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Kent County, Texas

Coordinates: 33°11′N 100°46′W / 33.19°N 100.77°W / 33.19; -100.77
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Kent County
County
Kent County Courthouse in Jayton
Kent County Courthouse in Jayton
Map of Texas highlighting Kent County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°11′N 100°46′W / 33.19°N 100.77°W / 33.19; -100.77
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1892
Named forAndrew Kent
SeatJayton
Largest cityJayton
Area
 • Total
903 sq mi (2,340 km2)
 • Land903 sq mi (2,340 km2)
 • Water0.4 sq mi (1 km2)  0.05%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
753
 • Estimate 
(2022)
740 Decrease
 • Density0.83/sq mi (0.32/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district19th
Websitewww.co.kent.tx.us

Kent County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 753,[1] making it the sixth-least populous county in Texas. Its county seat is Jayton.[2] The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1892.[3] It is named for Andrew Kent, who died at the Battle of the Alamo. Kent County is a prohibition or entirely dry county,[4] one of four remaining in the state.[5]

History timeline

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  • 8000 BC Paleo-Indians were the first inhabitants. Later Native American inhabitants included the Wanderers band of Comanche.[6]
  • 1872 Ranald S. Mackenzie and his soldiers trounced the Comanches at Treasure Butte, southeast of Clairemont.[6]
  • 1876 The Texas legislature formed Kent County from Young and Bexar districts. The new county is named after Alamo defender Andrew Kent.[6]
  • 1888 Cattleman R. L. Rhomberg settled in the new county and named a settlement Clairemont for his daughter, Claire.[7]
  • 1890 The county census recorded 324 residents.[6]
  • 1891 A conflict arose between cattle ranchers and farmers who tried to fence their farms against cattle.[6]
  • 1892 Kent County was organized, with Clairemont as the county seat.[8]
  • 1900 The county population was 899.[6]
  • 1909 The Stamford and Northeastern Railway built a line across the county's northeast corner. The railroad, which connected Stamford and Spur, later became part of the Wichita Valley Railroad. The Jayton community was founded.[9]
  • 1930 The county's population peaked at 3,851.[6]
  • 1946-1991 Oil was discovered in Kent County in 1946. From 1946 to 1991, more than 448,448,000 barrels (71,297,500 m3) of oil have been produced in the county.[6]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 903 square miles (2,340 km2), of which 903 square miles (2,340 km2) are land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) (0.05%) is covered by water.[10]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
188092—
1890324252.2%
1900899177.5%
19102,655195.3%
19203,33525.6%
19303,85115.5%
19403,413−11.4%
19502,249−34.1%
19601,727−23.2%
19701,434−17.0%
19801,145−20.2%
19901,010−11.8%
2000859−15.0%
2010808−5.9%
2020753−6.8%
2022 (est.)740[11]−1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1850–2010[13] 2010-2020[1]
Kent 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[14] Pop 2010[15] Pop 2020[16] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
  White alone (NH) 777 669 657 90.45% 82.80% 87.25%
  Black or African American alone (NH) 2 6 2 0.23% 0.74% 0.27%
  Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1 5 3 0.12% 0.62% 0.40%
Asian alone (NH) 0 0 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 0 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 0 0 3 0.00% 0.00% 0.40%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 1 8 7 0.12% 0.99% 0.93%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 78 120 81 9.08% 14.85% 10.76%
Total 859 808 753 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census[17] of 2000, 859 people, 353 households, and 247 families resided in the county. The population density was less than 1/km2 (2.6/sq mi). The 551 housing units averaged about zero point six units per square mile (0.23 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.46% White, 0.23% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 3.73% from other races, and 0.23% from two or more races. About 9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 353 households, 26.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.20% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were not families. About 28% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county, the population was distributed as 20.60% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 21.80% from 25 to 44, 26.80% from 45 to 64, and 25.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,433, and for a family was $35,568. Males had a median income of $23,875 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,626. About 9.20% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 6.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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City

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Other communities

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Politics

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In the 2024 Texas Republican presidential primary, Kent County was the only county in Texas that Donald Trump lost.

Throughout the 20th century, Kent County was a reliably Democratic county, having only voted for a Republican 3 times from 1912 until 2000. Kent County has realigned into a Republican stronghold since George W. Bush won the county in 2000. As of 2024, Kent County has not selected a Democrat in a Presidential election since 1996 when then Democratic incumbent Bill Clinton won it.

Republican Drew Springer, Jr., a businessman from Muenster in Cooke County, has since January 2013 represented Kent County in the Texas House of Representatives.[18]

United States presidential election results for Kent County, Texas[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 390 87.64% 50 11.24% 5 1.12%
2020 411 88.96% 47 10.17% 4 0.87%
2016 360 82.95% 59 13.59% 15 3.46%
2012 335 82.72% 66 16.30% 4 0.99%
2008 342 76.34% 99 22.10% 7 1.56%
2004 382 73.18% 138 26.44% 2 0.38%
2000 346 64.55% 185 34.51% 5 0.93%
1996 187 36.31% 260 50.49% 68 13.20%
1992 175 28.69% 271 44.43% 164 26.89%
1988 274 40.65% 398 59.05% 2 0.30%
1984 332 56.46% 253 43.03% 3 0.51%
1980 339 48.85% 351 50.58% 4 0.58%
1976 171 26.43% 474 73.26% 2 0.31%
1972 465 67.59% 223 32.41% 0 0.00%
1968 143 22.56% 303 47.79% 188 29.65%
1964 115 16.96% 563 83.04% 0 0.00%
1960 205 29.37% 491 70.34% 2 0.29%
1956 234 30.99% 519 68.74% 2 0.26%
1952 259 32.95% 526 66.92% 1 0.13%
1948 33 6.18% 479 89.70% 22 4.12%
1944 31 4.71% 572 86.93% 55 8.36%
1940 79 9.97% 712 89.90% 1 0.13%
1936 31 5.50% 533 94.50% 0 0.00%
1932 23 3.92% 561 95.57% 3 0.51%
1928 363 69.01% 163 30.99% 0 0.00%
1924 80 16.88% 386 81.43% 8 1.69%
1920 45 15.90% 214 75.62% 24 8.48%
1916 2 0.84% 212 88.70% 25 10.46%
1912 7 3.83% 135 73.77% 41 22.40%

Education

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School districts include:[20]

The Texas Legislature designated the county as being in the Western Texas College District.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  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 24, 2015.
  4. ^ "Texas counties wet/dry status as of May 2020" (Spreadsheet). Texas.gov.
  5. ^ "We/Dry Status of Texas Counties". June 1, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Hunt, William R (June 15, 2010). "Kent County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  7. ^ Davis, Charles G (June 12, 2010). "Clairmont". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  8. ^ "Clairemont, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  9. ^ Davis, Charles G (June 15, 2010). "Jayton, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  10. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  13. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  14. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Kent County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kent County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kent County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  18. ^ "State Rep. Springer announces district tour July 30". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, July 16, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  20. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Kent County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 22, 2024. - Text list
  21. ^ "Sec. 130.210. WESTERN TEXAS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA". Retrieved September 22, 2024.
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33°11′N 100°46′W / 33.19°N 100.77°W / 33.19; -100.77

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