Mills County, Texas

Mills County, Texas
The Mills County Courthouse in Goldthwaite, Texas.
Location in the state of Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded	1887
Seat	Goldthwaite
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	750 sq mi (1,942 km²) 748 sq mi (1,937 km²) 2 sq mi (5 km²), 0.24%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	5,151 8/sq mi (3/km²)
Website	www.co.mills.tx.us

Mills County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in Central Texas. In 2000, its population was 5,151. Mills County is named for John T. Mills, a justice of the Texas Supreme Court. The seat of the county is Goldthwaite^[1].

History Timeline

• Among first inhabitants were the Apache and Comanche.^[2]
• 1786-1789 Pedro Vial explores a route from San Antonio to Santa Fe for Spain and passes through the county.^[2]
• 1828 Capt. Henry Stevenson Brown passes through the county to recover stock stolen by Indians.^[2]
• 1852 Dick Jenkins becomes the county’s first permanent settler.^[2]
• 1857 A Methodist circuit rider holds the county’s first religious service in the cabin of Charles Mullin.^[2]
• 1858 Mr. and Mrs. Mose Jackson and two of their children are killed by Indians at Jackson Springs, while two other children were carried into captivity. After a force of settlers route the Indians at Salt Gap, their pursuers and a company of Texas Rangers recover the captive Jackson children.^[3]
• 1869-1897 Lawlessness is rampant in post-Civil War Mills County. Vigilante committees create a reign of terror. Lynchings and assassinations become commonplace. The Texas Rangers are brought in to restore law and order.^[2]
• 1885 Goldthwaite is established as the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway builds tracks into the region.^[2]
• 1887 The Texas state legislature forms Mills County from Brown, Comanche, Hamilton, and Lampasas counties. Goldthwaite becomes the county seat.^[2]
• 1890 The county courthouse is erected.^[4]

Confederate statue in front of Mills County Courthouse

• 1905 A Confederate Reunion is held in Goldthwaite.^[5]
• 1912 The courthouse burns down.^[4]
• 1913 A new brick, stone and concrete courthouse is erected in the Classical Revival style by architect Henry Phelps.^[4]
• 1915 The Confederate Memorial Monument is placed on the courthouse grounds in Goldwaithe. The statue is funded by public donations, the civic organization Self Culture Club, Jeff Davis Camp 117, and United Confederate Veterans.^[6]
• 1982 Oil is discovered in the Mills County.^[2]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 750 square miles (1,942 km²), of which 748 square miles (1,938 km²) is land and 2 square miles (5 km²) (0.24%) is water.

Major highways

• U.S. 84
• U.S. 183
• State Highway 16

Adjacent counties

• Comanche County (north)
• Hamilton County (northeast)
• Lampasas County (southeast)
• San Saba County (southwest)
• Brown County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the census^[7] of 2000, there were 5,151 people, 2,001 households, and 1,398 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 2,691 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.24% White, 1.26% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 7.73% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. 13.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,001 households out of which 27.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% were married couples living together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.50% under the age of 18, 4.70% from 18 to 24, 20.50% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 23.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 102.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,579, and the median income for a family was $37,519. Males had a median income of $25,933 versus $20,076 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,915. About 12.70% of families and 18.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.40% of those under age 18 and 17.80% of those age 65 or over.

Local media

Mills County is home to one area newspaper: The Goldthwaite Eagle. Mills County is part of the Waco/Temple/Killeen (Central Texas) DMA. Local media outlets include: KCEN-TV, KWTX-TV, KXXV-TV, KDYW, KWKT-TV and KNCT-TV. Two other television stations from the Abilene/Sweetwater/Brownwood DMA provide coverage for Mills County they include: KTAB-TV and KRBC-TV.

Cities and towns

• Goldthwaite
• Mullin
• Democrat (unincorporated)
• Priddy (unincorporated)
• Star (unincorporated)

See also

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

References

1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} Hunt, William R; Leffler, John. "Mills County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcm14. Retrieved 30 November 2010. 
3. ^ "Jackson Massacre - Goldthwaite". Texas State Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5333012157. Retrieved 30 November 2010. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} "Mills County Courthouse". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasHillCountryTowns/GoldthwaiteTexas/MillsCountyCourthouseGoldthwaiteTexas.htm. Retrieved 30 November 2010. 
5. ^ "1905 Goldthwaite Confederate Reunion". Mills County Chamber of Commerce. http://www.goldthwaite.biz/. Retrieved 30 November 2010. 
6. ^ Little, Carol Morris (1996). A Comprehensive Guide to Outdoor Sculpture in Texas. University of Texas Press. p. 237. ISBN 978-0292760363. 
7. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

External links

• Mills County government website
• Mills County from the Handbook of Texas Online
• The Goldthwaite Eagle Newspaper

Coordinates: 31°30′N 98°35′W / 31.50°N 98.59°W / 31.50; -98.59