# Castro County, Texas

Castro County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 7,371. Its county seat is Dimmitt. The county was named for Henri Castro, who was consul general to France for the Republic of Texas and the founder of a colony in Texas.
The county was created in 1876 and was organized in 1891.
On April 10, 2023, an explosion and subsequent fire at South Fork Dairy, about 10 miles south of Dimmitt, resulted in the deaths of an estimated 18,000 dairy cattle.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,330 km$^2$), of which 4.9 square miles (13 km$^2$) (0.5%) are covered by water.

### Major highways

* U.S. Highway 60
* U.S. Highway 385
* State Highway 86
* State Highway 194

### Adjacent counties

* Deaf Smith County (north)
* Randall County (northeast)
* Swisher County (east)
* Hale County (southeast)
* Lamb County (south)
* Parmer County (west)

## Demographics

Castro 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 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 3,765 | 3,004 | 2,328 | 45.44% | 37.26% | 31.58% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 182 | 149 | 95 | 2.20% | 1.85% | 1.29% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 31 | 29 | 39 | 0.37% | 0.36% | 0.53% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1 | 30 | 22 | 0.01% | 0.37% | 0.30% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0.00% | 0.06% | 0.12% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 27 | 17 | 90 | 0.33% | 0.21% | 1.22% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4,279 | 4,828 | 4,784 | 51.65% | 59.89% | 64.90% |
| Total | 8,285 | 8,062 | 7,371 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census of 2000, 8,285 people, 2,761 households, and 2,159 families were residing in the county. The population density was 9 people per square mile (3.5 people/km$^2$). The 3,198 housing units averaged 4 units per square mile (1.5/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 75.35% White, 2.27% African American, 1.17% Native American, 19.15% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. About 51.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 2,761 households, 40.90% had children under 18 living with them, 65.10% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.80% were not families. About 20.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.98, and the average family size was 3.45.
In the county, the age distribution was 33.10% under 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.50 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 98.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,619, and for a family was $35,422. Males had a median income of $25,379 versus $20,433 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,457. About 15.70% of families and 19.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.30% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Castro County, Texas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 1,594 | 78.79% | 418 | 20.66% | 11 | 0.54% |
| 2020 | 1,602 | 76.91% | 466 | 22.37% | 15 | 0.72% |
| 2016 | 1,414 | 70.81% | 526 | 26.34% | 57 | 2.85% |
| 2012 | 1,470 | 69.37% | 630 | 29.73% | 19 | 0.90% |
| 2008 | 1,562 | 68.18% | 719 | 31.38% | 10 | 0.44% |
| 2004 | 1,794 | 73.83% | 631 | 25.97% | 5 | 0.21% |
| 2000 | 1,607 | 68.27% | 727 | 30.88% | 20 | 0.85% |
| 1996 | 1,231 | 49.22% | 1,107 | 44.26% | 163 | 6.52% |
| 1992 | 1,307 | 44.91% | 1,113 | 38.25% | 490 | 16.84% |
| 1988 | 1,604 | 52.61% | 1,436 | 47.10% | 9 | 0.30% |
| 1984 | 2,026 | 66.30% | 1,009 | 33.02% | 21 | 0.69% |
| 1980 | 1,955 | 60.75% | 1,199 | 37.26% | 64 | 1.99% |
| 1976 | 1,007 | 32.74% | 2,033 | 66.09% | 36 | 1.17% |
| 1972 | 1,685 | 68.75% | 751 | 30.64% | 15 | 0.61% |
| 1968 | 1,033 | 36.40% | 1,181 | 41.61% | 624 | 21.99% |
| 1964 | 626 | 25.10% | 1,865 | 74.78% | 3 | 0.12% |
| 1960 | 810 | 34.01% | 1,544 | 64.82% | 28 | 1.18% |
| 1956 | 697 | 34.75% | 1,305 | 65.05% | 4 | 0.20% |
| 1952 | 1,169 | 58.57% | 825 | 41.33% | 2 | 0.10% |
| 1948 | 189 | 13.76% | 1,158 | 84.28% | 27 | 1.97% |
| 1944 | 222 | 18.45% | 838 | 69.66% | 143 | 11.89% |
| 1940 | 224 | 18.27% | 1,000 | 81.57% | 2 | 0.16% |
| 1936 | 65 | 6.34% | 950 | 92.68% | 10 | 0.98% |
| 1932 | 66 | 6.45% | 949 | 92.77% | 8 | 0.78% |
| 1928 | 319 | 45.38% | 384 | 54.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 68 | 18.43% | 219 | 59.35% | 82 | 22.22% |
| 1920 | 118 | 41.84% | 158 | 56.03% | 6 | 2.13% |
| 1916 | 69 | 27.38% | 176 | 69.84% | 7 | 2.78% |
| 1912 | 18 | 8.65% | 171 | 82.21% | 19 | 9.13% |

## Communities
### Cities

* Dimmitt (county seat)
* Hart
* Nazareth

### CDP

* Summerfield

### Unincorporated communities

* Dodd
* Easter
* Flagg
* Frio
* Hilburn
* Sunnyside

### Ghost towns

* Arney
* Big Square

## Education

School districts:
* Dimmitt Independent School District
* Happy Independent School District
* Hart Independent School District
* Hereford Independent School District
* Lazbuddie Independent School District
* Nazareth Independent School District
* Springlake-Earth Independent School District
All of the county is in the service area of Amarillo College.