Llano County, Texas

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Llano County (Template:IPAc-en) is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 21,243.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Llano,<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> and the county is named for the Llano River.

File:Llano County marker, Kingsland, TX IMG 1949.JPG

File:Opuntia lindheimeri in bloom, Llano County, TX IMG 1921.jpg

Cactus in spring bloom in rural Llano County

History

The Tonkawa tribe were the first known inhabitants of the region before European settlement.<ref name="Llano County, Texas">Template:Cite web</ref>

European settlement began by April 20, 1842, with the founding of the Adelsverein<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Fisher-Miller Land Grant, setting aside three million acres (12,000 km²) to settle 600 families and single men of German, Dutch, Swiss, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian ancestry in Texas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> By June 26, 1844, Henry Francis Fisher sold his interest in the land grant to the Adelsverein, and by December 20, 1845, both Fisher and Burchard Miller had sold their remaining rights to the organization. In 1847, the Meusebach–Comanche Treaty<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> was signed, and the Bettina commune, named after German liberal Bettina Brentano von Arnim, was founded as the last Adelsverein community in Texas. However, the commune failed within a year due to a lack of governing structure and conflict of authority.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> By 1860, the population had reached 1,101, including 21 slaveholders and 54 slavess.<ref name="Llano County, Texas" />

During the Civil War, in 1862, one hundred Llano County volunteers join Major John George Walker Division of the Confederate States Army, and in April 1864, a cavalry company under Captain Brazeal was formed to defend against Indian attacks. This unit served under Brigadier General John David McAdoo until it disbanded in June 1865 at war's end. By August 4, 1873, Packsaddle Mountain was the site of the region's last battle with Native Americans, marking a turning point that allowed the county’s farming economy to expand without the threat of attacks from local Native tribes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Progress continued with the arrival of the Llano branch of the Austin and Northwestern Railroad on June 7, 1892 ,<ref name="Llano County, Texas" /> followed by the completion of the County Courthouse in 1893, designed by Austin architect A. O. Watson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1895, the Llano County Jail was erected by the Pauly Jail Building and Manufacturing Company of St Louis, MO.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

By the turn of the 20^th century, Teich Monument Works was established by Frank Teich,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> along with the Llano Women's Literary Society was organized a year later in 1901 with sixteen charter members.<ref name="Llano County, Texas" /> That same year, the Victorian style Antlers Hotel, a railroad resort located in Kingsland, opened for business.

Darmstadt Society of Forty

Template:Further Count Castell<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> of the Adelsverein negotiated with the separate Darmstadt Society of Forty to colonize 200 families on the Fisher–Miller Land Grant in Texas. In return, they were to receive $12,000 in money, livestock, and equipment, and provisions for a year. After the first year, the colonies were expected to support themselves.<ref>King (1967) p. 122</ref> The colonies attempted were Castell,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Leiningen, Bettina,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Schoenburg and Meerholz in Llano County; Darmstädler Farm in Comal County; and Tusculum in Kendall County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Of these, only Castell survives. The colonies failed after the Adelsverein funding expired, and also due to conflict of structure and authorities. Some members moved to other Adelsverein settlements in Texas. Others moved elsewhere, or returned to Germany.

Library book bans

Llano county libraries were purged of books containing sex education and discussion of racism in 2021 and 2022 by county commissioners. Titles removed include In the Night Kitchen, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, and Between the World and Me. Librarian Suzette Baker in Kingsland was fired for her refusal to remove books from the shelves. The library board voted unanimously to close its meetings to the public in 2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After a lawsuit was filed, a federal judge ruled in March 2023 that at least 12 of the books must be placed back onto shelves.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In response, county commissioners considered closing the library in a special meeting.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They have appealed the decision by the federal judge.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert are land and Template:Convert (3.3%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Enchanted Rock, a designated state natural area and popular tourist destination, is located in southern Llano county.

Two significant rivers, the Llano and the Colorado, flow through Llano County. These rivers contribute to Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, and Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, which are all located partially within the county.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

San Saba County (north)
Burnet County (east)
Blanco County (southeast)
Gillespie County (south)
Mason County (west)

Demographics

Template:US Census population

**Llano County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition**
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2000	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	15,869	17,303	17,530	93.11%	89.65%	82.52%
Black or African American alone (NH)	51	102	97	0.30%	0.53%	0.46%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	58	87	115	0.34%	0.45%	0.54%
Asian alone (NH)	59	76	121	0.35%	0.39%	0.57%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	5	5	4	0.03%	0.03%	0.02%
Other Race alone (NH)	8	11	61	0.05%	0.06%	0.29%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH)	119	175	807	0.70%	0.91%	3.80%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	875	1,542	2,508	5.13%	7.99%	11.81%
Total	17,044	19,301	21,243	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> 17,044 people, 7,879 households, and 5,365 families resided in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 11,829 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 96.3% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. About 5.1% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 7,879 households, 16.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were not families. About 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.56.

In the county, the population was distributed as 15.9% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 18.4% from 25 to 44, 30.5% from 45 to 64, and 30.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,830, and for a family was $40,597. Males had a median income of $30,839 versus $21,126 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,547. About 7.2% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Notable person

Emil Kriewitz, who lived with the Penateka Comanche, served as guide for Fisher–Miller Land Grant settlers, 1870 Llano County justice of the peace, 1871 Llano County election judge, and was postmaster of Castell from 1876 to 1883. He was buried in Llano County Cemetery.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Politics

Llano County, in common with the Solid South, voted predominantly for Democratic presidential candidates well into the 1960s, with those voters being in the majority even in the 1928, 1952 and 1956 campaigns, with both races from the 1950s featuring native son Dwight D. Eisenhower heading the Republican ticket. This trend reversed itself beginning in 1972 and has become more pronounced, beginning in 2000.

References

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External links

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