Kerr County, Texas

Kerr County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 49,625.[1] Its county seat is Kerrville.[2] The county was named by Joshua D. Brown for his fellow Kentucky native, James Kerr, a congressman of the Republic of Texas.

Kerr County
U.S. county
Kerr County Courthouse, southside view
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°04′N 99°21′W
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1856
Named forJames Kerr
SeatKerrville
Largest cityKerrville
Area
 • Total1,107 sq mi (2,870 km2)
 • Land1,103 sq mi (2,860 km2)
 • Water4.0 sq mi (10 km2)  0.4%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total49,625
 • Density45/sq mi (17/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district21st
Websitewww.co.kerr.tx.us

The Kerrville, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Kerr County.

History

Around 8000 BC, early Native American inhabitants arrived in the area, with numerous successive cultures following in prehistoric times. Historic tribes encountered by Europeans included the Kiowa, Comanche, and Lipan Apache.[3]

In 1842, the Adelsverein[4] Fisher–Miller Land Grant set aside 3,000,000 acres (1,200,000 ha) to settle 600 families and single men of German, Dutch, Swiss, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian ancestry in Texas.[5] Henry Francis Fisher sold his interest in the land grant to the Adelsverein in 1844.

In 1845, Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels secured the title to 1,265 acres (512 ha) of the Veramendi grant, including the Comal Springs and River, for the Adelsverein. Thousands of German immigrants were stranded at port of disembarkation, Indianaola on Matagorda Bay. With no food or shelter, living in holes dug into the ground, an estimated 50% died from disease or starvation.[6][7] Joshua Brown, in 1846, became the first settler.[8]

The Texas State Convention of Germans met in San Antonio on May 14–15, 1854, and adopted a political, social, and religious platform, including: 1) Equal pay for equal work, 2) Direct election of the President of the United States, 3) Abolition of capital punishment, 4) “Slavery is an evil, the abolition of which is a requirement of democratic principles..”, 5) Free schools – including universities – supported by the state, without religious influence, and 6) Total separation of church and state.[9] The next year, United States Army post Camp Verde was established.[10] Kerr County was formed in 1856 from Bexar Land District Number 2. Joshua Brown donated the land that became Kerrville, and had it named for his friend James Kerr. Kerrville was named the county seat.[3] The U.S. Camel Corps, headquartered at Verde, was the brainchild of United States Secretary of War (1853–57) Jefferson Davis.[11] Center Point was established in 1859.[12]

In 1860–1861, the county population was 634, including 49 slaves. The Sons of Hermann lodge, for descendants of German heritage, was established in the county. The lodge is named for German chieftain folk hero Hermann the Cherusker.[3] A bitterly divided Kerr County voted 76–57 in 1861 for secession from the Union, with most German residents being against it. Unionists from Kerr, Gillespie, and Kendall Counties participated in the formation of the Union League, a secret organization to support President Lincoln’s policies.[13] The Union League formed companies to protect the frontier against Indians and their families against local Confederate forces. Conscientious objectors to the military draft were primarily among Tejanos and Germans . Confederate authorities imposed martial law on Central Texas. The Nueces massacre occurred in Kinney County. Jacob Kuechler served as a guide for 61 conscientious objectors attempting to flee to Mexico. Scottish-born Confederate irregular James Duff and his Duff’s Partisan Rangers pursued and overtook them at the Nueces River; 34 were killed, some executed after being taken prisoner. Jacob Kuechler survived the battle. The cruelty shocked the people of Gillespie County. About 2,000 took to the hills to escape Duff's reign of terror. Spring Creek Cemetery near Harper in Gillespie County has a singular grave with the names Sebird Henderson, Hiram Nelson, Gus Tegener, and Frank Scott. The inscription reads, “Hanged and thrown in Spring Creek by Col. James Duff’s Confederate Regiment.”[14][15][16] The Treue der Union Monument ("Loyalty to the Union") in Comfort was dedicated to the Texans slain at the Nueces massacre August 10, 1866. It is the only monument to the Union outside of the National Cemeteries on Confederate territory, and is one of only six such sites allowed to fly the United States flag at half-mast in perpetuity.[17][18] The Y O Ranch was founded in 1880 by Charles Armand Schreiner, who had opened a store in the area in 1869.[19]

In 1887, the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway was built through Kerrville. The American Legion of Texas established what eventually was called the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Kerrville, in 1919.[20]

The Schreiner Institute was established in Kerrville from 1917 to 1923.[21] In 1926, Ora Johnson established Camp Waldemar Christian girls camp in Hunt.[22]

Mooney Aircraft was established in 1929 in Kerrville.[23] Kerrville was begun to be called the "Mohair Capital of the World" in 1930.[3] The Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital was completed in 1949.[24]

Kerrville State Hospital opened in 1951.[25]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,107 square miles (2,870 km2), of which 1,103 square miles (2,860 km2) is land and 4.0 square miles (10 km2) (0.4%) is water.[26]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1860634—
18701,04264.4%
18802,168108.1%
18904,462105.8%
19004,98011.6%
19105,50510.5%
19205,8426.1%
193010,15173.8%
194011,65014.8%
195014,02220.4%
196016,80019.8%
197019,45415.8%
198028,78047.9%
199036,30426.1%
200043,65320.2%
201049,62513.7%
Est. 201952,600[27]6.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[28]
1850–2010[29] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[30] of 2000, there were 43,653 people, 17,813 households, and 12,308 families residing in the county. The population density was 40 inhabitants per square mile (15/km2). There were 20,228 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.89% White, 1.78% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 6.60% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. 19.13% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 17,813 households out of which 25.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.70% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 22.20% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 24.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,283, and the median income for a family was $40,713. Males had a median income of $27,425 versus $21,149 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,767. About 10.30% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.60% of those under age 18 and 8.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Politics
Presidential elections results[32]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 76.1% 17,727 20.1% 4,681 3.8% 889
2012 79.0% 17,274 19.8% 4,338 1.2% 267
2008 74.3% 16,752 24.7% 5,570 1.0% 234
2004 77.8% 16,538 21.5% 4,557 0.7% 151
2000 76.1% 14,637 20.8% 4,002 3.1% 589
1996 66.6% 11,173 25.0% 4,192 8.4% 1,410
1992 53.7% 8,787 22.7% 3,707 23.6% 3,864
1988 75.0% 11,207 24.0% 3,587 1.0% 143
1984 79.0% 11,829 20.7% 3,102 0.3% 43
1980 70.7% 9,090 26.4% 3,387 2.9% 378
1976 60.3% 6,021 37.8% 3,767 1.9% 190
1972 77.8% 6,039 19.5% 1,511 2.7% 210
1968 55.6% 3,692 28.3% 1,878 16.2% 1,073
1964 48.3% 2,706 51.6% 2,894 0.1% 8
1960 70.8% 3,252 28.8% 1,323 0.5% 21
1956 77.4% 3,555 22.3% 1,025 0.3% 14
1952 73.2% 3,683 26.6% 1,337 0.2% 9
1948 47.4% 1,520 47.0% 1,505 5.6% 179
1944 46.1% 1,358 46.8% 1,377 7.1% 208
1940 40.4% 1,112 59.3% 1,634 0.4% 10
1936 38.4% 994 61.3% 1,586 0.4% 9
1932 22.2% 623 77.2% 2,165 0.6% 16
1928 73.4% 1,575 26.6% 570 0.1% 2
1924 49.3% 892 40.6% 735 10.1% 182
1920 40.4% 464 53.3% 612 6.4% 73
1916 29.3% 272 67.0% 621 3.7% 34
1912 14.1% 126 64.8% 577 21.1% 188

Kerr County has been given the majority of its votes to Republican candidates in the vast majority of presidential elections since 1924. The only Democratic Party candidates to carry the county since then were Franklin D. Roosevelt by diminishing margins in each of his 4 electoral victories & Texan Lyndon B. Johnson by a narrow margin in his 1964 national landslide.

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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 18, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Odintz, Mark. "Kerr County". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  4. Brister, Louis E. "Adelsverein". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  5. Ramos, Mary G. "The German Settlements in Central Texas". Texas Almanac. Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on 7 February 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  6. "Indianola, Texas". Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  7. Block, W T. "The Story of our Texas' German Pilgrims". Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  8. "History Kerr County". Kerr County Historical Association. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  9. Biesele, R. L. (April 1930). "The Texas State Convention of Germans in 1854". Southwestern Historical Quarterly. Denton, TX: Texas State Historical Association. 33 (4): 247–261.
  10. "Camp Verde". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  11. "Camel Corps". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  12. "Center Point". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  13. Moneyhon, Charles H. "The Union League". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  14. Shook, Robert W. "Duff, James". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  15. "Spring Creek Cemetery". Texas Gen Web. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  16. Tegener, Gus at Find a Grave
  17. "Treue der UnionMonument". Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  18. "List of Dead-Treue Der Union Monument". Texas Gen Web. Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  19. Hollon, W Eugene. "Charles Schreiner". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  20. Herring, Rebecca. "Veterans Affairs Center-Kerrville". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  21. Baulch, Joe R. "Schreiner University". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  22. "Camp Waldemar". Camp Waldemar. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  23. "Mooney Aircraft". Mooney Aviation Company, Inc. Archived from the original on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  24. "Peterson Regional Medical Center". Peterson Regional Medical Center. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  25. "Kerrville State Hospital". State of Texas. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  26. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  27. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  28. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  29. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  30. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  31. Treat, Wesley. "StoneHenge II - A Megalithic Facsimile". Archived from the original on 2011-05-29. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  32. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-07-26.

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