King County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
King County
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King County Courthouse in Guthrie
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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 | 1891 |
| Named for | William Philip King |
| Seat | Guthrie |
| Largest community | Guthrie |
| Area | |
| • Total | 913 sq mi (2,360 km2) |
| • Land | 911 sq mi (2,360 km2) |
| • Water | 2.5 sq mi (6 km2) 0.3% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 265 |
| • Density | 0.2903/sq mi (0.11207/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 13th |
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 265, making it the second-smallest county in Texas and the third-smallest county in the United States. King County has no incorporated communities. Its county seat is the Census Designated Place of Guthrie. The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1891. It is named for William Philip King, who died at the Battle of the Alamo.
Contents
History
Native Americans
Apache and Comanche were early tribes in the area. The Red River War of 1874-1875 was a United States Army campaign to force the removal of Natives in Texas and their relocation to reservations, to open the region to white settlers.
County established
On August 21, 1876, the Texas legislature formed King County from Bexar County. By 1880 the United States Census counted forty residents in the county. In 1891, the county was organized. Guthrie was designated as the county seat.
Early ranchers preserved water by damming canyons and draws to hold the heavy spring rains. In the 1890s windmills became the method of water preservation. Some of the earliest settlers were Isom Lynn, A. C. Tackett, Brants Baker, and Bud Arnett. The Four Sixes Ranch. was established in 1902 by Samuel Burk Burnet. The formerly-named Pitchfork Land and Cattle Company was organized in 1883, and SMS ranches were established during the same time frame. The 6666 (called Four Sixes Ranch), also founded in 1883, was managed from 1965–1986 by Jim Humphreys, who was also affiliated with the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock.
Dumont was formed in the late 19th century. By that time, farmers began to share the land with ranchers. Cotton was the leading crop for a time, followed by corn, sorghum, and fruit trees.
Oil was discovered in the county in 1943. By January 1, 1991, almost 114,403,000 barrels (18,188,600 m3) of oil had been pumped from King County lands since the first wells were drilled.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 913 square miles (2,360 km2), of which 911 square miles (2,360 km2) is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2) (0.3%) is water.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 82 / State Highway 114
U.S. Highway 83
State Highway 222
Adjacent counties
- Cottle County (north)
- Foard County (northeast)
- Knox County (east)
- Stonewall County (south)
- Dickens County (west)
- Haskell County (southeast)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 40 | — | |
| 1890 | 173 | 332.5% | |
| 1900 | 490 | 183.2% | |
| 1910 | 810 | 65.3% | |
| 1920 | 655 | −19.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,193 | 82.1% | |
| 1940 | 1,066 | −10.6% | |
| 1950 | 870 | −18.4% | |
| 1960 | 640 | −26.4% | |
| 1970 | 464 | −27.5% | |
| 1980 | 425 | −8.4% | |
| 1990 | 354 | −16.7% | |
| 2000 | 356 | 0.6% | |
| 2010 | 286 | −19.7% | |
| 2020 | 265 | −7.3% | |
| 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) | 242 | 230 | 84.62% | 86.79% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 1 | 0 | 0.35% | 0.00% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 4 | 0.00% | 1.51% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 4 | 6 | 1.40% | 2.26% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 39 | 25 | 13.64% | 9.43% |
| Total | 286 | 265 | 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 areas in King County.
- King County from the Handbook of Texas Online
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Cottle County | Foard County | |
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| Dickens County |  |
Knox County | ||
 King County, Texas  |
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| Stonewall County |
Economy
The primary industries are raising beef cattle (since the late 19th century), and oil production (since 1943). Corn and cotton are the leading planted farm crops.
Images for kids
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1914 King County Courthouse
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King County Courthouse in August 2020
See also
In Spanish: Condado de King (Texas) para niños
