Borden County, Texas
| Borden County, Texas | |
 Borden County Courthouse in Gail.
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 Location in the state of Texas |
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 Texas's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | 1876 |
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| Seat | Gail |
| Largest city | Gail |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
906 sq mi (2,347 km²) 899 sq mi (2,328 km²) 7 sq mi (19 km²), 0.80% |
| Population - (2010) - Density |
641 8/sq mi (03/km²) |
| Time zone | CST : -6/-5 |
| Website | www.co.borden.tx.us |
Borden County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 641.[1] Its county seat is Gail[2]. Gail and Borden County are named for Gail Borden, Jr., businessman, publisher, surveyor, and inventor of condensed milk. Borden County is one of thirty prohibition or entirely dry counties in the state of Texas.[3]
According to a 2010 census, Borden County is the fourth least populous county in the state of Texas, behind Loving, King, and Kenedy counties,[4] and it is the tenth least populous county in the United States.
The county is served mostly by Borden County Independent School District. The district offers pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Borden County School is among the few public schools in Texas to receive a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 9 out of 10.[5]
Many of the teachers reside in board-owned housing in Gail. The school offers six-man football,[6] basketball,[7] baseball, and tennis. . Assistant coach Fernando Baeza (born 1981) is an alumnus of the school who also teaches social studies.[8] Baeza was the running back on the 1997 Borden County state championship six-man football team.[9] His coaching colleague, Colt McCook, played with Baeza on the 1997 championship team. McCook, a health teacher at the school, was thereafter the quarterback on the losing 1998 Borden County team.[10] The Borden Coyotes also won championships in 2007 and 2008.[11] Peter Benavidez, another assistant football coach, also handles the girls' sports.[8]
The weekly newspaper, the Borden Star, covers events for the school and county.
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[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 906 square miles (2,346.5 km2), of which 899 square miles (2,328.4 km2) is land and 7 square miles (18.1 km2) (0.80%) is water.
[edit] Major highways
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Garza County (north)
- Scurry County (east)
- Mitchell County (southeast)
- Howard County (south)
- Dawson County (west)
- Lynn County (northwest)
[edit] Borden County 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 in background as viewed from U.S. Highway 180
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 35 |
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| 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% | |
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Texas Almanac: 1850-2010[13] |
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As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 729 people, 292 households, and 216 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.80 people per square mile (0.31/km²). There were 435 housing units at an average density of 0.48 per square mile (0.19/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.53% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 6.31% from other races, and 2.74% from two or more races. 11.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 292 households out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.10% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.60% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 103.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,205, and the median income for a family was $36,458. Males had a median income of $25,556 versus $21,607 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,364. 14.00% of the population and 11.80% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 14.30% are under the age of 18 and 11.60% are 65 or older.
The county is served by nearby radio stations KBXJ (FM) and KPET (AM), and the various Midland and Odessa radio and TV stations.
[edit] History
[edit] Native Americans
Shoshone and the Penateka band of Comanches were early tribes in the area.[15]
[edit] 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.[16]
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.[15]
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.[17]
Oil was discovered in the county in 1949. By 1991, more than 340,003,000 barrels (54,056,200 m3) of petroleum had been taken out of Borden County since discovery in 1949.[18]
[edit] Cities and towns
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ United States Census Bureau. "2010 Census Data". United States Census Bureau. http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ "Wet/Dry Status of Texas Counties as of November 2010". Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/images/wetdry.gif. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
- ^ https://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/popcnty32010.html
- ^ "Borden County School". greatschools.org. http://www.greatschools.org/texas/gail/860-Borden-County-School/. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
- ^ "Texas Bowl". sixmanfootball.com. http://www.sixmanfootball.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=11499. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
- ^ "Borden High School Basketball". maxpreps.com. http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/y2WNBhlM5U6Dyi-ndPfyZQ/borden-coyotes/basketball/home.htm. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
- ^ a b "Borden County Independent School District Company Directory of Business Contacts". jigsaw.com. http://www.jigsaw.com/id7615/1/borden_county_independent_school_district_company_directory.xhtml. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
- ^ "Borden County 61, Westbrook 14". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. http://search.lubbockonline.com/fast-elements.php?type=standard&profile=lubbock&querystring=%22FERNANDO%20BAEZA%22. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
- ^ "Chris Due, "Borden County wins in record fashion, December 13, 2008". lonestarvarsity.com; from Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. http://www.lonestarvarsity.com/2008/12/13/borden-county-wins-in-record-fashion/. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
- ^ Champion sports teams, Billboard at Borden County School stadium
- ^ U.S. Decennial Census
- ^ Texas Almanac: County Population History 1850-2010
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ a b Leffler, John; Hunt, William R. "Borden County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcb09. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
- ^ Hunt, William R. "Gail, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hlg01. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
- ^ "Borden County Courthouse". Texas Escapes. Blueprints For Travel, LLC. http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasTowns/Gail-Texas-Borden-County-Courthouse.htm. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
- ^ Olien, Roger M; Hinton, Diana Davids (2007). Wildcatters: Texas Independent Oilmen. TAMU Press. p. 99. ISBN 978-1585446063.
[edit] External links
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Lynn County | Garza County | |
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| Dawson County |  |
Scurry County | ||
 Borden County, Texas  |
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| Howard County | Mitchell County |
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