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Ector County, Texas facts for kids

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Not to be confused with Ector, Texas.
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Ector County
U.S. county
Ector County Courthouse in Odessa
Ector County Courthouse in Odessa
Map of Texas highlighting Ector 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 1891
Named for Matthew Ector
Seat Odessa
Largest city Odessa
Area
 • Total 902 sq mi (2,340 km2)
 • Land 898 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Water 4.1 sq mi (11 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 165,171
 • Density 183.12/sq mi (70.70/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 11th
Coliseum IMG 0326
Ector County Coliseum
Ector County Courthouse Adm. Bldg., Odessa, TX CN0982
Ector County Courthouse Administration annex building

Ector County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In the 2020 census, its population was 165,171. Its county seat is Odessa. The county was founded in 1887 and organized in 1891. It is named for Matthew Ector, a Confederate general in the American Civil War.

Ector County comprises the Odessa, Texas, metropolitan statistical area, which is included in the Midland–Odessa combined statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 902 sq mi (2,340 km2), of which 898 sq mi (2,330 km2) are land and 4.1 sq mi (11 km2) (0.5%) are covered by water. Ector County has an average rainfall of about 14 in per year and a warm, sunny, semiarid climate. Most of the county is relatively flat, with small areas of slightly rolling terrain. The area is known for its stark landscape. The few naturally occurring trees are mostly mesquite trees, which more resemble large bushes.

Major highways

  • I-20
  • Bus. I-20
  • US 385
  • SH 158
  • SH 181
  • SH 191
  • SH 302
  • Spur 450
  • Spur 588
  • Loop 338
  • FM 554
  • FM 1053
  • FM 1601
  • FM 1787
  • FM 1788
  • FM 1882
  • FM 1936
  • FM 2019
  • FM 2020
  • FM 3472
  • FM 3503

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1890 224 —
1900 381 70.1%
1910 1,178 209.2%
1920 760 −35.5%
1930 3,958 420.8%
1940 15,051 280.3%
1950 42,102 179.7%
1960 90,995 116.1%
1970 91,805 0.9%
1980 115,374 25.7%
1990 118,934 3.1%
2000 121,123 1.8%
2010 137,130 13.2%
2020 165,171 20.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850–2010 2010 2020
Ector 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) 61,168 56,306 51,023 51.33% 41.06% 30.89%
Black or African American alone (NH) 5,370 5,596 7,430 4.43% 4.08% 4.50%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 526 623 568 0.43% 0.45% 0.34%
Asian alone (NH) 744 1,004 2,257 0.61% 0.73% 1.37%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 31 106 327 0.03% 0.08% 0.20%
Other race alone (NH) 29 68 492 0.02% 0.05% 0.30%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 949 1,096 3,023 0.78% 0.80% 1.83%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 51,306 72,331 100,051 42.36% 52.75% 60.57%
Total 121,123 137,130 165,171 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census of 2000, 121,123 people, 43,846 households, and 31,700 families resided in the county. The population density was 134 people per square mile (52 people/km2). The 49,500 housing units averaged 55 units per square mile (21/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 73.69% White, 4.61% African American, 0.83% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 17.38% from other races, and 2.81% from two or more races. About 42.36% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 43,846 households, 38.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.10% were married couples living together, 13.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were not families. About 24.00% of all households was made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the county, the population was distributed as 30.40% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 10.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,152, and for a family was $36,369. Males had a median income of $30,632 versus $21,317 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,031. About 16.10% of families and 18.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.90% of those under age 18 and 14.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

See also

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

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