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Upton County, Texas

Coordinates: 31°22′N 102°02′W / 31.36°N 102.04°W / 31.36; -102.04
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Upton County
County
The Upton County Courthouse in Rankin
The Upton County Courthouse in Rankin
Map of Texas highlighting Upton County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°22′N 102°02′W / 31.36°N 102.04°W / 31.36; -102.04
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1910
SeatRankin
Largest cityMcCamey
Area
 • Total
1,242 sq mi (3,220 km2)
 • Land1,241 sq mi (3,210 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.01%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
3,308
 • Density2.7/sq mi (1.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district23rd
Websitewww.co.upton.tx.us

Upton County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 3,308.[1] Its county seat is Rankin.[2] The county was created in 1887 and later organized in 1910.[3] It is named for two brothers: John C. and William F. Upton, both colonels in the Confederate Army.

History

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Native Americans

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Native Americans were the first inhabitants of the area. Tribes present at the time of conquest included the Comanches and Apache.[4]

Trails

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One of the first routes bringing people through the area was the Chihuahua Trail[5][6] connecting Mexico's state of Chihuahua with Santa Fe, New Mexico. The trail served as a trade route for nomadic tribes of Indians and Spaniards, as well as traders from both Mexico and Texas.

The Butterfield Overland Mail crossed the area from 1858 to 1861.[7]

The Goodnight-Loving Trail served as a cattle-drive trail from 1866 to 1888. The trail began at Young County, Texas, and passed along the Pecos River to Fort Sumner, New Mexico, and into Colorado before ending in Cheyenne, Wyoming.[8]

Establishment of the county

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Upton was formed in 1887 from Tom Green County, Texas. The county was named after John C. Upton and his brother William F. Upton. of Tennessee.[9] Cattleman George Elliott became the first to establish a homestead in Upton County in 1880.[10] Beginning as open range, the land was shared with sheepmen by the 1890s. The United States Census counted 52 people living in the county in 1890, and only 48 in 1900; most of these were either members of three families, or were in their employ. The agricultural sector of the county has been outpaced by cattle and sheep ranching. In 1982, about 92% of the land in Upton County was in farms and ranches, but less than 1% of the county was considered prime farmland, and only 2% of the county was cultivated.[4] In the fall of 1911, the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway reached the townsite of Rankin, and by January 1912, most of the people living in Upland had moved to Rankin.[11]

Oil

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Wildcatter George McCamey's Baker No. 1 in September 1925 opened up the McCamey Oil Field, established the town of McCamey and brought the subsequent oil boom to Upton County.[12] The Yates Oil Field in Crockett and Pecos Counties resulted in a financial boon for the town of Rankin, which served as a supply and service center. The resulting financial windfall benefitted infrastructure in Rankin.[13][14] In 1946, Mike Benedum began wildcatting in Upton County and opened up what would become known as the Benedum Oil Field.[15] The Weir No. 1 gushed in 1961 and enabled Upton County to continue as an outstanding Texas production area.[16]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,242 square miles (3,220 km2), of which 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.01%) is covered by water.[17] The Spraberry Trend, the third-largest oil field in the United States by remaining reserves, underlies much of the county.[18] Bobcat Hills, a summit with an elevation of 2,697 ft (822 m), is found in Upton County.[19]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
189052—
190048−7.7%
1910501943.8%
1920253−49.5%
19305,9682,258.9%
19404,297−28.0%
19505,30723.5%
19606,23917.6%
19704,697−24.7%
19804,619−1.7%
19904,447−3.7%
20003,404−23.5%
20103,355−1.4%
20203,308−1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[20]
1850–2010[21] 2010[22] 2020[23]
Upton 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[24] Pop 2010[22] Pop 2020[23] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 1,854 1,611 1,318 54.47% 48.02% 39.84%
Black or African American alone (NH) 52 49 59 1.53% 1.46% 1.78%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 28 28 11 0.82% 0.83% 0.33%
Asian alone (NH) 0 0 4 0.00% 0.00% 0.12%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 2 0 0 0.06% 0.00% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 0 4 3 0.00% 0.12% 0.09%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 19 19 116 0.56% 0.57% 3.51%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,449 1,644 1,797 42.57% 49.00% 54.32%
Total 3,404 3,355 3,308 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census[25] of 2000, 3,404 people, 1,256 households, and 934 families were residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1.2 people/km2). The 1,609 housing units averaged 1 units per square mile (0.39 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.79% White, 1.62% African American, 1.20% Native American, 0.03% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 17.95% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. About 42.57% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,256 households, 36.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.10% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were not families. Around 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68, and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the age distribution was 29.30% under 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 24.90% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,977, and for a family was $37,083. Males had a median income of $30,729 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,274. About 18.10% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.60% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities

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Unincorporated community

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Ghost towns

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Politics

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United States presidential election results for Upton County, Texas[26]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 1,149 88.18% 146 11.20% 8 0.61%
2020 1,178 86.11% 170 12.43% 20 1.46%
2016 1,007 74.76% 286 21.23% 54 4.01%
2012 953 73.31% 333 25.62% 14 1.08%
2008 898 75.02% 288 24.06% 11 0.92%
2004 1,009 84.29% 185 15.46% 3 0.25%
2000 982 77.14% 266 20.90% 25 1.96%
1996 685 56.89% 424 35.22% 95 7.89%
1992 908 51.71% 489 27.85% 359 20.44%
1988 1,189 68.33% 544 31.26% 7 0.40%
1984 1,603 80.39% 380 19.06% 11 0.55%
1980 1,169 69.42% 485 28.80% 30 1.78%
1976 869 55.67% 686 43.95% 6 0.38%
1972 1,186 81.07% 256 17.50% 21 1.44%
1968 664 41.87% 463 29.19% 459 28.94%
1964 636 39.65% 958 59.73% 10 0.62%
1960 798 45.34% 930 52.84% 32 1.82%
1956 999 54.29% 834 45.33% 7 0.38%
1952 940 52.43% 850 47.41% 3 0.17%
1948 155 15.14% 811 79.20% 58 5.66%
1944 105 11.48% 742 81.09% 68 7.43%
1940 370 25.84% 1,062 74.16% 0 0.00%
1936 81 9.96% 728 89.54% 4 0.49%
1932 92 8.29% 1,012 91.17% 6 0.54%
1928 270 58.82% 189 41.18% 0 0.00%
1924 4 10.00% 35 87.50% 1 2.50%
1920 25 35.21% 46 64.79% 0 0.00%
1916 6 12.24% 42 85.71% 1 2.04%
1912 2 5.71% 28 80.00% 5 14.29%

Education

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Two school districts serve sections of the county:[27]

All of the county is in the service area of Odessa College.[28]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Upton 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 27, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Leffler, John; Hunt, William R. "Upton County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  5. ^ Perry, Ann; Smith, Deborah; Simons, Helen; Hoyt, Catherine A (1996). A Guide to Hispanic Texas. University of Texas Press. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-292-77709-5.
  6. ^ Sharp, Jay W. "Desert Trails: The Chihuahua Trail". Desert USA. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  7. ^ Allen, Jon L (1996). Texas on Stamps. Texas Christian University Press. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-87565-164-4.
  8. ^ Janin, Hunt; Carlson, Ursula B (2009). Trails of Historic New Mexico: Routes Used by Indian, Spanish and American Travelers through 1886. McFarland. pp. 141–149. ISBN 978-0-7864-4010-8.
  9. ^ "John C. Upton and His Brother, W. F. Upton - Rankin, Upton County, Texas". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  10. ^ "Elliott Ranch - Rankin, Upton County, Texas". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  11. ^ "Rankin, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  12. ^ Warner, C A; Thompson, Ernest O (2007). Texas Oil & Gas Since 1543. Copano Bay Press. p. 292. ISBN 978-0-9767799-5-7.
  13. ^ Hyne, Norman J. Nontechnical Guide to Petroleum Geology, Exploration, Drilling, and Production, 2nd edition. PennWell Books, 2001. ISBN 0-87814-823-X, ISBN 0-87814-823-X p. 105.
  14. ^ "University of Texas Oil Connections". UT Watch. Archived from the original on December 13, 2010. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  15. ^ Murphy, Charles J W (February 16, 1948). "Old Mike's Big Strike". Life. pp. 51, 52, 54, 56, 58.
  16. ^ "Weir No. 1 Oil Well - Rankin, Upton County, Texas". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  17. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  18. ^ Top 100 Oil and Gas Fields Archived May 15, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bobcat Hills
  20. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  21. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  22. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Upton County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Upton County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  24. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Upton County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  25. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  26. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  27. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ward County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022. - Text list
  28. ^ Texas Education Code, Section 130.193, "Odessa College District Service Area".
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31°22′N 102°02′W / 31.36°N 102.04°W / 31.36; -102.04

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