kids encyclopedia robot

Eastland County, Texas facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Eastland County
U.S. county
Eastland County Courthouse
Eastland County Courthouse
Map of Texas highlighting Eastland 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 1873
Seat Eastland
Largest city Eastland
Area
 • Total 932 sq mi (2,410 km2)
 • Land 926 sq mi (2,400 km2)
 • Water 5.4 sq mi (14 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 17,725
 • Density 19.018/sq mi (7.343/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 25th
Confederate monument, Eastland, TX IMG 6426
The Confederate States of America monument on the courthouse lawn in Eastland
Eastland Co, TX, Museum IMG 6428
Across from the courthouse is the Eastland County Museum and Historical Society building.
Eastland Telegram newspaper office, Eastland, TX IMG 6437
The Eastland Telegram newspaper serves Eastland County.

Eastland County is a county located in central West Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 17,725. The county seat is Eastland. The county was founded in 1858 and later organized in 1873. It is named for William Mosby Eastland, a soldier during the Texas Revolution and the only officer to die as a result of the "Black Bean executions" of the Mier Expedition.

Two Eastland County communities, Cisco and Ranger, have junior colleges.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 932 sq mi (2,410 km2), of which 5.4 sq mi (14 km2) (0.6%) are covered by water.

Major highways

  • I-20 (TX).svg Interstate 20
  • US 183.svg U.S. Highway 183
  • Texas 6.svg State Highway 6
  • Texas 16.svg State Highway 16
  • Texas 36.svg State Highway 36
  • Texas 112.svg State Highway 112

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1860 99 —
1870 88 −11.1%
1880 4,855 5,417.0%
1890 10,373 113.7%
1900 17,971 73.2%
1910 23,421 30.3%
1920 58,505 149.8%
1930 34,156 −41.6%
1940 30,345 −11.2%
1950 23,942 −21.1%
1960 19,526 −18.4%
1970 18,092 −7.3%
1980 19,480 7.7%
1990 18,488 −5.1%
2000 18,297 −1.0%
2010 18,583 1.6%
2020 17,725 −4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850–2010 2010 2020
Eastland 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 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 15,686 15,271 13,653 85.73% 82.18% 77.03%
Black or African American alone (NH) 397 318 335 2.17% 1.71% 1.89%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 61 92 96 0.33% 0.50% 0.54%
Asian alone (NH) 36 62 95 0.20% 0.33% 0.54%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 2 8 16 0.01% 0.04% 0.09%
Other race alone (NH) 15 8 26 0.08% 0.04% 0.15%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 124 151 570 0.68% 0.81% 3.22%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,976 2,673 2,934 10.80% 14.38% 16.55%
Total 18,297 18,583 17,725 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census of 2000, 18,297 people, 7,321 households, and 5,036 families resided in the county. The population density was 20 inhabitants per square mile (7.7/km2). The 9,547 housing units averaged 10 per square mile (3.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.03% White, 2.18% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 4.85% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. About 10.80% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 7,321 households, 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were not families. About 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was distributed as 23.20% under 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 22.30% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 20.90% who were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,832, and for a family was $33,562. Males had a median income of $25,598 versus $17,112 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,870. About 12.10% of families and 16.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.10% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.

Eastland Complex fires of 2022

Eastland Complex fires of 2022
Location Central Texas
Statistics
Total fires 382
Total area 54,463 acres (22,040 ha)
Cost Unknown
Date(s) March 17, 2022
Buildings destroyed 50
Deaths 1
Non-fatal injuries 1

On March 17, 2022, a fire complex formed approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Romney. It was claimed to have been started by drought condition and is now 60% contained. The biggest fire so far is the Kidd fire, burning about 42,333 acres.

Smoke from the fires reached as far as Houston.

Education

School districts include:

  • Cisco Independent School District
  • Cross Plains Independent School District
  • De Leon Independent School District
  • Eastland Independent School District
  • Gorman Independent School District
  • Huckabay Independent School District
  • Lingleville Independent School District
  • Ranger Independent School District
  • Rising Star Independent School District

Despite its small population, the county is home to two community colleges – Cisco College and Ranger College, located in their respective towns.

The service area of Cisco College in the county is Cisco ISD, as per the Texas Education Code. The service area of Ranger College in the county is the portion of Ranger ISD in that county, except for the "old Bullock School Land", as per the Texas Education Code. As of 2024 the TEC does not specify community college service areas for the remainder of the county.

Media

Eastland County is part of the Abilene/Sweetwater/Brownwood television viewing area in west-central Texas. Local news media outlets include KRBC-TV, KTXS-TV, KXVA, and KTAB-TV. In the cities of Eastland, Ranger, and Cisco on Suddenlink Communications Cable Television service, residents can view the Dallas/Fort Worth market stations WFAA-TV and KERA-TV.

Eastland County is also served by four local newspapers: the Eastland Telegram, the Rising Star, Ranger Times, and Cisco Press.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Eastland para niños

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Eastland County, Texas Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.