Gray Countyis acountylocated in theU.S. stateofTexas.As of the2020 census,its population was 21,227.[1]Thecounty seatisPampa.[2]The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1902.[3]Gray County is named forPeter W. Gray,[4]aConfederatelawyer and soldier in theAmerican Civil War.
Gray County | |
---|---|
Coordinates:35°25′N100°49′W/ 35.41°N 100.81°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Texas |
Founded | 1902 |
Named for | Peter W. Gray |
Seat | Pampa |
Largest city | Pampa |
Area | |
• Total | 929 sq mi (2,410 km2) |
• Land | 926 sq mi (2,400 km2) |
• Water | 3.4 sq mi (9 km2) 0.4% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 21,227 |
• Density | 23/sq mi (8.8/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6(Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5(CDT) |
Congressional district | 13th |
Website | www |
Gray County comprises the Pampa, TXmicropolitan statistical area.
Geography
editAccording to theU.S. Census Bureau,the county has a total area of 929 square miles (2,410 km2), of which 926 sq mi (2,400 km2) are land and 3.4 sq mi (8.8 km2) (0.4%) are covered by water.[5]
Major highways
editAdjacent counties
edit- Roberts County(north)
- Hemphill County(northeast)
- Wheeler County(east)
- Collingsworth County(southeast)
- Donley County(south)
- Armstrong County(southwest)
- Carson County(west)
National protected area
editDemographics
editCensus | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1880 | 56 | — | |
1890 | 203 | 262.5% | |
1900 | 480 | 136.5% | |
1910 | 3,405 | 609.4% | |
1920 | 4,663 | 36.9% | |
1930 | 22,090 | 373.7% | |
1940 | 23,911 | 8.2% | |
1950 | 24,728 | 3.4% | |
1960 | 31,535 | 27.5% | |
1970 | 26,949 | −14.5% | |
1980 | 26,386 | −2.1% | |
1990 | 23,967 | −9.2% | |
2000 | 22,744 | −5.1% | |
2010 | 22,535 | −0.9% | |
2020 | 21,227 | −5.8% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1850–2010[7]2010[8]2020[9] |
Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[10] | Pop 2010[8] | Pop 2020[9] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whitealone (NH) | 17,800 | 15,564 | 13,025 | 78.26% | 69.07% | 61.36% |
Black or African Americanalone (NH) | 1,309 | 1,055 | 835 | 5.76% | 4.68% | 3.93% |
Native AmericanorAlaska Nativealone (NH) | 169 | 152 | 141 | 0.74% | 0.67% | 0.66% |
Asianalone (NH) | 88 | 83 | 127 | 0.39% | 0.37% | 0.60% |
Pacific Islanderalone (NH) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0.02% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Other racealone (NH) | 18 | 11 | 37 | 0.08% | 0.05% | 0.17% |
Mixed race or Multiracial(NH) | 397 | 304 | 715 | 1.75% | 1.35% | 3.37% |
Hispanic or Latino(any race) | 2,959 | 5,365 | 6,347 | 13.01% | 23.81% | 29.90% |
Total | 22,744 | 22,535 | 21,227 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of thecensus[11]of 2000, 22,744 people, 8,793 households, and 6,049 families were residing in the county. Thepopulation densitywas 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km2). The 10,567 housing units averaged 11 units per square mile (4.2/km2). Theracial makeupof the county was 82.15% White, 5.85% African American, 0.94% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 8.25% from other races, and 2.42% from two or more races. About 13.01% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 8,793 households, 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were not families. About 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.30% 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 2.93.
In the county, the age distribution was 24.00% under 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 18.10% who were 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,368, and for a family was $40,019. Males had a median income of $32,401 versus $20,158 for females. Theper capita incomefor the county was $16,702. About 11.20% of families and 13.80% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
editCity
edit- Pampa(county seat)
Towns
editOther unincorporated communities
editPolitics
editPrior to 1952, Gray County was primarily Democratic similar to most of Texas and theSolid South.The county only gave a Republican presidential candidate a majority before 1952 in 1928, whenHerbert Hooverwon the county due to anti-Catholic sentiment towardsAl Smith.Starting with the 1952 election, the county has become a Republican stronghold along with the rest of the Texas Panhandle. This level of Republican dominance has increased in recent years, as every Republican presidential candidate in the second millennium has racked up 80% of the county's vote. Additionally, after the 2008 election, DemocratsBarack Obama,Hillary Clinton,andJoe Bidenhave failed to win even 1,000 votes total in the county.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 6,691 | 88.27% | 845 | 11.15% | 44 | 0.58% |
2020 | 6,840 | 87.90% | 829 | 10.65% | 113 | 1.45% |
2016 | 6,500 | 87.78% | 701 | 9.47% | 204 | 2.75% |
2012 | 6,443 | 87.20% | 886 | 11.99% | 60 | 0.81% |
2008 | 6,924 | 85.13% | 1,153 | 14.18% | 56 | 0.69% |
2004 | 7,260 | 84.69% | 1,289 | 15.04% | 23 | 0.27% |
2000 | 6,732 | 82.25% | 1,376 | 16.81% | 77 | 0.94% |
1996 | 6,102 | 69.15% | 2,114 | 23.96% | 608 | 6.89% |
1992 | 6,105 | 58.86% | 2,426 | 23.39% | 1,841 | 17.75% |
1988 | 7,259 | 74.22% | 2,460 | 25.15% | 62 | 0.63% |
1984 | 8,955 | 81.50% | 2,003 | 18.23% | 30 | 0.27% |
1980 | 7,187 | 70.81% | 2,786 | 27.45% | 176 | 1.73% |
1976 | 6,010 | 60.33% | 3,872 | 38.87% | 80 | 0.80% |
1972 | 7,968 | 84.37% | 1,367 | 14.47% | 109 | 1.15% |
1968 | 5,994 | 55.53% | 2,374 | 21.99% | 2,427 | 22.48% |
1964 | 5,011 | 57.93% | 3,633 | 42.00% | 6 | 0.07% |
1960 | 6,197 | 68.76% | 2,802 | 31.09% | 14 | 0.16% |
1956 | 5,047 | 61.90% | 3,034 | 37.21% | 72 | 0.88% |
1952 | 5,467 | 61.73% | 3,367 | 38.02% | 23 | 0.26% |
1948 | 1,594 | 27.98% | 3,699 | 64.94% | 403 | 7.08% |
1944 | 1,739 | 34.86% | 3,067 | 61.48% | 183 | 3.67% |
1940 | 1,217 | 21.97% | 4,315 | 77.89% | 8 | 0.14% |
1936 | 464 | 9.59% | 4,347 | 89.83% | 28 | 0.58% |
1932 | 505 | 12.70% | 3,446 | 86.69% | 24 | 0.60% |
1928 | 1,871 | 65.35% | 986 | 34.44% | 6 | 0.21% |
1924 | 581 | 48.86% | 608 | 51.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
1920 | 251 | 30.95% | 529 | 65.23% | 31 | 3.82% |
1916 | 69 | 11.73% | 482 | 81.97% | 37 | 6.29% |
1912 | 13 | 3.09% | 272 | 64.61% | 136 | 32.30% |
Notable people
edit- Phil Cates,state representative from 1971 to 1979, was born in Pampa in 1947.[13]
- Tom Mechler,state Republican Party chairman since 2015, is a former Gray County Republican chairman.
- Kae T. Patrick,a native of Gray County, served in theTexas House of RepresentativesfromSan Antoniofrom 1981 to 1988.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Gray County, Texas".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 30,2022.
- ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties. Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2011.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
- ^"Texas: Individual County Chronologies".Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.The Newberry Library.2008. Archived fromthe originalon April 12, 2017.RetrievedMay 23,2015.
- ^Gannett, Henry (1905).The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States.Govt. Print. Off. pp.142.
- ^"2010 Census Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012.RetrievedApril 27,2015.
- ^"Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades".US Census Bureau.
- ^"Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010"(PDF).Texas Almanac.Archived(PDF)from the original on October 9, 2022.RetrievedApril 27,2015.
- ^ab"P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Gray County, Texas".United States Census Bureau.
- ^ab"P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Gray County, Texas".United States Census Bureau.
- ^"P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Gray County, Texas".United States Census Bureau.
- ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMay 14,2011.
- ^Leip, David."Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".uselectionatlas.org.RetrievedApril 10,2018.
- ^"Phil Cates".Texas Legislative Reference Library.RetrievedJune 29,2015.
External links
edit- Gray County government's website
- Gray Countyfrom theHandbook of TexasOnline
- Gray County Profile from the Texas Association of CountiesArchivedSeptember 15, 2015, at theWayback Machine