Brooks County, Texas

Brooks County, Texas
Location in the state of Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded	1911
Seat	Falfurrias
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	944 sq mi (2,445 km²) 943 sq mi (2,442 km²) 0 sq mi (0 km²), 0.03%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	7,223 8/sq mi (3/km²)

Brooks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the population is 7,223. Its county seat is Falfurrias. Brooks is named for James Abijah Brooks, a Texas Ranger and legislator.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 944 square miles (2,444.9 km²), of which 943 square miles (2,442.4 km²) is land and 0 square miles (0.0 km²) (0.03%) is water.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 281
• State Highway 285
• Farm to Market Road 755

Adjacent counties

• Jim Wells County (north)
• Kleberg County (northeast)
• Kenedy County (east)
• Hidalgo County (south)
• Starr County (southwest)
• Jim Hogg County (west)
• Duval County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1920	4,560		—
1930	5,901		29.4%
1940	6,362		7.8%
1950	9,195		44.5%
1960	8,609		−6.4%
1970	8,005		−7.0%
1980	8,428		5.3%
1990	8,204		−2.7%
2000	7,976		−2.8%
2010	7,223		−9.4%
U.S. Decennial Census Texas Almanac: 1850-2010

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,976 people, 2,711 households, and 2,079 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 3,203 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 75.84% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 21.58% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more races. 91.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,711 households out of which 38.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.20% were married couples living together, 19.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.30% were non-families. 21.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the county, the population was spread out with 31.60% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $18,622, and the median income for a family was $22,473. Males had a median income of $23,051 versus $16,103 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,234. About 36.90% of families and 40.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 51.70% of those under age 18 and 30.40% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

While the state of Texas is a stronghold of the Republican Party, Brooks County has never voted for a Republican Presidential candidate since its creation in 1911. In the 2004 presidential election, the county gave 1,820 votes to Democratic candidate John Kerry to 844 for Republican George W. Bush.

Cities and towns

• Airport Road Addition
• Cantu Addition
• Encino
• Falfurrias
• Flowella
• Rachal

See also

• Brooks County Courthouse
• List of museums in the Texas Gulf Coast

External links

• Brooks County in Handbook of Texas Online.