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Gray County, Texas

Gray County
County
The Gray County Courthouse
The Gray County Courthouse
Map of Texas highlighting Gray County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°25′N 100°49′W / 35.41°N 100.81°W / 35.41; -100.81
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1902
Named forPeter W. Gray
SeatPampa
Largest cityPampa
Area
 • Total
929 sq mi (2,410 km2)
 • Land926 sq mi (2,400 km2)
 • Water3.4 sq mi (9 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
21,227
 • Density23/sq mi (8.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district13th
Websitewww.co.gray.tx.us

Gray County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 21,227.[1] The county seat is Pampa.[2] The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1902.[3] Gray County is named for Peter W. Gray,[4] a Confederate lawyer and soldier in the American Civil War.

Gray County comprises the Pampa, TX micropolitan statistical area.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 929 square miles (2,410 km2), of which 926 sq mi (2,400 km2) are land and 3.4 sq mi (8.8 km2) (0.4%) are covered by water.[5]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
188056—
1890203262.5%
1900480136.5%
19103,405609.4%
19204,66336.9%
193022,090373.7%
194023,9118.2%
195024,7283.4%
196031,53527.5%
197026,949−14.5%
198026,386−2.1%
199023,967−9.2%
200022,744−5.1%
201022,535−0.9%
202021,227−5.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1850–2010[7] 2010[8] 2020[9]
Gray County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
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 may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[10] Pop 2010[8] Pop 2020[9] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
  White alone (NH) 17,800 15,564 13,025 78.26% 69.07% 61.36%
  Black or African American alone (NH) 1,309 1,055 835 5.76% 4.68% 3.93%
  Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 169 152 141 0.74% 0.67% 0.66%
Asian alone (NH) 88 83 127 0.39% 0.37% 0.60%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 4 1 0 0.02% 0.00% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 18 11 37 0.08% 0.05% 0.17%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 397 304 715 1.75% 1.35% 3.37%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,959 5,365 6,347 13.01% 23.81% 29.90%
Total 22,744 22,535 21,227 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census[11] of 2000, 22,744 people, 8,793 households, and 6,049 families were residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km2). The 10,567 housing units averaged 11 units per square mile (4.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 82.15% White, 5.85% African American, 0.94% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 8.25% from other races, and 2.42% from two or more races. About 13.01% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 8,793 households, 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were not families. About 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39, and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the age distribution was 24.00% under 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 18.10% who were 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,368, and for a family was $40,019. Males had a median income of $32,401 versus $20,158 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,702. About 11.20% of families and 13.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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City

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Towns

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Census-designated place

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Other unincorporated communities

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Politics

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Prior to 1952, Gray County was primarily Democratic similar to most of Texas and the Solid South. The county only gave a Republican presidential candidate a majority before 1952 in 1928, when Herbert Hoover won the county due to anti-Catholic sentiment towards Al Smith. Starting with the 1952 election, the county has become a Republican stronghold along with the rest of the Texas Panhandle. This level of Republican dominance has increased in recent years, as every Republican presidential candidate in the second millennium has racked up 80% of the county's vote. Additionally, after the 2008 election, Democrats Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden have failed to win even 1,000 votes total in the county.

United States presidential election results for Gray County, Texas[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 6,691 88.27% 845 11.15% 44 0.58%
2020 6,840 87.90% 829 10.65% 113 1.45%
2016 6,500 87.78% 701 9.47% 204 2.75%
2012 6,443 87.20% 886 11.99% 60 0.81%
2008 6,924 85.13% 1,153 14.18% 56 0.69%
2004 7,260 84.69% 1,289 15.04% 23 0.27%
2000 6,732 82.25% 1,376 16.81% 77 0.94%
1996 6,102 69.15% 2,114 23.96% 608 6.89%
1992 6,105 58.86% 2,426 23.39% 1,841 17.75%
1988 7,259 74.22% 2,460 25.15% 62 0.63%
1984 8,955 81.50% 2,003 18.23% 30 0.27%
1980 7,187 70.81% 2,786 27.45% 176 1.73%
1976 6,010 60.33% 3,872 38.87% 80 0.80%
1972 7,968 84.37% 1,367 14.47% 109 1.15%
1968 5,994 55.53% 2,374 21.99% 2,427 22.48%
1964 5,011 57.93% 3,633 42.00% 6 0.07%
1960 6,197 68.76% 2,802 31.09% 14 0.16%
1956 5,047 61.90% 3,034 37.21% 72 0.88%
1952 5,467 61.73% 3,367 38.02% 23 0.26%
1948 1,594 27.98% 3,699 64.94% 403 7.08%
1944 1,739 34.86% 3,067 61.48% 183 3.67%
1940 1,217 21.97% 4,315 77.89% 8 0.14%
1936 464 9.59% 4,347 89.83% 28 0.58%
1932 505 12.70% 3,446 86.69% 24 0.60%
1928 1,871 65.35% 986 34.44% 6 0.21%
1924 581 48.86% 608 51.14% 0 0.00%
1920 251 30.95% 529 65.23% 31 3.82%
1916 69 11.73% 482 81.97% 37 6.29%
1912 13 3.09% 272 64.61% 136 32.30%

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Gray County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 142.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  6. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  7. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  8. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Gray County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  9. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Gray County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  10. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Gray County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  13. ^ "Phil Cates". Texas Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gray County, Texas.

35°25′N 100°49′W / 35.41°N 100.81°W / 35.41; -100.81