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Coke County, Texas

Coordinates: 31°53′N 100°32′W / 31.88°N 100.53°W / 31.88; -100.53
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Not to be confused with Cooke County, Texas.

Coke County
County
The Coke County Courthouse in Robert Lee
The Coke County Courthouse in Robert Lee
Map of Texas highlighting Coke County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°53′N 100°32′W / 31.88°N 100.53°W / 31.88; -100.53
Country United States
State Texas
FoundedMarch 13, 1889
Named forRichard Coke
SeatRobert Lee
Largest cityRobert Lee
Area
 • Total
928 sq mi (2,400 km2)
 • Land911 sq mi (2,360 km2)
 • Water17 sq mi (40 km2)  1.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
3,285
 • Density3.5/sq mi (1.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district11th
Websitewww.co.coke.tx.us

Coke County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 3,285.[1][2] Its county seat is Robert Lee.[3] The county was founded in 1889 and is named for Richard Coke, the 15th governor of Texas and later a U.S. senator. Coke County was one of 46 prohibition, or entirely dry, counties in the State of Texas, but passed a law allowing the sale of beer and wine in 2005.

History

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Native Americans

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From about 1700 to the 1870s, Comanche, Tonkawa, Lipan Apache, Kickapoo and Kiowa roamed the county. These tribes settled in rock shelters in the river and creek valleys, leaving behind artifacts and caches of seeds, implements, burial sites, petroglyphs, river shells, turkey and deer bones, flint knives, scrapers and points.[4][5]

Early years

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In 1851, United States Army post Fort Chadbourne[6] was established to protect the frontier, and the fort was manned until the Civil War. The Butterfield Overland Mail[7] ran through the area from 1858 to 1861.

Between 1860 and the early 1880s, the only settlers in what became Coke County were ranchers attracted to open grazing land. J. J. Austin established his ranch headquarters near Sanco[8] in 1875. Pate Francher settled in the area in 1877.

In 1882, the Texas and Pacific Railway began providing service to San Angelo, and settlers started coming into the region in somewhat larger numbers.

Severe drought in the 1880s led to fence cutting and its attendant issues. State authorities eventually settled the disputes.

A few years later, the county was named after Confederate soldier, Texas governor and U.S. senator Richard Coke.[9]

County history

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The Texas Legislature established Coke County in 1889, out of Tom Green County. The county was organized that same year, with Hayrick[10] as county seat. The county's first newspaper, the Hayrick Democrat, began publication in 1889, but was renamed the Rustler.

In 1891, after an election, the new town of Robert Lee[11] became the county seat. Robert E. Lee had once served at Fort Chadbourne. That same year, the county's newspaper moved to the new county seat and was renamed the Robert Lee Observer.

Dr. D.W. Key[12][13] started the town of Bronte, named after English writer Charlotte Brontë.[14][15] The town was originally named Oso and then Bronco. A post office was granted in 1890 after residents changed the name to Bronte.

Silver, named after Silver Peak Summit,[16][17][18] was settled between 1870 and 1880 as a ranching hub. Early settlers were S.M. Conner, R.B. Allen, W.G. Jameson, and W.R. Walker. Dr. Joseph Eaton Reed was for 50 years the only physician. Oil discovery and related industries created a boom in Silver in the mid-20th century. After the oil camps closed down in 1966, Silver's population slipped drastically.

Tennyson, named in honor of the British poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson was established in 1892. It received a post office two years later.

The Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway built tracks north from San Angelo in 1907, which benefited Tennyson, Bronte, and Fort Chadbourne.

Cotton acreage peaked in 1910, but plunged sharply during the 1920s, because of a boll weevil infestation. Expanding during the same period was the production of corn, wheat, sorghum, and fruit trees. The county population declined during the Great Depression.

Oil was discovered in the county in 1942, and by 1991, 209,281,131 barrels (33,273,040.9 m3) had been taken from Coke County lands. Tax money derived from oil profits helped the county to improve infrastructure and public facilities and services for its citizens. Oil production accounts for the major share of income for the county.[19]

In 1995 Louis Jones murdered United States Army soldier Tracie Joy McBride in Coke County after having kidnapped her from Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas.[20]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 928 square miles (2,400 km2), of which 911 square miles (2,360 km2) are land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (1.8%) are covered by water.[21]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18902,059—
19003,43066.6%
19106,41286.9%
19204,557−28.9%
19305,25315.3%
19404,590−12.6%
19504,045−11.9%
19603,589−11.3%
19703,087−14.0%
19803,1963.5%
19903,4247.1%
20003,86412.9%
20103,320−14.1%
20203,285−1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[22]
1850–2010[23] 2010[24] 2020[25]
Coke County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
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 may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[26] Pop 2010[24] Pop 2020[25] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 3,079 2,651 2,473 79.68% 79.85% 75.28%
Black or African American alone (NH) 74 7 7 1.92% 0.21% 0.21%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 27 19 15 0.70% 0.57% 0.46%
Asian alone (NH) 3 5 1 0.08% 0.15% 0.03%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 1 1 6 0.03% 0.03% 0.18%
Other race alone (NH) 3 0 6 0.08% 0.00% 0.18%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 24 35 116 0.62% 1.05% 3.53%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 653 602 661 16.90% 18.13% 20.12%
Total 3,864 3,320 3,285 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

At the 2000 census,[27] 3,864 people, 1,544 households and 1,068 families resided in the county. The population density was four per square mile (2/km2). The 2,843 housing units averaged three per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 88.85% White, 1.94% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 6.94% from other races] and 1.40% from two or more races. About 16.90% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,544 households, 27.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were not families; 29.00% of all households was made up of individuals, and 18.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31, and the average family size was 2.84.

Age distribution was 24.40% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 20.50% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 24.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median household income was $29,085, and the median family was $36,724. Males had a median income of $30,778 versus $19,596 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,734. About 9.70% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.00% of those under age 18 and 12.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities

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Town

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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Politics

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United States presidential election results for Coke County, Texas[28]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 1,623 89.47% 179 9.87% 12 0.66%
2020 1,586 89.15% 178 10.01% 15 0.84%
2016 1,265 88.90% 140 9.84% 18 1.26%
2012 1,218 86.51% 179 12.71% 11 0.78%
2008 1,252 79.80% 299 19.06% 18 1.15%
2004 1,338 83.11% 266 16.52% 6 0.37%
2000 1,137 75.05% 355 23.43% 23 1.52%
1996 790 51.10% 595 38.49% 161 10.41%
1992 640 39.65% 580 35.94% 394 24.41%
1988 863 55.97% 674 43.71% 5 0.32%
1984 1,060 66.25% 532 33.25% 8 0.50%
1980 708 45.44% 838 53.79% 12 0.77%
1976 517 37.55% 844 61.29% 16 1.16%
1972 761 67.11% 358 31.57% 15 1.32%
1968 387 33.39% 563 48.58% 209 18.03%
1964 366 28.84% 900 70.92% 3 0.24%
1960 575 41.43% 799 57.56% 14 1.01%
1956 549 44.10% 690 55.42% 6 0.48%
1952 576 43.74% 736 55.88% 5 0.38%
1948 65 6.45% 909 90.18% 34 3.37%
1944 65 6.78% 824 85.92% 70 7.30%
1940 94 8.82% 967 90.71% 5 0.47%
1936 68 7.04% 888 91.93% 10 1.04%
1932 57 5.44% 983 93.89% 7 0.67%
1928 450 68.60% 206 31.40% 0 0.00%
1924 80 10.44% 673 87.86% 13 1.70%
1920 59 10.44% 444 78.58% 62 10.97%
1916 29 5.20% 484 86.74% 45 8.06%
1912 7 2.10% 301 90.39% 25 7.51%

Education

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School districts include:[29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Coke County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  2. ^ "Coke County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Handbook of Texas, Coke County
  5. ^ Texas Historical Markers, Indian Rock Shelters Archived March 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Fort Chadbourne
  7. ^ Texas Historical Markers, Route of Southern Overland Mail Archived March 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Texas Escapes, Sanco
  9. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 86.
  10. ^ Texas Escapes, Hayrick
  11. ^ Texas Escapes, Robert Lee
  12. ^ TexGen Web Dr. Wesley Fletcher Key
  13. ^ TexGenWeb Keys of West Texas
  14. ^ Texas Escapes, Bronte
  15. ^ Texas Historical Markers, Bronte Archived March 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ Mountain Zone.com, Silver Peak Summit
  17. ^ "Texas Historical Markers, Silver". Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
  18. ^ Texas Escapes, Silver
  19. ^ Texas Historical Markers, First Producing Well in Coke County Archived March 14, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ "Louis Jones." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on July 18, 2016.
  21. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  22. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  23. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  24. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Coke County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  25. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Coke County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  26. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Coke County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  27. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  28. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  29. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Coke County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2024. - Text list
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31°53′N 100°32′W / 31.88°N 100.53°W / 31.88; -100.53

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