Editing Sutton County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Sutton County
 | state                = Texas 
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = 1890 
 | seat wl              = Sonora 
 | largest city wl      = Sonora 
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1454 
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1454 
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 0.5 
 | area percentage      = 0.03 
 | census yr            = 2020 
 | pop                  = 3372 
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | ex image             = Sutton County courthouse May 2020.jpg 
 | ex image size        = 250 
 | ex image cap         = The [[Sutton County Courthouse]] in Sonora 
 | web                  = www.co.sutton.tx.us 
 | time zone            = Central
 | district             = 23rd
 | named for            = John S. Sutton
}}
[[Image:Mercantile Garden, Sonora, TX IMG 1365.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Mercantile Garden, located at the foot of the hill containing the Sutton County Courthouse]]

[[Image:Sutton County, TX, Public Library IMG 1372.JPG|200px|right|thumb|The Sutton County Library in [[Sonora, Texas|Sonora]]]]

[[Image:Veterans and Pioneer Ranch Women Museum, Sonora, TX IMG 1377.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Veterans & Pioneer Ranch Women Museum in Sonora]]

'''Sutton 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]], the population was 3,372.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sutton County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48435|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=February 23, 2021}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Sonora, Texas|Sonora]].<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 was created in 1887 and organized in 1890.<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 26, 2015}}</ref> Sutton County is named for John S. Sutton, an officer in the [[Confederate States Army|Confederate Army]].

==History==
{{Prose|section|date=December 2013}}
* 9500 BC – c. 1860s AD [[Paleo-Indians]] in the county leave behind archaeological remains of a burned-rock [[midden]] with [[mortar and pestle]], as well as other tools. Later native inhabitants include [[Tonkawa]], [[Comanche]] and [[Lipan Apache people|Lipan Apache]].<ref name="Sutton County, Texas">{{cite web|last=Hosmer|first=Brian C|title=Sutton County, Texas|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcs17|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 30, 2010}}</ref>
* 1736 Lt. Miguel de la Garza Falcón leads 100 soldiers along the [[Devils River (Texas)|Devils River]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Julia Cauble|title=Devils River|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/htd12|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 30, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Skiles|first=Jack|title=Judge Roy Bean Country|year=1996|publisher=Texas Tech University Press|isbn=978-0-89672-369-6|author2=Kelton, Elmer |page=45}}</ref>
* 1852, February 2 - Camp Terrett, later known as [[Fort Terrett, Texas|Fort Terrett]], established to protect settlers from Comanches. Founded by Lt. Col. Henry Bainbridge and named for Lt. John Terrett, who was killed in the [[Battle of Monterrey]] in 1846.<ref>{{cite book|last=Uglow|first=Loyd and Loyd M|title=Standing in the Gap: Army Outposts, Picket Stations, and the Pacification of the Texas Frontier, 1866-1886|year=2001|publisher=Texas Christian University |isbn=978-0-87565-246-7|page=62}}</ref>
* 1881 Wall's Well discovered by Tim Birtrong and Ed Wall. Town of Wentworth discovered. Birtrong Ranch is the area's only ranch.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wentworth - Sonora, Sutton County, Texas|url=http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5435005752|work=Texas Historical Markers|publisher=William Nienke, Sam Morrow|access-date=November 30, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718162310/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5435005752|archive-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref>
* 1885 Charles G. Adams, a merchant and sometime rancher from Fort McKavett, founds [[Sonora, Texas]], named after a family servant from [[Sonora|Sonora, Mexico]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Sonora, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Sonora/Sonora.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=November 30, 2010}}</ref>
* 1887 The Texas legislature establishes Sutton County, carved out of eastern [[Crockett County, Texas|Crockett County]] named for Confederate officer John Schuyler Sutton.<ref name="Sutton County, Texas"/>
* 1890 Sonora becomes the county seat.<ref name="Sutton County, Texas"/>
* 1915 Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers’ Association organized.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lackey|first=Jerry|title=HOMESTEAD: 'Stockman's Paradise' true to the past|newspaper=San Angelo Standard Times|date=December 21, 2009}}</ref>
* 1928 The [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway]] acquires [[Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway]] to connect Sonora with San Angelo, Del Rio, and the outside world by rail.<ref name="Sutton County, Texas"/>
* 1930 Sonora Wool and Mohair Company established.<ref name="Sutton County, Texas"/>
* 1936 WPA projects help local economy.<ref name="Sutton County, Texas"/>
* 1958, August 1 – Sonora Municipal Airport activated.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sonora Municipal Airport|url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/KSOA|publisher=AirNav|access-date=November 30, 2010}}</ref>
* 1960, July 16 – [[Caverns of Sonora]] open to the public.<ref>{{cite web|title=History Caverns of Sonora|url=http://www.cavernsofsonora.com/index.php?link=history|publisher=Caverns of Sonora|access-date=November 30, 2010}}</ref>
* 1965 Caverns of Sonora designated National Natural Landmark.<ref>{{cite web|title=NPS Caverns of Sonora|url=http://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/Registry/USA_Map/States/Texas/NNL/CS/index.cfm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=November 30, 2010}}</ref>
* 1975 Fort Terrett Ranch is purchased by the Texas oil industrialist [[Bill Noël]] and used in part for the growing of pecans.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fno26|title=William Douglas Noël|encyclopedia=[[The Handbook of Texas]]|access-date=June 27, 2011}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1454|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1454|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.5|sqmi}} (0.03%) 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|access-date=May 10, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:I-10 (TX).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 10 in Texas|Interstate 10]]
* [[Image:US 277.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 277 in Texas|U.S. Highway 277]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Schleicher County, Texas|Schleicher County]] (north)
* [[Kimble County, Texas|Kimble County]] (east)
* [[Edwards County, Texas|Edwards County]] (south)
* [[Val Verde County, Texas|Val Verde County]] (southwest)
* [[Crockett County, Texas|Crockett County]] (west)
* [[Menard County, Texas|Menard County]] (northeast)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 658
|1900= 1727
|1910= 1569
|1920= 1598
|1930= 2807
|1940= 3977
|1950= 3746
|1960= 3738
|1970= 3175
|1980= 5130
|1990= 4135
|2000= 4077
|2010= 4128
|2020= 3372
|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 10, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Sutton 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 – Sutton County, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48435&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) – Sutton County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48435&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) – Sutton County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48435&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|1,934
|1,639
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,200
|47.44%
|39.70%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |35.59%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|7
|6
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6
|0.17%
|0.15%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.18%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|11
|2
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5
|0.27%
|0.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.15%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|7
|5
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6
|0.17%
|0.12%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.18%
|-
|[[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)
|0
|7
|style='background: #ffffe6; |14
|0.00%
|0.17%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.42%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|12
|10
|style='background: #ffffe6; |48
|0.29%
|0.24%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.42%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|2,106
|2,459
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,093
|51.66%
|59.57%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |62.07%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''4,077'''
|'''4,128'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''3,372'''
|'''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, there were 4,077 people, 1,515 households, and 1,145 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 1,998 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 45.28% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.25% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.42% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.17% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 2.27% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.62% from two or more races. 49.99% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 1,515 households, out of which 38.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.60% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.40% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.80% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,385, and the median income for a family was $38,143. Males had a median income of $31,193 versus $18,587 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,105. About 14.10% of families and 18.00% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.20% of those under age 18 and 16.10% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==

Sutton County is served by the [[Sonora Independent School District]] based in [[Sonora, Texas|Sonora]].

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

===Ghost towns===
* [[Fort Terrett, Texas|Fort Terrett]]
* [[Owenville, Texas|Owenville]]

==Politics==
Sutton County is very conservative in national politics. In 2016, it gave 76% of its vote to Republican candidate [[Donald Trump]]. It last supported a Democrat in 1964, when Texan [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] was the Democratic candidate. However, this was not always the case. In fact, in 1916, the Democratic candidate received 10 times as many votes as the Republican. It hasn't supported a Democrat in Texas gubernatorial elections since 1974, when [[Dolph Briscoe]], the Democrat, carried all but five counties in the state. 
{{PresHead|place=Sutton County, Texas|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 11, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,167|228|6|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,222|322|13|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,075|313|28|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,110|369|12|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,189|381|8|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,173|280|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,063|468|9|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|688|508|106|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|687|524|387|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|996|571|3|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,251|465|5|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,000|485|26|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|831|768|10|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|705|245|7|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|412|351|147|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|357|694|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|437|474|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|546|290|2|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|581|351|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|131|433|58|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|118|449|69|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|84|571|2|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|64|398|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|113|372|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|290|92|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|124|143|2|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|104|190|11|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|13|130|0|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|12|62|18|Texas}}

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

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

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Sutton County, Texas}}
* [http://www.co.sutton.tx.us/ Sutton County government's website]
* {{Handbook of Texas|id=hcs17|name=Sutton County}}
* [http://www.txcip.org/tac/census/profile.php?FIPS=48435 Sutton County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Sutton County, Texas
|North     = [[Schleicher County, Texas|Schleicher County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Kimble County, Texas|Kimble County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Edwards County, Texas|Edwards County]]
|Southwest = [[Val Verde County, Texas|Val Verde County]]
|West      = [[Crockett County, Texas|Crockett County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Sutton County, Texas}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}

{{coord|30.50|-100.54|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Sutton County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:1890 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1890]]
[[Category:Texas Hill Country]]
[[Category:Majority-minority counties in Texas]]