McMullen County, Texas

McMullen County, Texas
County
The McMullen County Courthouse in Tilden
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Coordinates: 28°21′N 98°34′W / 28.35°N 98.57°W / 28.35; -98.57
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1877
Named afterJohn McMullen
SeatTilden
Largest communityTilden
Area
 • Total
1,157 sq mi (3,000 km2)
 • Land1,140 sq mi (3,000 km2)
 • Water17 sq mi (44 km2)  1.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
600
 • Estimate 
(2024)
565
 • Density0.5/sq mi (0.19/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district28th
Websitemcmullencounty.org

McMullen County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 600,[1] making it the fourth-least populous county in Texas. Its county seat is Tilden.[2] The county was established from parts of Bexar County, Atascosa County, and Live Oak County in 1858 and later organized in 1877.[3] It is named for John McMullen, founder of a colony in Texas.[4] The McMullen County Courthouse was designed by architect W.C. Stephenson, originally from Buffalo, New York. Stephenson also designed some 50 buildings in Beeville, including the Bee County Courthouse.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,157 square miles (3,000 km2), of which 17 square miles (44 km2) (1.5%) are covered by water.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870230—
1880701204.8%
18901,03848.1%
19001,024−1.3%
19101,0916.5%
1920952−12.7%
19301,35141.9%
19401,3741.7%
19501,187−13.6%
19601,116−6.0%
19701,095−1.9%
1980789−27.9%
19908173.5%
20008514.2%
2010707−16.9%
2020600−15.1%
2024 (est.)565[6] −5.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1850–2010[8] 2010-2020[1]

Racial and ethnic composition

McMullen 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[9] Pop 2010[10] Pop 2020[11] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 556 432 353 65.33% 61.10% 58.83%
Black or African American alone (NH) 10 8 1 1.18% 1.13% 0.17%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 2 0 1 0.24% 0.00% 0.17%
Asian alone (NH) 0 3 3 0.00% 0.42% 0.50%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 0 5 0.00% 0.00% 0.83%
Other race alone (NH) 0 0 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Multiracial (NH) 1 3 13 0.12% 0.42% 2.17%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 282 261 224 33.14% 36.92% 37.33%
Total 851 707 600 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 600. The median age was 49.2 years. 18.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 26.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 110.8 males age 18 and over.[12][13]

The racial makeup of the county was 68.5% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.8% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.2% from some other race, and 25.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 37.3% of the population.[13]

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[14]

There were 256 households in the county, of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 56.3% were married-couple households, 18.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]

There were 405 housing units, of which 36.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.1% were owner-occupied and 28.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was <0.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 2.6%.[12]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 851 people, 355 households, and 238 families resided in the county. The population density was less than 1/km2 (2.6/mi2). The 587 housing units had an average density of 0 units per square mile (0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.37% White, 1.18% African American, 0.24% Native American, 8.93% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. About 33.14% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.[15]

Of the 355 households, 25.9% had children under 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were not families. About 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the age distribution was 23.4% under 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 105.7 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,500 and for a family was $35,417. Males had a median income of $26,953 versus $20,982 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,258. About 20.7% of the population and 15.9% of families were below the poverty line. Of the total people living in poverty, 28.6% were under 18 and 17.9% were 65 or older.

Education

McMullen County is served by the McMullen County Independent School District.

Coastal Bend College (formerly Bee County College) is the designated community college for the county.[16]

Communities

Politics

McMullen County is heavily Republican, having only voted for a Democratic candidate once since 1952, when in 1964, Texas native Lyndon B. Johnson won in a national landslide against Republican Barry Goldwater. In 2016, Donald Trump won 91.0% of the vote in McMullen County, the most lopsided result in the county since Franklin D. Roosevelt's victory in 1932. Trump again broke this record in 2024, when he won nearly 92% of the vote in the county.

United States presidential election results for McMullen County, Texas[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1912 9 14.52% 50 80.65% 3 4.84%
1916 29 20.14% 115 79.86% 0 0.00%
1920 33 31.13% 72 67.92% 1 0.94%
1924 111 49.78% 109 48.88% 3 1.35%
1928 96 50.00% 94 48.96% 2 1.04%
1932 12 4.44% 258 95.56% 0 0.00%
1936 37 12.25% 265 87.75% 0 0.00%
1940 77 18.64% 336 81.36% 0 0.00%
1944 106 28.27% 223 59.47% 46 12.27%
1948 61 20.20% 222 73.51% 19 6.29%
1952 290 64.88% 156 34.90% 1 0.22%
1956 226 54.72% 185 44.79% 2 0.48%
1960 241 50.10% 240 49.90% 0 0.00%
1964 175 39.50% 267 60.27% 1 0.23%
1968 169 39.49% 160 37.38% 99 23.13%
1972 304 76.77% 88 22.22% 4 1.01%
1976 217 52.80% 194 47.20% 0 0.00%
1980 271 68.09% 122 30.65% 5 1.26%
1984 337 84.67% 61 15.33% 0 0.00%
1988 302 75.88% 94 23.62% 2 0.50%
1992 274 61.85% 78 17.61% 91 20.54%
1996 274 63.72% 117 27.21% 39 9.07%
2000 358 81.55% 77 17.54% 4 0.91%
2004 467 82.80% 95 16.84% 2 0.35%
2008 400 74.49% 132 24.58% 5 0.93%
2012 431 85.69% 67 13.32% 5 0.99%
2016 454 90.98% 40 8.02% 5 1.00%
2020 460 89.15% 53 10.27% 3 0.58%
2024 448 91.99% 37 7.60% 2 0.41%
United States Senate election results for McMullen County, Texas1[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 423 88.87% 48 10.08% 5 1.05%

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 195.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  6. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  8. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  9. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – McMullen County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  10. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – McMullen County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – McMullen County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  13. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  14. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ^ Texas Education Code Sec. 130.167. BEE COUNTY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. The legislation calls it "Bee County College".
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  18. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  • Media related to McMullen County, Texas at Wikimedia Commons
  • Official website
  • McMullen County from the Handbook of Texas Online
  • "McMullen County Profile" from the Texas Association of Counties

28°21′N 98°34′W / 28.35°N 98.57°W / 28.35; -98.57

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