Coleman County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Coleman County
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The Coleman County Courthouse in Coleman
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Location within the U.S. state of Texas
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 Texas's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1864 |
| Named for | Robert M. Coleman |
| Seat | Coleman |
| Largest city | Coleman |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,281 sq mi (3,320 km2) |
| • Land | 1,262 sq mi (3,270 km2) |
| • Water | 19 sq mi (50 km2) 1.5% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,684 |
| • Density | 5.9984/sq mi (2.3160/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 11th |
Coleman County is a county in Texas, USA. In 2020, about 7,684 people lived there. The main town, called the county seat, is Coleman. The county was started in 1858 and officially set up in 1864. It's named after Robert M. Coleman. He was important in Texas history, signing the Texas Declaration of Independence and fighting in the Battle of San Jacinto.
Contents
History of Coleman County
Early Times and Settlers
Long, long ago, around 10,000 BC, the first people lived in this area. Later, groups like the Jumano, Lipan Apache, and Comanche tribes made their homes here.
In the 1600s, explorers from Spain visited the region. For example, Father Salas led a trip to the upper Colorado River in 1632. Later, Captains Hernán Martín and Diego del Castillo explored the western part of the county. They even found pearls!
Founding Communities
The oldest town in Coleman County is Trickham, started in 1855. It began as a trading spot for ranchers like John Chisum. Coleman County was officially created in 1858 from parts of Brown and Travis Counties.
In 1861, Rich Coffey settled the towns of Leaday and Voss. The main town, Coleman, was chosen as the county seat in 1876.
The town of Santa Anna was founded in 1879. It got its name from the Santa Anna Mountains. These mountains were named after a famous Comanche Chief called Santana.
Growth and Development
In 1886, the Santa Fe Railway built a train line to Coleman. This helped the county grow. In 1914, the Santa Fe Railway made Coleman a key stop on its main line connecting California and the Texas Gulf Coast. A beautiful brick train station was finished in Coleman in 1915.
Oil was discovered near Trickham in 1908, and more oil was found in 1917. The Coleman County Medical Center opened in 1923, providing healthcare for everyone.
By 1930, Coleman County's population reached its highest point with 23,669 people. In 2000, a company called Wind Clean Corporation started using wind power to create energy in the county.
Geography of Coleman County
Coleman County covers a total area of about 1,281 square miles. Most of this is land (1,262 square miles), and a small part (19 square miles) is water.
Main Roads
Several important highways run through Coleman County. These roads help people travel and connect different towns.
U.S. Highway 67
U.S. Highway 84
U.S. Highway 283
State Highway 153
State Highway 206
Neighboring Counties
Coleman County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Callahan County (to the north)
- Brown County (to the east)
- McCulloch County (to the south)
- Concho County (to the southwest)
- Runnels County (to the west)
- Taylor County (to the northwest)
Population of Coleman County
The number of people living in Coleman County has changed over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 347 | — | |
| 1880 | 3,603 | 938.3% | |
| 1890 | 6,112 | 69.6% | |
| 1900 | 10,077 | 64.9% | |
| 1910 | 22,618 | 124.5% | |
| 1920 | 18,805 | −16.9% | |
| 1930 | 23,669 | 25.9% | |
| 1940 | 20,571 | −13.1% | |
| 1950 | 15,503 | −24.6% | |
| 1960 | 12,458 | −19.6% | |
| 1970 | 10,288 | −17.4% | |
| 1980 | 10,439 | 1.5% | |
| 1990 | 9,710 | −7.0% | |
| 2000 | 9,235 | −4.9% | |
| 2010 | 8,895 | −3.7% | |
| 2020 | 7,684 | −13.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
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In 2000, there were 9,235 people living in the county. About 27% of homes had children under 18. The average age of people in the county was 43 years old.
Education in Coleman County
Students in Coleman County attend schools in several different school districts:
- Bangs ISD
- Coleman ISD
- Cross Plains ISD
- Panther Creek Consolidated ISD
- Santa Anna ISD
Communities in Coleman County
Cities
Town
Census-Designated Place (CDP)
Other Communities
These are smaller towns and places that are not officially incorporated as cities or towns:
Old or Abandoned Towns
Some places in Coleman County used to be towns but are now mostly empty or gone:
- Obregon
- San Angelo Junction
- Shields
Images for kids
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The Coleman County Courthouse in Coleman
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Coleman para niños
