 13,379 8.90% 8.98% 10.06% 10.13% 10.34%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 555 813 919 1,087 992 0.46% 0.66% 0.70% 0.83% 0.77%
Asian alone (NH) 1,312 1,778 2,386 2,586 2,647 1.08% 1.45% 1.81% 1.97% 2.05%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [18] x [19] 99 85 140 x x 0.08% 0.06% 0.11%
Other race alone (NH) 349 119 142 109 476 0.29% 0.10% 0.11% 0.08% 0.37%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [20] x [21] 2,288 2,451 6,219 x x 1.74% 1.86% 4.81%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7,793 10,555 16,097 21,859 25,803 6.44% 8.62% 12.23% 16.62% 19.95%
Total 121,082 122,378 131,664 131,500 129,350 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 129,350. The median age was 36.1 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 104.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 104.6 males age 18 and over.[22][23]

The racial makeup of the county was 67.0% White, 10.7% Black or African American, 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 8.1% from some other race, and 10.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 19.9% of the population.[23]

87.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 12.7% lived in rural areas.[24]

There were 49,007 households in the county, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.6% were married-couple households, 19.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[22]

There were 55,519 housing units, of which 11.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 60.0% were owner-occupied and 40.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.7%.[22]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 131,664 people, 48,441 households, and 32,891 families resided in the county.[25] The population density was 210 people per square mile (81 people/km2). The 53,304 housing units had an average density of 85 units per square mile (33 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 78.76% White, 10.23% African American, 0.89% Native American, 1.84% Asian, 5.60% from other races, and 2.68% from two or more races. About 12.23% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 48,441 households, 33.6% had children under 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were not families, with 1,869 unmarried partner households - 1,677 heterosexual, 94 same-sex male, and 98 same-sex female. About 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49, and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the age distribution was 25.2% under 18, 13.7% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.8 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 103.4 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,780, and for a family was $40,937. Males had a median income of $28,687 versus $21,885 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,965. About 10.30% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.40% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice James V. Allred Unit is located in Wichita County.[26][27][28][29] Wichita County Commissioner Court members: County Judge Jim Johnson, Commissioner Pct. 1 Mark Beauchamp, Commissioner Pct. 2 Mickey Fincannon, Commissioner Pct. 3 Barry Mahler, and Commissioner Pct. 4 Jeff Watts

The sheriff of Wichita County is David Duke. He first took office on January 1, 2009.[30]

Politics

Wichita County is represented in the Texas House of Representatives by the Republican James Frank, a businessman from Wichita Falls. Wichita County has about 77% of the population of Texas' 69th state house district, 18% of the population of the 13th US congressional district, and 15% of the population of the 30th state senate district.

Wichita County is located within District 69 of the Texas House of Representatives. Wichita County contains parts of District 28 and parts of District 30 for representation in the Texas Senate.

Presidential elections

Wichita County has consistently voted for the Republican Party in presidential elections since 1980.

In 2008, Wichita County cast the majority of its votes for Republican John McCain; he won 31,673 votes (69%). Democrat Barack Obama received 13,828 votes (30%). Other candidates received 1% of the vote. In 2004, Republican George W. Bush did better than John McCain and won 71% of the vote and 32,472 votes. Democrat John F. Kerry won 28% of the vote and 12,819 votes.

More information Year, Republican ...
United States presidential election results for Wichita County, Texas[31]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
1912 108 7.35% 1,124 76.51% 237 16.13%
1916 347 13.47% 2,108 81.80% 122 4.73%
1920 1,487 27.49% 3,812 70.46% 111 2.05%
1924 2,189 25.81% 5,831 68.75% 461 5.44%
1928 7,226 59.82% 4,853 40.18% 0 0.00%
1932 1,479 14.20% 8,889 85.36% 45 0.43%
1936 1,327 12.30% 9,428 87.39% 33 0.31%
1940 2,206 15.89% 11,672 84.05% 9 0.06%
1944 1,597 10.93% 11,392 77.94% 1,627 11.13%
1948 2,887 18.20% 12,235 77.11% 744 4.69%
1952 12,197 47.40% 13,505 52.49% 29 0.11%
1956 12,181 48.83% 12,726 51.01% 41 0.16%
1960 12,587 46.25% 14,587 53.60% 39 0.14%
1964 8,585 30.96% 19,131 68.99% 14 0.05%
1968 11,937 35.72% 15,387 46.05% 6,090 18.23%
1972 25,197 68.69% 10,948 29.85% 537 1.46%
1976 19,024 46.10% 22,017 53.35% 225 0.55%
1980 22,884 54.98% 17,657 42.42% 1,084 2.60%
1984 28,932 64.18% 16,009 35.51% 139 0.31%
1988 23,324 56.08% 17,956 43.17% 310 0.75%
1992 17,956 38.53% 17,021 36.52% 11,631 24.95%
1996 20,495 51.30% 15,775 39.49% 3,680 9.21%
2000 27,802 65.09% 14,108 33.03% 803 1.88%
2004 32,472 71.30% 12,819 28.15% 254 0.56%
2008 31,731 69.01% 13,868 30.16% 383 0.83%
2012 29,812 72.68% 10,525 25.66% 681 1.66%
2016 27,631 72.49% 8,770 23.01% 1,718 4.51%
2020 32,069 69.65% 13,161 28.59% 810 1.76%
2024 31,818 71.45% 12,237 27.48% 475 1.07%
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More information Year, Republican ...
United States Senate election results for Wichita County, Texas1[32]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2024 30,711 69.39% 12,545 28.35% 1,001 2.26%
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More information Year, Republican ...
United States Senate election results for Wichita County, Texas2[33]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2020 31,626 69.84% 12,399 27.38% 1,256 2.77%
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More information Year, Republican ...
Texas Gubernatorial election results for Wichita County
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2022 23,328 73.75% 7,824 24.74% 479 1.51%
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Communities

Cities

Town

Unincorporated communities

Education

See also

References

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