Borden County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Borden County
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Borden County Courthouse in Gail
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Location within the U.S. state of Texas
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 Texas's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1876 |
| Named for | Gail Borden Jr. |
| Seat | Gail |
| Largest community | Gail |
| Area | |
| • Total | 906 sq mi (2,350 km2) |
| • Land | 897 sq mi (2,320 km2) |
| • Water | 8.6 sq mi (22 km2) 1.0% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 631 |
| • Density | 0.6965/sq mi (0.2689/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 19th |
Borden County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is in West Texas and its county seat is Gail.
As of the 2020 census, its population was 631, making it the fifth-least populous county in Texas. Borden is one of six prohibition or entirely dry counties in the state of Texas.
The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1891. Gail and Borden County are named for Gail Borden Jr., businessman, publisher, surveyor, and inventor of condensed milk.
Contents
History
Native Americans
Shoshone and the Penateka band of Comanches were early tribes in the area.
County established
Borden County was created in 1876 from Bosque County and named for Gail Borden, Jr., the inventor of condensed milk. Borden was publisher and editor of the Telegraph and Texas Register, as well as a political leader in the Republic of Texas. The county was organized in 1891, and Gail was made the county seat.
Farmers and ranchers settled the county, but the population remained relatively small. In 1902, Texas placed lands in the public domain and spurred a land rush in Borden County. Many of the newcomers grew cotton.
Borden County has had two courthouses, one built in 1890. The current courthouse is of brick and cement construction and was erected in 1939. The architect was David S. Castle Co.
Oil was discovered in the county in 1949. By 1991, more than 340,000,000 barrels (54,000,000 m3) of petroleum had been taken out of Borden County since discovery in 1949.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 906 square miles (2,350 km2), of which 897 square miles (2,320 km2) is land and 8.6 square miles (22 km2) (1.0%) is water.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 180
Farm to Market Road 669
Adjacent counties
- Garza County (north)
- Scurry County (east)
- Mitchell County (southeast)
- Howard County (south)
- Dawson County (west)
- Lynn County (northwest)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 35 | — | |
| 1890 | 222 | 534.3% | |
| 1900 | 776 | 249.5% | |
| 1910 | 1,386 | 78.6% | |
| 1920 | 965 | −30.4% | |
| 1930 | 1,505 | 56.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,396 | −7.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,106 | −20.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,076 | −2.7% | |
| 1970 | 888 | −17.5% | |
| 1980 | 859 | −3.3% | |
| 1990 | 799 | −7.0% | |
| 2000 | 729 | −8.8% | |
| 2010 | 641 | −12.1% | |
| 2020 | 631 | −1.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
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2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 539 | 528 | 84.09% | 83.68% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.16% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 2 | 0 | 0.31% | 0.00% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1 | 0 | 0.16% | 0.00% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.16% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 4 | 15 | 0.62% | 2.38% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 95 | 86 | 14.82% | 13.63% |
| Total | 641 | 631 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
Communities
There are no incorporated communities in the county.
- Gail (county seat, and a census-designated place)
- Mesquite (ghost town)
- Plains
Gallery
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Mushaway Peak viewed from Willow Valley Road
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Abandoned schoolhouse in the ghost town of Mesquite
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Frontal view of Borden County Courthouse
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Coyote Country Store across from the courthouse is one of the few businesses in Borden County
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Gail Mountain viewed from Willow Valley Road
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First Baptist Church in Gail
Education
The county is served mostly by Borden County Independent School District. The district offers kindergarten through 12th grade. Borden County School is among the few public schools in Texas to receive a distinguished GreatSchools rating of 9 out of 10. Many of the teachers reside in board-owned housing in Gail. The school offers six-man football, basketball, baseball, tennis, softball, UIL, FFA, and track.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Borden para niños
