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Lampasas County, Texas

Coordinates: 31°11′N 98°14′W / 31.19°N 98.24°W / 31.19; -98.24
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Lampasas County
County
The Lampasas County Courthouse was completed in 1884. The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 21, 1971.
The Lampasas County Courthouse was completed in 1884. The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 21, 1971.
Map of Texas highlighting Lampasas County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°11′N 98°14′W / 31.19°N 98.24°W / 31.19; -98.24
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1856
Named forLampasas River
SeatLampasas
Largest cityLampasas
Area
 • Total714 sq mi (1,850 km2)
 • Land713 sq mi (1,850 km2)
 • Water1.1 sq mi (3 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total21,627
 • Density30/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district11th
Websitewww.co.lampasas.tx.us

Lampasas County (/læmˈpæsəs/ lam-PASS-əs) is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 21,627.[1] Its county seat is Lampasas.[2] The county is named for the Lampasas River.

Lampasas County is part of the Killeen–Temple metropolitan statistical area.

History

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  • Indigenous peoples were the first inhabitants of the area. Later known tribes in the area included Tonkawa, Lipan Apache and Comanche.[3]
  • 1721 The Aguayo expedition is said to have passed through the county.[4]
  • 1756 A presidio is established by Don Pedro de Terreros with the assistance of elements of the Spanish Army, at the confluence of Lucy Creek and Arroya Cavalto. The effort was abandoned not long after, but the site remained as a base of operations by Thomas Isaac Cox, a member of Terreros' original expedition, for the purpose of obtaining hundreds of Texas mustangs for use by the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.[5]
  • 1853 Moses Hughes and his invalid wife, Hannah (Berry), became the first permanent settlers, seeking to take advantage of the medicinal springs.[6]
  • 1854 John Patterson was the first man to cultivate land in the county.[7]
  • 1855 Elizabeth and George W. Scott laid out the town of Burleson, named for her father. The town was later renamed Lampasas, when it becomes the county seat.[3]
  • 1856 The Sixth Texas Legislature formed Lampasas County, named after the Lampasas River, from parts of Travis, Bell, and Coryell Counties. Burleson, renamed Lampasas, is made the county seat.[6]
  • 1858 The northeastern corner of Lampasas County became part of Hamilton County.[3]
  • 1859 The Lampasas Guards were organized to ward off Indian attacks.[8]
  • 1860 Lampasas County's population was 1,028. About 15 percent were slaves.[3]
  • 1861 Indian raids increased in Lampasas, as able-bodied men were off fighting in the war.[6]
  • 1872 Townsen's Mill was built by Perry and Jasper Townsen. This steam mill cut "rawhide" lumber and ground wheat and corn.[9]
  • 1874 Henry A. Chadwick and son Milam built a sawmill, flour mill and cotton gin.[10]
  • 1875 The Farmers' Alliance was born in Lampasas in reaction against the cattle rustling and illegal land dealings prevalent in the county.[3][11]
  • 1877 Gunfight at the Lampasas Saloon[12]
  • 1882 The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway extended its line west from Belton to Lampasas.[6]
  • 1885 The Texas Bankers Association, the oldest and largest in the United States, had its beginnings in Lampasas.[13]
  • 1887 Mills County received northern and northwestern sections of Lampasas County.[3]
  • 1892, April 20 – First state meeting of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas was held in Lampasas.[14]
  • 1902 Pierian Club of Lampasas, a civic women's organization, was chartered.[15]
  • 1920s Texas Power and Light Company arrived in Lampasas County.[3]
  • 1934 The Lower Colorado River Authority brought electricity to the county.[3]
  • 1935 Rollins-Brook Hospital opened near Lampasas.[3]
  • 1942 Fort Hood opened as a military training base. Hancock Park in Lampasas was temporarily turned over to the troops as a recreational area.[6]
  • 1949 Lone Star Gas established services in the county.[3]
  • Lampasas Mother's Day Flood[16]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 714 sq mi (1,850 km2), of which 1.1 sq mi (2.8 km2) (0.2%) is covered by water.[17]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18601,028—
18701,34430.7%
18805,421303.3%
18907,58439.9%
19008,62513.7%
19109,53210.5%
19208,800−7.7%
19308,677−1.4%
19409,1675.6%
19509,9298.3%
19609,418−5.1%
19709,323−1.0%
198012,00528.8%
199013,52112.6%
200017,76231.4%
201019,67710.8%
202021,6279.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[18]
1850–2010[19] 2010[20] 2020[21]
Lampasas 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[22] Pop 2010[20] Pop 2020[21] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 14,121 14,836 15,132 79.50% 75.40% 69.97%
Black or African American alone (NH) 511 581 700 2.88% 2.95% 3.24%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 88 127 115 0.50% 0.65% 0.53%
Asian alone (NH) 126 184 242 0.71% 0.94% 1.12%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 8 35 86 0.05% 0.18% 0.40%
Other Race alone (NH) 8 31 100 0.05% 0.16% 0.46%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) 223 440 1,073 1.26% 2.24% 4.96%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,677 3,443 4,179 15.07% 17.50% 19.32%
Total 17,762 19,677 21,627 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census[23] of 2000, 17,762 people, 6,554 households, and 4,876 families were residing in the county. The population density was 25 people/sq mi (9.7 people/km2). The 7,601 housing units averaged 11 units per square mile (4.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.75% White, 3.10% African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 6.55% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. About 15.07% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 6,554 households, 35.10% had children under 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were not families. About 21.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66, and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, age distribution was 27.60% under 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,176, and for a family was $41,395. Males had a median income of $30,320 versus $20,637 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,184. About 10.70% of families and 14.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.70% of those under 18 and 14.80% of those 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost town

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Politics

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Lampasas County is a state bellwether for Texas in U.S. presidential elections, having voted for the statewide winner in every presidential election since the county's formation in 1856. It shares this status along with Aransas County, Brown County, Parker County, Shackelford County, and Young County.

United States presidential election results for Lampasas County, Texas[24]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 8,086 77.76% 2,144 20.62% 169 1.63%
2016 6,385 77.82% 1,483 18.07% 337 4.11%
2012 5,621 78.03% 1,479 20.53% 104 1.44%
2008 5,651 74.02% 1,903 24.93% 80 1.05%
2004 5,422 77.18% 1,593 22.68% 10 0.14%
2000 4,526 72.84% 1,569 25.25% 119 1.92%
1996 3,008 56.10% 1,819 33.92% 535 9.98%
1992 2,233 43.07% 1,508 29.08% 1,444 27.85%
1988 3,000 60.41% 1,954 39.35% 12 0.24%
1984 3,285 70.60% 1,356 29.14% 12 0.26%
1980 2,323 53.02% 1,979 45.17% 79 1.80%
1976 1,563 39.25% 2,376 59.67% 43 1.08%
1972 2,251 76.33% 688 23.33% 10 0.34%
1968 935 33.18% 1,423 50.50% 460 16.32%
1964 744 25.05% 2,224 74.88% 2 0.07%
1960 1,222 46.84% 1,372 52.59% 15 0.57%
1956 1,308 53.45% 1,134 46.34% 5 0.20%
1952 1,478 55.21% 1,199 44.79% 0 0.00%
1948 276 15.27% 1,459 80.74% 72 3.98%
1944 212 10.26% 1,693 81.95% 161 7.79%
1940 244 10.84% 2,006 89.12% 1 0.04%
1936 134 8.38% 1,462 91.43% 3 0.19%
1932 120 6.17% 1,824 93.83% 0 0.00%
1928 899 60.91% 567 38.41% 10 0.68%
1924 228 12.35% 1,596 86.46% 22 1.19%
1920 227 16.84% 778 57.72% 343 25.45%
1916 113 11.36% 848 85.23% 34 3.42%
1912 67 9.24% 517 71.31% 141 19.45%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Lampasas County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rhoades, Alice J. "Lampasas County". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  4. ^ Greene, A C (1998). Sketches from the Five States of Texas. TAMU Press. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-89096-853-6.
  5. ^ "Log into Facebook". Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e Lampasas County Museum Foundation (2009). Lampasas County, TX. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 7–8. ISBN 978-0-7385-5881-3.
  7. ^ "John Patterson". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  8. ^ Anderson, Daniel; Yadon, Lawrence (2009). Ten Deadly Texans. Pelican Publishing. p. 105. ISBN 978-1-58980-599-6.
  9. ^ "Towsen's Mill". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  10. ^ "Chadwick's Mill". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  11. ^ "Pleasant Valley Farmers' Alliance No. 1". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  12. ^ "Gunfight at the Lampasas Saloon". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  13. ^ "Texas Bankers Association". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  14. ^ "Daughters of the Republic of Texas". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  15. ^ "Pierian Club of Lampasas". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  16. ^ Burnett, Jonathan (2008). Flash Floods in Texas. TAMU Press. pp. 162–172. ISBN 978-1-58544-590-5.
  17. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  18. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  19. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  20. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lampasas County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lampasas County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lampasas County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  24. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
[edit]

31°11′N 98°14′W / 31.19°N 98.24°W / 31.19; -98.24

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