Roberts County, Texas

Roberts County, Texas

Roberts County courthouse in Miami
Map of Texas highlighting Roberts County
Location in the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded 1889
Named for Oran Milo Roberts
Seat Miami
Largest city Miami
Area
 • Total 924 sq mi (2,393 km2)
 • Land 924 sq mi (2,393 km2)
 • Water 0.1 sq mi (0 km2), 0.01%
Population
 • (2010) 929
 • Density 1.0/sq mi (0/km²)
Congressional district 13th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.roberts.tx.us

Roberts County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 929,[1] making it the seventh-least populous county in Texas. Its county seat is Miami, which is also the county's only incorporated community.[2] The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1889.[3] It is named for Oran Milo Roberts, a governor of Texas. Roberts County is one of 7[4] prohibition, or entirely dry, counties in the state of Texas.

History

Plains Apaches inhabited the Texas Panhandle until they were displaced by the Comanches who dominated the area until the 1870s. The Comanches hunted the large herds of buffalo, which grazed on the prairie. In the Red River War of 1874-75, United States Army troops led by Ranald S. Mackenzie drove out the Comanches. Simultaneously, buffalo hunters killed the large herds in the area, making way for permanent settlements.

In 1876, Roberts County was carved from Bexar County and the Clay Land District.[5] In 1887, the Southern Kansas Railway was built through Roberts County, and settlers followed.

Roberts County is the scene of a recent battle for water rights, where the City of Amarillo, Texas, the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority, and T. Boone Pickens have sought to purchase the water rights within the county. Between the three, they own 80% of the water rights.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 924 square miles (2,390 km2), of which 924 square miles (2,390 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.01%) is water.[7]

The county is relatively flat except for the Canadian River valley. Most of the land is used for cattle ranching. The county also contains the 68,000-acre (280 km2) Mesa Vista Ranch, which seeks to protect quail, dove and pheasant habitat along the creek beds south of the Canadian River.[8]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
188032—
1890326918.8%
190062090.2%
191095053.2%
19201,46954.6%
19301,457−0.8%
19401,289−11.5%
19501,031−20.0%
19601,0754.3%
1970967−10.0%
19801,18722.8%
19901,025−13.6%
2000887−13.5%
20109294.7%
Est. 2015916[9]−1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1850–2010[11] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 887 people, 362 households, and 275 families residing in the county. The population density was less than 1/km² (1/sq mi). There were 449 housing units at an average density of 0 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.51% White, 0.34% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 1.35% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 3.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 362 households out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.70% were married couples living together, 3.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 23.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.00% under the age of 18, 4.80% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 30.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,792, and the median income for a family was $50,400. Males had a median income of $33,125 versus $23,611 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,923. About 5.00% of families and 7.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.50% of those under age 18 and 5.50% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

In 2008 92% of voters voted for Republican John McCain versus only 7.92% for Democrat Barack Obama making it one of the most Republican counties in the United States.[13]

The county is governed by an elected County Judge and four Commissioners (each elected by a precinct with the county).[14]

In 2016 presidential election Trump scored 95.3 % of votes, making the county the most Republican in the United States.

Communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  4. ↑ http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/local_option_elections/index.asp
  5. ↑ "Roberts County, Texas". Genealogy, Inc. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
  6. ↑ Berfield, Susan (June 12, 2008). "There Will Be Water". Business Week. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Mesa Vista Ranch" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-10-04.(11.9MB)
  9. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  10. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. ↑ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/statesub.php?year=2008&fips=48393&f=0&off=0&elect=0
  14. ↑ "Commissioners Court". Retrieved 2010-10-05.
 Hansford County Ochiltree County Lipscomb County
Hutchinson County Hemphill County
   Roberts County, Texas  
Carson County Gray County

Coordinates: 35°50′N 100°49′W / 35.83°N 100.81°W / 35.83; -100.81

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