Donley County, Texas

Donley County, Texas
County
1890 Donley County Courthouse in Clarendon
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Coordinates: 34°58′N 100°49′W / 34.96°N 100.81°W / 34.96; -100.81
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1882
SeatClarendon
Largest cityClarendon
Area
 • Total
933 sq mi (2,420 km2)
 • Land927 sq mi (2,400 km2)
 • Water6.2 sq mi (16 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
3,258
 • Density3.51/sq mi (1.36/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district13th
Websitewww.co.donley.tx.us

Donley County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 3,258.[1][2] Its county seat is Clarendon.[3] The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1882.[4]

History

Donley County was established in 1876 from land given by the Bexar District.[5] It is named for Stockton P. Donley, justice of the state supreme court.[6]

Several historical sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Donley County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total land area of 933 sq mi (2,420 km2), of which 5.6 sq mi (15 km2) (0.7%) are covered by water.[7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880160—
18901,056560.0%
19002,756161.0%
19105,28491.7%
19208,03552.1%
193010,26227.7%
19407,487−27.0%
19506,216−17.0%
19604,449−28.4%
19703,641−18.2%
19804,07511.9%
19903,696−9.3%
20003,8283.6%
20103,677−3.9%
20203,258−11.4%
2024 (est.)3,193[8]−2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1850–2010[10] 2010[11] 2020[12]

Racial and ethnic composition

Donley 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[13] Pop 2010[11] Pop 2020[12] 2000 2010 2020
White alone (NH) 3,372 3,136 2,537 88.09% 85.29% 77.87%
Black or African American alone (NH) 151 163 167 3.94% 4.43% 5.13%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 29 15 27 0.76% 0.41% 0.83%
Asian alone (NH) 4 9 10 0.10% 0.24% 0.31%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 2 1 0.00% 0.05% 0.03%
Other race alone (NH) 0 0 6 0.00% 0.00% 0.18%
Multiracial (NH) 29 43 154 0.76% 1.17% 4.73%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 243 309 356 6.35% 8.40% 10.93%
Total 3,828 3,677 3,258 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 3,258. The median age was 46.5 years; 20.5% of residents were under 18 and 25.8% were 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males, and for every 100 females 18 and over there were 102.7 males 18 and over.[14]

As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 81.3% White, 5.3% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.7% from some other race, and 8.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 10.9% of the population.[15]

About 0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while almost 100.0% lived in rural areas.[16]

Of the 1,340 households in the county, 26.5% had children under 18 living in them, 49.8% were married-couple households, 19.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.[14]

Of the 1,942 housing units, 31.0% were vacant; of 1,340 occupied units, 72.0% were owner-occupied and 28.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.4%.[14]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 3,828 people, 1,578 households, and 1,057 families resided in the county. The population density was four people per square mile (1.5 people/km2). The 2,378 housing units averaged 3 units per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.41% White, 3.94% Black or African American, 0.89% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 2.72% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. About 6.35% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.[17]

Of the 1,578 households, 24.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were not families. About 31.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the county, the population was distributed as 22.40% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 20.60% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 21.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,006, and for a family was $37,287. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $18,882 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,958. About 10.50% of families and 15.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.90% of those under age 18 and 15.90% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

The Harold Dow Bugbee Ranch, formerly owned by the Western artist and his second wife, Olive Vandruff Bugbee, also an artist, is located in Donley County.

U.S. Highway 287, which passes through the county, has a modern rest area. The rest area also provides sanctuary from weather, offering a tornado shelter in the main building.[18]

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Notable person

Politics

Donley County is located within District 88 of the Texas House of Representatives. Donley County is located within District 28 of the Texas Senate.

United States presidential election results for Donley County, Texas[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1912 12 2.74% 387 88.36% 39 8.90%
1916 42 5.62% 636 85.14% 69 9.24%
1920 206 20.58% 766 76.52% 29 2.90%
1924 273 22.12% 893 72.37% 68 5.51%
1928 1,092 68.90% 491 30.98% 2 0.13%
1932 141 7.95% 1,626 91.71% 6 0.34%
1936 133 7.99% 1,513 90.93% 18 1.08%
1940 213 11.56% 1,619 87.85% 11 0.60%
1944 280 17.93% 1,170 74.90% 112 7.17%
1948 241 14.24% 1,372 81.09% 79 4.67%
1952 1,150 55.93% 900 43.77% 6 0.29%
1956 826 47.72% 903 52.17% 2 0.12%
1960 951 55.29% 764 44.42% 5 0.29%
1964 708 39.86% 1,068 60.14% 0 0.00%
1968 816 50.15% 543 33.37% 268 16.47%
1972 1,229 77.74% 350 22.14% 2 0.13%
1976 704 39.02% 1,095 60.70% 5 0.28%
1980 1,106 58.58% 751 39.78% 31 1.64%
1984 1,297 70.84% 529 28.89% 5 0.27%
1988 1,043 60.89% 661 38.59% 9 0.53%
1992 893 51.47% 578 33.31% 264 15.22%
1996 988 62.33% 495 31.23% 102 6.44%
2000 1,333 77.55% 360 20.94% 26 1.51%
2004 1,429 80.10% 349 19.56% 6 0.34%
2008 1,374 81.30% 291 17.22% 25 1.48%
2012 1,287 83.84% 226 14.72% 22 1.43%
2016 1,225 83.62% 191 13.04% 49 3.34%
2020 1,438 87.26% 198 12.01% 12 0.73%
2024 1,512 88.32% 174 10.16% 26 1.52%
United States Senate election results for Donley County, Texas1[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 1,453 87.01% 192 11.50% 25 1.50%

Education

School districts include:[21]

The Texas Legislature assigns all of Donley County to Clarendon College.[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Donley County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  2. ^ "Donley County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  5. ^ Alvarez, Elizabeth Cruce (November 8, 2011). Texas Almanac 2012–2013. Texas A&M University Press. pp. Contents. ISBN 9780876112571. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  6. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 107.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  8. ^ {{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/donleycountytexas/PST045224 |title=QuickFacts: Donley County, Texas |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=June 13, 2025}}
  9. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  10. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  11. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Donley County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race Hispanic or Latino – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Donley County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Donley County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  15. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  16. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  17. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  18. ^ "Texas Safety Rest Area Program - Locations". Archived from the original on June 12, 2007. Retrieved May 12, 2007.
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  20. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  21. ^ Geography Division (December 22, 2020). 2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Donley County, TX (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 5, 2025. - Text list
  22. ^ "Sec. 130.173. CLARENDON COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA". Government of Texas. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
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