Editing Wilson County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Wilson, Texas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county        = Wilson County
 | state                = Texas
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = 1860
 | seat wl         = Floresville
 | largest city wl = Floresville
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 808
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 804
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 4.7
 | area percentage      = 0.6
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 49753 {{gain}} 
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 
 | density_sq_mi        = 62
 | ex image             = Wilson courthouse.jpg
 | ex image size        = 250
 | ex image cap         = The Wilson County Courthouse in Floresville. The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 5, 1978.
 | web     = www.co.wilson.tx.us
 | time zone           = Central
 | named for           = [[James Charles Wilson]]
 | district            = 15th}}

'''Wilson 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 49,753.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wilson County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48493|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Floresville, Texas|Floresville]].<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 [[James Charles Wilson]]. Wilson County is part of the [[San Antonio]]–[[New Braunfels, Texas|New Braunfels]], Texas, [[Greater San Antonio|metropolitan statistical area]].

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=February 2022}}

===Native Americans===
Archeological evidence in the Wilson County area reveals early habitation from the [[paleo-Indians]] [[hunter-gatherers]] period.<ref name="Native Peoples of the South Texas Plains During Early Historic Times">{{Cite web | title=Native Peoples of the South Texas Plains During Early Historic Times  | publisher=Texas Beyond History| url=http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/st-plains/peoples/index.html | access-date=May 13, 2010}} UT Texas at Austin</ref><ref name="Artistic Expression">{{Cite web | title=Artistic Expression  | publisher=Texas Beyond History| url=http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/coast/artistic/index.html| access-date=May 13, 2010}}</ref> Later, the area was a hunting range for [[Tonkawa]],  [[Karankawa]]. [[Tawakoni]], [[Lipan Apache people|Lipan Apache]], and [[Comanche]] who lived in the area.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

===Explorations and county established===

In September 1718 [[Martín de Alarcón]] crossed the area on his way to explore the bay of Espíritu Santo. Pedro de Rivera y Villalón crossed the county in 1727 as part of an expedition to inspect the frontier defenses of [[Viceroyalty of New Spain|New Spain]].<ref name="Pedro de Rivera y Villalón">{{Handbook of Texas | name=Pedro de Rivera y Villalón| id= fri27| author=Blake, Robert Bruce | retrieved=May 13, 2010}} Texas State Historical Association</ref>
In 1766–67 the [[Cayetano Pignatelli, 3rd Marquis of Rubí|Marqués de Rubí]] included the area in his inspection of the Spanish frontier,<ref name="Wilson County">{{Handbook of Texas | name=Wilson County| id= hcw12| author=Long, Christopher | retrieved=May 13, 2010}} Texas State Historical Association</ref> and the 1798 explorations of the coast by [[Francisco Vásquez de Coronado]]<ref name="Southern and Western Texas Guide for 1878">{{cite book | last =Flint | first =Richard | last2=Flint | first2=Shirley Cushing  | title =The Coronado Expedition to Tierra Nueva: The 1540–1542 Route Across the Southwest  | publisher=University Press of Colorado| year =2004 | isbn =978-0-87081-766-3}}</ref> skirted the area.

The first two land grants in the area were to Luis Menchaca and Andrés Hernández,<ref name="Menchaca-Hernández Compromise">{{cite web | title=Menchaca-Hernández Compromise | publisher=Texas General Land Office | url=https://scandocs.glo.state.tx.us/webfiles/landgrants/pdfs/1/0/3/4/1034775.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://scandocs.glo.state.tx.us/webfiles/landgrants/pdfs/1/0/3/4/1034775.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live | access-date=May 13, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Texas General Land Office</ref> who established ranches circa 1832–1833.

Anglos began arriving in the 1840s,<ref name="Wilson County"/> and Southern planters in 1850 and 1860, followed by [[Germans|German]] and [[Polish people|Polish]] immigrants from other counties.

Wilson County was formed in 1860 from [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar County]] and [[Karnes County, Texas|Karnes County]].   [[Sutherland Springs, Texas|Sutherland Springs]]<ref name="Sutherland Springs, Texas">{{cite web | title=Sutherland Springs, Texas | publisher=Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. | url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Texas_ghost_towns/SutherlandSpringsTexas/SutherlandSprings.htm | access-date=May 13, 2010}} Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.</ref> was designated the county seat.

Wilson County voted in favor of [[Texas in the American Civil War|secession]]<ref name="Wilson County"/> from the Union, and sent several military units to serve. Wartime hardships were compounded by a three-year drought.

Following the civil war, the county seat<ref name="Floresville, Texas">{{cite web | title=Floresville, Texas | publisher=Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. | url=http://www.texasescapes.com/SouthTexasTowns/Floresville-Texas.htm | access-date=May 13, 2010}} Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.</ref> was moved to [[Floresville, Texas|Floresville]]. The 1872 courthouse was destroyed by fire and replaced in 1884 with a new building<ref name="Wilson County Courthouse">{{cite web | title=Wilson County Courthouse | publisher=Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. | url=http://www.texasescapes.com/SouthTexasTowns/Floresville-Texas-Wilson-County-Courthouse.htm | access-date=May 13, 2010}} Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.</ref> designed by [[Alfred Giles (architect)|Alfred Giles]].

[[Fence Cutting War]]s in Texas lasted for approximately five years, 1883–1888. The {{convert|40000|acre|km2|adj=on}} ranch of Houston and Dilworth became the focal point in Wilson County. As farmers and ranchers began to compete for precious land and water, cattlemen found it more difficult to feed their herds, prompting cowboys to cut through fences.  [[John Ireland (politician)|Texas Governor John Ireland]]<ref name="Fence Cutting Wars, Texas Adjutant General R.N. Steagal Letter To John Ireland March 31, 1884">{{cite web | title=Fence Cutting Wars, Texas Adjutant General R.N. Steagal Letter To John Ireland March 31, 1884 | publisher=Texas State Library and Archives Commission |url= http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/governors/west/ireland-fence.html|access-date=May 13, 2010}} Texas State Library and Archives Commission</ref> prodded a special assembly to order the fence cutters to cease. In response, the legislature made fence-cutting and pasture-burning crimes punishable with prison time, while at the same time regulating fencing. The practice abated with sporadic incidents of related violence 1888.

The [[San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway]]<ref name="San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway">{{cite web| title=San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway| url=http://saap.tnorr.com/| access-date=May 13, 2010| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060912172901/http://saap.tnorr.com/| archive-date=September 12, 2006}}</ref> reached Floresville in 1886. In 1898 the San Antonio and Gulf Railroad<ref name="Texas and New Orleans Railroad">{{Handbook of Texas | name=Texas and New Orleans Railroad | id=eqt06| |author=Williams, Howard C | retrieved=May 13, 2010}} Texas State Historical Association</ref> was extended to Stockdale.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|808|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|804|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|4.7|sqmi}} (0.6%) 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 12, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 87.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 87 (Texas)|U.S. Highway 87]]
* [[Image:US 181.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 181|U.S. Highway 181]]
* [[Image:Texas 97.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 97|State Highway 97]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Guadalupe County, Texas|Guadalupe County]] (north)
* [[Gonzales County, Texas|Gonzales County]] (northeast)
* [[Karnes County, Texas|Karnes County]] (southeast)
* [[Atascosa County, Texas|Atascosa County]] (southwest)
* [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 2556
|1880= 7118
|1890= 10655
|1900= 13961
|1910= 17066
|1920= 17289
|1930= 17606
|1940= 17066
|1950= 14672
|1960= 13267
|1970= 13041
|1980= 16756
|1990= 22650
|2000= 32408
|2010= 42918
|2020= 49753
|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://web.archive.org/web/20130319111841/http://www.texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-date=March 19, 2013 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=May 12, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="2010CensusP2" /> 2020<ref name="2020CensusP2" />
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Wilson 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 – Wilson County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48493&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name="2010CensusP2">{{Cite web|title=P2 HP2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wilson County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48493&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name="2020CensusP2">{{Cite web|title=P2 P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wilson County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48493&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|19,728
|25,186
|style='background: #ffffe6; |27,877
|60.87%
|58.68%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |56.03%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|361
|644
|style='background: #ffffe6; |693
|1.11%
|1.50%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.39%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|101
|125
|style='background: #ffffe6; |148
|0.31%
|0.29%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.30%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|93
|143
|style='background: #ffffe6; |229
|0.29%
|0.33%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.46%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|12
|9
|style='background: #ffffe6; |24
|0.04%
|0.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.05%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other Race]] alone (NH)
|22
|25
|style='background: #ffffe6; |187
|0.07%
|0.06%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.38%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|257
|374
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,363
|0.79%
|0.87%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.74%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|11,834
|16,412
|style='background: #ffffe6; |19,232
|36.52%
|38.24%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |38.65%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''32,408'''
|'''42,918'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''49,753'''
|'''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 32,408 people, 11,038 households, and 8,830 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|40|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 12,110 housing units at an average density of {{convert|15|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 81.19% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 1.21% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.58% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.30% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 14.25% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.43% from two or more races. 36.52% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 11,038 households, out of which 40.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.50% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.00% were non-families. 17.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.20% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,006, and the median income for a family was $45,681. Males had a median income of $31,716 versus $23,582 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,253. About 9.20% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.40% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==

===Cities===
* [[Elmendorf, Texas|Elmendorf]] (mostly in [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar County]])
* [[Floresville, Texas|Floresville]] (county seat)
* [[La Vernia, Texas|La Vernia]]
* [[Nixon, Texas|Nixon]] (mostly in [[Gonzales County, Texas|Gonzales County]])
* [[Stockdale, Texas|Stockdale]]

===Towns===
* [[Poth, Texas|Poth]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Calaveras, Texas|Calaveras]]
* [[Carpenter, Texas|Carpenter]]
* [[Kicaster, Texas|Kicaster]]
* [[Kosciusko, Texas|Kosciusko]]
* [[Pandora, Texas|Pandora]]
* [[Saspamco, Texas|Saspamco]]
* [[Sutherland Springs, Texas|Sutherland Springs]]
* [[Union, Texas|Union]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost towns===
* [[Dewees, Texas|Dewees]]
* [[Doseido Colony, Texas|Doseido Colony]]
* [[Grass Pond Colony, Texas|Grass Pond Colony]]
* [[Sandy Hills, Texas|Sandy Hills]]

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48493_wilson/DC20SD_C48493.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48493_wilson/DC20SD_C48493.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wilson County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=June 30, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48493_wilson/DC20SD_C48493_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Falls City Independent School District]]
* [[Floresville Independent School District]]
* [[La Vernia Independent School District]]
* [[Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent School District]]
* [[Poth Independent School District]]
* [[Stockdale Independent School District]]

All of the county is in the service area of [[Alamo Community College District]].<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.162. ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.].</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[John Connally]], governor of Texas and U.S. Secretary of the Navy and Treasury
* [[Merrill Connally]], an actor and a county judge
* [[Wayne Connally]], a member of both houses of the Texas State Legislature
* [[Frank Hamer]], Texas Ranger
* Stephen Willeford, civilian who intervened during the [[Sutherland Springs church shooting]]

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:The Peanut marker in Floresville, TX IMG_2672.JPG|The "Peanut Marker" at the Wilson County Courthouse lawn commemorates the life of Joe T. Sheehy (1886–1967), who introduced [[peanut]] farming to the area in 1916.
Image:Wilson County Public Library in Floresville, TX IMG_2686.JPG|The Wilson County Public Library near the courthouse.
Image:Wilson County Hardware, Floresville, TX IMG_2666.JPG|The Wilson County Hardware store in Floresville.
</gallery>

==Politics==
Wilson County is a strongly Republican county in presidential elections. It last voted for a Democrat in 1976, when it supported Georgia's Jimmy Carter. More recently, in 2020, it gave a quarter of its vote to Democratic candidate Joe Biden. The last time a Democratic candidate won 35% or more of Wilson County's vote was in 1996. 
{{PresHead|place=Wilson 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=November 5, 2017}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|20,894|6,247|179|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|18,463|6,350|219|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|13,998|4,790|607|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|12,218|4,821|166|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|10,904|5,362|100|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|10,400|4,409|76|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|7,509|3,997|192|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|4,530|3,713|824|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|3,766|3,711|2,148|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|4,436|3,953|36|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,588|2,829|17|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,443|3,097|92|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,926|3,973|3|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,953|2,072|7|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,321|2,336|542|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|718|3,472|5|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,248|2,905|4|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,519|2,149|10|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,823|2,187|5|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|593|2,313|114|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|676|2,666|191|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|605|2,750|4|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|286|2,573|5|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|174|2,435|3|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|622|1,499|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|495|1,633|326|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|820|753|206|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|346|869|37|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|95|778|162|Texas}}

==See also==
* [[List of museums in South Texas]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Wilson County, Texas]]
* [[List of Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (Trinity-Zavala)#Wilson County|Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Wilson County]]
* [[Wilson County Courthouse and Jail (Floresville, Texas)|Wilson County Courthouse and Jail]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Handbook of Texas|id=hcw12|name=Wilson County}}
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/search/?q=%22United+States+-+Texas+-+Wilson+County%22&t=dc.coverage Historic Wilson County materials], hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History.]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080926130338/http://www.wilsoncountyhistory.com/ Wilson County Historical Society]
* [http://www.co.wilson.tx.us/ Wilson County government's website]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Wilson County, Texas
|North     = [[Guadalupe County, Texas|Guadalupe County]]
|Northeast = [[Gonzales County, Texas|Gonzales County]]
|East      =
|Southeast = [[Karnes County, Texas|Karnes County]]
|South     =
|Southwest = [[Atascosa County, Texas|Atascosa County]]
|West      =
|Northwest = [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar County]]
}}

{{Wilson County, Texas}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|29.17|-98.09|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Wilson County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:1860 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Greater San Antonio]]
[[Category:New Braunfels, Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1860]]