Runnels County, Texas

Runnels County, Texas
County
The Runnels County Courthouse in Ballinger
The Runnels County Courthouse in Ballinger
Map of Texas highlighting Runnels County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Coordinates: 31°50′N 99°58′W / 31.83°N 99.97°W / 31.83; -99.97
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1880
Named forHiram G. Runnels
SeatBallinger
Largest cityBallinger
Area
 • Total
1,057 sq mi (2,740 km2)
 • Land1,051 sq mi (2,720 km2)
 • Water6.2 sq mi (16 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
9,900
 • Estimate 
(2025)
9,693 Decrease
 • Density9.4/sq mi (3.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district11th
Websitewww.runnelscounty.org Edit this at Wikidata

Runnels County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 9,900. Its county seat is Ballinger. The county was created in 1858 and later organized in 1880. It is named for Hiram G. Runnels, a Texas state legislator.

History

The original inhabitants of the area were the Jumano, followed by the Comanche. In 1683–84, Juan Domínguez de Mendoza established a short-lived mission. Fort Chadbourne was established in 1852, as part of a chain of forts in West Texas. Runnels County was formed from Bexar and Travis Counties. It was named in honor of Hiram G. Runnels. Runnels City was the original county seat.

In 1862, Pickettville was established by Mr. and Mrs. John Guest and their three sons, Henry and Robert K. Wylie and their cowboys and a black servant, and Mrs. Felicia Gordon and her five sons. Ballinger was settled by Richard Coffey and family.

The county was organized in 1880, with a population of 980. Ballinger, namesake of William Pitt Ballinger, was selected as the new county seat eight years later. The stone county courthouse was erected in the Second Empire style soon after (1889). Architect Eugene T. Heiner designed the building.

In 1899, the community of Pumphrey, originally named New Hope, was established by William M. Pumphrey. The Santa Fe Depot was built in 1911 by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. The Ballinger Carnegie Library in Ballinger was dedicated. The Charles H. Noyes statue on the Ballinger Courthouse lawn, dedicated to the "Spirit of the Texas Cowboy", was sculpted by Pompeo Coppini in 1919.

The MacMillan oil field was discovered near Ballinger in 1927. Eighteen new oil fields were explored by 1949.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,057 square miles (2,740 km2), of which 6.2 square miles (16 km2), 0.6%, are covered by water.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880980—
18903,193225.8%
19005,37968.5%
191020,858287.8%
192017,074−18.1%
193021,82127.8%
194018,903−13.4%
195016,771−11.3%
196015,016−10.5%
197012,108−19.4%
198011,872−1.9%
199011,294−4.9%
200011,4951.8%
201010,501−8.6%
20209,900−5.7%
2025 (est.)9,693 Decrease−2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850–2010 2010 2020

Racial and ethnic composition

Runnels 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 1980 Pop 1990 Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 9,323 8,340 7,793 6,841 6,062 78.53% 73.84% 67.79% 65.15% 61.23%
Black or African American alone (NH) 200 181 154 165 132 1.68% 1.60% 1.34% 1.57% 1.33%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 15 11 30 43 39 0.13% 0.10% 0.26% 0.41% 0.39%
Asian alone (NH) 22 15 37 19 24 0.19% 0.13% 0.32% 0.18% 0.24%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x x 2 0 6 x x 0.02% 0.00% 0.06%
Other race alone (NH) 11 7 7 15 15 0.09% 0.06% 0.06% 0.14% 0.15%
Multiracial (NH) x x 100 57 268 x x 0.87% 0.54% 2.71%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,301 2,740 3,372 3,361 3,354 19.38% 24.26% 29.33% 32.01% 33.88%
Total 11,872 11,294 11,495 10,501 9,900 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 9,900. The median age was 44.6 years; 22.9% of residents were under 18 and 23.1% were 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males, and for every 100 females 18 and over, there were 95.5 males age and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 75.6% White, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 9.6% from some other race, and 12.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 33.9% of the population.

About 0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while almost all lived in rural areas.

Of the 3,953 households in the county, 29.9% had children under 18 living in them, 50.9% were married-couple households, 18.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.

The county had 4,986 housing units, of which 20.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.2% were owner-occupied and 23.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 14.8%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 11,495 people, 4,428 households, and 3,157 families were residing in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4.2 people/km2). The 5,400 housing units had an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 81.44% White, 1.40% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 14.31% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. About 29.33% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 4,428 households, 31.4% had children under 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were not families. About 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.53, and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the age distribution was 26.9% under 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.90 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 87.10 males.

The median income in the county for a household was $27,806 and for a family was $32,917. Males had a median income of $25,223 versus $18,988 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,577. About 14.9% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under 18 and 19.0% of those 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Politics

United States presidential election results for Runnels County, Texas
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1912 56 3.85% 1,117 76.82% 281 19.33%
1916 195 10.71% 1,487 81.66% 139 7.63%
1920 332 17.90% 1,197 64.53% 326 17.57%
1924 458 14.48% 2,564 81.09% 140 4.43%
1928 1,645 52.26% 1,494 47.46% 9 0.29%
1932 235 7.30% 2,975 92.39% 10 0.31%
1936 313 9.44% 2,985 89.99% 19 0.57%
1940 835 21.25% 3,088 78.60% 6 0.15%
1944 685 18.09% 2,657 70.16% 445 11.75%
1948 526 14.55% 2,954 81.72% 135 3.73%
1952 2,622 58.53% 1,853 41.36% 5 0.11%
1956 2,416 62.54% 1,442 37.33% 5 0.13%
1960 2,128 52.22% 1,938 47.56% 9 0.22%
1964 1,480 35.82% 2,645 64.01% 7 0.17%
1968 1,707 44.65% 1,448 37.88% 668 17.47%
1972 2,752 78.83% 739 21.17% 0 0.00%
1976 2,203 51.45% 2,068 48.30% 11 0.26%
1980 2,532 59.82% 1,648 38.93% 53 1.25%
1984 2,968 71.06% 1,179 28.23% 30 0.72%
1988 2,417 58.28% 1,720 41.48% 10 0.24%
1992 1,653 38.09% 1,401 32.28% 1,286 29.63%
1996 1,941 51.58% 1,417 37.66% 405 10.76%
2000 3,020 74.64% 969 23.95% 57 1.41%
2004 3,239 80.00% 792 19.56% 18 0.44%
2008 3,118 80.63% 720 18.62% 29 0.75%
2012 3,104 84.62% 519 14.15% 45 1.23%
2016 3,250 85.93% 453 11.98% 79 2.09%
2020 3,807 86.35% 552 12.52% 50 1.13%
2024 3,580 88.26% 452 11.14% 24 0.59%
United States Senate election results for Runnels County, Texas1
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 3,430 85.18% 525 13.04% 72 1.79%
United States Senate election results for Runnels County, Texas2
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2020 3,722 86.50% 515 11.97% 66 1.53%
Texas Gubernatorial election results for Runnels County
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2022 2,924 90.41% 277 8.57% 33 1.02%

Education

School districts include:

The Texas Legislature designated the county as being in the Western Texas College District.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Runnels County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  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 26, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Pinkney, Katherine. "Runnels County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  5. ↑ Hundell, Ken and Sharon (2005). Spirits of the Border V: The History and Mystery of the Lone Star State. Omega Press. p. 176. ISBN 978-0-9626087-9-7.
  6. ↑ Aston, B W; Taylor, Ira Donathon (1997). Along the Texas Forts Trail. University of North Texas Press. pp. 51–56. ISBN 978-1-57441-035-8.
  7. ↑ "Runnels City". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Picketville". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  9. 1 2 "Ballinger". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Runnels County Courthouse". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Pumphrey". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  12. ↑ "The Charles H. Noyes Statue". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  13. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  14. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  16. ↑ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  17. 1 2 "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Runnels County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  18. 1 2 "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Runnels County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  19. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics- Texas - Table 15. Persons by Race and Table 16. Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 21-46. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2022.
  20. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics- Texas - Table 3. Race and Hispanic Origin: 1990" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 29-138. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 3, 2026.
  21. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Runnels County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  22. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  23. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  24. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  25. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  26. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  27. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  28. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  29. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  30. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  31. ↑ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Texas Senate Election Results 2020". NBCNews.com. November 3, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  33. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Runnels County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 22, 2024. - Text list
  34. ↑ "Sec. 130.210. WESTERN TEXAS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA". Retrieved September 22, 2024.

31°50′N 99°58′W / 31.83°N 99.97°W / 31.83; -99.97