Castro County, Texas

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Castro County, Texas
Castro County Courthouse in Dimmitt
Location in the state of Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded	1891
Named for	Henri Castro
Seat	Dimmitt
Largest city	Dimmitt
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	899 sq mi (2,328 km²) 894 sq mi (2,315 km²) 4.9 sq mi (13 km²), 0.5%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	8,062 9.0/sq mi (3/km²)
Congressional district	19th
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	www.co.castro.tx.us

Rhoads Memorial Library serves Castro County.

Grain elevator in Dimmitt

Castro County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 8,062. The 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 originally created in 1876. It was organized in 1891, and a courthouse was built about the town square. Temporary county office space, meanwhile, was obtained from businessman J.N. Morrison. The ornate two-story courthouse was completed but was destroyed by lightning in 1906.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,330 km²), of which 894 square miles (2,320 km²) is land and 4.9 square miles (13 km²) (0.5%) is water.

Major highways

• 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

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	9		—
1900	400		4,344.4%
1910	1,850		362.5%
1920	1,948		5.3%
1930	4,720		142.3%
1940	4,631		−1.9%
1950	5,417		17.0%
1960	8,923		64.7%
1970	10,394		16.5%
1980	10,556		1.6%
1990	9,070		−14.1%
2000	8,285		−8.7%
2010	8,062		−2.7%
Est. 2016	7,669		−7.4%
U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010–2014

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,285 people, 2,761 households, and 2,159 families residing in the county. The population density was 9 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 3,198 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 75.35% White, 2.27% Black or African American, 1.17% Native American, 0.02% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 19.12% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. 51.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,761 households out of which 40.90% had children under the age of 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 non-families. 20.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.45.

In the county, the population was spread out with 33.10% under the age of 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 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 100.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,619, and the median income 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.

Presidential Elections Results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2016	70.8% 1,414	26.3% 526	2.9% 57
2012	69.4% 1,470	29.7% 630	0.9% 19
2008	68.2% 1,562	31.4% 719	0.4% 10
2004	73.8% 1,794	26.0% 631	0.2% 5
2000	68.3% 1,607	30.9% 727	0.9% 20
1996	49.2% 1,231	44.3% 1,107	6.5% 163
1992	44.9% 1,307	38.3% 1,113	16.8% 490
1988	52.6% 1,604	47.1% 1,436	0.3% 9
1984	66.3% 2,026	33.0% 1,009	0.7% 21
1980	60.8% 1,955	37.3% 1,199	2.0% 64
1976	32.7% 1,007	66.1% 2,033	1.2% 36
1972	68.8% 1,685	30.6% 751	0.6% 15
1968	36.4% 1,033	41.6% 1,181	22.0% 624
1964	25.1% 626	74.8% 1,865	0.1% 3
1960	34.0% 810	64.8% 1,544	1.2% 28
1956	34.8% 697	65.1% 1,305	0.2% 4
1952	58.6% 1,169	41.3% 825	0.1% 2
1948	13.8% 189	84.3% 1,158	2.0% 27
1944	18.5% 222	69.7% 838	11.9% 143
1940	18.3% 224	81.6% 1,000	0.2% 2
1936	6.3% 65	92.7% 950	1.0% 10
1932	6.5% 66	92.8% 949	0.8% 8
1928	45.4% 319	54.6% 384
1924	18.4% 68	59.4% 219	22.2% 82
1920	41.8% 118	56.0% 158	2.1% 6
1916	27.4% 69	69.8% 176	2.8% 7
1912	8.7% 18	82.2% 171	9.1% 19

Communities

Cities

• Dimmitt (county seat)
• Hart
• Nazareth

Unincorporated communities

• Hilburn
• Summerfield

See also

• List of museums in the Texas Panhandle

External links

• Castro County government's website
• Castro County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of Texas
• Interactive Texas Map
• Texas Map Collection
• Castro County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties