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Dallam County, Texas

Coordinates: 36°17′N 102°35′W / 36.29°N 102.59°W / 36.29; -102.59
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Not to be confused with Dallas County, Texas.

Dallam County
County
1922 Dallam County Courthouse in Dalhart
1922 Dallam County Courthouse in Dalhart
Map of Texas highlighting Dallam County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°17′N 102°35′W / 36.29°N 102.59°W / 36.29; -102.59
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1891
SeatDalhart
Largest cityDalhart
Area
 • Total
1,505 sq mi (3,900 km2)
 • Land1,503 sq mi (3,890 km2)
 • Water2.0 sq mi (5 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
7,115 Increase
 • Density4.7/sq mi (1.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district13th
Websitewww.dallam.org

Dallam County is the north-westernmost county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 Census, its population was 7,115.[1][2] Its county seat is Dalhart.[3] The county was founded in 1876 and later organized in 1891.[4] It is named for James Wilmer Dallam, a lawyer and newspaper publisher.

History

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Dallam County was formed in 1876 from portions of Bexar County. It was named after James Wilmer Dallam, the lawyer who made the first digest of Texas laws.[5] The first settlement in the area followed in 1870, which resulted in the Red River War of 1874 and 1875 with the native Comanche and Kiowa tribes. In 1900–01, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad company built a stretch from Liberal, Kansas, to Tucumcari, New Mexico, which ran through the county.[citation needed] The location where the tracks met those of the Fort Worth and Denver Railway was named Dalhart. The name is taken from the first letters of Dallam County and Hartley County, between which the town's area is divided. Within a short time, the small railroad stop turned into a sizable town and was named county seat in 1903.[6]

Dallam County was one of the hardest-hit areas in the Dust Bowl.[7]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,505 square miles (3,900 km2), of which 1,503 square miles (3,890 km2) are land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2) (0.1%) are covered by water.[8]

Dallam County is one of only three counties in Texas to border two other U.S. states (the others being Bowie and Cass). Dallam County forms part of the tripoint—of Texas-Oklahoma-New Mexico.[citation needed]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890112—
190014630.4%
19104,0012,640.4%
19204,52813.2%
19307,83072.9%
19406,494−17.1%
19507,64017.6%
19606,302−17.5%
19706,012−4.6%
19806,5318.6%
19905,461−16.4%
20006,22213.9%
20106,7037.7%
20207,1156.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1850–2010[10] 2010[11] 2020[12]
Dallam County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
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.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[13] Pop 2010[11] Pop 2020[12] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 4,257 3,726 3,119 68.42% 55.59% 43.84%
Black or African American alone (NH) 100 81 74 1.61% 1.21% 1.04%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 35 34 51 0.56% 0.51% 0.72%
Asian alone (NH) 13 37 10 0.21% 0.55% 0.14%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 5 3 0.00% 0.07% 0.04%
Other race alone (NH) 1 17 10 0.02% 0.25% 0.14%
Mixed race or multiracial (NH) 50 86 141 0.80% 1.28% 1.98%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,766 2,717 3,707 28.38% 40.53% 52.10%
Total 6,222 6,703 7,115 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%


As of the census[14] of 2000, 6,222 people, 2,317 households, and 1,628 families were residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km2). The 2,697 housing units had an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 82.64% White, 1.64% Black or African American, 0.90% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 12.41% from other races, and 2.20% from two or more races. About 28.38% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. About 19.6% were German, 8.2% were Irish, 7.1% were English, 5.5% were American, 2.8% were French, 2.7% were Scotch-Irish, and 1.6% were Dutch in ancestry.[citation needed]

Of the 2,317 households, 39.0% had children under 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were not families. About 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.24.[citation needed]

In the county, the age distribution was 31.8% under 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.00 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 101.30 males.[citation needed]

The median income for a household in the county was $27,946, and for a family was $33,558. Males had a median income of $27,244 versus $19,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,653. About 11.3% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under 18 and 24.8% of those 65 or over.[citation needed]

Politics

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Dallam County is located within District 86 of the Texas House of Representatives. The seat has been held by Amarillo attorney John T. Smithee, a Republican, since 1985. Dallam County as a whole is heavily Republican in orientation. Joe Biden's 12.24% showing in the 2020 election is the lowest amount of the vote received by a Democrat since the county's organization in 1891.[citation needed]

United States presidential election results for Dallam County, Texas[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 1,285 88.80% 152 10.50% 10 0.69%
2020 1,389 86.33% 197 12.24% 23 1.43%
2016 1,261 81.67% 222 14.38% 61 3.95%
2012 1,248 81.36% 253 16.49% 33 2.15%
2008 1,269 79.86% 302 19.01% 18 1.13%
2004 1,473 82.66% 305 17.12% 4 0.22%
2000 1,385 79.42% 341 19.55% 18 1.03%
1996 970 59.36% 483 29.56% 181 11.08%
1992 922 54.78% 434 25.79% 327 19.43%
1988 1,205 64.72% 645 34.64% 12 0.64%
1984 1,594 75.80% 496 23.59% 13 0.62%
1980 965 58.88% 632 38.56% 42 2.56%
1976 936 46.64% 1,029 51.27% 42 2.09%
1972 1,271 78.02% 327 20.07% 31 1.90%
1968 990 49.30% 588 29.28% 430 21.41%
1964 700 39.80% 1,058 60.15% 1 0.06%
1960 961 53.15% 835 46.18% 12 0.66%
1956 1,018 48.41% 1,074 51.07% 11 0.52%
1952 1,464 54.77% 1,197 44.78% 12 0.45%
1948 399 20.54% 1,504 77.41% 40 2.06%
1944 323 20.06% 1,118 69.44% 169 10.50%
1940 427 21.63% 1,539 77.96% 8 0.41%
1936 220 12.74% 1,436 83.15% 71 4.11%
1932 341 14.83% 1,935 84.13% 24 1.04%
1928 618 53.00% 539 46.23% 9 0.77%
1924 254 24.31% 506 48.42% 285 27.27%
1920 195 26.49% 478 64.95% 63 8.56%
1916 81 16.53% 363 74.08% 46 9.39%
1912 18 5.28% 247 72.43% 76 22.29%

Education

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The following school districts serve Dallam County:

Communities

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City

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Town

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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[edit]
  • XIT Museum in Dalhart
    XIT Museum in Dalhart
  • Area affected by 1930s Dust Bowl
    Area affected by 1930s Dust Bowl

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Dallam County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  2. ^ "Dallam County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 99.
  6. ^ Abbe, Donald R.; Anderson, H. Allen. "Dallam County". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  7. ^ Laskin, David (December 17, 2005). "Laying Bare Dust Bowl's Scar Tissue". The New York Times. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  9. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  10. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  11. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Dallam County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Dallam County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Dallam County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
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