Oldham County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oldham County
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Oldham County Courthouse in Vega
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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 | 1881 |
| Seat | Vega |
| Largest city | Vega |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,501 sq mi (3,890 km2) |
| • Land | 1,501 sq mi (3,890 km2) |
| • Water | 0.9 sq mi (2 km2) 0.06% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,758  |
| • Density | 1.2/sq mi (0.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 13th |
Oldham County is a county in the state of Texas. In 2020, about 1,758 people lived there. Its main town, or county seat, is Vega.
The county was started in 1876 and officially set up in 1881. Oldham County is part of the larger Amarillo area.
Contents
History
Oldham County was created in 1876. It was named after Williamson Simpson Oldham, Sr.. He was an important person in Texas history and a senator during the Confederate times.
When the county was first set up in 1881, a big part of it belonged to the XIT Ranch. The first county seat was a town called Tascosa, Texas. In the 1880s, Tascosa was one of the biggest towns in the Texas Panhandle.
However, the new railroad lines did not go through Tascosa. Instead, new towns and farms grew up along the train tracks. By 1915, Tascosa had very few people left. So, the county seat was moved to Vega that year.
Oldham County is mostly made up of ranches and farms. Many thousands of acres are used to grow wheat, which is the main crop. The county also produces some petroleum (oil) and has large wind farms.
Geography
Oldham County covers about 1,501 square miles. Most of this area is land, with only a small amount of water.
A southern part of the county, including Vega, is on top of a flat area called the Llano Estacado. This is also known as the Staked Plains. The land then slopes down for about 12 miles to the Canadian River.
The old county seat, Tascosa, is located where the Canadian River can be crossed, north of Vega. From the Canadian River, the land slopes up again. It reaches the top of the High Plains further north.
Border dispute with New Mexico
For many years, there has been a disagreement about a strip of land on the western side of Oldham County. This land includes part of an old town called Glenrio. People argued about whether this land belonged to Texas or New Mexico.
The border between Texas and New Mexico was supposed to be at the 103rd meridian. But when the border was surveyed in 1859, it was marked a few miles too far west. This made towns like Farwell, Texline, and the eastern part of Glenrio seem to be in Texas.
New Mexico wanted this land back. It even tried to file a lawsuit to get the strip from Texas. This disputed area is hundreds of miles long. It includes parts of important oilfields in the Permian Basin.
However, President William Howard Taft helped settle the issue in favor of Texas. This happened in 1911. Congress passed a resolution that said New Mexico's constitution could not change the border with Texas.
Today, the land in this strip is part of Texas. The towns and land there are taxed and governed by the State of Texas.
Major highways
Interstate 40
Business Loop Interstate 40 / U.S. Highway 66
U.S. Highway 385
State Highway 214
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Adjacent counties
- Hartley County (north)
- Moore County (northeast)
- Potter County (east)
- Deaf Smith County (south)
- Quay County, New Mexico (west)
- Randall County (southeast)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 387 | — | |
| 1890 | 270 | −30.2% | |
| 1900 | 349 | 29.3% | |
| 1910 | 812 | 132.7% | |
| 1920 | 709 | −12.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,404 | 98.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,385 | −1.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,672 | 20.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,928 | 15.3% | |
| 1970 | 2,258 | 17.1% | |
| 1980 | 2,283 | 1.1% | |
| 1990 | 2,278 | −0.2% | |
| 2000 | 2,185 | −4.1% | |
| 2010 | 2,052 | −6.1% | |
| 2020 | 1,758 | −14.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
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In 2000, there were 2,185 people living in Oldham County. By 2020, the population had decreased to 1,758 people. Most people in the county are White. There are also people who identify as Black or African American, Native American, Asian, and those of two or more races. A growing number of people in the county are of Hispanic or Latino background.
The average age in the county in 2000 was 33 years old. About 35% of the population was under 18 years old. Most households were married couples living together.
Communities
Cities
Census-designated place
Unincorporated community
Ghost towns
Education
Students in Oldham County attend schools in several different school districts:
- Adrian Independent School District
- Boys Ranch Independent School District
- Channing Independent School District
- Vega Independent School District
- Wildorado Independent School District
All parts of the county are also served by Amarillo College.
Gallery
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Vega CO OP grain elevator serves Oldham County.
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Magnolia Station, a U.S. Route 66 roadside attraction near the Oldham County Courthouse in Vega
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Sign off U.S. Route 385 to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch in Oldham County
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Wildorado Wind Ranch in Oldham County as photographed from Route 385
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Oldham (Texas) para niños
