DeWitt County, Texas

DeWitt County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 20,097.[1] The county seat is Cuero.[2] The county was founded in 1846 and is named for Green DeWitt, who founded an early colony in Texas.

DeWitt County
U.S. county
The DeWitt County Courthouse located in Cuero. The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 6, 1971.
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°05′N 97°22′W
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1846
Named forGreen DeWitt
SeatCuero
Largest cityCuero
Area
 • Total910 sq mi (2,400 km2)
 • Land909 sq mi (2,350 km2)
 • Water1.5 sq mi (4 km2)  0.2%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total20,097
 • Density22/sq mi (8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district34th
Websitewww.co.dewitt.tx.us

History

Native Americans

Archeological digs[3][4] indicate early habitation from the Paleo-Indians Hunter-gatherers period. Later, Tonkawa, Aranamas, Tamiques, Karankawa. Tawakoni, Lipan Apache and Comanche lived and hunted in the county.

Explorers

The first European visitors to the county are thought to have been[5] Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, Alonso del Castillo Maldonado, Andrés Dorantes de Carranza, and his slave Estevanico of the ill-fated 1528 Narváez expedition. French explorer René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle[6][7] is believed to have crossed the county on his way westward from Victoria County; and while La Bahia[8] was a common route, no evidence of any settlements exist before the Anglo homesteaders.

County established and growth

In 1825, empresario Green DeWitt[9] received a grant from the Coahuila y Tejas legislature to settle 400 families.[10][11] Between 1826 and 1831[12] settlers arrived from Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, and other Southern states.

A temporary county government was set up in 1846, with the county seat being Daniel Boone Friar's store at the junction of the La Bahía Road and the Gonzales-Victoria road.[13] On November 28, 1850, Clinton became the county seat until Cuero became county seat in 1876.

Dewitt County voted in favor of secession from the Union, and sent several military units[14] to serve. During Reconstruction, the county was occupied by the Fourth Corps, based at Victoria.

From April 1866 until December 1868 a subassistant commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau[15][16] served at Clinton. The community of Hopkinsville was established in 1872 by Henry Hopkins,[17] freedman former slave of Judge Henry Clay Pleasants,[18] the judge credited for ending the Sutton-Taylor Feud. Residents began a school that was active until 1956, and established the Antioch Baptist Church.

The notorious Sutton–Taylor feud[19][20] began as a Reconstruction era county law enforcement issue between the Taylor family and lawman William E. Sutton. It eventually involved both the Taylor and Sutton families, the Texas State Police, the Texas Rangers and John Wesley Hardin. The feud, which lasted a decade and cost 35 lives, has been called the longest and bloodiest in Texas history.

April 1, 1866 marked the first cattle drive on the Chisholm Trail,[21] which originated at Cardwell's Flat, near the present Cuero. The coming of the railroads eliminated the need for the Chisholm Trail. Dewitt's first rail line, the Gulf, Western Texas and Pacific,[22] extended to San Antonio. The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway,[23] was the second line in the county. In 1907 the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway[24] came through Dewitt. In 1925, the three lines came under the control of the Southern Pacific lines and operated as the Texas and New Orleans Railroad.[25] Passenger service continued until November 1950.

The United States Army Air Corps opened Cuero Field,[26] serving 290 cadets, at Cuero Municipal Airport as a pilot flight school in 1941. The school was deactivated in 1944.

Cuero and its large turkey growing industry bills itself as the "Turkey Capital of the World". The turkey industry in Cuero began large scale operations in 1908. Much like ranchers had cattle drives, Cuero poultry growers drove their turkeys down Main Street to the local packing plant.[27] Each year the crowds grew to watch the sight and sound of upwards of 20,000 turkeys going through town.[28] The first annual Cuero Turkey Trot[29] celebration began in 1912, complete with the "Turkey Trot" dance music of the era. By the 1970s,[30] the event had become a 3-day typical Texas celebration with parades, live entertainment, food booths and street dances.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 910 square miles (2,400 km2), of which 909 square miles (2,350 km2) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) (0.2%) is water.[31]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18501,716—
18605,108197.7%
18706,44326.1%
188010,08256.5%
189014,30741.9%
190021,31149.0%
191023,50110.3%
192027,97119.0%
193027,441−1.9%
194024,935−9.1%
195022,973−7.9%
196020,683−10.0%
197018,660−9.8%
198018,9031.3%
199018,840−0.3%
200020,0136.2%
201020,0970.4%
Est. 201920,160[32]0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[33]
1850–2010[34] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[35] of 2000, there were 20,013 people, 7,207 households, and 5,131 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 8,756 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.4% White, 11.0% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 10.0% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. 27.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.0% were of German and 6.1% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 77.2% spoke English, 20.5% Spanish and 1.6% German as their first language.

There were 7,207 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,714, and the median income for a family was $33,513. Males had a median income of $27,134 versus $18,370 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,780. About 15.3% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.5% of those under age 18 and 16.5% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Politics
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[36]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 80.6% 5,519 17.0% 1,163 2.4% 162
2012 77.2% 5,122 22.1% 1,467 0.7% 49
2008 73.8% 4,888 25.9% 1,716 0.3% 22
2004 75.8% 5,100 23.9% 1,610 0.3% 22
2000 73.4% 4,541 25.4% 1,570 1.2% 72
1996 58.0% 3,577 33.7% 2,074 8.3% 513
1992 48.1% 3,238 31.6% 2,127 20.3% 1,365
1988 58.0% 3,628 41.2% 2,579 0.8% 48
1984 70.0% 4,401 29.9% 1,882 0.1% 9
1980 61.8% 3,450 36.6% 2,044 1.5% 86
1976 51.7% 2,754 47.7% 2,540 0.6% 33
1972 73.0% 3,755 26.4% 1,357 0.7% 35
1968 49.4% 2,589 35.7% 1,871 15.0% 784
1964 41.0% 2,283 59.0% 3,286 0.1% 4
1960 54.9% 2,763 44.8% 2,253 0.3% 13
1956 70.1% 3,401 29.6% 1,435 0.3% 13
1952 67.7% 4,075 32.1% 1,934 0.2% 9
1948 44.2% 1,612 49.6% 1,808 6.2% 227
1944 44.9% 1,879 45.0% 1,884 10.1% 424
1940 45.8% 1,735 54.2% 2,056
1936 23.7% 616 76.0% 1,977 0.4% 9
1932 8.8% 309 91.1% 3,206 0.2% 6
1928 41.7% 1,142 58.2% 1,594 0.2% 5
1924 22.9% 868 56.2% 2,131 20.9% 792
1920 38.6% 1,277 29.3% 971 32.1% 1,061
1916 49.7% 1,068 49.2% 1,056 1.1% 23
1912 15.0% 219 73.8% 1,081 11.2% 164

Notable residents
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See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 18, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "Native Peoples of the South Texas Plains During Early Historic Times". Texas Beyond History. Retrieved 10 May 2010. UT Texas at Austin
  4. "Artistic Expression". Texas Beyond History. Retrieved 10 May 2010. UT Texas at Austin
  5. Cabeza de Vaca, Alvar Núnez (2002). Chronicle of the Narvaez Expedition. Penguin Classics. ISBN 978-0-14-243707-0.
  6. Weddle, Robert S: René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 10 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  7. Joutel, Henri (1998). The La Salle Expedition to Texas: The Journal of Henri Joutel, 1684-1687. Texas State Historical Assn. ISBN 978-0-87611-165-9.
  8. La Bahía from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 10 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  9. Lukes, Edward D: DeWitt, Green from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 10 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  10. "El Nacimiento de la Colonia DeWitt 1825-1828". Texas A&M University. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2010. Texas A&M University
  11. "Empresario Contracts in the Colonization of Texas 1825-1834". Texas A & M UNiversity. Archived from the original on 15 June 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2010. Wallace L. McKeehan,
  12. Roell, Craig H: DeWitt's Colony from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 10 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  13. Dewitt County, Historical Commission (1991). The History of Dewitt County, Texas. Curtis Media. ISBN 978-0-88107-175-7.
  14. "Texas Frontier Regiment of Mounted Volunteers". Texas State Archives. Retrieved 10 May 2010.Texas State Archives
  15. Miller, Randall; Cimbala, Paul (1999). The Freedmen's Bureau and Reconstruction. Fordham University Press. ISBN 978-0-8232-1935-3.
  16. Harper Jr., Cecil: Freedman's Bureau from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 10 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  17. "Hopkinsville Community". Texas Historical Markers. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  18. Roell, Craig H: Henry Clay Pleasants from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 10 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  19. Weiser, Kathy. "The Sutton-Taylor Feud of DeWitt County". Legends of America. Retrieved 10 May 2010. Legends of America
  20. Parsons, Chuck (2009). The Sutton-Taylor Feud: The Deadliest Blood Feud in Texas. University of North Texas Press. ISBN 978-1-57441-257-4.
  21. "The Beginning of the Chisholm Trail". Chisholm Trail Heritage Center. Archived from the original on 13 April 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2010. Chisholm Trail Heritage Center
  22. Roell, Craig H: Gulf, Western Texas and Pacific Railway from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 10 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  23. "San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway". Archived from the original on 12 September 2006. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  24. Werner, George C: Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 10 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  25. Williams, Howard C: Texas and New Orleans Railroad from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 10 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  26. Roell, Craig H: Cuero Field from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 10 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  27. "Turkeyfest". Cuero Turkeyfest Association, Inc. Archived from the original on February 4, 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2010. Cuero Turkeyfest Association, Inc.
  28. "Turkey Trot Parade". Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved 10 May 2010. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
  29. Kleiner, Diana J: Turkey Trot at Cuero, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 10 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  30. Kuralt, Charles (1995). On the Road with Charles Kuralt. Fawcett. p. 347. ISBN 978-0-449-00740-2.
  31. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  32. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  33. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  34. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  35. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  36. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 11 April 2018.

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