Editing Coke County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Cooke County, Texas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Coke County
 | state                = Texas
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = March 13, 1889
 | seat wl              = Robert Lee
 | largest city wl      = Robert Lee
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 928
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 911
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 17
 | area percentage      = 1.8
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 3285
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | ex image             = Coke County Courthouse September 2020.jpg
 | ex image size        = 250
 | ex image cap         = The Coke County Courthouse in Robert Lee
 | web                  = www.co.coke.tx.us
 | time zone            = Central
 | district             = 11th
 | named for            = [[Richard Coke]]
}}

'''Coke County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located on the [[Edwards Plateau]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 3,285.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Coke County, Texas|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/cokecountytexas/PST120221|access-date=January 31, 2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Coke County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48081|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=February 23, 2021}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Robert Lee, Texas|Robert Lee]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The county was founded in 1889 and is named for [[Richard Coke]], the 15th [[governor of Texas]] and later a U.S. senator. Coke County was one of 46 prohibition, or entirely [[Dry county|dry]], counties in the State of Texas, but passed a law allowing the sale of beer and wine in 2005.

==History==
===Native Americans===
From about 1700 to the 1870s, [[Comanche]], [[Tonkawa]], [[Lipan Apache people|Lipan Apache]], [[Kickapoo people|Kickapoo]] and [[Kiowa]] roamed the county. These tribes settled in rock shelters in the river and creek valleys, leaving behind artifacts and caches of seeds, implements, burial sites, [[Rock art|petroglyphs]], river shells, turkey and deer bones, flint knives, scrapers and points.<ref>[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcc14 Handbook of Texas, Coke County]</ref><ref>[http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5081002637 Texas Historical Markers, Indian Rock Shelters] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301062256/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5081002637 |date=March 1, 2012 }}</ref>

===Early years===
In 1851, United States Army post [[Fort Chadbourne]]<ref>[http://www.fortchadbourne.org/ Fort Chadbourne]</ref> was established to protect the frontier, and the fort was manned until the Civil War. The [[Butterfield Overland Mail]]<ref>[http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5081004374 Texas Historical Markers, Route of Southern Overland Mail] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301062300/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5081004374 |date=March 1, 2012 }}</ref> ran through the area from 1858 to 1861.

Between 1860 and the early 1880s, the only settlers in what became Coke County were ranchers attracted to open grazing land. J. J. Austin established his ranch headquarters near Sanco<ref>[http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasTowns/Sanco-Texas.htm Texas Escapes, Sanco]</ref> in 1875. Pate Francher settled in the area in 1877.

In 1882, the Texas and Pacific Railway began providing service to San Angelo, and settlers started coming into the region in somewhat larger numbers.

Severe drought in the 1880s led to [[Fence Cutting War|fence cutting]] and its attendant issues. State authorities eventually settled the disputes.

A few years later, the county was named after Confederate soldier, Texas governor and U.S. senator Richard Coke.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n85 86]}}</ref>

===County history===
The Texas Legislature established Coke County in 1889, out of [[Tom Green County, Texas|Tom Green County]]. The county was organized that same year, with Hayrick<ref>[http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasTowns/Hayrick-Texas.htm Texas Escapes, Hayrick]</ref> as county seat. The county's first newspaper, the ''Hayrick Democrat'', began publication in 1889, but was renamed the ''Rustler''.

In 1891, after an election, the new town of [[Robert Lee, Texas|Robert Lee]]<ref>[http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasPanhandleTowns/RobertLeeTexas.htm Texas Escapes, Robert Lee]</ref> became the county seat.  [[Robert E. Lee]] had once served at Fort Chadbourne. That same year, the county's newspaper moved to the new county seat and was renamed the ''Robert Lee Observer''.

Dr. D.W. Key<ref>[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txcoke/Pioneers/wfkey.html TexGen Web Dr. Wesley Fletcher Key]</ref><ref>[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txcoke/Pioneers/Keys.html TexGenWeb Keys of West Texas]</ref> started the town of [[Bronte, Texas|Bronte]], named after English writer Charlotte Brontë.<ref>[http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasTowns/Bronte-Texas.htm Texas Escapes, Bronte]</ref><ref>[http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5081000517 Texas Historical Markers, Bronte] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301062306/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5081000517 |date=March 1, 2012 }}</ref> The town was originally named Oso and then Bronco. A post office was granted in 1890 after residents changed the name to Bronte.

Silver, named after Silver Peak Summit,<ref>[http://www.mountainzone.com/mountains/detail.asp?fid=2897056 Mountain Zone.com, Silver Peak Summit]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5081004695 |title=Texas Historical Markers, Silver |access-date=April 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301062317/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5081004695 |archive-date=March 1, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasTowns/Silver-Texas.htm Texas Escapes, Silver]</ref> was settled between 1870 and 1880 as a ranching hub. Early settlers were S.M. Conner, R.B. Allen, W.G. Jameson, and W.R. Walker. Dr. Joseph Eaton Reed was for 50 years the only physician. Oil discovery and related industries created a boom in Silver in the mid-20th century. After the oil camps closed down in 1966, Silver's population slipped drastically.

Tennyson, named in honor of the British poet [[Alfred, Lord Tennyson]] was established in 1892. It received a post office two years later.

The Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway built tracks north from San Angelo in 1907, which benefited Tennyson, Bronte, and Fort Chadbourne.

Cotton acreage peaked in 1910, but plunged sharply during the 1920s, because of a [[boll weevil]] infestation. Expanding during the same period was the production of corn, wheat, sorghum, and fruit trees. The county population declined during the [[Great Depression]].

Oil was discovered in the county in 1942, and by 1991, {{convert|209281131|oilbbl}} had been taken from Coke County lands. Tax money derived from oil profits helped the county to improve infrastructure and public facilities and services for its citizens. Oil production accounts for the major share of income for the county.<ref>[http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5081001855 Texas Historical Markers, First Producing Well in Coke County] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314204613/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5081001855 |date=March 14, 2012 }}</ref>

In 1995 Louis Jones murdered [[United States Army]] soldier [[Murder of Tracie McBride|Tracie Joy McBride]] in Coke County after having kidnapped her from [[Goodfellow Air Force Base]] in [[San Angelo, Texas]].<ref name=TDCJprofile>"[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/death_row/dr_info/jonesl.jpg Louis Jones]." [[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]]. Retrieved on July 18, 2016.</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|928|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|911|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|17|sqmi}} (1.8%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 21, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 277.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 277 in Texas|U.S. Highway 277]]
* [[Image:Texas 158.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 158|State Highway 158]]
* [[Image:Texas 208.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 208|State Highway 208]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Nolan County, Texas|Nolan County]] (north)
* [[Runnels County, Texas|Runnels County]] (east)
* [[Tom Green County, Texas|Tom Green County]] (south)
* [[Sterling County, Texas|Sterling County]] (west)
* [[Mitchell County, Texas|Mitchell County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 2059
|1900= 3430
|1910= 6412
|1920= 4557
|1930= 5253
|1940= 4590
|1950= 4045
|1960= 3589
|1970= 3087
|1980= 3196
|1990= 3424
|2000= 3864
|2010= 3320
|2020= 3285
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br />1850–2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=April 21, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Coke County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''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.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Coke County, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48081&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Coke County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48081&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Coke County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48081&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|3,079
|2,651
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,473
|79.68%
|79.85%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |75.28%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|74
|7
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7
|1.92%
|0.21%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.21%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|27
|19
|style='background: #ffffe6; |15
|0.70%
|0.57%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.46%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|3
|5
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1
|0.08%
|0.15%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|1
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6
|0.03%
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.18%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|3
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6
|0.08%
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.18%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|24
|35
|style='background: #ffffe6; |116
|0.62%
|1.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.53%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|653
|602
|style='background: #ffffe6; |661
|16.90%
|18.13%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |20.12%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''3,864'''
|'''3,320'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''3,285'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

At the 2000 [[census]],<ref name="GR8">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> 3,864 people, 1,544 households and 1,068 families resided in the county. The [[population density]] was four per square mile (2/km<sup>2</sup>). The 2,843 housing units averaged three per square&nbsp;mile. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 88.85% White, 1.94% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 6.94% from other races] and 1.40% from two or more races. About 16.90% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,544 households, 27.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were not families; 29.00% of all households was made up of individuals, and 18.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31, and the average family size was 2.84.

Age distribution was 24.40% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 20.50% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 24.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The [[median household income]] was $29,085, and the median family was $36,724. Males had a median income of $30,778 versus $19,596 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,734. About 9.70% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.00% of those under age 18 and 12.80% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Blackwell, Texas|Blackwell]] (mostly in [[Nolan County, Texas|Nolan County]])
* [[Robert Lee, Texas|Robert Lee]] (county seat)

===Town===
* [[Bronte, Texas|Bronte]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Sanco, Texas|Sanco]]
* [[Silver, Texas|Silver]]
* [[Tennyson, Texas|Tennyson]]

===Ghost towns===
* [[Edith, Texas|Edith]]
* [[Fort Chadbourne, Texas|Fort Chadbourne]]

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Coke County, Texas|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=July 20, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,623|179|12|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,586|178|15|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,265|140|18|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,218|179|11|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,252|299|18|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,338|266|6|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,137|355|23|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|790|595|161|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|640|580|394|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|863|674|5|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,060|532|8|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|708|838|12|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|517|844|16|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|761|358|15|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|387|563|209|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|366|900|3|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|575|799|14|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|549|690|6|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|576|736|5|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|65|909|34|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|65|824|70|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|94|967|5|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|68|888|10|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|57|983|7|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|450|206|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|80|673|13|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|59|444|62|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|29|484|45|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|7|301|25|Texas}}
{{U.S. SenHead|place=Coke County, Texas|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Texas by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/texas-senate-results}}</ref>}}
<!-- U.S. SenRow should be {{U.S. SenRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|1,567|218|19|Texas}}
{{U.S. SenFoot}}

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48081_coke/DC20SD_C48081.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Coke County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-11-02}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48081_coke/DC20SD_C48081_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Blackwell Consolidated Independent School District]]
* [[Bronte Independent School District]]
* [[Robert Lee Independent School District]]
* [[Water Valley Independent School District]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Coke County, Texas]]
* [[List of Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (Cameron-Duval)#Coke County|Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Coke County]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.co.coke.tx.us/ Coke County government's website]
* [https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcc14 Coke County in ''Handbook of Texas Online'']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131002204810/http://www.txcip.org/tac/census/profile.php?FIPS=48081 Coke County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Coke County, Texas
|North     = [[Nolan County, Texas|Nolan County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Runnels County, Texas|Runnels County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Tom Green County, Texas|Tom Green County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Sterling County, Texas|Sterling County]]
|Northwest = [[Mitchell County, Texas|Mitchell County]]
}}

{{Coke County, Texas}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|31.88|-100.53|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}


[[Category:Coke County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:1889 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1889]]