Kerr County, Texas

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

Kerr County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 52,598.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Kerrville.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was named by Joshua D. Brown for his fellow Kentucky native, James Kerr, a congressman of the Republic of Texas. The Kerrville, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Kerr County.

History

Around 8000 BC, early Native American inhabitants arrived in the area, with numerous successive cultures following in prehistoric times. Historic tribes encountered by Europeans included the Kiowa, Comanche, and Lipan Apache.<ref name="Kerr County">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1842, the Adelsverein<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Fisher–Miller Land Grant set aside Template:Convert to settle 600 families and single men of German, Dutch, Swiss, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian ancestry in Texas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Henry Francis Fisher sold his interest in the land grant to the Adelsverein in 1844.

In 1845, Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels secured the title to Template:Convert of the Veramendi grant, including the Comal Springs and River, for the Adelsverein. Thousands of German immigrants were stranded at port of disembarkation, Indianaola on Matagorda Bay. With no food or shelter, living in holes dug into the ground, an estimated 50% died from disease or starvation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Joshua Brown, in 1846, became the first settler.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Texas State Convention of Germans met in San Antonio on May 14–15, 1854, and adopted a political, social, and religious platform, including: 1) Equal pay for equal work, 2) Direct election of the President of the United States, 3) Abolition of capital punishment, 4) “Slavery is an evil, the abolition of which is a requirement of democratic principles..”, 5) Free schools – including universities – supported by the state, without religious influence, and 6) Total separation of church and state.<ref>Template:Cite journal Template:Dead link</ref> The next year, United States Army post Camp Verde was established.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kerr County was formed in 1856 from Bexar Land District Number 2. Joshua Brown donated the land that became Kerrville, and had it named for his friend James Kerr. Kerrville was named the county seat.<ref name="Kerr County"/> The U.S. Camel Corps, headquartered at Verde, was the brainchild of United States Secretary of War (1853–57) Jefferson Davis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Center Point was established in 1859.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1860–1861, the county population was 634, including 49 slaves. The Sons of Hermann lodge, for descendants of German heritage, was established in the county. The lodge is named for German chieftain folk hero Hermann the Cherusker.<ref name="Kerr County"/> A bitterly divided Kerr County voted 76–57 in 1861 for secession from the Union, with most German residents being against it. Unionists from Kerr, Gillespie, and Kendall Counties participated in the formation of the Union League, an organization which supported President Lincoln's policies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Union League formed companies to protect the frontier against Indians and their families against local Confederate forces. Conscientious objectors to the military draft were primarily among Tejanos and Germans. Confederate authorities imposed martial law on Central Texas. The Nueces massacre occurred in Kinney County. Jacob Kuechler served as a guide for 61 conscientious objectors attempting to flee to Mexico. Scottish-born Confederate irregular James Duff and his Duff's Partisan Rangers pursued and overtook them at the Nueces River; 34 were killed, some executed after being taken prisoner. Jacob Kuechler survived the battle. The cruelty shocked the people of Gillespie County. About 2,000 took to the hills to escape Duff's reign of terror. Spring Creek Cemetery near Harper in Gillespie County has a singular grave with the names Sebird Henderson, Hiram Nelson, Gus Tegener, and Frank Scott. The inscription reads, “Hanged and thrown in Spring Creek by Col. James Duff’s Confederate Regiment.”<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Treue der Union Monument ("Loyalty to the Union") in Comfort was dedicated to the Texans slain at the Nueces massacre August 10, 1866. It is the only monument to the Union outside of the National Cemeteries on Confederate territory, and is one of only six such sites allowed to fly the United States flag at half-mast in perpetuity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Y O Ranch was founded in 1880 by Charles Armand Schreiner, who had opened a store in the area in 1869.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On October 5, 1878, the last Indian raid in the county occurred at the present day community of Mountain Home, when four children of the Dowdy family were murdered by Indian raiders.<ref>https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=159833</ref>

In 1887, the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway was built through Kerrville. The American Legion of Texas established what eventually was called the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Kerrville, in 1919.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Schreiner Institute was established in Kerrville from 1917 to 1923.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1926, Ora Johnson established Camp Waldemar Christian girls camp in Hunt.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Mooney Aircraft was established in 1929 in Kerrville.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kerrville was begun to be called the "Mohair Capital of the World" in 1930.<ref name="Kerr County"/> The Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital was completed in 1949.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Kerrville State Hospital opened in 1951.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.4%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Kimble County (north)
Gillespie County (northeast)
Kendall County (east)
Bandera County (south)
Real County (southwest)
Edwards County (west)

Demographics

Template:US Census population

**Kerr 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)	33,802	35,851	35,791	77.43%	72.24%	68.05%
Black or African American alone (NH)	738	739	690	1.69%	1.49%	1.31%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	154	207	156	0.35%	0.42%	0.30%
Asian alone (NH)	212	361	576	0.49%	0.73%	1.10%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	16	19	39	0.04%	0.04%	0.07%
Other Race alone (NH)	12	38	187	0.03%	0.08%	0.36%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH)	366	515	1,561	0.84%	1.04%	2.97%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	8,353	11,895	13,598	19.13%	23.97%	25.85%
Total	43,653	49,625	52,598	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 43,653 people, 17,813 households, and 12,308 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 20,228 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 88.89% White, 1.78% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 6.60% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. 19.13% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 17,813 households, out of which 25.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 22.20% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 24.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,283, and the median income for a family was $40,713. Males had a median income of $27,425 versus $21,149 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,767. About 10.30% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.60% of those under age 18 and 8.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Ingram
Kerrville (county seat)

Census-designated place

Center Point

Unincorporated communities

Education

School districts include:<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

All of the county is in the service area of Alamo Community College District.<ref>Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.162. ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA..</ref>

In popular culture

1963 Hud starring Paul Newman was filmed at Camp Waldemar in Hunt.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
1972 The first Kerrville Folk Festival was held.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1975 The Great Waldo Pepper starring Robert Redford was filmed in Kerrville.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
2005 Stonehenge II, a scaled replica of the famous British attraction, was featured in the book "Weird Texas."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2016 TV show, Lethal Weapon, Martin Riggs grew up in Kerr County, Texas.