Editing Crane County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county           = Crane County
| state            = Texas
| seal             =
| founded          = 1927
| seat wl          = Crane
| largest city wl  = Crane
| area_total_sq_mi = 786
| area_land_sq_mi  = 785
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.7
| area percentage  = 0.08
| census yr        = 2020
| pop              = 4675
| density_sq_mi    = auto
| ex image         = 2019 Crane County Courthouse.jpg
| ex image size    = 250px
| ex image cap     = Crane County Courthouse in Crane
| web              = www.co.crane.tx.us
| time zone        = Central
| district         = 23rd
| named for        = [[William Carey Crane]]
}}

[[File:Road to Castle Gap in Crane County, TX DSCN1111.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Road to Castle Gap between [[Crane, Texas|Crane]] and [[McCamey, Texas|McCamey]], Texas]]

[[File:Graves at Crane County Cemetery, Crane, TX DSCN1371.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Graves at Crane County Cemetery off [[U.S. Route 385]]]]

'''Crane County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 4,675.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Crane County, Texas|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/cranecountytexas/PST120221|access-date=January 31, 2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|archive-date=December 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205113149/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/cranecountytexas/PST120221|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Crane County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48103|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=February 23, 2021|archive-date=March 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311002256/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48103|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Crane, Texas|Crane]].<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 created in 1887 and later organized in 1927.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/TX_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Texas: Individual County Chronologies|work=Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=[[Newberry Library|The Newberry Library]]|date=2008|access-date=May 21, 2015|archive-date=May 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513024355/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/TX_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was named for [[William Carey Crane]], a president of [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated [[Baylor University]] in [[Waco, Texas|Waco]], Texas.

==History==

===Native Americans===

[[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indigenous peoples]] were the first inhabitants of the area. Later Indian tribes included [[Comanches]], [[Lipan Apache people|Lipan Apache]], and [[Kiowa]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Newcomb Jr|first=W W|title=The Indians of Texas: From Prehistoric to Modern Times|year=1972|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=978-0-292-78425-3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/indiansoftexasfr00newc/page/85 85–102]|chapter=From Foot to Horse|chapter-url-access=registration|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/indiansoftexasfr00newc/page/85}}</ref>

===County establishment and growth===

Crane County was formed in 1887 from [[Tom Green County, Texas|Tom Green County]], and named after William Carey Crane, former president of Baylor University. Settlement came years later, and the county was not organized until 1927. In 1900, the United States census enumerated only 51 people and 12 ranches in the county. As late as 1918, the county had no roads.<ref name="Crane County, Texas">{{cite web|last=Leffler|first=John|title=Crane County, Texas|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcc25|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=December 13, 2010|archive-date=December 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221162325/http://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcc25|url-status=live}}</ref>

Church and Fields Exploration Company obtained a permit late in 1925 to drill for oil. The first well came in March 1926.<ref>{{cite book|last=Warner|first=C.A.|title=Texas Oil & Gas Since 1543 |year=2007|publisher=Copano Bay Press |isbn=978-0-9767799-5-7|author2=Thompson, Ernest O|page=295}}</ref>

By 1927, an estimated 6,000 people were in the county, with 4,500 of them within the city of Crane.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.texasescapes.com/WestTexasTowns/CraneTexas/CraneTx.htm |title=Texas Escapes, Crane |access-date=April 16, 2010 |archive-date=July 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720200951/http://www.texasescapes.com/WestTexasTowns/CraneTexas/CraneTx.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Water was trucked in and brought from $1.00 to $2.25 a barrel, though at times the rates could be as high as $5.00 a barrel. A barrel of drinking water would typically last a month if used judiciously, and barrels of nonpotable water were available for cleaning and washing purposes. Crane City was incorporated in the early 1930s, and with that came state funds for the building of a city water system. 
At the same time, the Texas Rangers were working to clean up oil towns, and the population in Crane began to include more families. As such, numerous raids by law enforcement closed the red light district centered on Alford Street. 
By the beginning of 1991, almost {{convert|1552324000|oilbbl}} of oil had been produced in the county since discovery in 1926.

County history is preserved in the Museum of the Desert Southwest, which opened in Crane in 1980.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|786|sqmi|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|785|sqmi|abbr=on}} are land and {{convert|0.7|sqmi}} (0.08%) is 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|archive-date=March 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309153527/http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[File:US 385.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 385 in Texas|U.S. Highway 385]]
* [[File:Texas 329.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 329|State Highway 329]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Ector County, Texas|Ector County]] (north)
* [[Upton County, Texas|Upton County]] (east)
* [[Crockett County, Texas|Crockett County]] (south)
* [[Pecos County, Texas|Pecos County]] (south)
* [[Ward County, Texas|Ward County]] (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 15
|1900= 51
|1910= 331
|1920= 37
|1930= 2221
|1940= 2841
|1950= 3965
|1960= 4699
|1970= 4172
|1980= 4600
|1990= 4652
|2000= 3996
|2010= 4375
|2020= 4675
|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=|archive-date=July 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706023553/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|url-status=live}}</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;"
|+'''Crane 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 – Crane County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48103&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) – Crane County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48103&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=March 11, 2022|archive-date=March 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311002256/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48103&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|url-status=live}}</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) – Crane County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48103&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=March 11, 2022|archive-date=March 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311001722/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48103&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|url-status=live}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|2,083
|1,761
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,342
|52.13%
|40.25%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |28.71%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|116
|122
|style='background: #ffffe6; |70
|2.90%
|2.79%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.50%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|14
|34
|style='background: #ffffe6; |14
|0.35%
|0.78%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.30%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|14
|13
|style='background: #ffffe6; |22
|0.35%
|0.30%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.47%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|0
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0
|0.00%
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|1
|10
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1
|0.03%
|0.23%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.02%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|15
|26
|style='background: #ffffe6; |68
|0.38%
|0.59%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.45%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,753
|2,409
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,158
|43.87%
|55.06%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |67.55%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''3,996'''
|'''4,375'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''4,675'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[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 |archive-date=December 27, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/https://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref> of 2000, 3,996 people, 1,360 households, and 1,082 families resided in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|spell=in}}. The 1,596 housing units averaged {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|spell=in}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 73.70% White, 2.90% Black or African American, 0.98% Native American, 0.35%, 19.49% from other races, and 2.58% from two or more races. About 43.87% of the population were Hispanic/Latino of any race.

Of the 1,360 households, 43.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.80% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.40% were not families. About 18.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91, and the average family size was 3.35.

In the county, the population was distributed as 31.90% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 10.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,194, and for a family was $36,820. Males had a median income of $33,438 versus $16,806 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $15,374. About 12.40% of families and 13.40% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.30% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==

The largest segment of the local economy is oil and gas production. The Waddell Ranch contains the single biggest portion of the [[Permian Basin Royalty Trust]], with over 800 producing oil wells as of 2007. Crane County is one of the largest oil-producing counties in Texas, with a total of {{convert|1.5|Goilbbl|m3}} of oil pumped since oil was first discovered there. Cattle ranching and local government are other large employers; over {{convert|503000|acre|km2}} of land are used for livestock grazing.<ref name="Crane County, Texas"/>

==Communities==
* [[Crane, Texas|Crane]] (county seat)

==Education==
All of the county is in the [[Crane Independent School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48103_crane/DC20SD_C48103.pdf|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48103_crane/DC20SD_C48103.pdf|archive-date=October 9, 2022|url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Crane County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=June 28, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48103_crane/DC20SD_C48103_SD2MS.txt Text list] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628192228/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48103_crane/DC20SD_C48103_SD2MS.txt |date=June 28, 2022 }}</ref>

All of the county is in the service area of [[Odessa College]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm |title=Texas Education Code, Section 130.193, "Odessa College District Service Area". |access-date=June 28, 2022 |archive-date=September 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922180708/https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Politics==
Crane County has been dominated by the Republican Party since 1972.
{{PresHead|place=Crane 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 21, 2018|archive-date=March 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,195|186|9|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,247|241|16|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,049|299|36|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|985|275|23|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,119|319|16|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,314|254|6|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,246|387|21|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|984|616|215|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|918|514|413|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,219|596|3|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,473|392|9|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,310|607|34|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|963|664|53|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,123|349|50|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|493|498|712|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|637|919|3|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|678|848|42|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|626|707|15|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|621|857|10|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|70|812|39|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|58|552|29|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|68|815|1|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|25|622|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|37|416|1|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1928|Democratic|127|159|0|Texas}}
{{U.S. SenHead|place=Crane 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|1,115|196|27|Texas}}
{{U.S. SenFoot}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [[List of Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (Cameron-Duval)#Crane County|Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Crane County]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090210000127/http://www.co.crane.tx.us/ips/cms Crane County Government Website]
* {{Handbook of Texas|id=hcc25|name=Crane County}}
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-5827:173 Entry for William Carey Crane] from the [https://archive.today/20121205004737/http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-5827 ''Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas''] published 1880, hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History.]
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-25225 ''Inventory of county records, Crane County courthouse, Crane, Texas''], hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History]

{{Geographic location
| Centre    = Crane County, Texas
| North     = [[Ector County, Texas|Ector County]]
| Northeast =
| East      = [[Upton County, Texas|Upton County]]
| Southeast = [[Crockett County, Texas|Crockett County]]
| South     = [[Pecos County, Texas|Pecos County]]
| Southwest =
| West      = [[Ward County, Texas|Ward County]]
| Northwest =
}}

{{Crane County, Texas}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}

{{Coord|31.41|-102.52|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990|display=title}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Crane County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:1927 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1927]]
[[Category:Majority-minority counties in Texas]]