Dickens County, Texas

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Dickens County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,770.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Dickens.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1891.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Both the county and its seat are named for J. Dickens, who died at the Battle of the Alamo.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert are land and Template:Convert (0.4%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Template:Div col

Motley County (north)
King County (east)
Kent County (south)
Crosby County (west)
Garza County (southwest)
Floyd County (northwest)
Cottle County (northeast)
Stonewall County (southeast)

Template:Div col end

Demographics

Template:US Census population

**Dickens County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition**
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2000	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	1,857	1,590	1,178	67.23%	65.06%	66.55%
Black or African American alone (NH)	223	92	18	8.07%	3.76%	1.02%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	3	21	0	0.11%	0.86%	0.00%
Asian alone (NH)	3	18	1	0.11%	0.74%	0.06%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	1	0	2	0.04%	0.00%	0.11%
Other race alone (NH)	3	0	7	0.11%	0.00%	0.40%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	12	15	52	0.43%	0.61%	2.94%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	660	708	512	23.90%	28.97%	28.93%
Total	2,762	2,444	1,770	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, 2,762 people, 980 households, and 638 families resided in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. The 1,368 housing units averaged Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 77.62% White, 8.18% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.25% Pacific Islander, 12.35% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. About 23.90% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 980 households, 23.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.80% were not families. About 32.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was distributed as 18.50% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 19.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 130.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 141.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,898, and for a family was $32,500. Males had a median income of $25,000 versus $18,571 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,156. About 14.10% of families and 17.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.30% of those under age 18 and 18.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Dickens (county seat)
Spur

Unincorporated communities

Afton
McAdoo

Notable people

Charles Weldon Cannon, rancher and boot and saddle manufacturer
Marshall Formby, attorney, newspaper publisher, radio executive, and politician
Red McCombs, businessman and sports franchise owner

Education

There are two school districts in the county: Patton Springs Independent School District and Spur Independent School District.<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

The Texas Legislature designated the county as being in the Western Texas College District.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Elected leadership

<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Legislative Representation	Name	Service
United States Congress, District 13	Ronny Jackson	2021 – Present
State Senator, District 28	Charles Perry	2014 – Present
State Representative, District 83	Dustin Burrows	January 1, 2023 – Present

County Elected Leadership	Name	Service
County Judge	Kevin Brendle	2015 – present
County Commissioner Pct 1	Dennis Wyatt	2017 – present
County Commissioner Pct 2	Mike Smith	2015 – present
County Commissioner Pct 3	Chris Horn	2025 – present
County Commissioner Pct 4	Greg Arnold	2023 – present
110th District Attorney	Emily Teegardin (Silverton)	2023 – present
District & County Clerk	Danay Carnes	2022 – present
County Sheriff	Jay Allen	2025 – present
County Attorney	Aaron Clements	2018 – present
County Tax Assessor-collector	Rhonda Brendle	2025 – present
County Treasurer	Brandi Abbott	2023 – present
Justice of the Peace	Stella Carter	2023 – present

Politics

Following redistricting after the 2020 census, effective January 1, 2023, Dickens County is in Texas House of Representatives District 83, represented by Republican Dustin Burrows, an attorney from Lubbock. Dickens County was previously in House District 68. In the Texas Senate, Dickens County is presently in District 28, represented by Republican Charles Perry.