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Ellis County, Texas facts for kids

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Ellis County
U.S. county
Ellis County Courthouse (1 of 1).jpg
Map of Texas highlighting Ellis 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 1850
Named for Richard Ellis
Seat Waxahachie
Largest city Waxahachie
Area
 • Total 952 sq mi (2,470 km2)
 • Land 936 sq mi (2,420 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 192,455
 • Density 202.16/sq mi (78.05/km2)
Demonym(s) Ellisite
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 6th
Waxahachie masonic lodge 2013
Across from the courthouse is the Ellis County Museum.

Ellis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2020, its population was estimated to be 192,455. The county seat is Waxahachie. The county was founded in 1849 and organized the next year. It is named for Richard Ellis, president of the convention that produced the Texas Declaration of Independence. Ellis County is included in the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 952 square miles (2,470 km2), of which 935 square miles (2,420 km2) are land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (1.7%) are covered by water.

Lake Waxahachie is located about five miles south of Waxahachie in Ellis County, Texas. Owned and operated by Ellis County Water Control and Improvement District Number One on behalf of the city of Waxahachie, the lake was formed by impounding the Waxahachie Creek in 1956. The water covers about 650 acres and has a maximum depth around 50. The former community of South Prong was located beside the creek before the lake was created. There has been a country club and a two-acre public park with boat ramp since the lake was completed. The lake is a recreational resource for the entire county.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Communities

USACE Bardwell Dam and Lake
Bardwell Dam and Lake in Ellis County near the town of Ennis
Ellis County, TX Courts building IMG 5610
Ellis County Courts building

Cities (multiple counties)

Cities

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1850 989 —
1860 5,246 430.4%
1870 7,514 43.2%
1880 21,294 183.4%
1890 31,774 49.2%
1900 50,059 57.5%
1910 53,629 7.1%
1920 55,700 3.9%
1930 53,936 −3.2%
1940 47,733 −11.5%
1950 45,645 −4.4%
1960 43,395 −4.9%
1970 46,638 7.5%
1980 59,743 28.1%
1990 85,167 42.6%
2000 111,360 30.8%
2010 149,610 34.3%
2020 192,445 28.6%
2023 (est.) 222,829 48.9%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850–2010 2020
Ellis 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) 79,401 97,987 106,495 71.30% 65.49% 55.34%
Black or African American alone (NH) 9,514 13,161 23,738 8.54% 8.80% 12.33%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 473 565 710 0.42% 0.38% 0.37%
Asian alone (NH) 368 811 1,525 0.33% 0.65% 0.79%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 10 87 202 0.01% 0.06% 0.10%
Other race alone (NH) 82 155 790 0.07% 0.10% 0.41%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 1,004 1,683 6,963 0.90% 1.12% 3.62%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 20,508 35,161 52,032 18.42% 23.50% 27.04%
Total 111,360 149,610 192,455 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

According to the census of 2000, 111,360 people, 37,020 households, and 29,653 families resided in the county. The population density was 118 people per square mile (46 people/km2). The 39,071 housing units averaged 42 units per square mile (16/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.63% White, 8.64% African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 7.92% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. About 18.42% of the population was Hispanic or Latinos of any race. By 2020, its population increased to 192,455. The racial makeup in 2020 was 55.34% non-Hispanic white, 12.33% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.79% Asian American, 0.41% some other race, 3.62% multiracial, and 27.04% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

American Community Survey 2023 Racial Data

The United States Census Bureau estimated that in 2023, Ellis County’s population was 222,829. It was also estimated that the county was 28.4% Hispanic or Latino, 51.9% NH White, 16.5% NH Black, 1.0% NH Asian, 0.4% NH Native, 0.1% NH Pacific Islander, and 1.7% NH Multiracial.

Race Total Percentage
Hispanic or Latino 63,319 28.4%
NH White 115,601 51.9%
NH Black 36,823 16.5%
NH Asian 2,261 1.0%
NH Native American 837 0.4%
NH Pacific Islander 222 0.1%
NH Multiracial 3,766 1.7%

Law enforcement

The Ellis County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services to the county. The current sheriff is Brad Norman. The agency also operates the Ellis County Jail in Waxahachie.

Media

Ellis County is part of the Dallas/Fort Worth television media market in North Texas. Stations in the market are KDFW-TV, KXAS-TV, WFAA-TV, KTVT-TV, KERA-TV, KTXA-TV, KDFI-TV, KDAF-TV, KFWD-TV, and KDTX-TV.

The county is home to one local radio station KBEC 1390 AM and 99.1 FM. The station has been in continuous operation since 1955 and is the oldest Family owned radio station in Texas. A weekly newspaper, the Ellis County Press, is based in Ferris and published Thursdays. The Waxahachie Daily Light and Waxahachie Sun are published biweekly; other weekly newspapers are The Ennis News and Midlothian Mirror.

Education

School districts include:

  • Avalon Independent School District
  • Ennis Independent School District
  • Ferris Independent School District
  • Frost Independent School District
  • Italy Independent School District
  • Maypearl Independent School District
  • Midlothian Independent School District
  • Milford Independent School District
  • Palmer Independent School District
  • Red Oak Independent School District
  • Waxahachie Independent School District

It is in the service area of Navarro College.

Notable people

  • Clyde Barrow of Bonnie and Clyde
  • J. D. Grey, clergyman, pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Ennis, 1931–1934; later president of the Southern Baptist Convention
  • Ernest Tubb, country singer and songwriter
  • Lecil Travis Martin, known more commonly as Boxcar Willie, country singer and songwriter

See also

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

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