Llano County(/ˈlænoʊ/) is acountylocated on theEdwards Plateauin theU.S. stateofTexas.As of the2020 census,its population was 21,243.[1]Itscounty seatisLlano,[2]and the county is named for theLlano River.
Llano County | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofTexas | |
 Texas's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:30°43′N98°41′W/ 30.71°N 98.68°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1856 |
| Named for | Llano River |
| Seat | Llano |
| Largest city | Horseshoe Bay |
| Area | |
• Total | 966 sq mi (2,500 km2) |
| • Land | 934 sq mi (2,420 km2) |
| • Water | 32 sq mi (80 km2) 3.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 21,243 |
| • Density | 22/sq mi (8.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6(Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5(CDT) |
| Congressional district | 11th |
| Website | www |
History
edit- TheTonkawatribe were the first inhabitants.[3]
- 1842 April 20 –Adelsverein[4]Fisher-Miller Land Grant sets aside three million acres (12,000 km2) to settle 600 families and single men ofGerman,Dutch,Swiss,Danish,Swedish,andNorwegianancestry in Texas.[5]
- 1844 June 26 –Henry Francis Fishersells interest in land grant to Adelsverein
- 1845 December 20 –Henry Francis FisherandBurchard Millersell their rights in the land grant to Adelsverein.
- 1847Meusebach–Comanche Treaty[6]Bettinacommune, last Adelsverein community in Texas, is established by a group of free thinking intellectuals, and named after German liberalBettina Brentano von Arnim.The community fails within a year due to lack of any governing structure and conflict of authority.[7][8]
- 1860 Population 1,101 – 21 slaveholders, 54 slaves[3]
- 1862 One hundred Llano County volunteers joinMajor John George WalkerDivision of theConfederate States Army.
- 1864 April – A cavalry company is formed in Llano County under Captain Brazeal to defend the area from Indian attacks. It served under Brig. Gen.John David McAdoountil the war's end, when it disbanded in June 1865.
- 1873 August 4 –Packsaddle Mountainbecomes the site of the region's last battle with the Indians. The county's farming economy begins to grow after threats of Indian attacks cease.[9]
- 1892 June 7 – Llano branch ofAustin and Northwestern Railroadarrives[3]
- 1893 Completion of County Courthouse, designed by Austin architect A O Watson[10]
- 1895 Llano County Jail erected by thePauly Jail Building and Manufacturing Companyof St Louis, MO[11][12]
- 1900 Frank Teich establishes the Teich Monument Works[13]
- 1901 Llano Women's Literary Society organized – 16 charter members[3]
- 1901 The Victorian styleAntlers Hotel,a railroad resort in Kingsland, opened for business.
Darmstadt Society of Forty
editCount Castell[14]of theAdelsvereinnegotiated with the separate Darmstadt Society of Forty to colonize 200 families on theFisher–Miller Land Grantin Texas. In return, they were to receive $12,000 in money, livestock, and equipment, and provisions for a year. After the first year, the colonies were expected to support themselves.[15]The colonies attempted wereCastell,[16]Leiningen, Bettina,[17]Schoenburg and Meerholz in Llano County; Darmstädler Farm inComal County;and Tusculum inKendall County.[18]Of these, only Castell survives. The colonies failed after the Adelsverein funding expired, and also due to conflict of structure and authorities. Some members moved to other Adelsverein settlements in Texas. Others moved elsewhere, or returned to Germany.
Library book bans
editLlano county libraries were purged of books containing sex education and discussion of racism in 2021 and 2022 by county commissioners. Titles removed includeIn the Night Kitchen,Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,andBetween the World and Me.Librarian Suzette Baker in Kingsland was fired for her refusal to remove books from the shelves. The library board voted unanimously to close its meetings to the public in 2022.[19][20]After a lawsuit was filed, a federal judge ruled in March 2023 that at least 12 of the books must be placed back onto shelves.[21]In response, county commissioners considered closing the library in a special meeting.[22]They have appealed the decision by the federal judge.[23]
Geography
editAccording to theU.S. Census Bureau,the county has a total area of 966 square miles (2,500 km2), of which 934 square miles (2,420 km2) are land and 32 square miles (83 km2) (3.3%) are covered by water.[24]
Enchanted Rock,a designated state natural area and popular tourist destination, is located in southern Llano county.
Two significant rivers, the Llano and theColorado,flow through Llano County. These rivers contribute toLake Buchanan,Inks Lake,andLake Lyndon B. Johnson,which are all located partially within the county.
Major highways
edit
Adjacent counties
edit- San Saba County(north)
- Burnet County(east)
- Blanco County(southeast)
- Gillespie County(south)
- Mason County(west)
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 1,101 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,379 | 25.2% | |
| 1880 | 4,962 | 259.8% | |
| 1890 | 6,772 | 36.5% | |
| 1900 | 7,301 | 7.8% | |
| 1910 | 6,520 | −10.7% | |
| 1920 | 5,360 | −17.8% | |
| 1930 | 5,538 | 3.3% | |
| 1940 | 5,996 | 8.3% | |
| 1950 | 5,377 | −10.3% | |
| 1960 | 5,240 | −2.5% | |
| 1970 | 6,979 | 33.2% | |
| 1980 | 10,144 | 45.4% | |
| 1990 | 11,631 | 14.7% | |
| 2000 | 17,044 | 46.5% | |
| 2010 | 19,301 | 13.2% | |
| 2020 | 21,243 | 10.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[25] 1850–2010[26]2010[27]2020[28] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[29] | Pop 2010[27] | Pop 2020[28] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitealone (NH) | 15,869 | 17,303 | 17,530 | 93.11% | 89.65% | 82.52% |
| Black or African Americanalone (NH) | 51 | 102 | 97 | 0.30% | 0.53% | 0.46% |
| Native AmericanorAlaska Nativealone (NH) | 58 | 87 | 115 | 0.34% | 0.45% | 0.54% |
| Asianalone (NH) | 59 | 76 | 121 | 0.35% | 0.39% | 0.57% |
| Pacific Islanderalone (NH) | 5 | 5 | 4 | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Other Racealone (NH) | 8 | 11 | 61 | 0.05% | 0.06% | 0.29% |
| Mixed Race or Multiracial(NH) | 119 | 175 | 807 | 0.70% | 0.91% | 3.80% |
| Hispanic or Latino(any race) | 875 | 1,542 | 2,508 | 5.13% | 7.99% | 11.81% |
| Total | 17,044 | 19,301 | 21,243 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2000 census,[30]17,044 people, 7,879 households, and 5,365 families resided in the county. Thepopulation densitywas 18 people per square mile (6.9 people/km2). There were 11,829 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0/km2). Theracial makeupof the county was 96.3% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. About 5.1% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
Of the 7,879 households, 16.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% weremarried couplesliving together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were not families. About 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.56.
In the county, the population was distributed as 15.9% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 18.4% from 25 to 44, 30.5% from 45 to 64, and 30.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,830, and for a family was $40,597. Males had a median income of $30,839 versus $21,126 for females. Theper capita incomefor the county was $23,547. About 7.2% of families and 10.3% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
editCities
edit- Horseshoe Bay(partly inBurnet County)
- Llano(county seat)
- Sunrise Beach Village
Census-designated places
editOther unincorporated communities
editGhost towns
editNotable person
edit- Emil Kriewitz,who lived with the Penateka Comanche, served as guide for Fisher–Miller Land Grant settlers, 1870 Llano County justice of the peace, 1871 Llano County election judge, and was postmaster of Castell from 1876 to 1883. He was buried in Llano County Cemetery.[31]
Politics
editLlano County, in common with theSolid South,voted predominantly for Democratic presidential candidates well into the 1960s, with those voters being in the majority even in the1928,1952and1956 campaigns,with both races from the 1950s featuring native sonDwight D. Eisenhowerheading the Republican ticket. This trend reversed itself beginning in1972and has become more pronounced, beginning in2000.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 10,902 | 79.99% | 2,613 | 19.17% | 114 | 0.84% |
| 2020 | 10,079 | 79.61% | 2,465 | 19.47% | 116 | 0.92% |
| 2016 | 8,299 | 79.44% | 1,825 | 17.47% | 323 | 3.09% |
| 2012 | 7,610 | 79.62% | 1,822 | 19.06% | 126 | 1.32% |
| 2008 | 7,281 | 75.62% | 2,250 | 23.37% | 98 | 1.02% |
| 2004 | 7,241 | 75.72% | 2,257 | 23.60% | 65 | 0.68% |
| 2000 | 6,295 | 72.97% | 2,143 | 24.84% | 189 | 2.19% |
| 1996 | 4,290 | 55.45% | 2,633 | 34.03% | 814 | 10.52% |
| 1992 | 3,056 | 41.96% | 2,409 | 33.08% | 1,818 | 24.96% |
| 1988 | 3,550 | 57.24% | 2,629 | 42.39% | 23 | 0.37% |
| 1984 | 4,042 | 67.89% | 1,894 | 31.81% | 18 | 0.30% |
| 1980 | 2,866 | 56.23% | 2,130 | 41.79% | 101 | 1.98% |
| 1976 | 1,947 | 45.03% | 2,361 | 54.60% | 16 | 0.37% |
| 1972 | 2,164 | 73.53% | 766 | 26.03% | 13 | 0.44% |
| 1968 | 1,079 | 38.19% | 1,282 | 45.38% | 464 | 16.42% |
| 1964 | 655 | 27.47% | 1,727 | 72.44% | 2 | 0.08% |
| 1960 | 704 | 38.26% | 1,131 | 61.47% | 5 | 0.27% |
| 1956 | 672 | 39.32% | 1,034 | 60.50% | 3 | 0.18% |
| 1952 | 840 | 43.21% | 1,102 | 56.69% | 2 | 0.10% |
| 1948 | 253 | 15.06% | 1,384 | 82.38% | 43 | 2.56% |
| 1944 | 198 | 12.87% | 1,199 | 77.96% | 141 | 9.17% |
| 1940 | 238 | 13.78% | 1,484 | 85.93% | 5 | 0.29% |
| 1936 | 107 | 7.59% | 1,302 | 92.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 108 | 8.08% | 1,229 | 91.92% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1928 | 439 | 46.07% | 514 | 53.93% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 88 | 8.17% | 928 | 86.17% | 61 | 5.66% |
| 1920 | 184 | 16.85% | 665 | 60.90% | 243 | 22.25% |
| 1916 | 72 | 8.86% | 716 | 88.07% | 25 | 3.08% |
| 1912 | 29 | 5.32% | 432 | 79.27% | 84 | 15.41% |
See also
edit
References
edit- ^"Llano County, Texas".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedFebruary 23,2021.
- ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
- ^abcdSpeck, Ernest B."Llano County, Texas".Handbook of Texas Online.Texas State Historical Association.RetrievedNovember 27,2010.
- ^Brister, Louis E."Adelsverein".Handbook of Texas Online.Texas State Historical Association.RetrievedNovember 27,2010.
- ^Ramos, Mary G."The German Settlements in Central Texas".Texas Almanac.Texas State Historical Association. Archived fromthe originalon February 7, 2011.RetrievedNovember 27,2010.
- ^"Comanche Indian Treaty".William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived fromthe originalon July 18, 2011.RetrievedNovember 27,2010.
- ^German American annals.University of Michigan Library. 2010. p. 31.
- ^Heckert-Green, James B."Castell, Texas".Handbook of Texas Online.Texas State Historical Association.RetrievedNovember 27,2010.
- ^Hazelwood, Claudia."Packsaddle Mountain Fight".Handbook of Texas Online.Texas State Historical Association.RetrievedNovember 27,2010.
- ^"Llano County Courthouse".Texas Escapes.Texas Escapes Blueprints For Travel, LLC.RetrievedNovember 27,2010.
- ^"Llano County Jail".Texas Escapes.Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC.RetrievedNovember 27,2010.
- ^"Redtop Jail".Friends of the Llano Redtop Jail. Archived fromthe originalon October 20, 2010.RetrievedNovember 27,2010.
- ^"Frank Teich".Handbook of Texas Online.Texas State Historical Association.RetrievedNovember 27,2010.
- ^Brister, Louis E."Count Carl of Castell-Castell".Handbook of Texas Online.Texas State Historical Association.RetrievedJanuary 16,2011.
- ^King (1967) p. 122
- ^Heckert-Greene, James B."Castell, Texas".Handbook of Texas Online.Texas State Historical Association.RetrievedJanuary 20,2011.
- ^Lich, Glen E."Bettina, Texas".Handbook of Texas Online.Texas State Historical Association.RetrievedJanuary 20,2011.
- ^Lich, Glen E."The Forty".Handbook of Texas Online.Texas State Historical Association.RetrievedJanuary 20,2011.
- ^Gowen, Annie (April 17, 2022)."Censorship battles' new frontier: Your public library".The Washington Post.
- ^Cooley, Brigid (March 4, 2022)."Llano County Library Advisory Board closes meetings to the public".DailyTrib.
- ^Elassar, Alaa; Romine, Taylor; Rose, Andy (April 1, 2023)."Judge orders books removed from Texas public libraries due to LGBTQ and racial content must be returned within 24 hours".CNN.RetrievedApril 2,2023.
- ^Freeman, Suzanne (April 10, 2023)."Llano County could close libraries".Daily Tribune.RetrievedApril 11,2023.
- ^Freeman, Suzanne (October 17, 2023)."Llano library lawsuit trial date passes as appeal wait continues".Daily Tribune.RetrievedFebruary 6,2024.
- ^"2010 Census Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012.RetrievedMay 3,2015.
- ^"Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade".US Census Bureau.
- ^"Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010"(PDF).Texas Almanac.Archived(PDF)from the original on October 9, 2022.RetrievedMay 3,2015.
- ^ab"P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Llano 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) – Llano County, Texas".United States Census Bureau.
- ^"P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Llano County, Texas".United States Census Bureau.
- ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedMay 14,2011.
- ^Hadeler, Glenn."Emil von Kriewitz de Czepry".Handbook of Texas Online.Texas State Historical Association.RetrievedFebruary 17,2011.
- ^Leip, David."Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".uselectionatlas.org.RetrievedJuly 26,2018.
Further reading
edit- Reinhardt, Louis (1900)."The Communistic Colony of Bettina".The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association.3.Denton, TX: Texas State Historical Association:33–40.