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 special area in the U.S. state of Texas. It's like a big neighborhood with its own local government. In 2020, about 21,227 people lived here. The main city and place where the county government works is called Pampa. Gray County was officially created in 1876 and started its government in 1902. It's named after Peter W. Gray, who was a lawyer and soldier during the American Civil War.
Contents
Exploring Gray County: Geography and Nature
Gray County covers a total area of about 929 square miles. Most of this area, about 926 square miles, is land. A small part, about 3.4 square miles, is covered by water, like rivers or lakes.
Main Roads You Might Travel
These are the important highways that run through Gray County:
Interstate 40
U.S. Highway 60
State Highway 70
State Highway 152
State Highway 273
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Neighboring Counties Around Gray County
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
Special Protected Natural Areas
Gray County is home to a part of the McClellan Creek National Grassland. This is a special area managed to protect nature and provide outdoor spaces.
Who Lives in Gray County: Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 56 | — | |
| 1890 | 203 | 262.5% | |
| 1900 | 480 | 136.5% | |
| 1910 | 3,405 | 609.4% | |
| 1920 | 4,663 | 36.9% | |
| 1930 | 22,090 | 373.7% | |
| 1940 | 23,911 | 8.2% | |
| 1950 | 24,728 | 3.4% | |
| 1960 | 31,535 | 27.5% | |
| 1970 | 26,949 | −14.5% | |
| 1980 | 26,386 | −2.1% | |
| 1990 | 23,967 | −9.2% | |
| 2000 | 22,744 | −5.1% | |
| 2010 | 22,535 | −0.9% | |
| 2020 | 21,227 | −5.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
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In 2020, Gray County had a population of 21,227 people. Over the years, the number of people living in Gray County has changed. For example, in 1880, only 56 people lived there, but by 1960, the population grew to over 31,000!
When we look at the different groups of people living in Gray County in 2020, about 61% were White (not Hispanic or Latino). About 29.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino, who can be of any race. Other groups included African American people (about 3.9%), Native American people (about 0.66%), and Asian people (about 0.6%). About 3.37% of people identified as being of two or more races.
In 2000, there were about 8,793 households in the county. A household is a group of people living together in one home. About 30% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.39 people. The median age of people in the county was 39 years old. This means half the people were younger than 39 and half were older.
Towns and Communities in Gray County
Gray County has several towns and communities where people live and work.
City
- Pampa (This is the largest city and the county seat, meaning it's where the county government offices are located.)
Towns
Other Communities
- Alanreed (This is a "census-designated place," which is a special type of community recognized by the census bureau.)
- Back (This is a smaller, unincorporated community.)
- Hoover (This is another smaller, unincorporated community.)
Famous People from Gray County
Gray County has been home to some notable people:
- Phil Cates: He was born in Pampa in 1947 and served as a state representative for Texas from 1971 to 1979.
- Tom Mechler: He used to be the chairman for the Republican Party in Gray County and later became the chairman for the entire state Republican Party in 2015.
- Kae T. Patrick: Born in Gray County, she served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1981 to 1988, representing the city of San Antonio.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Gray (Texas) para niños
