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Taylor County, Texas facts for kids

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Not to be confused with Taylor, Texas.
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Taylor County
U.S. county
New Taylor County Courthouse in Abilene
New Taylor County Courthouse in Abilene
Map of Texas highlighting Taylor County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Texas
Founded 1878
Named for Edward, George, and James Taylor
Seat Abilene
Largest city Abilene
Area
 • Total 919.3 sq mi (2,381 km2)
 • Land 915.6 sq mi (2,371 km2)
 • Water 3.8 sq mi (10 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 143,208
 • Density 155.779/sq mi (60.147/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 19th


1915 Taylor County Courthouse in 2015
The Old Taylor County Courthouse has limited use.

Taylor County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 143,208. Its county seat is Abilene. The county was created in 1858 and later organized in 1878. It is named for Edward Taylor, George Taylor, and James Taylor, three brothers who died at the Battle of the Alamo.

Taylor County is included in the Abilene, TX metropolitan statistical area, and is considered part of West Texas.

History

  • Among first inhabitants were the Penteka.
  • 1849 Capt. Randolph Marcy, U. S. Army engineer passes through scouting out West Texas to California routes.
  • 1858 The Texas legislature establishes Taylor County from Bexar and Travis counties. The county is named for Alamo defenders Edward, James, and George Taylor. Butterfield Overland Mail establishes the Mountain Pass Station at Merkel, in continual use until 1861.
  • 1872 First cattlemen venture into present Taylor County.
  • 1878 Taylor County is organized. Buffalo Gap is named county seat.
  • 1880 Texas & Pacific Railroad signs an agreement to run tracks through the future city of Abilene.
  • 1881 Abilene is established and named after Abilene, Kansas.
  • 1883 Abilene becomes the county seat. Wagon train of ten Baptist families arrives in the county.
  • 1890 Abilene Board of Trade is organized.There are 587 farms and ranches in the county.
  • 1891 Hardin-Simmons University is established as Abilene Baptist College by the Sweetwater Baptist Association.
  • 1897 Lytle Lake is created.
  • 1904 State Epileptic Colony opens in Abilene.
  • 1906 Abilene Christian University opens its doors as Childers Classical Institute.
  • 1924 Hendricks Medical Center opens in Abilene as West Texas Baptist Sanitarium. West Texas Historical Association is chartered in Abilene.
  • 1926 The first senior class of McMurry University graduates.
  • 1929 Oil is discovered in the county.
  • 1933 Abilene donates land for use by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
  • 1942 Dyess Air Force Base is established as Abilene AFB. It is named in honor of Texas native and Bataan Death March survivor Lieutenant Colonel William Dyess.
  • 1950 The Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra is created, with Jay Dietzer as the first conductor.
  • 1956 Buffalo Gap Historic Village opens.
  • 1998 The Ranch Horse Association of America is formed in Abilene.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 919 square miles (2,380 km2), of which 916 square miles (2,370 km2) is land and 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2) (0.4%) is water.

Major highways

  • I-20 (TX).svg Interstate 20
  • Business Loop 20.svg Interstate 20 Business
  • US 83.svg U.S. Highway 83
  • US 84.svg U.S. Highway 84
  • US 277.svg U.S. Highway 277
  • Texas 36.svg State Highway 36
  • Texas 153.svg State Highway 153
  • Texas 351.svg State Highway 351
  • Texas Loop 322.svg Loop 322

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880 1,736 —
1890 6,957 300.7%
1900 10,499 50.9%
1910 26,293 150.4%
1920 24,081 −8.4%
1930 41,023 70.4%
1940 44,147 7.6%
1950 63,370 43.5%
1960 101,078 59.5%
1970 97,853 −3.2%
1980 110,932 13.4%
1990 119,655 7.9%
2000 126,555 5.8%
2010 131,506 3.9%
2020 143,208 8.9%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850–2010 2010 2020

2020 census

Taylor County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 88,121 87,316 67.01% 60.97%
Black or African American alone (NH) 9,122 10,980 6.94% 7.67%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 532 589 0.40% 0.41%
Asian alone (NH) 1,978 2,815 1.50% 1.97%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 105 161 0.08% 0.11%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 133 468 0.10% 0.33%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 2,441 6,123 1.86% 4.28%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 29,074 34,756 22.11% 24.27%
Total 131,506 143,208 100.00% 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

Cities

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Military base

  • Dyess AFB

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Taylor (Texas) para niños

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