Wichita County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wichita County
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The Wichita County Courthouse in downtown Wichita Falls
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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 | February 1, 1882 |
| Seat | Wichita Falls |
| Largest city | Wichita Falls |
| Area | |
| • Total | 633 sq mi (1,640 km2) |
| • Land | 628 sq mi (1,630 km2) |
| • Water | 5.3 sq mi (14 km2) 0.8% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 129,350 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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129,978  |
| • Density | 204.34/sq mi (78.90/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 13th |
Wichita County (/ˈwɪtʃɪtɔː/ witch-IH-taw) is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 129,350. The county seat is Wichita Falls. The county was created in 1858 and organized in 1882. Wichita County is part of the Wichita Falls, Texas, TX metropolitan statistical area.
Contents
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 633 square miles (1,640 km2), of which 5.3 square miles (14 km2) (0.8%) are covered by water. The county is drained by the Wichita River and other streams.
Major highways
Interstate 44
U.S. Highway 82
U.S. Highway 277
U.S. Highway 281
U.S. Highway 287
State Highway 25
State Highway 79
State Highway 240
State Highway 258
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Adjacent counties
- Tillman County, Oklahoma (north)
- Cotton County, Oklahoma (northeast)
- Clay County (east)
- Archer County (south)
- Wilbarger County (west)
- Baylor County (southwest)
Geology
Wichita County is part of the Texas Red Beds, which are strata of red-colored sedimentary rock from the Early Permian. The fossils of Permian period vertebrates in the Texas Red Beds were first discovered by Edward Drinker Cope in 1877. Subsequent research has revealed rare fossils of Permian period amphibians like Trimerorhachis, as well as rich deposits of other Permian tetrapods such as Dimetrodon and Diadectes.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 433 | — | |
| 1890 | 4,831 | 1,015.7% | |
| 1900 | 5,806 | 20.2% | |
| 1910 | 16,094 | 177.2% | |
| 1920 | 72,911 | 353.0% | |
| 1930 | 74,416 | 2.1% | |
| 1940 | 73,604 | −1.1% | |
| 1950 | 98,493 | 33.8% | |
| 1960 | 123,528 | 25.4% | |
| 1970 | 120,563 | −2.4% | |
| 1980 | 121,082 | 0.4% | |
| 1990 | 122,378 | 1.1% | |
| 2000 | 131,664 | 7.6% | |
| 2010 | 131,500 | −0.1% | |
| 2020 | 129,350 | −1.6% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 129,978 | −1.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010-2020 |
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| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 90,001 | 79,694 | 68.44% | 61.61% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 13,322 | 13,379 | 10.13% | 10.34% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 1,087 | 992 | 0.83% | 0.77% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 2,586 | 2,647 | 1.97% | 2.05% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 85 | 140 | 0.06% | 0.11% |
| Some other race alone (NH) | 109 | 476 | 0.08% | 0.37% |
| Mixed/multiracial (NH) | 2,451 | 6,219 | 1.86% | 4.81% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 21,859 | 25,803 | 16.62% | 19.95% |
| Total | 131,500 | 129,350 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
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 can be of any race.
As of the census of 2000, 131,664 people, 48,441 households, and 32,891 families resided in the county. The population density was 210 people per square mile (81 people/km2). The 53,304 housing units had an average density of 85 units per square mile (33 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 78.76% White, 10.23% African American, 0.89% Native American, 1.84% Asian, 5.60% from other races, and 2.68% from two or more races. About 12.23% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
Of the 48,441 households, 33.6% had children under 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were not families, with 1,869 unmarried partner households - 1,677 heterosexual, 94 same-sex male, and 98 same-sex female. About 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49, and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the age distribution was 25.2% under 18, 13.7% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.8 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 103.4 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,780, and for a family was $40,937. Males had a median income of $28,687 versus $21,885 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,965. About 10.30% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.40% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
- Cashion Community
- Burkburnett
- Electra
- Iowa Park
- Wichita Falls (county seat)
Town
Unincorporated communities
Education
School districts serving the county include:
- Burkburnett Independent School District
- City View Independent School District
- Electra Independent School District
- Holliday Independent School District
- Iowa Park Consolidated Independent School District
- Wichita Falls Independent School District
The county is in the service area of Vernon College.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Wichita (Texas) para niños
