Howard County, Texas

Howard County, Texas
Howard County Court House in downtown Big Spring, Texas
Location in the state of Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded	August 21, 1876
Seat	Big Spring
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	904 sq mi (2,341 km²) 903 sq mi (2,339 km²) 1 sq mi (3 km²), 0.15%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	35,012 36/sq mi (14/km²)
Website	www.co.howard.tx.us

Howard County Library in Big Spring

Howard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 35,012. Its county seat is Big Spring. Howard County is named for Volney E. Howard, a U.S. Congressman from Texas.

Geography

Howard County is located at the boundary between the Llano Estacado to the north and the Edwards Plateau to the south. Beals Creek, a tributary of the Colorado River flows through the center of Big Spring and divides these two major physiographic regions.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 904 square miles (2,341.3 km²), of which 903 square miles (2,338.8 km²) is land and 1 square mile (2.6 km²) (0.15%) is water.

Major roads and highways

• Interstate 20
• U.S. Highway 87
• State Highway 176
• State Highway 350
• Farm to Market Road 669
• Farm to Market Road 700

Adjacent counties

• Borden County (north)
• Mitchell County (east)
• Sterling County (southeast)
• Glasscock County (south)
• Martin County (west)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	50		—
1890	1,210		2,320.0%
1900	2,528		108.9%
1910	8,881		251.3%
1920	6,962		−21.6%
1930	22,888		228.8%
1940	20,990		−8.3%
1950	26,722		27.3%
1960	40,139		50.2%
1970	37,796		−5.8%
1980	33,142		−12.3%
1990	32,343		−2.4%
2000	33,627		4.0%
2010	35,012		4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census Texas Almanac: 1850-2010

As of the census of 2000, there were 33,627 people, 11,389 households, and 7,949 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 13,589 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.14% White, 4.13% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 12.43% from other races, and 2.10% from two or more races. 37.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,389 households out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.30% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.20% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 30.90% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 118.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,805, and the median income for a family was $37,262. Males had a median income of $28,971 versus $21,390 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,027. About 14.50% of families and 18.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 15.50% of those age 65 or over.

The county is served by a daily newspaper, local stations KBST (AM), KBST-FM, KBTS (FM), KBYG (AM), nearby stations KBXJ (FM), KPET (AM) and KWDC (FM), and the various Midland and Odessa radio and TV stations.

Cities, towns and communities

• Big Spring
• Coahoma
• Elbow
• Forsan
• Knott
• Lomax
• Luther
• Sand Springs
• Vealmoor
• Vincent

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Howard County, Texas

External links

• Howard County government’s website
• Howard County from the Handbook of Texas Online