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Dallas County, Texas facts for kids

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Not to be confused with Dallam County, Texas.
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Dallas County
U.S. county
From top, left to right: Dallas panorama, Dallas Hall in University Park, former Dallas County Courthouse with the Texas flag in 2017, Las Colinas in Irving
Flag of Dallas County
Flag
Map of Texas highlighting Dallas County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Texas
Founded March 30, 1846
Named for George M. Dallas
Seat Dallas
Largest city Dallas
Area
 • Total 908.54 sq mi (2,353.1 km2)
 • Land 873.06 sq mi (2,261.2 km2)
 • Water 35.48 sq mi (91.9 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,613,539 Increase
 • Density 2,994/sq mi (1,156/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts 5th, 6th, 24th, 30th, 32nd, 33rd

Dallas County is the second-most populous county in the U.S. state of Texas with a 2020 U.S. census count of 2,613,539, making it the ninth-most populous county in the country. Dallas County is included in the Dallas-Arlington-Fort Worth metropolitan statistical area—colloquially referred to as the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Municipal expansion within Dallas County has blurred the geographic lines between cities and between neighboring counties.

Its county seat is the city of Dallas, which is also Texas' third-largest city and the ninth-largest city in the United States. The county was founded in 1846 and was possibly named for George Mifflin Dallas, the 11th Vice President of the United States under U.S. President James K. Polk.

Geography

USGS Reconnaissance Map of Dallas County, Texas 1893 (1909) UTA
1893 USGS map of Dallas County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 909 square miles (2,350 km2), of which 873 square miles (2,260 km2) is land and 36 square miles (93 km2) (4.0%) is water. 3,519 acres of the county is contained within 21 county-owned nature preserves, which were acquired through the county's Open Space Program.

Adjacent counties

Climate

Weather chart for Dallas County
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temperatures in °C
precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion
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temperatures in °F
precipitation totals in inches

Communities

Cities (multiple counties)

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated areas

Census-designated places

  • Bear Creek Ranch

Other communities

Historical communities

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1850 2,743 —
1860 8,665 215.9%
1870 13,814 59.4%
1880 33,488 142.4%
1890 67,042 100.2%
1900 82,726 23.4%
1910 135,748 64.1%
1920 210,551 55.1%
1930 325,691 54.7%
1940 398,564 22.4%
1950 614,799 54.3%
1960 951,527 54.8%
1970 1,327,321 39.5%
1980 1,556,390 17.3%
1990 1,852,810 19.0%
2000 2,218,899 19.8%
2010 2,368,139 6.7%
2020 2,613,539 10.4%
2023 (est.) 2,606,358 10.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
2010–2020
Dallas 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 1990 Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 1,115,096 983,317 784,693 724,987 60.18% 44.32% 33.14% 27.74%
Black or African American alone (NH) 362,130 445,716 518,732 564,741 19.54% 20.09% 21.90% 21.61%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 7,644 8,106 7,330 6,743 0.41% 0.37% 0.31% 0.26%
Asian alone (NH) 49,928 87,495 117,797 181,314 2.69% 3.94% 4.97% 6.94%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) N/A 926 874 1,175 N/A 0.04% 0.04% 0.04%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 2,382 2,388 3,346 9,990 0.13% 0.11% 0.14% 0.38%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) N/A 28,222 29,427 66,754 N/A 1.27% 1.24% 2.55%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 315,630 662,729 905,940 1,057,835 17.04% 29.87% 38.26% 40.48%
Total 1,852,810 2,218,899 2,368,139 2,613,539 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Per the 2010 census, there were 2,368,139 people, 807,621 households, and 533,837 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,523 people per square mile (974 people/km2). There were 854,119 housing units at an average density of 971 units per square mile (375 units/km2). In 2018, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated Dallas County to have a total of 2,637,772 residents, 1,027,930 housing units, and 917,276 households. By 2020, its population was 2,613,539.

Ethnic Origins in Dallas County, TX
Ethnic origins in Dallas County, TX

In 2010, the racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 53.4% White (33.12% non-Hispanic white), 22.30% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 5.15% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 14.04% from other races, and 2.70% from two or more races. 38.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. During the 2015 Texas population estimate program, non-Hispanic whites made up 713,835 of the county's residents (28.1%); non-Hispanic blacks, 565,020 (22.2%); other non-Hispanics, 197,082 (7.7%); and Hispanics and Latinos (of any race), 1,065,591 (41.9%). At the 2020 U.S. census, the racial and ethnic makeup was 27.74% non-Hispanic white, 21.61% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 6.94% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.38% some other race, 2.55% multiracial, and 40.48% Hispanic or Latino American of any race. The increase among people of color reflected nationwide demographic trends of greater diversification.

In 2010, there were 807,621 households, out of which 35.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.90% were married couples living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.90% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.34. As of the 2010 census, there were about 8.8 same-sex couples per 1,000 households in the county.

In the wider county, the population was spread out, with 27.90% under the age of 18, 10.70% from 18 to 24, 34.40% from 25 to 44, 18.90% from 45 to 64, and 8.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 99.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,324, and the median income for a family was $49,062. Males had a median income of $34,988 versus $29,539 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,603. About 10.60% of families and 13.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.00% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over. At the 2020 American Community Survey, the median household income increased to $61,870.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Dallas (Texas) para niños

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