Wichita County, Texas

Wichita County, Texas
Wichita County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 129,350. The county seat is Wichita Falls. The county was created in 1858 and organized in 1882. Wichita County is part of the Wichita Falls, Texas, TX metropolitan statistical area.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which (0.8%) are covered by water. The county is drained by the Wichita River and other streams.
Major highways
Interstate 44
U.S. Highway 82
U.S. Highway 277
U.S. Highway 281
U.S. Highway 287
State Highway 25
State Highway 79
State Highway 240
State Highway 258
Adjacent counties
Tillman County, Oklahoma (north)
Cotton County, Oklahoma (northeast)
Clay County (east)
Archer County (south)
Wilbarger County (west)
Baylor County (southwest)
Geology
Wichita County is part of the Texas Red Beds, which are strata of red-colored sedimentary rock from the Early Permian. The fossils of Permian period vertebrates in the Texas Red Beds were first discovered by Edward Drinker Cope in 1877. Subsequent research has revealed rare fossils of Permian period amphibians like Trimerorhachis, as well as rich deposits of other Permian tetrapods such as Dimetrodon and Diadectes.
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 of 2000, 131,664 people, 48,441 households, and 32,891 families resided in the county. The population density was . The 53,304 housing units had an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 78.76% White, 10.23% African American, 0.89% Native American, 1.84% Asian, 5.60% from other races, and 2.68% from two or more races. About 12.23% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
Of the 48,441 households, 33.6% had children under 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were not families, with 1,869 unmarried partner households - 1,677 heterosexual, 94 same-sex male, and 98 same-sex female. About 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49, and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the age distribution was 25.2% under 18, 13.7% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.8 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 103.4 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,780, and for a family was $40,937. Males had a median income of $28,687 versus $21,885 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,965. About 10.30% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.40% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice James V. Allred Unit is located in Wichita County.
Wichita County Commissioner Court members:
County Judge Jim Johnson,
Commissioner Pct. 1 Mark Beauchamp,
Commissioner Pct. 2 Mickey Fincannon,
Commissioner Pct. 3 Barry Mahler, and
Commissioner Pct. 4 Jeff Watts
The sheriff of Wichita County is David Duke. He first took office on January 1, 2009.
Politics
Wichita County is represented in the Texas House of Representatives by the Republican James Frank, a businessman from Wichita Falls. Wichita County has about 77% of the population of Texas' 69th state house district, 18% of the population of the 13th US congressional district, and 15% of the population of the 30th state senate district.
Presidential elections
In 2008, Wichita County cast the majority of its votes for Republican John McCain; he won 31,673 votes (69%). Democrat Barack Obama received 13,828 votes (30%). Other candidates received 1% of the vote. In 2004, Republican George W. Bush did better than John McCain and won 71% of the vote and 32,472 votes. Democrat John F. Kerry won 28% of the vote and 12,819 votes.
Communities
Cities
Cashion Community
Burkburnett
Electra
Iowa Park
Wichita Falls (county seat)
Town
Pleasant Valley
Unincorporated communities
Haynesville
Kamay
Valley View
Education
School districts serving the county include:
Burkburnett Independent School District
City View Independent School District
Electra Independent School District
Holliday Independent School District
Iowa Park Consolidated Independent School District
Wichita Falls Independent School District
The county is in the service area of Vernon College.
See also
List of museums in North Texas
National Register of Historic Places listings in Wichita County, Texas
Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Wichita County
The Kell House
References
External links
Official Wichita County Website
Historic Wichita County materials, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
Sheppard Air Force Base Home Page
1882 establishments in Texas
Populated places established in 1882
Wichita Falls metropolitan area