Nolan County, Texas

Nolan County, Texas
Nolan County Courthouse
Location in the state of Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded	1881
Seat	Sweetwater
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	914 sq mi (2,367 km²) 912 sq mi (2,362 km²) 2 sq mi (5 km²), 0.21%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	15,802 18/sq mi (7/km²)

Nolan County is a county located in the west central region of the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 15,802. Its seat is Sweetwater^[1]. The county is named for Philip Nolan, one of the first American traders to visit Texas.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 914 square miles (2,370 km²), of which 912 square miles (2,360 km²) is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km²) (0.21%) is water.

Major highways

• Interstate 20
• U.S. Highway 84
• State Highway 70
• State Highway 153

Adjacent counties

• Fisher County (north)
• Taylor County (east)
• Runnels County (southeast)
• Coke County (south)
• Mitchell County (west)

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 15,802 people, 6,170 households, and 4,288 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 7,112 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 78.45% White, 4.68% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 14.02% from other races, and 2.07% from two or more races. 28.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,170 households out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 12.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.10% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,209, and the median income for a family was $32,004. Males had a median income of $28,674 versus $19,335 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,077. About 18.30% of families and 21.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.50% of those under age 18 and 18.50% of those age 65 or over.

Wind power

Nolan County has established itself as a center for wind power generation. As of July 2008, Nolan County generates more wind energy than the entire state of California, and would rank 6th in wind power generation among all nations if it were counted as its own nation.^[3]

Cities and towns

Abandoned grain elevator in Wastella.

• Blackwell (partly in Coke County)
• Bitter Creek
• Champion
• Decker
• Highland
• Hylton
• Maryneal
• Nolan
• Roscoe
• Sweetwater
• Wastella

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Nolan County, Texas

References

1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
2. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens wants to supplant oil with wind - USATODAY.com

External links

• Nolan County Official Site
• Nolan County from the Handbook of Texas Online
• The National WASP WWII Museum

Coordinates: 32°19′N 100°24′W / 32.31°N 100.40°W / 32.31; -100.40