Editing Lampasas County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Lampasas County
 | state                = Texas
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = 1856
 | seat wl              = Lampasas
 | largest city wl      = Lampasas
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 714
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 713
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.1
 | area percentage      = 0.2
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 21,627
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | ex image             = Lampasas County Courthouse September 2020.jpg
 | ex image size        = 250
 | ex image cap         = The Lampasas County Courthouse was completed in 1884. The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 21, 1971.
 | web                  = www.co.lampasas.tx.us
 | time zone            = Central
 | named for            = [[Lampasas River]]
 | district             = 11th
}}

'''Lampasas County''' ({{IPAc-en|l|æ|m|ˈ|p|æ|s|ə|s}} {{respell|lam|PASS|əs}}) 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 21,627.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lampasas County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48281|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=February 23, 2021}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Lampasas, Texas|Lampasas]].<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}}</ref> The county is named for the [[Lampasas River]].

Lampasas County is part of the [[Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood metropolitan area]].

==History==

[[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indigenous peoples]] were the first inhabitants of the area. Later known tribes in the area included [[Tonkawa]], [[Lipan Apache people|Lipan Apache]] and [[Comanche]].<ref name="Lampasas County">{{cite web|last=Rhoades|first=Alice J|title=Lampasas County|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcl03|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> The Aguayo expedition is said to have passed through the county in 1721.<ref>{{cite book|last=Greene|first=A C|title=Sketches from the Five States of Texas|year=1998|publisher=TAMU Press|isbn=978-0-89096-853-6|page=18}}</ref>
In 1756 a presidio was established by Don Pedro de Terreros with the assistance of elements of the Spanish Army, at the confluence of Lucy Creek and Arroya Cavalto. The effort was abandoned not long after, but the site remained as a base of operations by Thomas Isaac Cox, a member of Terreros' original expedition, for the purpose of obtaining hundreds of Texas mustangs for use by the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://upload.latest.facebook.com/LampasasHeritageFoundation/posts/2571266179817611 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/2360970920847139/2571266179817611 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |url-access=limited|title=Log into Facebook}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 1853 Moses Hughes and his invalid wife, Hannah (Berry), became the first permanent settlers, seeking to take advantage of the medicinal springs.<ref name="Lampasas County, TX">{{cite book|last=Lampasas County Museum Foundation|title=Lampasas County, TX|year=2009|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-5881-3|pages=7–8}}</ref> John Patterson was the first man to cultivate land in the county, in 1854.<ref>{{cite web|title=John Patterson|url=http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5281002797|work=Texas Historical Markers|publisher=William Nienke, Sam Morrow|access-date=November 29, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718162425/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5281002797|archive-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref> In 1855 Elizabeth and George W. Scott laid out the town of Burleson, named for her father. The town was renamed [[Lampasas, Texas|Lampasas]], when it became the county seat;<ref name="Lampasas County"/> the Sixth Texas Legislature formed Lampasas County, named after the [[Lampasas River]], from parts of [[Travis County, Texas|Travis]], [[Bell County, Texas|Bell]], and [[Coryell County, Texas|Coryell]] Counties, in 1856.<ref name="Lampasas County, TX"/> In 1858 The northeastern corner of Lampasas County became part of [[Hamilton County, Texas|Hamilton County]].<ref name="Lampasas County"/> In 1887 [[Mills County, Texas|Mills County]] received northern and northwestern sections of Lampasas County.<ref name="Lampasas County"/>

The Lampasas Guards were organized to ward off Indian attacks in 1859.<ref>{{cite book|last=Anderson|first=Daniel|title=Ten Deadly Texans |year=2009|publisher=Pelican Publishing|isbn=978-1-58980-599-6|author2=Yadon, Lawrence |page=105}}</ref> Indian raids increased in 1861, as able-bodied men were off fighting in the war.<ref name="Lampasas County, TX"/>

In 1872 Townsen's Mill was built by Perry and Jasper Townsen. This steam mill cut "rawhide" lumber and ground wheat and corn.<ref>{{cite web|title=Towsen's Mill|url=http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5281005540|work=Texas Historical Markers|publisher=William Nienke, Sam Morrow|access-date=November 29, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718162438/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5281005540|archive-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref> Henry A. Chadwick and son Milam built a sawmill, flour mill and cotton gin in 1874.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chadwick's Mill|url=http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5281000797|work=Texas Historical Markers|publisher=William Nienke, Sam Morrow|access-date=November 29, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718162456/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5281000797|archive-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref>
In 1875 the [[Farmers' Alliance]] was born in Lampasas in reaction against the cattle rustling and illegal land dealings prevalent in the county.<ref name="Lampasas County"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Pleasant Valley Farmers' Alliance No. 1|url=http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5281004055|work=Texas Historical Markers|publisher=William Nienke, Sam Morrow|access-date=November 29, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314205038/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5281004055|archive-date=March 14, 2012}}</ref>
1877 saw the gunfight at the Lampasas Saloon.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gunfight at the Lampasas Saloon|url=http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5281012015|work=Texas Historical Markers|publisher=William Nienke, Sam Morrow|access-date=November 29, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718162517/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5281012015|archive-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref>

In 1882 The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway extended its line west from Belton to Lampasas.<ref name="Lampasas County, TX"/> The Texas Power and Light Company arrived in Lampasas County in the 1920s,<ref name="Lampasas County"/> and in 1934 the [[Lower Colorado River Authority]] brought electricity to the county.<ref name="Lampasas County"/> Lone Star Gas established services in the county in 1949.<ref name="Lampasas County"/>

During [[World War II]] in 1942, [[Fort Hood]] opened as a military training base. Hancock Park in Lampasas was temporarily turned over to the troops as a recreational area.<ref name="Lampasas County, TX"/>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|714|sqmi|abbr=on}}, of which  {{convert|1.1|sqmi|abbr=on}} (0.2%) 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=May 3, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Major highways===
*[[Image:US 183.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Highway 183]]
*[[Image:US 190.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Highway 190]]
*[[Image:US 281.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Highway 281]]

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Hamilton County, Texas|Hamilton County]] (north)
*[[Coryell County, Texas|Coryell County]] (northeast)
*[[Bell County, Texas|Bell County]] (southeast)
*[[Burnet County, Texas|Burnet County]] (south)
*[[San Saba County, Texas|San Saba County]] (west)
*[[Mills County, Texas|Mills County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 1028
|1870= 1344
|1880= 5421
|1890= 7584
|1900= 8625
|1910= 9532
|1920= 8800
|1930= 8677
|1940= 9167
|1950= 9929
|1960= 9418
|1970= 9323
|1980= 12005
|1990= 13521
|2000= 17762
|2010= 19677
|2020= 21627
|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 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=May 3, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Lampasas 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 – Lampasas County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48281&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) – Lampasas County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48281&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) – Lampasas County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48281&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|14,121
|14,836
|style='background: #ffffe6; |15,132
|79.50%
|75.40%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |69.97%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|511
|581
|style='background: #ffffe6; |700
|2.88%
|2.95%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.24%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|88
|127
|style='background: #ffffe6; |115
|0.50%
|0.65%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.53%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|126
|184
|style='background: #ffffe6; |242
|0.71%
|0.94%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.12%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|8
|35
|style='background: #ffffe6; |86
|0.05%
|0.18%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.40%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other Race]] alone (NH)
|8
|31
|style='background: #ffffe6; |100
|0.05%
|0.16%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.46%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|223
|440
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,073
|1.26%
|2.24%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.96%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|2,677
|3,443
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,179
|15.07%
|17.50%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |19.32%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''17,762'''
|'''19,677'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''21,627'''
|'''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}}</ref> of 2000, 17,762 people, 6,554 households, and 4,876 families were residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|25|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people|people|abbr=on}}. The 7,601 housing units averaged {{convert|11|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 86.75% White, 3.10% African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 6.55% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. About 15.07% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 6,554 households, 35.10% had children under 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were not families. About 21.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66, and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, age distribution was 27.60% under 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,176, and for a family was $41,395. Males had a median income of $30,320 versus $20,637 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,184. About 10.70% of families and 14.10% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.70% of those under 18 and 14.80% of those 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Cities===
*[[Copperas Cove, Texas|Copperas Cove]] (mostly in [[Coryell County, Texas|Coryell County]] and a small part in [[Bell County, Texas|Bell County]])
*[[Kempner, Texas|Kempner]]
*[[Lampasas, Texas|Lampasas]] (county seat)
*[[Lometa, Texas|Lometa]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Adamsville, Texas|Adamsville]]
* [[Bend, Texas|Bend]] (partly in [[San Saba County, Texas|San Saba County]])
* [[Izoro, Texas|Izoro]]
* [[Moline, Texas|Moline]] (partly in [[Mills County, Texas|Mills County]])
* [[Nix, Texas|Nix]]
* [[Rumley, Texas|Rumley]]

===Ghost town===
*[[Senterfitt, Texas|Senterfitt]]

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Lampasas 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 26, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|8,961|2,232|128|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|8,086|2,144|169|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|6,385|1,483|337|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,621|1,479|104|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,651|1,903|80|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,422|1,593|10|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,526|1,569|119|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|3,008|1,819|535|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|2,233|1,508|1,444|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,000|1,954|12|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,285|1,356|12|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,323|1,979|79|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,563|2,376|43|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,251|688|10|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|935|1,423|460|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|744|2,224|2|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,222|1,372|15|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,308|1,134|5|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,478|1,199|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|276|1,459|72|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|212|1,693|161|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|244|2,006|1|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|134|1,462|3|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|120|1,824|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|899|567|10|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|228|1,596|22|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|227|778|343|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|113|848|34|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|67|517|141|Texas}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas}}
*[[List of museums in Central Texas]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lampasas County, Texas]]
*[[List of Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (Hunt-Martin)#Lampasas County|Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Lampasas County]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Handbook of Texas|id=hcl03|name=Lampasas County}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Lampasas County, Texas
|North     = [[Hamilton County, Texas|Hamilton County]]
|Northeast = [[Coryell County, Texas|Coryell County]]
|East      =
|Southeast = [[Bell County, Texas|Bell County]]
|South     = [[Burnet County, Texas|Burnet County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[San Saba County, Texas|San Saba County]]
|Northwest = [[Mills County, Texas|Mills County]]
}}

{{Lampasas County, Texas}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|31.19|-98.24|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Lampasas County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:1856 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1856]]
[[Category:Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Texas Hill Country]]