Erath County, Texas

Infobox U.S. County
county = Erath County
founded = 1856
state = Texas


map size = 250
seat = Stephenville | area_total_sq_mi =1090
area_land_sq_mi =1086
area_water_sq_mi =3
area percentage = 0.32%
census yr = 2000
pop = 33001
density_km2 =5
web = www.co.erath.tx.us
|

Erath County (pronounced EE-rath) is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 33,001. It is named for George Bernard Erath, an early surveyor and a soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto. Erath County is one of 46 prohibition, or entirely dry, counties in the state of Texas; there is, however, presently a coalition petitioning to place the option of off-premises beer and wine consumption on the November ballot. The seat of the county is StephenvilleGR|6.

Erath Couty is also home to two of North America's largest renewable natural gas plants. The largest being operated at Huckabay Ridge, near Stephenville. The second largest being located outside of Dublin at Rio Leche Estates.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,090 square miles (2,823 km²), of which, 1,086 square miles (2,814 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (9 km²) of it (0.32%) is water.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

*Palo Pinto County (north)
*Hood County (northeast)
*Somervell County (east)
*Bosque County (southeast)
*Hamilton County (south)
*Comanche County (southwest)
*Eastland County (west)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 33,001 people, 12,568 households, and 8,106 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 14,422 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.72% White, 0.82% Black or African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 6.78% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. 15.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,568 households out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.70% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.50% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% 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 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.60% under the age of 18, 17.00% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 19.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,708, and the median income for a family was $39,491. Males had a median income of $27,972 versus $20,765 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,655. About 10.30% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Alexander (unincorporated)
*Bluff Dale (unincorporated)
*Clairette (unincorporated)
*Dublin
*Huckabay (unincorporated)
*Lingleville (unincorporated)
*Morgan Mill (unincorporated)
*Stephenville
*Thurber (unincorporated)

ee also

*Dry counties

References

External links

* [http://www.co.erath.tx.us Erath County]
* [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/EE/hce6.html Erath County in "Handbook of Texas Online"] at the University of Texas
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-5827:177 Entry for George B. Erath] 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.]