Wheeler County, Texas

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

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map size = 250
founded = 1876
seat = Wheeler | area_total_sq_mi =915
area_land_sq_mi =914
area_water_sq_mi =1
area percentage = 0.03%
census yr = 2000
pop = 5284
density_km2 =2
web = www.co.wheeler.tx.us
|

Wheeler County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 5,284. Its county seat is WheelerGR|6. Officially formed in 1876, the county is named for Royal Tyler Wheeler, a chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court. Wheeler County is one of 46 prohibition or entirely dry counties in the state of Texas.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 915 square miles (2,371 km²), of which, 914 square miles (2,368 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (3 km²) of it (0.12%) is water.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

*Hemphill County (north)
*Roger Mills County, Oklahoma (northeast)
*Beckham County, Oklahoma (east)
*Collingsworth County (south)
*Gray County (west)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,284 people, 2,152 households, and 1,487 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 2,687 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.83% White, 2.78% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 6.64% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. 12.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,152 households out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.90% 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 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.90% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 22.50% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 20.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,029, and the median income for a family was $36,989. Males had a median income of $26,790 versus $19,091 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,083. About 11.60% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.30% of those under age 18 and 16.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Allison (unincorporated)
*Briscoe (unincorporated)
*Kelton (unincorporated)
*Mobeetie
*Shamrock
*Wheeler

References

External links

* [http://www.co.wheeler.tx.us/ Wheeler County Official Website]
*Handbook of Texas|id=WW/hcw7|name=Wheeler County
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-5827:95 Entry for Royal T. Wheeler] 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.]
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/search/?q=%22United+States+-+Texas+-+Wheeler+County%22&t=dc.coverage Historic Wheeler County materials] , hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History.]