Yoakum County, Texas

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Yoakum County is a county located in the far western portion of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 7,694.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Plains.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1907.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is named for Henderson King Yoakum, a Texas historian.

Until the passage of a liquor sales referendum held on May 11, 2013, Yoakum had been one of 19 remaining prohibition or entirely dry counties within Texas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Voters in Denver City also approved a separate referendum to permit liquor sales within that community.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1965, Recorded Texas Historic Landmark number 5927 was placed at the county courthouse, acknowledging the creation of the county in 1876.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Until after 1900, the county contained primarily nomadic buffalo hunters and a few scattered ranchers. Yoakum County was organized in 1907, and the population increased to 602 because of the sale of state land deeds.<ref>Yoakum County Texas Historical Marker</ref>

History

Native Americans

Early tribes included Suma-Jumano, Comanche, Cheyenne, and Kiowa.<ref name="Yoakum County, Texas">Template:Cite web</ref>

The Comanches and Indians before them knew that the sand dunes that one can still see today called the Lea-Yoakum Sand Dunes and those visible around Denver City did not signify a desert. Instead, these dunes are remnants of an ancient river system that once flowed northwest to southeast through the area. Indians knew to dig beneath the surface of the sand dunes to find water, so they frequented the sand dunes to hunt the plentiful game once there, and perform sacred rites during their encampments. Evidence of these visits to the area by Comanche, Kiowa, and prehistoric Indians before them was discovered in the 20th century by local ranchers and verified by archaeologists.

A Quanah Parker Trail arrow, installed December 14, 2011, marked Denver City as a place with historic ties to the Comanche and other native peoples who once hunted and lived in the region. In March 2015, Denver City removed and stored the arrow for eventual reinstallation at the site of a new museum.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

County established

The Texas Legislature established Yoakum County from Bexar County in 1876. The county was organized in 1907, and Plains became the county seat. In 1900, the area had only 26 residents. One ranch in the county that year was devoted to cattle, rather than crops.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sale of state land after 1900 brought an increase in population. By 1910, 107 farms or ranches were in the area, and the population had increased to 602.<ref name="Yoakum County, Texas"/>

By 1920, 109 ranches or farms in the area, but the population had fallen to 504. More than 21,000 cattle were reported that year, but crop cultivation remained limited; about Template:Convert were planted in corn, 600 in sorghum, and 47 in cotton. During the 1920s, the county experienced a minor expansion of crop farming, and cotton became the most important crop; by 1930, over Template:Convert were devoted to cotton. There were 239 farms, and the population had increased to 1,263.<ref name="Yoakum County, Texas"/>

The first oil well in the county gushed in 1935. Denver City benefited with a resulting boom economy. By January 1, 1991, almost Template:Convert of oil had been taken from county lands since 1936.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Irrigation in the county led to more acres being planted on sorghum, cotton, alfalfa, watermelons, and castor beans. In 1982, 93% of the land in Yoakum County was in farms and ranches, and 44% of the farmland was under cultivation. Some Template:Convert were irrigated. About 95% of agricultural revenue was derived from crops, especially cotton, sorghum, wheat, hay, and corn.<ref name="Yoakum County, Texas"/>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, virtually all of which is land.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Cochran County (north)
Terry County (east)
Gaines County (south)
Lea County, New Mexico (west/Mountain Time Zone)

Demographics

Template:US Census population

**Yoakum County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition**
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	3,090	2,488	39.22%	32.34%
Black or African American alone (NH)	55	55	0.70%	0.71%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	30	22	0.38%	0.29%
Asian alone (NH)	26	46	0.33%	0.60%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	1	0	0.01%	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	5	15	0.06%	0.19%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	50	100	0.63%	1.30%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	4,622	4,968	58.66%	64.57%
Total	7,879	7,694	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,694 people, 2,617 households, and 1,985 families residing in the county.

As of the census<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, 7,322 people, 2,469 households, and 2,007 families resided in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. The 2,974 housing units averaged Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 70.62% White, 1.39% African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 25.48% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. About 45.93% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 2,469 households, 43.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.80% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.70% were not families. About 17.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.34.

In the county, the population was distributed as 32.10% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,672, and for a family was $36,772. Males had a median income of $32,188 versus $19,913 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,504. About 17.60% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.00% of those under age 18 and 13.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Towns

Denver City (small part in Gaines County)
Plains (county seat)

Unincorporated community

Allred

Politics

Education

School districts serving the county include:<ref>Template:Cite web - list</ref>

The county is in the service area of South Plains College.<ref>Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.198. SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.</ref>

References

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External links

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