Terry County is a
county
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
located in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
of
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
. As of the
2020 census, its population was 11,831. Its
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
is
Brownfield
In urban planning, brownfield land is any previously developed land that is not currently in use. It may be potentially contaminated, but this is not required for the area to be considered brownfield. The term is also used to describe land prev ...
.
The county was demarked in 1876 and organized in 1904. It is named for
Benjamin Franklin Terry
Benjamin Franklin Terry (February 18, 1821 – December 17, 1861) raised and commanded the 8th Texas Cavalry Regiment, popularly known as Terry's Texas Rangers, during the American Civil War. An enslaver, planter and prominent citizen of Fort Bend ...
, a colonel in the
Confederate Army
The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...
. Terry County was one of 46
dry counties in the state of Texas, but is now a
moist county
In the United States, a moist county is a county in between a "dry county" (in which the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited) and a " wet county" (in which alcohol is sold). The term is typically used for any county that allows alcohol t ...
. Terry County is one of the most productive
pumpkin
A pumpkin is a vernacular term for mature winter squash of species and varieties in the genus ''Cucurbita'' that has culinary and cultural significance but no agreed upon botanical or scientific meaning. The term ''pumpkin'' is sometimes use ...
producing counties in the United States.
History
Terry County was formed from
Bexar County
Bexar County ( or ; es, Béxar ) is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. It is in South Texas and its county seat is San Antonio.
As of the 2020 census, the population was 2,009,324. Bexar County is included in the San Antonio–New Bra ...
in 1876 and named for Col. Benjamin Franklin Terry, who commanded the
Terry's Texas Rangers
The 8th Texas Cavalry Regiment, (1861–1865), popularly known as Terry's Texas Rangers, was a light cavalry regiment of Texas volunteers for the Confederate States Army assembled by Colonel Benjamin Franklin Terry in August 1861. Though lesser kn ...
in the Civil War.
In 1877, the ill-fated
Nolan Expedition crossed the county in search of livestock stolen by
Comanche
The Comanche or Nʉmʉnʉʉ ( com, Nʉmʉnʉʉ, "the people") are a Native American tribe from the Southern Plains of the present-day United States. Comanche people today belong to the federally recognized Comanche Nation, headquartered in La ...
renegades. The various Indian tribes had moved on by the time of white settlement, due to the depletion of the buffalo herds by hunters.
Terry County was organized in 1904, with Brownfield as the county seat.
The county was settled by ranchers such as Ira J. Coulver, J. R. Quinn, Englishman Q. Bone, and Marion V. Brownfield.
By 1910 Terry County had 235 farms and of improved land, with corn being the most important crop.
Terry County lies in the oil-rich north Permian Basin, and the discovery of oil in 1940 quickly led to production.
By 1991 almost of crude had been extracted from Terry County lands since 1940.
In 1991, Terry County was among the leading cotton counties in Texas.
Geography
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the county has a total area of , of which are land and (0.2%) are covered by water.
Major highways
*
U.S. Highway 62
U.S. Route 62 or U.S. Highway 62 (US 62) runs from the Mexico–United States border, Mexican border at El Paso, Texas, to Niagara Falls, New York, near the Canada–United States border, Canadian border. It is the only east-west ...
*
U.S. Highway 82
U.S. Route 82 (US 82) is an east–west United States highway in the Southern United States. Created on July 1, 1931 across central Mississippi and southern Arkansas, US 82 eventually became a 1,625-mile (2,615 km) route extending from ...
*
U.S. Highway 380
*
U.S. Highway 385
*
State Highway 137
Adjacent counties
*
Hockley County (north)
*
Lynn County (east)
*
Dawson County (southeast)
*
Gaines County (south)
*
Yoakum County (west)
*
Cochran County (northwest)
*
Lubbock County
Lubbock County is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of Texas. The 2020 United States Census, 2020 census placed the population at 310,639. Its county seat and largest city is Lubbock, Texas, Lubbock. The county was cre ...
(northeast)
Demographics
''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 can be of any race.''
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2000, 12,761 people, 4,278 households, and 3,247 families were residing in the county. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 14 people per square mile (6/km
2). The 5,087 housing units had an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km
2). The
racial makeup
A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...
of the county was 76.55% White, 5.00% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 14.30% from other races, and 3.40% from two or more races. About 44.09% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
Of the 4,278 households, 35.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.10% were not families. About 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76, and the average family size was 3.23.
The county's age distribution was 28.40% under 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,090, and for a family was $33,339. Males had a median income of $24,321 versus $20,131 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the county was $13,860. About 19.20% of families and 23.30% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 32.50% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.
Media
The county is served by a weekly newspaper, nearby station
KPET
KPET (690 AM) is a radio station licensed to serve Lamesa, Texas, United States. The station is owned by Dawson County Broadcasting LLC/DCB License Sub LLC. The station's 280-foot tower is located at the south edge of the city of Lamesa.
FM ...
690 AM (Lamesa), and the various Lubbock radio and TV stations. KKUB-AM and KTTU-FM are licensed to Brownfield, but operate primarily from offices and studios in Lubbock.
Communities
Cities
*
Brownfield
In urban planning, brownfield land is any previously developed land that is not currently in use. It may be potentially contaminated, but this is not required for the area to be considered brownfield. The term is also used to describe land prev ...
(county seat)
*
Wellman Wellman may refer to:
* ''Wellman'' (film), a 2003 Croatian documentary film about a well excavator
*Wellman House, a historic site in Friendship, New York
Cities and communities
*Wellman, Iowa, a city in Washington County, Iowa, near Iowa City
*W ...
Town
*
Meadow
A meadow ( ) is an open habitat, or field, vegetated by grasses, herbs, and other non-woody plants. Trees or shrubs may sparsely populate meadows, as long as these areas maintain an open character. Meadows may be naturally occurring or artifi ...
Unincorporated communities
*
Needmore
*
Tokio
Politics
Education
School districts serving the county include:
*
Brownfield Independent School District
Brownfield Independent School District is a public school district based in Brownfield, Texas (USA
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located ...
*
Dawson Independent School District
*
Loop Independent School District
*
Meadow Independent School District
Meadow Independent School District is a public school district based in Meadow, Texas (USA). The district is a single campus district with two schools, Burleson Elementary, serving Pre-K through 5th, and Meadow High School, which serves grades si ...
*
O'Donnell Independent School District
*
Ropes Independent School District
*
Seagraves Independent School District
Seagraves Independent School District is a public school district based in Seagraves, Texas (USA).
Located in Gaines County, the district extends into small portions of Terry and Yoakum counties.
In 2009, the school district was rated "academ ...
*
Tahoka Independent School District
The Tahoka Independent School District is a public school district based in Tahoka, Texas, Tahoka, Texas (United States). Located in Lynn County, Texas, Lynn County, the district extends into a small portion of Terry County, Texas, Terry County.
...
*
Wellman-Union Consolidated Independent School District
The county is in the service area of
South Plains College
South Plains College (SPC) is a public community college in Levelland, Texas. It operates satellite branches in Plainview, at the Reese Technology Center, formerly Reese Air Force Base, in western Lubbock, and the Lubbock Center near centra ...
.
Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.198. SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
/ref>
See also
* Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Terry County
References
External links
Terry's Texas Rangers
Terry County government’s website
*
Terry County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties
{{authority control
1904 establishments in Texas
Populated places established in 1904
Majority-minority counties in Texas