Childress County, Texas

Childress County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 7,688. It is named for George Campbell Childress, the author of the Texas Declaration of Independence. The seat of the county is Childress.

The Bradley 3 Ranch, operated by matriarch Minnie Lou Bradley, is entirely in Childress County but has a Memphis (Hall County) mailing address.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 714 square miles (1,848 km²), of which, 710 square miles (1,840 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (8 km²) of it (0.46%) is water.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 62
• U.S. Highway 83
• U.S. Highway 287
• State Highway 256

Adjacent counties

• Collingsworth County (north)
• Harmon County, Oklahoma (northeast)
• Hardeman County (east)
• Cottle County (south)
• Hall County (west)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,688 people, 2,474 households, and 1,650 families residing in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 3,059 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 67.70% White, 14.09% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 15.70% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. 20.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,474 households out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 30.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.10% under the age of 18, 12.10% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 19.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 142.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 149.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,457, and the median income for a family was $35,543. Males had a median income of $25,606 versus $20,037 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,452. About 13.70% of families and 17.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.30% of those under age 18 and 10.30% of those age 65 or over.

Localities

City

• Childress

Other place

• Tell

References

External links

• Childress County government's website
• Historic photographs from the Childress County Heritage Museum, hosted by the Portal to Texas History
• Childress County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of Texas