Grayson County, Texas

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


map size = 250
founded = 1846
seat = Sherman | area_total_sq_mi =979
area_land_sq_mi =934
area_water_sq_mi =46
area percentage = 4.67%
census yr = 2007
pop = 118,675
density_km2 =49
web = www.co.grayson.tx.us
|

Grayson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 110,595. By 2007 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that total population had reached 118,675. Grayson County is included in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Dallas–Fort Worth Combined Statistical Area, and is also part of the Texoma region. It is named after Peter Wagener Grayson, an attorney general of the Republic of Texas. The seat of the county is ShermanGR|6.

History

On May 15, 1896, a tornado measuring F5 on the Fujita scale struck Sherman. The tornado had a damage path convert|400|yd wide and convert|28|mi|km long, killing 73 people and injuring 200. About 50 homes were destroyed, with 20 of them being completely obliterated.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 979 square miles (2,536 km²), of which, 934 square miles (2,418 km²) of it is land and 46 square miles (118 km²) of it (4.67%) is water.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

*Marshall County, Oklahoma (north)
*Bryan County, Oklahoma (northeast)
*Fannin County (east)
*Collin County (south)
*Denton County (southwest)
*Cooke County (west)
*Love County, Oklahoma (northwest)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 110,595 people, 42,849 households, and 30,208 families residing in the county. The population density was 118 people per square mile (46/km²). There were 48,315 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile (20/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.20% White, 5.85% Black or African American, 1.31% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.90% from other races, and 2.13% from two or more races. 6.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 42,849 households out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.30% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,178, and the median income for a family was $45,048. Males had a median income of $32,998 versus $23,414 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,862. About 8.40% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 10.10% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

† "City extends into an adjacent county."

References

* [http://www.geocities.com/joefurr2/histtor.html] - Historical Tornadoes

Library

The Pottsboro Area Library is the only completely volunteer library in Grayson County. It operates solely on donations and grants.

External links

* [http://www.co.grayson.tx.us/ Grayson County government's website]
* [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/GG/hcg9.html Grayson County in "Handbook of Texas Online"] at the University of Texas
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/search/?q=%22United+States+-+Texas+-+Grayson+County%22&t=dc.coverage Grayson County historical materials] , hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History] .
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/search.tkl?type=institution&q=OSAGC Minutes of the Old Settler's Association of Grayson County, 1879-1998] hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History] .
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-24647:1 "Grayson County; an illustrated history of Grayson County, Texas."] , by Graham Landrum, hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History]
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-24648:1 "A history of Grayson County, Texas / Mattie Davis Lucas (Mrs. W. H. Lucas) and Mita Holsapple Hall (Mrs. H. E. Hall)"] , hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History]