Editing Yoakum County, Texas (section)

===County established===

The Texas Legislature established Yoakum County from [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar County]] in 1876. The county was organized in 1907, and [[Plains, Texas|Plains]] became the county seat. In 1900, the area had only 26 residents. One ranch in the county that year was devoted to cattle, rather than crops.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bennett|first=Leoti A|title=Plains, Texas|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hjp09|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=December 13, 2010|date=June 15, 2010}}</ref>

Sale of state land after 1900 brought an increase in population. By 1910, 107 farms or ranches were in the area, and the population had increased to 602.<ref name="Yoakum County, Texas"/>

By 1920, 109 ranches or farms in the area, but the population had fallen to 504. More than 21,000 cattle were reported that year, but crop cultivation remained limited; about {{convert|2200|acre|km2}} were planted in corn, 600 in sorghum, and 47 in cotton. During the 1920s, the county experienced a minor expansion of crop farming, and cotton became the most important crop; by 1930, over {{convert|10000|acre|km2}} were devoted to cotton. There were 239 farms, and the population had increased to 1,263.<ref name="Yoakum County, Texas"/>

The first oil well in the county gushed in 1935. Denver City benefited with a resulting boom economy. By January 1, 1991, almost {{convert|1664036000|oilbbl}} of oil had been taken from county lands since 1936.<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Julie Cauble|title=Wasson Field|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/downk|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=December 13, 2010|date=June 15, 2010}}</ref>

Irrigation in the county led to more acres being planted on sorghum, cotton, alfalfa, watermelons, and castor beans. In 1982, 93% of the land in Yoakum County was in farms and ranches, and 44% of the farmland was under cultivation. Some {{convert|110000|acre|km2}} were irrigated. About 95% of agricultural revenue was derived from crops, especially cotton, sorghum, wheat, hay, and corn.<ref name="Yoakum County, Texas"/>