Editing Reagan County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county        = Reagan County
 | state                = Texas
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = 1903
 | seat wl            = Big Lake
 | largest city wl    = Big Lake
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1176
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1175
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 0.7
 | area percentage      = 0.06
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop           = 3385 {{gain}}
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 
 | density_sq_mi        = 2.9
 | ex image             = Reagan County courthouse May 2020-2.jpg
 | ex image size        = 250
 | ex image cap         = The Reagan County Courthouse in Big Lake
 | web                  = http://www.reagancountytexas.us/
 | time zone           = Central
 | named for            = [[John Henninger Reagan]]
 | district             = 23rd }}
[[File:Santa Rita No. 1 rig.jpg|thumb|300px|Santa Rita No. 1 rig, used in the discovery of the Big Lake Oil Field in 1923.]]
'''Reagan County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] on the [[Edwards Plateau]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 3,385.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reagan County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48383|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=February 23, 2021}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Big Lake, Texas|Big Lake]].<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 after [[John Henninger Reagan]] (1818–1905), who was the postmaster general of the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate States]] and also a [[United States Senate|U.S. senator]], [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. representative]], and first chairman of the [[Railroad Commission of Texas]].

==History==
The region was first inhabited by [[Paleo-Indian]], [[Suma-Jumano]], [[Kiowa]] and [[Comanche]] peoples.<ref name="Reagan County">{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Julia Cauble|title=Reagan County|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcr03|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> Captains Hernán Martín and Diego del Castillo explored the region in 1650.<ref>{{cite web|title=Martin-Castillo Expedition|url=http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5383003232|work=Texas Historical Markers|publisher=William Nienke, Sam Morrow|access-date=November 29, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301061919/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5383003232|archive-date=March 1, 2012}}</ref> In 1684, [[Juan Domínguez de Mendoza]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Weddle|first=Robert S|title=Juan Domínguez de Mendoza|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fdo52|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> and Nicolás López<ref>{{cite web|title=Nicolás López|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/flo20|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> reported on local indigenous groups.<ref>{{cite web|title=American Journeys|url=http://www.americanjourneys.org/aj-017/summary/index.asp|publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref>

[[Butterfield Overland Mail]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Richardson|first=Rupert N|title=The Butterfield Overland Mail|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/egb01|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> which operated from 1858 to 1861, crossed through the center of the county. In 1878, Camp Grierson's Spring was established as a subpost of [[Fort Concho]] and named in honor of Col. Benjamin H. Grierson.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilkerson|first=Lyn|title=American Trails Revisited: Following in the Footsteps of the Western Pioneers|year=2003|publisher=iUniverse, Inc|isbn=978-0-595-28262-3|page=277}}</ref>

In 1903, Reagan County was carved from [[Tom Green County, Texas|Tom Green County]] and named for [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] [[John Henninger Reagan]]. [[Stiles, Texas|Stiles]], named after local rancher William G. Stiles, became the first county seat.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stiles, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Texas_ghost_towns/Stiles_Texas/Stiles_texas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=exas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> The [[Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway|Kansas City, Mexico and Orient of Texas Railway]] was completed in 1911.<ref>{{cite web|last=Werner|first=George C|title=Kansas City, Mexico and Orient of Texas Railway|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/eqk05|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref>

In 1923, oil was discovered at the Big Lake Oilfield in the [[Permian Basin (North America)|Permian Basin]]. Big Lake Oilfield, located on [[University of Texas System]] land, opened the Permian Basin to oil production and endowed the [[Permanent University Fund]]. The rig was named Santa Rita #1 for [[Rita of Cascia|The Patron Saint of the Impossible]].<ref name="Oil in Texas: The Gusher Age, 1895-1945">{{cite book|last=Olien|first=Roger M and Diana|title=Oil in Texas: The Gusher Age, 1895–1945 |year=2002|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=978-0-292-76056-1|pages=138–167|chapter=Oil in Cow Country}}</ref> [[Big Lake, Texas|Big Lake]] was incorporated as a city.<ref>{{cite web|title=Big Lake, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Big_Lake_Texas/Big_Lake_Texas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Big Lake, Texas">{{cite web|url=http://www.biglaketx.com/Big%20Lake%20Texas%20History.html|title=Big Lake, Texas History|publisher=biglaketx.com|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707234117/http://www.biglaketx.com/Big%20Lake%20Texas%20History.html|archive-date=July 7, 2011}}</ref> In 1924, shortly after the oil boom, the town community of [[Best, Texas|Best]] plunged into vice and violence, necessitating the intervention of the [[Texas Rangers Division|Texas Rangers]]. The Rangers destroyed buildings that were being used as brothels, gambling houses, and saloons.<ref>{{cite web|title=Best, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasGhostTowns/Best-Texas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> In 1925, the county seat was moved to Big Lake by a vote.<ref name="Big Lake, Texas" /> The following year, the Big Lake Oil Company established [[Texon, Texas|Texon]] for its employees and their families, with a devotion to family life.<ref>{{cite web|title=Texon, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Texas_ghost_towns/Texon_Texas/Texon_Texas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref>

In 1951, there was a renewed oil boom from production in the [[Spraberry Trend]].<ref name="Oil in Texas: The Gusher Age, 1895-1945" />

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1176|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1175|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|0.7|sqmi}} (0.06%) 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 9, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> The [[Spraberry Trend]], the third-largest oil field in the United States by remaining reserves, underlies much of the county.<ref>[http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/natural_gas/data_publications/crude_oil_natural_gas_reserves/current/pdf/appb.pdf Top 100 Oil and Gas Fields] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515062119/http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/natural_gas/data_publications/crude_oil_natural_gas_reserves/current/pdf/appb.pdf |date=May 15, 2009 }}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 67.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 67 in Texas|U.S. Highway 67]]
* [[Image:Texas 137.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 137|State Highway 137]]
* [[Image:Texas RM 33.svg|20px]] [[Ranch to Market Road 33]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Glasscock County, Texas|Glasscock County]] (north)
* [[Sterling County, Texas|Sterling County]] (northeast)
* [[Tom Green County, Texas|Tom Green County]] (east)
* [[Irion County, Texas|Irion County]] (east)
* [[Crockett County, Texas|Crockett County]] (south)
* [[Upton County, Texas|Upton County]] (west)
* [[Midland County, Texas|Midland County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 392
|1920= 377
|1930= 3028
|1940= 1997
|1950= 3127
|1960= 3782
|1970= 3239
|1980= 4135
|1990= 4514
|2000= 3326
|2010= 3367
|2020= 3385
|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=May 9, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Reagan 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 – Reagan County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48383&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) – Reagan County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48383&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) – Reagan County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48383&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|1,545
|1,219
|style='background: #ffffe6; |968
|46.45%
|36.20%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |28.60%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|94
|65
|style='background: #ffffe6; |33
|2.83%
|1.93%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.97%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|10
|7
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12
|0.30%
|0.21%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.35%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|9
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |19
|0.27%
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.56%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|0
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1
|0.00%
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|0
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6
|0.00%
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.18%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|22
|23
|style='background: #ffffe6; |63
|0.66%
|0.68%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.86%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,646
|2,051
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,283
|49.49%
|60.91%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |67.44%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''3,326'''
|'''3,367'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''3,385'''
|'''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, 3,326 people, 1,107 households, and 872 families were residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|3|PD/sqmi}}. The 1,452 housing units had an average density of {{convert|1|/sqmi}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 64.64% White, 3.01% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 29.56% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. About 49.49% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 1,107 households, 46.8% had children under 18 living with them, 68.1% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were not families. About 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.96, and the average family size was 3.42.

In the county, the age distribution was 34.2% under 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.50 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 100.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,231, and for a family was $36,806. Males had a median income of $31,228 versus $18,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $13,174. About 9.3% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 23.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==

===City===
* [[Big Lake, Texas|Big Lake]] (county seat)

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Best, Texas|Best]]
* [[Texon, Texas|Texon]]

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

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Reagan 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 29, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|800|141|8|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|942|172|10|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|709|167|28|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|676|158|9|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|795|197|2|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|956|184|3|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|959|282|14|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|645|407|116|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|651|337|262|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|935|418|2|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,079|243|2|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|917|414|20|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|666|563|5|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|703|244|8|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|454|370|288|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|406|614|2|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|489|621|21|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|669|384|1|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|533|460|1|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|112|444|23|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|53|426|41|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|88|520|1|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|66|477|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|124|681|3|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|387|229|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|31|111|2|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|0|49|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2|59|1|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|0|34|0|Texas}}

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

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

==External links==
* {{Handbook of Texas|id=hcr03|name=Reagan County}}
* [http://www.txcip.org/tac/census/profile.php?FIPS=48383 "Reagan County Profile" from the "Texas Association of Counties"]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Reagan County, Texas
|North     = [[Glasscock County, Texas|Glasscock County]]
|Northeast = [[Sterling County, Texas|Sterling County]]
|East      = [[Tom Green County, Texas|Tom Green County]] and [[Irion County, Texas|Irion County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Crockett County, Texas|Crockett County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Upton County, Texas|Upton County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Reagan County, Texas}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|31.36|-101.52|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Reagan County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:1903 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1903]]
[[Category:Majority-minority counties in Texas]]