Kent County, Texas

Kent County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 808,[1] making it the sixth-least populous county in Texas. Its county seat is Jayton.[2] The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1892.[3] It is named for Andrew Kent, who died at the Battle of the Alamo. Kent County is one of six[4] prohibition or entirely dry counties in the state of Texas.

Kent County
U.S. county
Kent County Courthouse in Jayton
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°11′N 100°46′W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1892
Named for	Andrew Kent
Seat	Jayton
Largest city	Jayton
Area
• Total	903 sq mi (2,340 km^2)
• Land	903 sq mi (2,340 km^2)
• Water	0.4 sq mi (1 km^2)  0.05%%
Population  (2010)
• Total	808
• Density	0.9/sq mi (0.3/km^2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	19th
Website	www.co.kent.tx.us

Republican Drew Springer, Jr., a businessman from Muenster in Cooke County, has since January 2013 represented Kent County in the Texas House of Representatives.[5]

History timeline

• 8000 BC Paleo-Indians were the first inhabitants. Later Native American inhabitants included the Wanderers band of Comanche.[6]
• 1872 Ranald S. Mackenzie and his soldiers trounced the Comanches at Treasure Butte, southeast of Clairemont.[6]
• 1876 The Texas legislature formed Kent County from Young and Bexar districts. The new county is named after Alamo defender Andrew Kent.[6]
• 1888 Cattleman R. L. Rhomberg settled in the new county and named a settlement Clairemont for his daughter, Claire.[7]
• 1890 The county census recorded 324 residents.[6]
• 1891 A conflict arose between cattle ranchers and farmers who tried to fence their farms against cattle.[6]
• 1892 Kent County was organized, with Clairemont as the county seat.[8]
• 1900 The county population was 899.[6]
• 1909 The Stamford and Northeastern Railway built a line across the county's northeast corner. The railroad, which connected Stamford and Spur, later became part of the Wichita Valley Railroad. The Jayton community was founded.[9]
• 1930 The county's population peaked at 3,851.[6]
• 1946-1991 Oil was discovered in Kent County in 1946. By 1991, more than 448,448,000 barrels (71,297,500 m³) of oil have been produced in the county since 1946.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 903 square miles (2,340 km²), of which 903 square miles (2,340 km²) are land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) (0.05%) is covered by water.[10]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 380
• State Highway 70
• State Highway 208

Adjacent counties

• Dickens County (north)
• Stonewall County (east)
• Fisher County (southeast)
• Scurry County (south)
• Garza County (west)
• King County (northeast)
• Crosby County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	92		—
1890	324		252.2%
1900	899		177.5%
1910	2,655		195.3%
1920	3,335		25.6%
1930	3,851		15.5%
1940	3,413		−11.4%
1950	2,249		−34.1%
1960	1,727		−23.2%
1970	1,434		−17.0%
1980	1,145		−20.2%
1990	1,010		−11.8%
2000	859		−15.0%
2010	808		−5.9%
Est. 2019	762	[11]	−5.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1850–2010[13] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[14] of 2000, 859 people, 353 households, and 247 families resided in the county. The population density was less than 1/km² (1/sq mi). The 551 housing units averaged about 0.6 1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 95.46% White, 0.23% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 3.73% from other races, and 0.23% from two or more races. About 9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 353 households, 26.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.20% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were not families. About 28% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county, the population was distributed as 20.60% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 21.80% from 25 to 44, 26.80% from 45 to 64, and 25.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,433, and for a family was $35,568. Males had a median income of $23,875 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,626. About 9.20% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 6.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Jayton (county seat)

Census-designated place

• Girard

Ghost town

• Clairemont

Politics

Presidential elections results

Presidential elections results[15]

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2016	83.0% 360	13.6% 59	3.5% 15
2012	82.7% 335	16.3% 66	1.0% 4
2008	76.3% 342	22.1% 99	1.6% 7
2004	73.2% 382	26.4% 138	0.4% 2
2000	64.6% 346	34.5% 185	0.9% 5
1996	36.3% 187	50.5% 260	13.2% 68
1992	28.7% 175	44.4% 271	26.9% 164
1988	40.7% 274	59.1% 398	0.3% 2
1984	56.5% 332	43.0% 253	0.5% 3
1980	48.9% 339	50.6% 351	0.6% 4
1976	26.4% 171	73.3% 474	0.3% 2
1972	67.6% 465	32.4% 223
1968	22.6% 143	47.8% 303	29.7% 188
1964	17.0% 115	83.0% 563
1960	29.4% 205	70.3% 491	0.3% 2
1956	31.0% 234	68.7% 519	0.3% 2
1952	33.0% 259	66.9% 526	0.1% 1
1948	6.2% 33	89.7% 479	4.1% 22
1944	4.7% 31	86.9% 572	8.4% 55
1940	10.0% 79	89.9% 712	0.1% 1
1936	5.5% 31	94.5% 533
1932	3.9% 23	95.6% 561	0.5% 3
1928	69.0% 363	31.0% 163
1924	16.9% 80	81.4% 386	1.7% 8
1920	15.9% 45	75.6% 214	8.5% 24
1916	0.8% 2	88.7% 212	10.5% 25
1912	3.8% 7	73.8% 135	22.4% 41

See also

• Dry counties
• Double Mountain Fork Brazos River
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Kent County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Kent County

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 18, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
3. "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
4. "Wet/Dry Status of Texas Counties as of November 2010". Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
5. "State Rep. Springer announces district tour July 30". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, July 16, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
6. Hunt, William R (2010-06-15). "Kent County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
7. Davis, Charles G (2010-06-12). "Clairmont". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
8. "Clairemont, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
9. Davis, Charles G (2010-06-15). "Jayton, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
10. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
11. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
13. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-07-26.

External links

• Kent County government’s website
• Kent County from the Handbook of Texas Online
• Kent County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties