Kent County, Texas

Last updated

Kent County
County
Kent County Courthouse September 2020.jpg
Kent County Courthouse in Jayton
Map of Texas highlighting Kent County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas in United States.svg
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°11′N100°46′W / 33.19°N 100.77°W / 33.19; -100.77
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Texas.svg  Texas
Founded1892
Named for Andrew Kent
Seat Jayton
Largest cityJayton
Area
 • Total
903 sq mi (2,340 km2)
 • Land903 sq mi (2,340 km2)
 • Water0.4 sq mi (1 km2)  0.05%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
753
 • Estimate 
(2022)
740 Decrease2.svg
 • Density0.83/sq mi (0.32/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 19th
Website www.co.kent.tx.us

Kent County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 753, [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 a prohibition or entirely dry county, [4] one of four remaining in the state. [5]

Contents

History timeline

Geography

According to the United States 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

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880 92—
1890 324252.2%
1900 899177.5%
1910 2,655195.3%
1920 3,33525.6%
1930 3,85115.5%
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%
2020 753−6.8%
2022 (est.)740 [11] −1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [12]
1850–2010 [13] 2010-2020 [1]
Kent 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 [14] Pop 2010 [15] Pop 2020 [16] % 2000% 2010% 2020
   White alone (NH)77766965790.45%82.80%87.25%
   Black or African American alone (NH)2620.23%0.74%0.27%
   Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1530.12%0.62%0.40%
Asian alone (NH)0000.00%0.00%0.00%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)0000.00%0.00%0.00%
Other race alone (NH)0030.00%0.00%0.40%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)1870.12%0.99%0.93%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)78120819.08%14.85%10.76%
Total859808753100.00%100.00%100.00%

As of the census [17] of 2000, 859 people, 353 households, and 247 families resided in the county. The population density was less than 1/km2 (2.6/sq mi). The 551 housing units averaged about zero point six units per square mile (0.23 units/km2). 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

Other communities

Politics

In the 2024 Texas Republican presidential primary, Kent County was the only county in Texas that Donald Trump lost.

Throughout the 20th century, Kent County was a reliably Democratic county, having only voted for a Republican 3 times from 1912 until 2000. Kent County has realigned into a Republican stronghold since George W. Bush won the county in 2000. As of 2024, Kent County has not selected a Democrat in a Presidential election since 1996 when then Democratic incumbent Bill Clinton won it.

Republican Drew Springer, Jr., a businessman from Muenster in Cooke County, has since January 2013 represented Kent County in the Texas House of Representatives. [18]

United States presidential election results for Kent County, Texas [19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 39087.64%5011.24%51.12%
2020 41188.96%4710.17%40.87%
2016 36082.95%5913.59%153.46%
2012 33582.72%6616.30%40.99%
2008 34276.34%9922.10%71.56%
2004 38273.18%13826.44%20.38%
2000 34664.55%18534.51%50.93%
1996 18736.31%26050.49%6813.20%
1992 17528.69%27144.43%16426.89%
1988 27440.65%39859.05%20.30%
1984 33256.46%25343.03%30.51%
1980 33948.85%35150.58%40.58%
1976 17126.43%47473.26%20.31%
1972 46567.59%22332.41%00.00%
1968 14322.56%30347.79%18829.65%
1964 11516.96%56383.04%00.00%
1960 20529.37%49170.34%20.29%
1956 23430.99%51968.74%20.26%
1952 25932.95%52666.92%10.13%
1948 336.18%47989.70%224.12%
1944 314.71%57286.93%558.36%
1940 799.97%71289.90%10.13%
1936 315.50%53394.50%00.00%
1932 233.92%56195.57%30.51%
1928 36369.01%16330.99%00.00%
1924 8016.88%38681.43%81.69%
1920 4515.90%21475.62%248.48%
1916 20.84%21288.70%2510.46%
1912 73.83%13573.77%4122.40%

Education

School districts include: [20]

The Texas Legislature designated the county as being in the Western Texas College District. [21]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Texas counties wet/dry status as of May 2020" (Spreadsheet). Texas.gov.
  5. ↑ "We/Dry Status of Texas Counties". June 1, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hunt, William R (June 15, 2010). "Kent County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  7. ↑ Davis, Charles G (June 12, 2010). "Clairmont". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Clairemont, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  9. ↑ Davis, Charles G (June 15, 2010). "Jayton, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  10. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022" . Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  12. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  14. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Kent County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  15. ↑ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kent County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  16. ↑ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kent County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  17. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  18. ↑ "State Rep. Springer announces district tour July 30". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, July 16, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  19. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  20. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Kent County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved September 22, 2024. - Text list
  21. ↑ "Sec. 130.210. WESTERN TEXAS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA" . Retrieved September 22, 2024.

33°11′N100°46′W / 33.19°N 100.77°W / 33.19; -100.77

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