# Eastland County, Texas

Eastland County is a county located in central West Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 17,725. The county seat is Eastland. The county was founded in 1858 and later organized in 1873. It is named for William Mosby Eastland, a soldier during the Texas Revolution and the only officer to die as a result of the "Black Bean executions" of the Mier Expedition.
Two Eastland County communities, Cisco and Ranger, have junior colleges.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 932 sq mi (2,410 km$^2$), of which 5.4 sq mi (14 km$^2$) (0.6%) are covered by water.

### Major highways

* Interstate 20
* U.S. Highway 183
* State Highway 6
* State Highway 16
* State Highway 36
* State Highway 112

### Adjacent counties

* Stephens County (north)
* Palo Pinto County (northeast)
* Erath County (east)
* Comanche County (southeast)
* Brown County (south)
* Callahan County (west)
* Shackelford County (northwest)

## Demographics

Eastland 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) | 15,686 | 15,271 | 13,653 | 85.73% | 82.18% | 77.03% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 397 | 318 | 335 | 2.17% | 1.71% | 1.89% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 61 | 92 | 96 | 0.33% | 0.50% | 0.54% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 36 | 62 | 95 | 0.20% | 0.33% | 0.54% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 8 | 16 | 0.01% | 0.04% | 0.09% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 15 | 8 | 26 | 0.08% | 0.04% | 0.15% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 124 | 151 | 570 | 0.68% | 0.81% | 3.22% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,976 | 2,673 | 2,934 | 10.80% | 14.38% | 16.55% |
| Total | 18,297 | 18,583 | 17,725 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census of 2000, 18,297 people, 7,321 households, and 5,036 families resided in the county. The population density was 20 inhabitants per square mile (7.7/km$^2$). The 9,547 housing units averaged 10 per square mile (3.9/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 91.03% White, 2.18% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 4.85% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. About 10.80% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 7,321 households, 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were not families. About 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the county, the population was distributed as 23.20% under 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 22.30% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 20.90% who were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,832, and for a family was $33,562. Males had a median income of $25,598 versus $17,112 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,870. About 12.10% of families and 16.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.10% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.

## Eastland Complex fires of 2022

On March 17, 2022, a fire complex formed approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Romney. It was claimed to have been started by drought condition and is now 60% contained. The biggest fire so far is the Kidd fire, burning about 42,333 acres.
Smoke from the fires reached as far as Houston.

## Education

School districts include:
* Cisco Independent School District
* Cross Plains Independent School District
* De Leon Independent School District
* Eastland Independent School District
* Gorman Independent School District
* Huckabay Independent School District
* Lingleville Independent School District
* Ranger Independent School District
* Rising Star Independent School District
Despite its small population, the county is home to two community colleges – Cisco College and Ranger College, located in their respective towns.
The service area of Cisco College in the county is Cisco ISD, as per the Texas Education Code. The service area of Ranger College in the county is the portion of Ranger ISD in that county, except for the "old Bullock School Land", as per the Texas Education Code. As of 2024 the TEC does not specify community college service areas for the remainder of the county.

## Media

Eastland County is part of the Abilene/Sweetwater/Brownwood television viewing area in west-central Texas. Local news media outlets include KRBC-TV, KTXS-TV, KXVA, and KTAB-TV. In the cities of Eastland, Ranger, and Cisco on Suddenlink Communications Cable Television service, residents can view the Dallas/Fort Worth market stations WFAA-TV and KERA-TV.
Eastland County is also served by four local newspapers: the Eastland Telegram, the Rising Star, Ranger Times, and Cisco Press.

## Communities
### Cities

* Cisco
* Eastland (county seat)
* Gorman
* Ranger

### Towns

* Carbon
* Rising Star

### Unincorporated communities

* Morton Valley
* Nimrod
* Olden
* Romney

### Ghost towns

* Mangum

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Eastland County, Texas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 7,397 | 88.44% | 918 | 10.98% | 49 | 0.59% |
| 2020 | 7,237 | 87.27% | 983 | 11.85% | 73 | 0.88% |
| 2016 | 6,011 | 86.33% | 776 | 11.14% | 176 | 2.53% |
| 2012 | 5,444 | 83.82% | 970 | 14.93% | 81 | 1.25% |
| 2008 | 5,165 | 79.35% | 1,271 | 19.53% | 73 | 1.12% |
| 2004 | 5,249 | 76.55% | 1,582 | 23.07% | 26 | 0.38% |
| 2000 | 4,531 | 70.64% | 1,774 | 27.66% | 109 | 1.70% |
| 1996 | 3,272 | 49.61% | 2,594 | 39.33% | 730 | 11.07% |
| 1992 | 2,830 | 38.87% | 2,738 | 37.60% | 1,713 | 23.53% |
| 1988 | 3,929 | 54.83% | 3,215 | 44.86% | 22 | 0.31% |
| 1984 | 4,841 | 65.52% | 2,522 | 34.13% | 26 | 0.35% |
| 1980 | 3,442 | 50.05% | 3,346 | 48.65% | 89 | 1.29% |
| 1976 | 2,340 | 34.95% | 4,320 | 64.53% | 35 | 0.52% |
| 1972 | 4,106 | 71.50% | 1,630 | 28.38% | 7 | 0.12% |
| 1968 | 2,453 | 38.63% | 2,884 | 45.42% | 1,013 | 15.95% |
| 1964 | 2,049 | 30.35% | 4,692 | 69.49% | 11 | 0.16% |
| 1960 | 3,359 | 52.09% | 3,058 | 47.42% | 32 | 0.50% |
| 1956 | 3,580 | 58.61% | 2,512 | 41.13% | 16 | 0.26% |
| 1952 | 4,518 | 57.15% | 3,370 | 42.63% | 18 | 0.23% |
| 1948 | 1,177 | 17.66% | 5,121 | 76.83% | 367 | 5.51% |
| 1944 | 643 | 10.59% | 4,607 | 75.87% | 822 | 13.54% |
| 1940 | 1,063 | 15.43% | 5,818 | 84.48% | 6 | 0.09% |
| 1936 | 724 | 13.36% | 4,659 | 85.99% | 35 | 0.65% |
| 1932 | 598 | 10.76% | 4,958 | 89.24% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1928 | 3,233 | 56.38% | 2,501 | 43.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 972 | 17.11% | 4,548 | 80.04% | 162 | 2.85% |
| 1920 | 941 | 23.13% | 2,942 | 72.30% | 186 | 4.57% |
| 1916 | 146 | 7.53% | 1,486 | 76.64% | 307 | 15.83% |
| 1912 | 66 | 3.99% | 1,498 | 90.51% | 91 | 5.50% |