Gray County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gray County
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The Gray County Courthouse
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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 | 1902 |
| Named for | Peter W. Gray |
| Seat | Pampa |
| Largest city | Pampa |
| Area | |
| • Total | 929 sq mi (2,410 km2) |
| • Land | 926 sq mi (2,400 km2) |
| • Water | 3.4 sq mi (9 km2) 0.4% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 21,227  |
| • Density | 23/sq mi (9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 13th |
Gray County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2020, about 21,227 people lived there. The main city and county seat is Pampa.
Gray County was first created in 1876. It was officially organized in 1902. The county is named after Peter W. Gray, who was a lawyer and soldier during the American Civil War. Gray County is part of the Pampa, TX area, which includes Pampa and its nearby communities.
Contents
Geography of Gray County
Gray County is located in the Texas Panhandle. The U.S. Census Bureau says the county covers a total area of 929 square miles. Most of this area, about 926 square miles, is land. Only a small part, about 3.4 square miles, is covered by water.
Main Roads in Gray County
Several important highways pass through Gray County, making it easy to travel around.
Interstate 40
U.S. Highway 60
State Highway 70
State Highway 152
State Highway 273
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Neighboring Counties
Gray County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Roberts County to the north
- Hemphill County to the northeast
- Wheeler County to the east
- Collingsworth County to the southeast
- Donley County to the south
- Armstrong County to the southwest
- Carson County to the west
Protected Natural Areas
- McClellan Creek National Grassland is a special area in Gray County. It is protected to help preserve nature and wildlife.
Population and People
The population of Gray County has changed over the years. In 1880, only 56 people lived here. By 1930, the population had grown to over 22,000. The highest population was in 1960, with over 31,500 residents. In 2020, the population was 21,227.
In 2000, there were 22,744 people living in Gray County. About 8,793 households and 6,049 families called it home. The average number of people in a household was 2.39. The average family size was 2.93.
The age groups in the county in 2000 were:
- 24% were under 18 years old.
- 8.4% were between 18 and 24.
- 27.2% were between 25 and 44.
- 22.3% were between 45 and 64.
- 18.1% were 65 years or older.
The average age was 39 years.
The median income for a household in 2000 was $31,368. For a family, it was $40,019. About 13.8% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 17.6% of those under 18 and 9.6% of those 65 or older.
Communities in Gray County
Gray County has several towns and communities.
City
- Pampa is the largest city and the county seat.
Towns
Census-designated place
- Alanreed is a community that the census bureau tracks.
Other Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities not officially part of a city or town.
- Back
- Hoover
Politics
For many years, Gray County mostly voted for Democratic candidates. This was common in Texas. However, starting in 1952, the county began to vote more for Republican candidates. This trend has continued, and Gray County is now a strong Republican area. In recent presidential elections, Republican candidates have received over 80% of the votes.
Notable People from Gray County
Many interesting people have connections to Gray County.
- Phil Cates was born in Pampa in 1947. He served as a state representative from 1971 to 1979.
- Tom Mechler was a chairman for the Republican Party in Gray County. He later became the state Republican Party chairman in 2015.
- Kae T. Patrick grew up in Gray County. He served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1981 to 1988, representing San Antonio.
- Trae Young, a famous NBA basketball player, spent part of his childhood in Pampa. His father played professional basketball overseas.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Gray (Texas) para niños
