Editing Taylor County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Taylor, Texas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Taylor County
 | state                = Texas 
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = 1878 
 | seat wl              = Abilene 
 | largest city wl      = Abilene 
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 919.3 
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 915.6 
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 3.8
 | area percentage      = 0.4 
 | census yr            = 2020 
 | pop                  = 143208 {{increase}}
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2021
 | population_est       = 
 | density_sq_mi        = 160
 | ex image             = Taylor County Texas Courthouse 2015.jpg 
 | ex image size        = 250 
 | ex image cap         = New Taylor County Courthouse in Abilene 
 | web                  = www.taylorcountytexas.org 
 | time zone            = Central
 | district             = 19th
 | named for            = [[Edward Taylor (Alamo defender)|Edward]], [[George Taylor (Alamo defender)|George]], and [[James Taylor (Alamo defender)|James Taylor]]
}}

[[Image:1915 Taylor County Courthouse in 2015.jpg|200px|right|thumb|The Old Taylor County Courthouse has limited use.]]

'''Taylor 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 143,208.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/taylorcountytexas/POP010220|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Taylor County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48441|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Abilene, Texas|Abilene]].<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 1858 and later organized in 1878.<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 27, 2015}}</ref> It is named for [[Edward Taylor (Alamo defender)|Edward Taylor]], [[George Taylor (Alamo defender)|George Taylor]], and [[James Taylor (Alamo defender)|James Taylor]], three brothers who died at the [[Battle of the Alamo]].

Taylor County is included in the [[Abilene, Texas|Abilene]], TX [[Abilene metropolitan area|metropolitan statistical area]], and is considered part of [[West Texas]].

==History==

Among first inhabitants of the area were the [[Comanche|Penteka]].<ref name="Taylor County, Texas">{{cite web|last=Leffler|first=John|title=Taylor County, Texas|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hct02|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010|date=June 15, 2010}}</ref> In 1849, [[Randolph B. Marcy|Capt. Randolph Marcy]], a U. S. Army engineer, passed through, scouting out West Texas-to-California routes.<ref name="Spirits of the Border V: The History and Mystery of the Lone Star State">{{cite book|last=Hundell|first=Ken and Sharon|title=Spirits of the Border V: The History and Mystery of the Lone Star State|year=2005|publisher=Omega Press|isbn=978-0-9626087-9-7|pages=118–119}}</ref>
The Texas legislature established Taylor County in 1858 from [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar]] and [[Travis County, Texas|Travis]] Counties. The county is named for Alamo defenders Edward, James, and George Taylor. The [[Butterfield Overland Mail]] established the Mountain Pass Station at Merkel; it was in continual use until 1861.<ref name="Taylor County, Texas"/>

By 1872, the first cattlemen had ventured into present Taylor County.<ref name="Taylor County, Texas"/> Six years later, Taylor County was organized. [[Buffalo Gap, Texas|Buffalo Gap]] was named county seat.<ref name="Taylor County, Texas"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Buffalo Gap, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasTowns/Buffalo-Gap-Texas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> In 1880, the Texas & Pacific Railroad signed an agreement to run tracks through the future city of [[Abilene, Texas|Abilene]].<ref name="Spirits of the Border V: The History and Mystery of the Lone Star State"/>
Abilene was established in 1882, and named after [[Abilene, Kansas]].<ref name="Abilene, Texas">{{cite web|title=Abilene, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Abilene/Abilene_Texas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> Abilene became the county seat in 1883.<ref name="Abilene, Texas"/> A wagon train of 10 [[Baptists|Baptist]] families arrived in the county that year.<ref name="Taylor County, Texas"/>

The Abilene Board of Trade was organized in 1890, when 587 farms and ranches were in the county.<ref name="Taylor County, Texas"/>
The next year,  [[Hardin-Simmons University]] was established as Abilene Baptist College by the Sweetwater Baptist Association.<ref>{{cite book|last=Early Jr|first=Joseph E|title=A Texas Baptist History Sourcebook: A Companion to McBeth's Texas Baptists |year=2004|publisher=University of North Texas Press|isbn=978-1-57441-176-8|author2=McBeth, Harry Leon |page=139}}</ref>
[[Lytle Lake]] was created in 1897.<ref name="Taylor County, Texas"/>

The State Epileptic Colony opened in Abilene in 1904.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Epileptic Colony Open|journal=The Journal of the American Medical Association|year=1903|volume=41|page=973}}</ref>  In 1906, [[Abilene Christian University]] opened its doors as Childers Classical Institute.<ref>{{cite book|last=Foster|first=Douglas A|title=The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement |year=2005|publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company|isbn=978-0-8028-3898-8|author2=Blowers, Paul M |author3=Dunnavant, Anthony L |author4= Williams, D Newell |page=1}}</ref> In the 1920s, Hendricks Medical Center opened in Abilene as West Texas Baptist Sanitarium (1924) and the [[West Texas Historical Association]] was chartered in Abilene.<ref name="Taylor County, Texas"/>
The first senior class of [[McMurry University]] graduated (1926).<ref>{{cite web|last=Downs|first=Fane|title=McMurry University |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/kbm17|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 30, 2010|date=June 15, 2010}}</ref> Oil was discovered in the county a few years later (1929).<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=227}}</ref>

In 1933, Abilene donated land for use by the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Ebeling|first=Walter|title=Fruited Plain: The Story of American Agriculture |url=https://archive.org/details/fruitedplainstor00ebel|url-access=registration|year=1990|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-03751-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/fruitedplainstor00ebel/page/249 249]}}</ref>

[[Dyess Air Force Base]] was established as Abilene AFB in 1942; it is named in honor of Texas native and [[Bataan Death March]] survivor [[Lieutenant Colonel]] [[William E. Dyess|William Dyess]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Leatherwood|first=Art|title=Dyess Air Force Base|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qbd03|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 30, 2010|date=June 12, 2010}}</ref>  The Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra was created, with Jay Dietzer as the first conductor, in 1950.<ref name="Taylor County, Texas"/>  The  [[Buffalo Gap Historic Village]] opened in 1956.<ref>{{cite book|last=Aston|first=B W|title=Along the Texas Forts Trail|year=1997|publisher=University of North Texas Press|isbn=978-1-57441-035-8|author2=Taylor, Ira Donathon |page=49}}</ref>

<!-- notable? The Ranch Horse Association of America was formed in Abilene in 1998.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sellers|first=Laren|title=Training and Showing the Versatility Ranch Horse |year=2005|publisher=The Lyons Press|isbn=978-1-59228-555-6|page=114}}</ref> -->

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|919|sqmi|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|916|sqmi|abbr=on}} are land and {{convert|3.8|sqmi|abbr=on}} (0.4%) are 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 11, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:I-20 (TX).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 20 (Texas)|Interstate 20]]
* [[Image:Business Loop 20.svg|20px]] [[Business routes of Interstate 20 in Texas|Interstate 20 Business]]
* [[Image:US 83.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 83 (Texas)|U.S. Highway 83]]
* [[Image:US 84.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 84 (Texas)|U.S. Highway 84]]
* [[Image:US 277.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 277 (Texas)|U.S. Highway 277]]
* [[Image:Texas 36.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 36|State Highway 36]]
* [[Image:Texas 153.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 153|State Highway 153]]
* [[Image:Texas 351.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 351|State Highway 351]]
* [[File:Texas Loop 322.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway Loop 322|Loop 322]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Jones County, Texas|Jones County]] (north)
* [[Shackelford County, Texas|Shackelford County]] (northeast)
* [[Callahan County, Texas|Callahan County]] (east)
* [[Coleman County, Texas|Coleman County]] (southeast)
* [[Runnels County, Texas|Runnels County]] (south)
* [[Nolan County, Texas|Nolan County]] (west)
* [[Fisher County, Texas|Fisher County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 1736
|1890= 6957
|1900= 10499
|1910= 26293
|1920= 24081
|1930= 41023
|1940= 44147
|1950= 63370
|1960= 101078
|1970= 97853
|1980= 110932
|1990= 119655
|2000= 126555
|2010= 131506
|2020= 143208
|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 11, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Taylor 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 – Taylor County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48441&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[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) – Taylor County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48441&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) – Taylor County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48441&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|91,999
|88,121
|style='background: #ffffe6; |87,316
|72.69%
|67.01%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |60.97%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|8,243
|9,122
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10,980
|6.51%
|6.94%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.67%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|494
|532
|style='background: #ffffe6; |589
|0.39%
|0.40%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.41%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|1,523
|1,978
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,815
|1.20%
|1.50%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.97%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|67
|105
|style='background: #ffffe6; |161
|0.05%
|0.08%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.11%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other Race]] alone (NH)
|104
|133
|style='background: #ffffe6; |468
|0.08%
|0.10%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.33%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|1,797
|2,441
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6,123
|1.42%
|1.86%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.28%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|22,328
|29,074
|style='background: #ffffe6; |34,756
|17.64%
|22.11%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |24.27%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''126,555'''
|'''131,506'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''143,208'''
|'''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, 126,555 people, 47,274 households, and 32,524 families resided in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|138|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. The 52,056 housing units averaged {{convert|57|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 80.61% White, 6.73% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 8.35% from other races, and 2.42% from two or more races. About 17.64% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 47,274 households, 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were not families. About 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the age distribution was as 26.60% under 18, 13.80% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 19.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,035, and for a family was $40,859. Males had a median income of $28,964 versus $21,021 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,176. About 10.40% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==

===Cities===
* [[Abilene, Texas|Abilene]] (county seat) (small part in [[Jones County, Texas|Jones County]])
* [[Tuscola, Texas|Tuscola]]
* [[Tye, Texas|Tye]]
* [[Merkel, Texas|Merkel]]

===Towns===
* [[Buffalo Gap, Texas|Buffalo Gap]]
* [[Impact, Texas|Impact]]
* [[Lawn, Texas|Lawn]]
* [[Trent, Texas|Trent]]

===Census-designated place===
* [[Potosi, Texas|Potosi]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Caps, Texas|Caps]]
* [[Hamby, Texas|Hamby]]
* [[Ovalo, Texas|Ovalo]]
* [[View, Texas|View]]
* [[Wylie, Taylor County, Texas|Wylie]]

===Military base===
* [[Dyess Air Force Base|Dyess AFB]]

==Politics==
Taylor County is part of the [[Texas's 71st House of Representatives district|71st district]] for elections to the [[Texas House of Representatives]].
{{PresHead|place=Taylor 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 31, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|41,198|13,624|595|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|39,547|14,588|1,098|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|33,250|10,085|2,424|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|32,904|9,750|609|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|34,317|12,690|432|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|37,197|10,648|254|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|31,701|10,504|815|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|23,682|13,213|3,126|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|22,614|12,382|10,458|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|28,563|13,073|388|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|34,444|9,628|130|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|22,961|13,245|826|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|19,822|14,453|268|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|22,417|6,024|290|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|12,218|9,107|4,301|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|9,220|13,366|34|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|12,258|9,347|45|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|9,488|7,177|34|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|10,260|7,936|55|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,658|8,184|531|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|602|7,975|1,165|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|983|7,852|15|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|678|6,169|51|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|639|5,235|11|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,050|1,891|9|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|441|3,157|62|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|300|1,932|206|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|120|2,134|120|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|59|1,536|283|Texas}}

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48441_taylor/DC20SD_C48441.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Taylor County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-09-22}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48441_taylor/DC20SD_C48441_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Abilene Independent School District]]
* [[Blackwell Consolidated Independent School District]]
* [[Clyde Consolidated Independent School District]]
* [[Eula Independent School District]]
* [[Jim Ned Consolidated Independent School District]]
* [[Merkel Independent School District]]
* [[Trent Independent School District]]
* [[Winters Independent School District]]
* [[Wylie Independent School District (Taylor County, Texas)|Wylie Independent School District]]

The [[Texas Legislature]] designated the county as being in the [[Cisco Junior College District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm|title=Sec. 130.172.  CISCO JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.|access-date=2024-09-22}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [[Abilene State Park]], recreational facility
* [[Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center]], the world's largest [[wind farm]]
* [[Gary D. McCaleb]], former [[mayor]] of Abilene
* [[List of museums in West Texas]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Taylor County, Texas]]
* [[List of Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (Sabine-Travis)#Taylor County|Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Taylor County]]
* [[Charles Perry (Texas politician)|Charles Perry]], member of the [[Texas Senate]] from [[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]], was born in Taylor County in 1962.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.taylorcountytexas.org/ Taylor County Official Site]
* [http://www.taylor-cad.org/ Central Appraisal District of Taylor County]
* {{Handbook of Texas|id=hct02|name=Taylor County}}

==Further reading==
* Zachry, Juanita Daniel ''A History of Rural Taylor County'' Nortex Press,

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Taylor County, Texas
|North     = [[Jones County, Texas|Jones County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Callahan County, Texas|Callahan County]]
|Southeast = [[Coleman County, Texas|Coleman County]]
|South     = [[Runnels County, Texas|Runnels County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Nolan County, Texas|Nolan County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Taylor County, Texas}}
{{Texas}}

{{coord|32.31|-99.88|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Taylor County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:1878 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1878]]
[[Category:Abilene metropolitan area]]