Martin County, Texas

Coordinates: 32°18′N 101°58′W / 32.30°N 101.96°W / 32.30; -101.96
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Martin County
The Martin County Courthouse in Stanton
The Martin County Courthouse in Stanton
Map of Texas highlighting Martin County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°18′N 101°58′W / 32.3°N 101.96°W / 32.3; -101.96
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1884
Named forWylie Martin[1]
SeatStanton
Largest cityMidland
Area
 • Total916 sq mi (2,370 km2)
 • Land915 sq mi (2,370 km2)
 • Water0.7 sq mi (2 km2)  0.08%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total5,237
 • Density5.7/sq mi (2.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district19th

Martin County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 5,237.[2] Its county seat is Stanton.[3] The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1884.[4] It is named for Wylie Martin, an early settler.[1]

Until November 2018, Martin County was one of six[5] entirely dry counties in Texas. During that month, Martin County changed from a dry county to a partially wet[6] county after Stanton residents voted to approve the sale of beer and wine within city limits.[7] Five dry counties remain.[8][9]

Martin County is included in the Midland–Odessa combined statistical area.

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 916 square miles (2,370 km2), of which 915 square miles (2,370 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (0.08%) is water.[10] The northern portion of the Spraberry Trend, the second-largest oil field in the United States by 2013 estimated crude oil production, underlies much of the county.[11]

Major highways[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
188012
18902642,100.0%
190033225.8%
19101,549366.6%
19201,146−26.0%
19305,785404.8%
19405,556−4.0%
19505,541−0.3%
19605,068−8.5%
19704,774−5.8%
19804,684−1.9%
19904,9565.8%
20004,746−4.2%
20104,7991.1%
20205,2379.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1850-2010[13]
2010[14] 2020[15]
Martin County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[14] Pop 2020[15] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 2,578 2,780 53.72% 53.08%
Black or African American alone (NH) 67 81 1.40% 1.55%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 15 22 0.31% 0.42%
Asian alone (NH) 11 9 0.23% 0.17%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 3 1 0.06% 0.02%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 7 19 0.15% 0.36%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 32 70 0.67% 1.34%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,086 2,255 43.47% 43.06%
Total 4,799 5,237 100.00% 100.00%

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[16] of 2000, there were 4,746 people, 1,624 households, and 1,256 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (1.9 people/km2). There were 1,894 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 79.01% White, 1.58% Black or African American, 0.82% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 16.06% from other races, and 2.36% from two or more races. 40.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,624 households, out of which 42.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.30% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.60% were non-families. 21.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 33.90% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 19.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,836, and the median income for a family was $35,965. Males had a median income of $29,360 versus $19,063 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,647. About 14.90% of families and 18.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.90% of those under age 18 and 17.10% of those age 65 or over.

Media[edit]

The county is served by a weekly newspaper, local station KKJW (FM), nearby stations KBXJ (FM) and KPET (AM), and the various Midland and Odessa radio and TV stations.

Communities[edit]

Martin County Hospital, a 20-bed facility, serves the community.

Cities[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Politics[edit]

United States presidential election results for Martin County, Texas[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 1,857 85.97% 288 13.33% 15 0.69%
2016 1,455 82.58% 266 15.10% 41 2.33%
2012 1,368 84.24% 248 15.27% 8 0.49%
2008 1,389 80.99% 314 18.31% 12 0.70%
2004 1,514 83.79% 288 15.94% 5 0.28%
2000 1,520 77.99% 415 21.29% 14 0.72%
1996 973 54.88% 643 36.27% 157 8.86%
1992 986 49.60% 641 32.24% 361 18.16%
1988 1,017 61.60% 632 38.28% 2 0.12%
1984 1,218 70.00% 512 29.43% 10 0.57%
1980 1,093 63.69% 605 35.26% 18 1.05%
1976 698 43.14% 907 56.06% 13 0.80%
1972 935 75.22% 287 23.09% 21 1.69%
1968 343 27.33% 373 29.72% 539 42.95%
1964 402 30.99% 892 68.77% 3 0.23%
1960 350 29.09% 831 69.08% 22 1.83%
1956 318 25.92% 903 73.59% 6 0.49%
1952 562 37.07% 952 62.80% 2 0.13%
1948 77 7.15% 945 87.74% 55 5.11%
1944 131 13.29% 758 76.88% 97 9.84%
1940 136 11.52% 1,044 88.40% 1 0.08%
1936 70 8.20% 775 90.75% 9 1.05%
1932 44 5.91% 694 93.28% 6 0.81%
1928 330 60.77% 213 39.23% 0 0.00%
1924 92 21.60% 327 76.76% 7 1.64%
1920 33 18.86% 136 77.71% 6 3.43%
1916 14 8.70% 125 77.64% 22 13.66%
1912 9 14.52% 50 80.65% 3 4.84%

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 201.
  2. ^ "Martin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  5. ^ "Wet and Dry Counties". Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Archived from the original on September 3, 2018.
  6. ^ "Wet/Dry Status of Texas Counties". Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on December 11, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  7. ^ "It's WET". Martin County Messenger. November 9, 2018. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  8. ^ "Wet and Dry Counties". Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  9. ^ Marks, Michael (December 17, 2018). "Texas Has Just Five Dry Counties Left. Why Is That?". keranews.org. Archived from the original on December 17, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  10. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  11. ^ "Top 100 U.S. Oil and Gas Fields" (PDF). U.S. Energy Information Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 11, 2015.
  12. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  14. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Martin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Martin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 20, 2018.

External links[edit]

32°18′N 101°58′W / 32.30°N 101.96°W / 32.30; -101.96