Borden County, Texas
Borden County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is in West Texas and its county seat is Gail.[1]
Borden County | |
|---|---|
Borden County Courthouse in Gail | |
Location within the U.S. state of Texas | |
Texas's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 32°44′N 101°26′W / 32.74°N 101.43°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Founded | 1876 |
| Named for | Gail Borden Jr. |
| Seat | Gail |
| Largest community | Gail |
| Area | |
| • Total | 906 sq mi (2,350 km2) |
| • Land | 897 sq mi (2,320 km2) |
| • Water | 8.6 sq mi (22 km2) 1.0% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 631 |
| • Estimate (2022) | 585 |
| • Density | 0.70/sq mi (0.27/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 19th |
| Website | www |
As of the 2020 census, its population was 631,[2] making it the fifth-least populous county in Texas. Borden is one of four remaining prohibition or entirely dry counties in the state of Texas.[3]
The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1891.[4] Gail and Borden County are named for Gail Borden Jr., businessman, publisher, surveyor, and pioneer of condensed milk.
History edit
Native Americans edit
Shoshone and the Penateka band of Comanches were early tribes in the area.[5]
County established edit
Borden County was created in 1876 from Bosque County and named for Gail Borden Jr., the inventor of condensed milk. Borden was publisher and editor of the Telegraph and Texas Register, as well as a political leader in the Republic of Texas. The county was organized in 1891, and Gail was made the county seat.[6]
Farmers and ranchers settled the county, but the population remained relatively small. In 1902, Texas placed lands in the public domain and spurred a land rush in Borden County. Many of the newcomers grew cotton.[5]
Borden County has had two courthouses, one built in 1890. The current courthouse is of brick and concrete construction and was erected in 1939. The architect was David S. Castle Co.[7]
Oil was discovered in the county in 1949. By 1991, more than 340,000,000 barrels (54,000,000 m3) of petroleum had been taken out of Borden County since its discovery.[8]
Geography edit
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 906 square miles (2,350 km2), of which 897 square miles (2,320 km2) are land and 8.6 square miles (22 km2) (1.0%) are covered by water.[9]
Major highways edit
Adjacent counties edit
- Garza County (north)
- Scurry County (east)
- Mitchell County (southeast)
- Howard County (south)
- Martin County (southwest)
- Dawson County (west)
- Lynn County (northwest)
Demographics edit
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 35 | — | |
| 1890 | 222 | 534.3% | |
| 1900 | 776 | 249.5% | |
| 1910 | 1,386 | 78.6% | |
| 1920 | 965 | −30.4% | |
| 1930 | 1,505 | 56.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,396 | −7.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,106 | −20.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,076 | −2.7% | |
| 1970 | 888 | −17.5% | |
| 1980 | 859 | −3.3% | |
| 1990 | 799 | −7.0% | |
| 2000 | 729 | −8.8% | |
| 2010 | 641 | −12.1% | |
| 2020 | 631 | −1.6% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 585 | [10] | −7.3% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1850–2010[12] 2010-2020[2] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[13] | Pop 2020[14] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 539 | 528 | 84.09% | 83.68% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.16% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 2 | 0 | 0.31% | 0.00% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1 | 0 | 0.16% | 0.00% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.16% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 4 | 15 | 0.62% | 2.38% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 95 | 86 | 14.82% | 13.63% |
| Total | 641 | 631 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
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 can be of any race.
As of the census[15] of 2000, 729 people, 292 households, and 216 families resided in the county. The population density was 0.80 people per square mile (0.31 people/km2). The 435 housing units averaged 0.48 units per square mile (0.19/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.53% White, 0.14% African American, 0.27% Native American, 6.31% from other races, and 2.74% from two or more races. About 11.93% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 292 households, 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.10% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were not families. Around 22.60% of all households consisted of individuals, and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the county, the population was distributed as 24.60% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,205, and for a family was $36,458. Males had a median income of $25,556 versus $21,607 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,364. About 14.00% of the population and 11.80% of families were below the poverty line. Of the total people living in poverty, 14.30% were under the age of 18 and 11.60% were 65 or older.
The county is served by nearby radio stations KBXJ (FM) and KPET (AM), and the various Midland and Odessa radio and TV stations.
The largest self-reported ancestry groups in Borden County are:[16] · English – 17% · Irish – 15% · German – 12% · Mexican – 9% · French (except Basque) – 3% · Scotch-Irish – 3% · Other Hispanic or Latino – 3% · Scottish – 2% · Spanish – 1% · American Indian tribes, specified – 1%
Education edit
The county is served mostly by Borden County Independent School District.
Media edit
The weekly newspaper, the Borden Star, covers events for the school and county.
Communities edit
Gallery edit
- Mushaway Peak viewed from Willow Valley Road
- Abandoned schoolhouse in the ghost town of Mesquite
- Frontal view of Borden County Courthouse
- Coyote Country Store across from the courthouse is one of the few businesses in Borden County
- Gail Mountain viewed from Willow Valley Road
- First Baptist Church in Gail
Politics edit
Borden County was Donald Trump's second strongest county in 2020, only slightly edged out by Roberts County in the same state.[17]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 397 | 95.43% | 16 | 3.85% | 3 | 0.72% |
| 2016 | 330 | 90.41% | 31 | 8.49% | 4 | 1.10% |
| 2012 | 324 | 89.26% | 32 | 8.82% | 7 | 1.93% |
| 2008 | 316 | 87.53% | 40 | 11.08% | 5 | 1.39% |
| 2004 | 303 | 84.40% | 55 | 15.32% | 1 | 0.28% |
| 2000 | 283 | 80.17% | 62 | 17.56% | 8 | 2.27% |
| 1996 | 194 | 58.08% | 93 | 27.84% | 47 | 14.07% |
| 1992 | 184 | 48.68% | 106 | 28.04% | 88 | 23.28% |
| 1988 | 283 | 62.33% | 169 | 37.22% | 2 | 0.44% |
| 1984 | 325 | 69.44% | 140 | 29.91% | 3 | 0.64% |
| 1980 | 279 | 67.23% | 131 | 31.57% | 5 | 1.20% |
| 1976 | 150 | 38.46% | 234 | 60.00% | 6 | 1.54% |
| 1972 | 330 | 76.21% | 96 | 22.17% | 7 | 1.62% |
| 1968 | 117 | 30.31% | 157 | 40.67% | 112 | 29.02% |
| 1964 | 152 | 36.28% | 266 | 63.48% | 1 | 0.24% |
| 1960 | 166 | 40.39% | 230 | 55.96% | 15 | 3.65% |
| 1956 | 127 | 34.51% | 240 | 65.22% | 1 | 0.27% |
| 1952 | 182 | 46.43% | 210 | 53.57% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 18 | 7.73% | 203 | 87.12% | 12 | 5.15% |
| 1944 | 34 | 11.04% | 237 | 76.95% | 37 | 12.01% |
| 1940 | 44 | 10.50% | 375 | 89.50% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 26 | 10.48% | 220 | 88.71% | 2 | 0.81% |
| 1932 | 7 | 2.81% | 242 | 97.19% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1928 | 98 | 57.31% | 73 | 42.69% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 10 | 10.42% | 86 | 89.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 4 | 3.81% | 89 | 84.76% | 12 | 11.43% |
| 1916 | 1 | 1.10% | 84 | 92.31% | 6 | 6.59% |
| 1912 | 1 | 0.76% | 128 | 97.71% | 2 | 1.53% |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ . National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ "Wet/Dry Status of Texas Counties". June 1, 2023.
- ^ . Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
- ^ a b Leffler, John; Hunt, William R. "Borden County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
- ^ Hunt, William R. "Gail, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
- ^ "Borden County Courthouse". Texas Escapes. Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
- ^ Olien, Roger M; Hinton, Diana Davids (2007). Wildcatters: Texas Independent Oilmen. TAMU Press. p. 99. ISBN 978-1-58544-606-3.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
- ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
- ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Borden County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Borden County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ . epodunk.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- ^ "Live election results: 2020 Texas results". Politico election results- Texas. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
External links edit
- Borden County government
- Borden County from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Borden County from the Texas Almanac
- Borden County from the TXGenWeb Project
- Public domain images of the Llano Estacado and West Texas