Winkler County, Texas

Infobox U.S. County
county = Winkler County
state = Texas

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map size = 250
founded = 1887
seat = Kermit | area_total_sq_mi =841
area_land_sq_mi =841
area percentage = 0.01%
census yr = 2000
pop = 7173
density_km2 =3
web = www.co.winkler.tx.us
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Winkler County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In of 2000, its population was 7,173. Its county seat is KermitGR|6. The county is named for Clinton M. Winkler, a Colonel in the Confederate Army.

Popular singer and songwriter Roy Orbison was reared in Winkler County.

Part of the large Haley Ranch, founded by the father of Texas historian J. Evetts Haley, is in Winkler County, with another portion in neighboring Loving County.

Winkler County was represented in the Texas House of Representatives from 1993-2008 by George E. "Buddy" West of Odessa. West died on June 25, 2008, and he will be succeeded in January 2009 by fellow Republican Tryon D. Lewis, who unseated West in the April 8 primary election.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 841 square miles (2,179 km²), virtually all of which is land. The climate is generally dry and in spring and summer it is hot, the hottest daily Maximum temperatures in the continental US are often recorded in lower elevation areas near the Pecos River in the county, particularly during the months of April, May and June.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

*Andrews County (northeast)
*Ector County (east)
*Ward County (south)
*Loving County (west)
*Lea County, New Mexico (northwest)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 7,173 people, 2,584 households, and 1,969 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 3,214 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 74.81% White, 1.85% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 20.35% from other races, and 2.34% from two or more races. 44.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,584 households out of which 39.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.80% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.80% were non-families. 21.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the county, the population was spread out with 29.80% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,591, and the median income for a family was $34,021. Males had a median income of $31,140 versus $18,967 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,725. About 14.40% of families and 18.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.00% of those under age 18 and 16.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Kermit
*Wink

References

Further reading

*Garza, S. and J.B. Wesselman. (1962). "Geology and ground-water resources of Winkler County, Texas" [U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1582] . Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

External links

* [http://www.co.winkler.tx.us/ Winkler County government’s website]
*Handbook of Texas|id=WW/hcw13|name=Winkler County
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-5827:199 Entry for Clinton McKamy Winkler] from the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-5827 "Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas"] published 1880, hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History.]