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Hutchinson County, Texas

Coordinates: 35°50′N 101°22′W / 35.84°N 101.36°W / 35.84; -101.36
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Hutchinson County
County
The Hutchinson County Courthouse in Stinnett
The Hutchinson County Courthouse in Stinnett
Map of Texas highlighting Hutchinson County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°50′N 101°22′W / 35.84°N 101.36°W / 35.84; -101.36
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1901
SeatStinnett
Largest cityBorger
Area
 • Total
895 sq mi (2,320 km2)
 • Land887 sq mi (2,300 km2)
 • Water7.5 sq mi (19 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
20,617
 • Density23/sq mi (8.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district13th
Websitewww.co.hutchinson.tx.us

Hutchinson County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 20,617.[1] Its county seat is Stinnett.[2] The county was created in 1876, but not organized until 1901.[3] It is named for Andrew Hutchinson,[4] an early Texas attorney.

Hutchinson County comprises the Borger, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Amarillo-Borger, TX Combined Statistical Area. It is located in the northern portion of the Texas Panhandle. The history of Hutchinson County is accented in downtown Borger in the Hutchinson County Historical Museum, also known as Boomtown Revisited. Hutchinson County is the county with the most ghost towns in the Texas Panhandle.

History

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Native Americans

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Artifacts of the Antelope Creek Indian culture abound along the Canadian River valley in Hutchinson County. Archaeologists have found 1,300 acres (5.3 km2) of Alibates flint in the area that was used as a quarry for shaping flint tools. Nomadic Plains Apache also camped in this area, as did Comanche, Arapaho, Kiowa, and Cheyenne.[5][6]

Bent, St. Vrain and Company established a trading post in this area to tap into Indian trading. Known as Fort Adobe, it was blown up by traders three years later due to Indian depredations. The ruins became known as Adobe Walls.[7]

The First Battle of Adobe Walls took place in 1864 when General James H. Carleton sent Colonel Kit Carson into the area to avenge for repeated Indian attacks. Carson and several hundred cavalry soldiers were greatly outnumbered by Kiowa and Comanche and forced to retreat. The Second Battle of Adobe Walls took place in 1874. A group of buffalo hunters attempted a revitalization of Fort Adobe. The Comanches, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Kiowa saw the fort and the decimation of the buffalo herd as a threat to their existence. Comanche medicine man Isa-tai prophesied a victory and immunity to the white man's bullets in battle. Quanah Parker lead several hundred in a raid on the fort. The buffalo hunters were able to force the Indians into retreat.[8][9]

Early explorations

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In 1541, an expedition led by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado traversed the area on its Great Plains quest for Quivira on the search for the mythical Seven Cities of Gold.[10][11] Spanish conquistador Juan de Oñate passed through in 1601 on his Kansas expedition.[12] Buffalo hunters and Comanchero from New Mexico hunted and traded in the vicinity until the 1870s.[13] The first Anglo-American expedition to come through the county was led by Stephen H. Long, who mistook the Canadian River for the Red River, in August 1820.[14] Josiah Gregg brought his Santa Fe caravan through in March 1840.[15][16] During the month of December 1858, Lt. Edward Beale with 100 men passed through the county constructing a federally funded military road, the first to be constructed in the American Southwest. The road went from Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Los Angeles. It was named the Beale Wagon Road by Secretary of War John B. Floyd.[17]

Early ranch entrepreneurs

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In November 1876, Kansan Thomas Sherman Bugbee established the Quarter Circle T Ranch.[18] The Scissors Ranch was begun in 1878 by William E. Anderson at the Adobe Walls site. The ranch was named after the brand, which looked like a pair of scissors.[19] Coloradan Richard E. McNalty moved to Texas and began the Turkey Track Ranch, which he sold to Charles Wood and Jack Snider in 1881.[20] Scotland-born James M. Coburn formed the Hansford Land and Cattle Company. The Quarter Circle T Ranch and Scissors Ranch were sold to Coburn in 1882. Coburn acquired the Turkey Track Ranch in 1883.[21]

County established

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Hutchinson County was established in 1876. The county was not organized until 1901, when Plemons became the county seat.[22] For the next four decades, ranching dominated the county's economy, while crop cultivation made gradual headway.[23]

The Panhandle oilfield was discovered in the 1920s. On June 1, 1923, the Sanford No. 1 J. C. Whittington well in southwestern Hutchinson County reached a depth of 3,077 feet (938 m) and found flowing oil. Towns sprang up in response. The population mushroomed from 721 in 1920 to 14,848 in 1930 as a result of the oil boom. By 1990, 526,670,107 barrels (83,733,855.6 m3) of oil had been taken from Hutchinson County lands since 1923.[24][25]

Stinnett became the county seat after a special election on September 18, 1926.[26]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 895 square miles (2,320 km2), of which 887 square miles (2,300 km2) are land and 7.5 square miles (19 km2) (0.8%) are covered by water.[27]

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%±
188050—
18905816.0%
1900303422.4%
1910892194.4%
1920721−19.2%
193014,8481,959.4%
194019,06928.4%
195031,58065.6%
196034,4199.0%
197024,443−29.0%
198026,3047.6%
199025,689−2.3%
200023,857−7.1%
201022,150−7.2%
202020,617−6.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[28]
1850–2010[29] 2010[30] 2020[31]
Hutchinson 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[32] Pop 2010[30] Pop 2020[31] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 19,104 16,482 13,783 80.08% 74.41% 66.85%
Black or African American alone (NH) 563 512 416 2.36% 2.31% 2.02%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 289 300 273 1.21% 1.35% 1.32%
Asian alone (NH) 83 91 105 0.35% 0.41% 0.51%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 4 3 2 0.02% 0.01% 0.01%
Other race alone (NH) 5 23 52 0.02% 0.10% 0.25%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 303 353 1,025 1.27% 1.59% 4.97%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3,506 4,386 4,961 14.70% 19.80% 24.06%
Total 23,857 22,150 20,617 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census[33] of 2000, 23,857 people, 9,283 households, and 6,869 families resided in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (10 people/km2). The 10,871 housing units averaged 12 units per square mile (4.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.00% White, 2.41% Black or African American, 1.35% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 6.66% from other races, and 2.21% from two or more races. About 14.70% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 9,283 households, 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.00% were not families. About 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was distributed as 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,588, and for a family was $42,500. Males had a median income of $40,029 versus $19,952 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,317. About 8.80% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.70% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities

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Town

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Census-designated place

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Unincorporated community

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Ghost towns

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Education

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School districts include:[34]

All of Hutchinson County and all of Borger ISD are a part of the attendance district of Frank Phillips College (formerly Borger Junior College District), a community college.[35]

Spring Creek Independent School District consolidated into Borger ISD effective July 1, 2024.[36]

Notable people

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Politics

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United States presidential election results for Hutchinson County, Texas[37]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 7,681 87.55% 965 11.00% 127 1.45%
2016 7,042 86.35% 854 10.47% 259 3.18%
2012 6,804 85.82% 1,045 13.18% 79 1.00%
2008 7,361 84.02% 1,322 15.09% 78 0.89%
2004 7,839 83.67% 1,503 16.04% 27 0.29%
2000 7,443 79.60% 1,796 19.21% 112 1.20%
1996 6,350 64.78% 2,553 26.04% 900 9.18%
1992 6,034 55.42% 2,833 26.02% 2,021 18.56%
1988 7,526 71.50% 2,950 28.03% 50 0.48%
1984 9,078 81.26% 2,052 18.37% 41 0.37%
1980 7,439 69.97% 2,935 27.61% 258 2.43%
1976 6,137 61.78% 3,691 37.16% 105 1.06%
1972 7,411 81.25% 1,405 15.40% 305 3.34%
1968 4,813 47.43% 2,416 23.81% 2,919 28.76%
1964 5,358 53.58% 4,625 46.25% 17 0.17%
1960 6,432 65.99% 3,295 33.81% 20 0.21%
1956 5,110 54.73% 4,184 44.82% 42 0.45%
1952 5,369 51.30% 5,083 48.57% 13 0.12%
1948 1,382 23.00% 4,527 75.34% 100 1.66%
1944 864 22.58% 2,760 72.14% 202 5.28%
1940 1,101 26.67% 3,019 73.12% 9 0.22%
1936 390 13.57% 2,478 86.25% 5 0.17%
1932 505 20.14% 1,976 78.79% 27 1.08%
1928 1,115 60.43% 730 39.57% 0 0.00%
1924 69 29.49% 159 67.95% 6 2.56%
1920 106 42.91% 135 54.66% 6 2.43%
1916 28 18.54% 114 75.50% 9 5.96%
1912 16 17.20% 71 76.34% 6 6.45%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Hutchinson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 164.
  5. ^ Kirkwood, Scott (2006). "Rock of Ages". National Parks Magazine. Fall.
  6. ^ "Alibates Flint Quarry". National Park Service. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  7. ^ Rathjen, Frederick W (1998). Texas Panhandle Frontier. Texas Tech University Press. pp. 74–75. ISBN 978-0-89672-399-3.
  8. ^ Keenan, Jerry (1999). Encyclopedia of American Indian Wars 1492–1890. W. W. Norton & Company. pp. 2, 3. ISBN 978-0-393-31915-6.
  9. ^ "The Red River War of 1874". Texas Beyond History. UT-Austin. Archived from the original on April 18, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  10. ^ Lourie, Peter (2008). On the Texas Trail of Cabeza De Vaca. Boyds Mills Press. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-59078-492-1.
  11. ^ Donoghue, David. "Francisco Vázquez de Coronado". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  12. ^ Blakeslee, Donald J. (2010). Holy Ground, Healing Water: Cultural Landscapes at Waconda Lake, Kansas. TAMU Press. p. 113. ISBN 978-1-60344-211-4.
  13. ^ Rathjen, Frederick W. (1998). Texas Panhandle Frontier. Texas Tech University Press. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-89672-399-3.
  14. ^ Rodriguez, Junius P. (2002). The Louisiana Purchase: A Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. 198–199. ISBN 978-1-57607-188-5.
  15. ^ "Josiah Gregg's 1844 Map". The University of Tulsa. Archived from the original on July 19, 2006. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  16. ^ Worman, Charles G. (2005). Gunsmoke and Saddle Leather: Firearms in the Nineteenth-Century American West. University of New Mexico Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-8263-3593-7.
  17. ^ Information provided by Historic Archaeologist Jack Beale Smith
  18. ^ Anderson, H. Allen. "Quarter Circle T Ranch". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  19. ^ Anderson, H. Allen. "Scissors Ranch". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  20. ^ Anderson, H. Allen. "Turkey Track Ranch". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  21. ^ Anderson, H. Allen. "James M. Coburn". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  22. ^ "Plemons, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  23. ^ Anderson, H. Allen. "Hutchinson County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  24. ^ Cartwright, Gary (March 1985). "Texas on Ice". Texas Monthly: 98, 100, 102.
  25. ^ Baker, T. Lindsay (2005). More Ghost Towns of Texas. University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 45–47. ISBN 978-0-8061-3724-7.
  26. ^ "Stinnett, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  27. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  28. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  29. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  30. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Hutchinson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  31. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Hutchinson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  32. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Hutchinson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  33. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  34. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hutchinson County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2024. - Text list
  35. ^ "Borger Junior College District Service Area". Texas Education Code. Retrieved August 25, 2024. - The code refers to the district as "Borger Junior College District".
  36. ^ "CONSOLIDATIONS, ANNEXATIONS AND NAME CHANGES FOR TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS" (PDF). Texas Education Agency. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  37. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
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35°50′N 101°22′W / 35.84°N 101.36°W / 35.84; -101.36

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