Briscoe County, Texas

Briscoe County, Texas
Location in the state of Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded	1876
Seat	Silverton
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	902 sq mi (2,336 km²) 901 sq mi (2,334 km²) 1 sq mi (3 km²), 0.15%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	1,637 3/sq mi (1/km²)
Website	www.co.briscoe.tx.us/

Briscoe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2010 census, the population is 1,637. Its county seat is Silverton. Briscoe is named for Andrew Briscoe, a soldier during the Texas Revolution. At one time, the large JA Ranch, founded by Charles Goodnight and John George Adair, reached into Briscoe County. After he left the JA, Goodnight owned the Quitaque Ranch.

The prominent high school football and college coach Gene Mayfield was born in Briscoe County in 1928.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 902 square miles (2,336.2 km²), of which 901 square miles (2,333.6 km²) is land and 1 square mile (2.6 km²) (0.15%) is water.

Major highways

• State Highway 86
• State Highway 207

Adjacent counties

• Armstrong County (north)
• Donley County (northeast)
• Hall County (east)
• Motley County (southeast)
• Floyd County (south)
• Swisher County (west)

Demographics

Historical populations
Year	Pop.	±%
1880	12	—
1890		—
1900	1,253	—
1910	2,162	+72.5%
1920	2,948	+36.4%
1930	5,590	+89.6%
1940	4,056	−27.4%
1950	3,528	−13.0%
1960	3,577	+1.4%
1970	2,794	−21.9%
1980	2,579	−7.7%
1990	1,971	−23.6%
2000	1,790	−9.2%
2010	1,637	−8.5%
U.S. Decennial Census Texas Almanac: 1850-2010

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,790 people, 724 households, and 511 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 1,006 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.35% White, 2.29% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 11.45% from other races, and 2.46% from two or more races. 22.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 724 households out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.10% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 22.00% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 19.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,917, and the median income for a family was $35,326. Males had a median income of $25,854 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,218. About 11.50% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.00% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

• Quitaque
• Silverton

Schools

• Silverton Independent School District
• Clarendon Independent School District partial
• Turkey-Quitaque Independent School District partial

See also

• List of museums in the Texas Panhandle
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Briscoe County, Texas

External links

• Briscoe County
• Briscoe County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of Texas.
• Interactive Texas Map
• Texas Map Collection