Grayson County is a
county located in the
U.S. state of
Texas. In 2000, its population was 110,595. By 2007 the
U.S. Census Bureau estimated that total population had reached 118,675. Grayson County is included in the
Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area and the
Dallas–
Fort Worth Combined Statistical Area, and is also part of the
Texoma region. It is named after Peter Wagener Grayson, an attorney general of the
Republic of Texas. The
seat of the county is
Sherman.
History
On
May 15,
1896, a
tornado measuring
F5 on the Fujita scale struck
Sherman. The tornado had a damage path wide and long, killing 73 people and injuring 200. About 50 homes were destroyed, with 20 of them being completely obliterated.
Geography
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 979 square miles (2,536 km²), of which, 934 square miles (2,418 km²) of it is land and 46 square miles (118 km²) of it (4.67%) is water.
Major highways
Adjacent counties
Demographics
As of the
census of 2000, there were 110,595 people, 42,849 households, and 30,208 families residing in the county. The
population density was 118 people per square mile (46/km²). There were 48,315 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile (20/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.20%
White, 5.85%
Black or
African American, 1.31%
Native American, 0.57%
Asian, 0.05%
Pacific Islander, 2.90% from
other races, and 2.13% from two or more races. 6.80% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race.
There were 42,849 households out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out with 25.30% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,178, and the median income for a family was $45,048. Males had a median income of $32,998 versus $23,414 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,862. About 8.40% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 10.10% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
†
City extends into an adjacent county.
References
-
- Historical Tornadoes
Library
The Pottsboro Area Library is the only completely volunteer library in Grayson County. It operates solely on donations and grants.
External links