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Wheeler County, Texas

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
County
Wheeler County Courthouse
Wheeler County Courthouse
Map of Texas highlighting Wheeler County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°24′N 100°16′W / 35.4°N 100.27°W / 35.4; -100.27
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1879
Named forRoyall T. Wheeler
SeatWheeler
Largest cityShamrock
Area
 • Total915 sq mi (2,370 km2)
 • Land915 sq mi (2,370 km2)
 • Water1.0 sq mi (3 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total4,990
 • Density5.5/sq mi (2.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district13th
Websitewww.co.wheeler.tx.us
Wheeler County Veterans Memorial
John 14:6 sign along U.S. Route 66 in Wheeler County

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

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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

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U.S. Highway 66 is no longer officially commissioned or signed, but has special brown historic signage at various points along its former routing.

Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880512—
189077852.0%
1900636−18.3%
19105,258726.7%
19207,39740.7%
193015,555110.3%
194012,411−20.2%
195010,317−16.9%
19607,947−23.0%
19706,434−19.0%
19807,13710.9%
19905,879−17.6%
20005,284−10.1%
20105,4102.4%
20204,990−7.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1850–2010[7] 2010[8] 2020[9]
Wheeler 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 2000[10] Pop 2010[8] Pop 2020[9] % 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 race 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%

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 5,284 people, 2,152 households, and 1,487 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km2). There were 2,687 housing units at 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. 12.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,152 households, out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.90% under the age of 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 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,029, and the median income 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 11.60% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.30% of those under age 18 and 16.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

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Republican Drew Springer, Jr., a businessman from Muenster in Cooke County, has since January 2013 represented Wheeler County in the Texas House of Representatives.[12]

The representative from 1971 to 1979 was the Democrat Phil Cates, later a lobbyist in Austin.[13]

United States presidential election results for Wheeler County, Texas[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,159 92.38% 168 7.19% 10 0.43%
2016 2,087 90.50% 194 8.41% 25 1.08%
2012 1,878 88.25% 232 10.90% 18 0.85%
2008 1,918 85.43% 314 13.99% 13 0.58%
2004 1,960 81.87% 420 17.54% 14 0.58%
2000 1,787 74.80% 579 24.24% 23 0.96%
1996 1,355 59.20% 750 32.77% 184 8.04%
1992 1,458 52.69% 938 33.90% 371 13.41%
1988 1,703 61.33% 1,067 38.42% 7 0.25%
1984 2,251 73.51% 805 26.29% 6 0.20%
1980 1,626 59.28% 1,090 39.74% 27 0.98%
1976 1,273 44.08% 1,598 55.33% 17 0.59%
1972 1,766 77.87% 502 22.13% 0 0.00%
1968 1,176 45.97% 812 31.74% 570 22.28%
1964 1,138 44.11% 1,440 55.81% 2 0.08%
1960 1,428 58.43% 1,011 41.37% 5 0.20%
1956 1,178 48.22% 1,252 51.25% 13 0.53%
1952 1,645 51.37% 1,551 48.44% 6 0.19%
1948 370 15.04% 2,010 81.71% 80 3.25%
1944 511 19.54% 1,869 71.47% 235 8.99%
1940 517 16.55% 2,600 83.23% 7 0.22%
1936 277 10.24% 2,415 89.31% 12 0.44%
1932 165 6.75% 2,263 92.56% 17 0.70%
1928 1,038 57.86% 750 41.81% 6 0.33%
1924 197 17.12% 908 78.89% 46 4.00%
1920 198 26.33% 516 68.62% 38 5.05%
1916 56 8.00% 554 79.14% 90 12.86%
1912 35 6.31% 402 72.43% 118 21.26%

Communities

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Cities

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated communities

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Wheeler County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  4. ^ "Local Option Elections | TABC".
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  6. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  7. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  8. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wheeler County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  9. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wheeler County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  10. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wheeler County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ^ "State Rep. Springer announces district tour July 30". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, July 16, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  13. ^ "Phil Cates". Texas Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
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  Media related to Wheeler County, Texas at Wikimedia Commons

35°24′N 100°16′W / 35.40°N 100.27°W / 35.40; -100.27

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