King County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
King County
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King County Courthouse in Guthrie
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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 | 1891 |
| Named for | William Philip King |
| Seat | Guthrie |
| Largest community | Guthrie |
| Area | |
| • Total | 913 sq mi (2,360 km2) |
| • Land | 911 sq mi (2,360 km2) |
| • Water | 2.5 sq mi (6 km2) 0.3% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 265 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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233  |
| • Density | 0.29/sq mi (0.11/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 13th |
King County is a county in Texas, USA. In 2020, its population was 265 people. This makes it one of the least populated counties in Texas and the entire United States.
King County does not have any large cities. Its main town, or county seat, is Guthrie. The county was officially created in 1876 and started operating in 1891. It is named after William Philip King, a brave person who died at the famous Battle of the Alamo.
Contents
History of King County
Early Native American Life
Long ago, the Apache and Comanche tribes lived in this area. They were the first people here. In 1874-1875, the Red River War happened. This was a fight to move Native Americans to special areas called reservations. This opened up the land for new settlers.
How the County Was Formed
On August 21, 1876, the Texas government created King County. It was formed from a larger area called Bexar County. By 1880, only 40 people lived in the county.
In 1891, the county was officially organized. Guthrie was chosen as the main town.
Ranches and Farming
Early ranchers found ways to save water. They built dams in canyons to collect heavy spring rains. In the 1890s, windmills became popular for getting water. Some of the first settlers were Isom Lynn and Brants Baker.
Famous ranches started here. The Four Sixes Ranch began in 1902. The Pitchfork Land and Cattle Company also started around this time. George Humphreys managed the Four Sixes Ranch for many years.
The town of Dumont was formed in the late 1800s. Farmers began to share the land with ranchers. Cotton was once the main crop. Later, farmers grew corn, sorghum, and fruit trees.
Oil Discovery
In 1943, oil was found in King County. Since then, a lot of oil has been pumped from the ground. By 1991, over 114 million barrels of oil had been produced.
Geography of King County
King County covers about 913 square miles. Most of this area is land, about 911 square miles. A small part, about 2.5 square miles, is water.
Main Roads
U.S. Highway 82 / State Highway 114
U.S. Highway 83
State Highway 222
Neighboring Counties
King County shares borders with these other counties:
- Cottle County (north)
- Foard County (northeast)
- Knox County (east)
- Stonewall County (south)
- Dickens County (west)
- Haskell County (southeast)
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 40 | — | |
| 1890 | 173 | 332.5% | |
| 1900 | 490 | 183.2% | |
| 1910 | 810 | 65.3% | |
| 1920 | 655 | −19.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,193 | 82.1% | |
| 1940 | 1,066 | −10.6% | |
| 1950 | 870 | −18.4% | |
| 1960 | 640 | −26.4% | |
| 1970 | 464 | −27.5% | |
| 1980 | 425 | −8.4% | |
| 1990 | 354 | −16.7% | |
| 2000 | 356 | 0.6% | |
| 2010 | 286 | −19.7% | |
| 2020 | 265 | −7.3% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 233 | −18.5% | |
| =U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010-2020 |
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In 2000, there were 356 people living in King County. About 94% of the people were White. About 10% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households had children under 18 living with them. Most families were married couples. The average age of people in the county was 37 years old.
Economy
The main jobs in King County are raising beef cattle. This has been important since the late 1800s. Oil production is also a major industry, starting in 1943. Farmers mostly grow corn and cotton.
Communities
Education
Students in King County attend schools in these districts:
- Crowell Independent School District
- Guthrie Common School District
The county is also served by Vernon College.
Gallery
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The King County Courthouse, built in 1914.
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A monument for George Preston Humphreys. He managed the 6666 Ranch and was the King County sheriff for many years.
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The King County Courthouse in August 2020.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de King (Texas) para niños
