Editing Hamilton County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Hamilton County
 | state                = Texas
 | founded year         = 1858
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Hamilton
 | largest city wl      = Hamilton
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 836
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 836
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 0.5
 | area percentage      = 0.06
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 8222
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = https://www.co.hamilton.tx.us/
 | named for            = [[James Hamilton Jr.]]
 | ex image             = Hamilton County Courthouse September 2020.jpg
 | ex image size        = 250
 | ex image cap         = The [[Hamilton County Courthouse (Texas)|Hamilton County Courthouse]] in [[Hamilton, Texas]]. The building was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on September 4, 1980.
 | district             = 31st
}}

'''Hamilton 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 8,222.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hamilton County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48193|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=February 23, 2021}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Hamilton, Texas|Hamilton]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|accessdate=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was created in 1858.<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|accessdate=May 24, 2015|archive-date=April 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412140748/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/TX_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is named for [[James Hamilton Jr.]],<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/n147 148]}}</ref> a former [[governor of South Carolina]] who gave financial aid to the [[Republic of Texas]].

==History==
[[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indigenous peoples]] were the first inhabitants of the area. Later [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribes settled in the area, including [[Tawakoni]], [[Tonkawa]], [[Waco people|Waco]] and [[Comanche]].<ref>[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hch03 Handbook of Texas, Hamilton County]</ref>

In 1821, shortly after [[Mexico]] claimed its independence from [[Spain]], Anglo settlers from the North came to Texas, claiming Mexican citizenship.

Following [[Texas Declaration of Independence|Texas's independence from Mexico]] (1836) and its [[Texas Annexation|annexation]] by the United States (1845), Robert Carter and family became the first permanent [[white people|white]] settlers in the county in 1854. The next year, settlers James Rice, Henry Standefer, Frederic Bookerman, William Beauchamp, and Asa Langford formed a community that later becomes the town of [[Hamilton, Texas|Hamilton]]. Asa Langford began Langford's Cove, which later grows into present-day [[Evant, Texas|Evant]]. In 1858 the Sixth Texas Legislature formed Hamilton County, named after [[James Hamilton Jr.]], from parts of [[Comanche County, Texas|Comanche]], [[Bosque County, Texas|Bosque]], and [[Lampasas County, Texas|Lampasas]] counties. In 1858, Hamilton was named the county seat.

Despite growing white settlements in Texas, Indian tribal presences remained. In 1867, Comanche raiders attacked a school where Ann Whitney was the teacher. She helped students escape before finally succumbing to 18 Comanche arrows.<ref>[http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5193005793 Texas Historical Markers, Ann Whitney] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301062024/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5193005793 |date=March 1, 2012 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasPersonalities/Ann-Whitney.htm Texas Escapes, Details of Comanche Attack]</ref>

In 1882, the [[Hico, Texas|Hico]] community initiated the annual Hico Old Settlers' Reunion.<ref>[http://hico-tx.com/hico-old-settlers-reunion.html Hico Old Settlers' Reunion] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325083341/http://hico-tx.com/hico-old-settlers-reunion.html |date=March 25, 2010 }}</ref>

By 1900, [[cotton]] cultivation had spread to almost {{convert|47500|acre|km2}} of county land. By 1907, the [[Stephenville North and South Texas Railway]] had connected Hamilton with [[Stephenville, Texas|Stephenville]]. The [[St. Louis Southwestern Railway of Texas]] connected Hamilton with [[Gatesville, Texas|Gatesville]] and [[Comanche, Texas|Comanche]] in 1911.

In 1934, the [[Civil Works Administration]]'s payroll included 747 Hamilton County men, who together earned about $2,000 per day.

In 1950, [[Ollie P. Roberts]] (also known as Ollie L. Roberts, "Brushy Bill" Roberts, or William Henry Roberts), a resident of Hico during the late 1940s, claimed to have been the outlaw [[Billy The Kid]]. The assertion is based on a legend that [[Pat Garrett|Patrick F. Garrett]] helped Billy fake his own death. Hico Chamber of Commerce responded by opening a Billy The Kid Museum.<ref>[http://hico-tx.com/billy-the-kid-legend.html Billy The Kid Legend] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330201836/http://hico-tx.com/billy-the-kid-legend.html |date=March 30, 2010 }}</ref>

In 2009, Hamilton was invaded by the West Texas Rattlesnake.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|836|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|836|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.5|sqmi}} (0.06%) is 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|accessdate=April 28, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 84.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 84 in Texas|U.S. Highway 84]]
* [[Image:US 281.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 281 in Texas|U.S. Highway 281]]
* [[Image:Texas 6.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 6|State Highway 6]]
* [[Image:Texas 22.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 22|State Highway 22]]
* [[Image:Texas 36.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 36|State Highway 36]]
* [[Image:Texas 220.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 220|State Highway 220]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Erath County, Texas|Erath County]] (north)
* [[Bosque County, Texas|Bosque County]] (northeast)
* [[Coryell County, Texas|Coryell County]] (southeast)
* [[Lampasas County, Texas|Lampasas County]] (south)
* [[Mills County, Texas|Mills County]] (southwest)
* [[Comanche County, Texas|Comanche County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 489
|1870= 733
|1880= 6365
|1890= 6313
|1900= 13520
|1910= 15315
|1920= 14676
|1930= 13523
|1940= 13303
|1950= 10660
|1960= 8488
|1970= 7198
|1980= 8297
|1990= 7733
|2000= 8229
|2010= 8517
|2020= 8222
|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 of Population and Housing by Decades|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|accessdate=April 28, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Hamilton 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 – Hamilton County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48193&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) – Hamilton County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48193&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) – Hamilton County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48193&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|7,498
|7,495
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6,805
|91.12%
|88.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |82.77%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|11
|38
|style='background: #ffffe6; |32
|0.13%
|0.45%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.39%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|34
|31
|style='background: #ffffe6; |37
|0.41%
|0.36%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.45%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|12
|31
|style='background: #ffffe6; |36
|0.15%
|0.36%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.44%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|4
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2
|0.05%
|0.01%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.02%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other Race]] alone (NH)
|1
|3
|style='background: #ffffe6; |17
|0.01%
|0.04%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.21%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|59
|55
|style='background: #ffffe6; |248
|0.72%
|0.65%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.02%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|610
|863
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,045
|7.41%
|10.13%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12.71%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''8,229'''
|'''8,517'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''8,222'''
|'''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]]|accessdate=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 8,229 people, 3,374 households, and 2,324 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 4,455 housing units at an average density of {{convert|5|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 93.81% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.15% (12) [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.44% (36) [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.15% (12) [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.05% (4) [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4.36% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.05% from two or more races. 7.41% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 3,374 households, out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 28.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.89. As of the 2010 census, there were about 2.9 [[Same-sex relationship|same-sex couples]] per 1,000 households in the county.<ref name=newyorktimes>{{citation |title=Where Same-Sex Couples Live|work=The New York Times |date=June 26, 2015|accessdate=July 6, 2015|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/upshot/supreme-court-gay-marriage-ruling-where-same-sex-couples-live.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=0}}</ref>

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.80% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 23.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,150, and the median income for a family was $39,494. Males had a median income of $26,703 versus $20,192 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,800. About 10.60% of families and 14.20% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.20% of those under age 18 and 13.80% of those age 65 or over.

==Notable person==
* [[Ollie P. Roberts|Brushy Bill]], the man who claimed to be the infamous outlaw, [[Billy the Kid]], died in [[Hico, Texas#"Brushy Bill" Roberts and Billy the Kid|Hico, Texas]] and is buried in Hamilton County.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

==Media==
Hamilton County is currently listed as part of the [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]]-[[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]] [[Designated Market Area|DMA]]. Local media outlets include: [[KDFW-TV]], [[KXAS-TV]], [[WFAA-TV]], [[KTVT-TV]], [[KERA-TV]], [[KTXA-TV]], [[KDFI-TV]], [[KDAF-TV]], and [[KFWD-TV]]. Because the county is located in [[Central Texas]] and neighbors the [[Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area]], all of the [[Waco, Texas|Waco]]/[[Temple, Texas|Temple]]/[[Killeen, Texas|Killeen]] market stations also provide coverage for Hamilton County. They include: [[KCEN-TV]], [[KWTX-TV]], [[KXXV-TV]], [[KWKT-TV]], [[KNCT (TV)]], and [[KAKW-DT]].

==Communities==

===Cities===
* [[Cranfills Gap, Texas|Cranfills Gap]] (mostly in [[Bosque County, Texas|Bosque County]])
* [[Hamilton, Texas|Hamilton]] (county seat)
* [[Hico, Texas|Hico]]

===Town===
* [[Evant, Texas|Evant]] (partly in [[Coryell County, Texas|Coryell County]])

=== Census-designated place ===

* [[Carlton, Texas|Carlton]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Aleman, Texas|Aleman]]
* [[Fairy, Texas|Fairy]]
* [[Gentry's Mill, Texas|Gentry's Mill]]
* [[Indian Gap, Texas|Indian Gap]]
* [[Jonesboro, Texas|Jonesboro]] (also in [[Coryell County, Texas|Coryell County]])
* [[Olin, Texas|Olin]] 
* [[Pottsville, Texas|Pottsville]] 
* [[Shive, Texas|Shive]]
* [[Whiteway, Texas|Whiteway]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost Town===
* [[McGirk, Texas|McGirk]]

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48193_hamilton/DC20SD_C48193.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hamilton County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-09-24}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48193_hamilton/DC20SD_C48193_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Cranfills Gap Independent School District]]
* [[Evant Independent School District]]
* [[Goldthwaite Consolidated Independent School District]]
* [[Hamilton Independent School District]]
* [[Hico Independent School District]]
* [[Jonesboro Independent School District]]

Hamilton County is in the service area, defined by the Texas Education Code, of [[Central Texas College]].<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Section 130.171, "Central Texas College District Service Area"].</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File: Hamilton County Historical Marker.jpg | Hamilton County [[Texas Historical Commission|historical marker]]
File: Brushy Bill Gravesite.jpg | Gravestone of [[Brushy Bill Roberts]], who claimed to be [[Billy the Kid]]
File: Hico31 (1 of 1).jpg | Billy the Kid statue in [[Hico, Texas|Hico]]
File: St.olaf.kirke.jpg | [[St. Olaf Kirke]], just outside of [[Cranfills Gap, Texas|Cranfills Gap]]
</gallery>

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Hamilton 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|accessdate=July 25, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,809|625|46|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,616|641|94|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,060|479|81|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,918|591|43|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,876|863|39|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,856|845|29|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,447|878|51|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,493|1,200|338|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,232|1,100|927|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,718|1,355|13|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,118|1,130|10|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,683|1,526|58|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,176|1,981|32|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,931|685|1|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,266|1,116|452|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,006|2,048|2|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,592|1,136|9|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,709|1,124|10|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,130|1,313|5|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|478|1,725|136|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|344|1,790|365|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|655|2,263|4|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|202|1,929|1|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|164|2,474|4|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|927|989|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|202|2,035|90|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|422|1,075|175|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|201|1,231|29|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|67|992|177|Texas}}
{{U.S. SenHead|place=Hamilton 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|3,699|679|96|Texas}}
{{U.S. SenFoot}}

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

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.co.hamilton.tx.us Official Hamilton County Site]
* {{Handbook of Texas|id=hch03|name=Hamilton County}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Hamilton County, Texas
|North     = [[Erath County, Texas|Erath County]]
|Northeast = [[Bosque County, Texas|Bosque County]]
|East      =
|Southeast = [[Coryell County, Texas|Coryell County]]
|South     = [[Lampasas County, Texas|Lampasas County]]
|Southwest = [[Mills County, Texas|Mills County]]
|West      =
|Northwest = [[Comanche County, Texas|Comanche County]]
}}

{{Hamilton County, Texas}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}

{{coord|31.70|-98.11|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Hamilton County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:1858 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1858]]