Stephens County, Texas

Stephens County, Texas
The Stephens County Courthouse in Breckenridge.
Location in the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded	1876
Named for	Alexander H. Stephens
Seat	Breckenridge
Largest city	Breckenridge
Area
• Total	921 sq mi (2,385 km2)
• Land	897 sq mi (2,323 km2)
• Water	25 sq mi (65 km2), 2.7%
Population
• (2010)	9,630
• Density	11/sq mi (4/km²)
Congressional districts	11th, 19th
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	www.co.stephens.tx.us

Stephens County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 9,630. Its county seat is Breckenridge. The county was created in 1858 and organized in 1876. It was originally named Buchanan County, after U.S. President James Buchanan, but was renamed in 1861 for Alexander H. Stephens, the vice president of the Confederate States of America.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 921 square miles (2,390 km²), of which 897 square miles (2,320 km²) is land and 25 square miles (65 km²) (2.7%) is water.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 180
• U.S. Highway 183
• State Highway 67

Adjacent counties

• Young County (north)
• Palo Pinto County (east)
• Eastland County (south)
• Shackelford County (west)
• Throckmorton County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	230		—
1870	330		43.5%
1880	4,725		1,331.8%
1890	4,926		4.3%
1900	6,466		31.3%
1910	7,980		23.4%
1920	15,403		93.0%
1930	16,560		7.5%
1940	12,356		−25.4%
1950	10,597		−14.2%
1960	8,885		−16.2%
1970	8,414		−5.3%
1980	9,926		18.0%
1990	9,010		−9.2%
2000	9,674		7.4%
2010	9,630		−0.5%
Est. 2014	9,405		−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010–2014

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,674 people, 3,661 households, and 2,591 families residing in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 4,893 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.89% White, 2.92% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 8.15% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. 14.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,661 households out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 103.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,583, and the median income for a family was $35,293. Males had a median income of $26,421 versus $21,280 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,475. About 12.60% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.60% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Breckenridge (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Caddo
• Eolian
• Gunsight
• Harpersville
• Ivan
• Necessity
• Reach
• Wayland

Ghost town

• La Casa

Notable people

• Rupert N. Richardson, historian and president of Hardin-Simmons University
• Jack Cox, businessman and politician

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Stephens County, Texas

External links

• Stephens County from the Handbook of Texas Online
• Buchanan County from the Handbook of Texas Online
• Stephens County government's website