Ector County, Texas

Not to be confused with Ector, Texas.

Ector County
County
Ector County Courthouse in Odessa
Ector County Courthouse in Odessa
Map of Texas highlighting Ector 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°52′N 102°32′W / 31.87°N 102.54°W / 31.87; -102.54
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1891
Named forMatthew Ector
SeatOdessa
Largest cityOdessa
Area
 • Total902 sq mi (2,340 km2)
 • Land898 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Water4.1 sq mi (11 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total165,171
 • Density180/sq mi (71/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district11th
Websitewww.co.ector.tx.us
Ector County Coliseum
Ector County Courthouse Administration annex building

Ector County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In the 2020 census, its population was 165,171.[1] Its county seat is Odessa.[2] The county was founded in 1887 and organized in 1891.[3] It is named for Matthew Ector,[4] a Confederate general in the American Civil War.

Ector County comprises the Odessa, Texas, metropolitan statistical area, which is included in the Midland–Odessa combined statistical area.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 902 sq mi (2,340 km2), of which 898 sq mi (2,330 km2) are land and 4.1 sq mi (11 km2) (0.5%) are covered by water.[5] Ector County has an average rainfall of about 14 in per year and a warm, sunny, semiarid climate. Most of the county is relatively flat, with small areas of slightly rolling terrain. The area is known for its stark landscape. The few naturally occurring trees are mostly mesquite trees, which more resemble large bushes.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1890224—
190038170.1%
19101,178209.2%
1920760−35.5%
19303,958420.8%
194015,051280.3%
195042,102179.7%
196090,995116.1%
197091,8050.9%
1980115,37425.7%
1990118,9343.1%
2000121,1231.8%
2010137,13013.2%
2020165,17120.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1850–2010[7] 2010[8] 2020[9]
Ector 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[10] Pop 2010[8] Pop 2020[9] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 61,168 56,306 51,023 51.33% 41.06% 30.89%
Black or African American alone (NH) 5,370 5,596 7,430 4.43% 4.08% 4.50%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 526 623 568 0.43% 0.45% 0.34%
Asian alone (NH) 744 1,004 2,257 0.61% 0.73% 1.37%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 31 106 327 0.03% 0.08% 0.20%
Other race alone (NH) 29 68 492 0.02% 0.05% 0.30%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 949 1,096 3,023 0.78% 0.80% 1.83%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 51,306 72,331 100,051 42.36% 52.75% 60.57%
Total 121,123 137,130 165,171 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census[11] of 2000, 121,123 people, 43,846 households, and 31,700 families resided in the county. The population density was 134 people per square mile (52 people/km2). The 49,500 housing units averaged 55 units per square mile (21/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 73.69% White, 4.61% African American, 0.83% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 17.38% from other races, and 2.81% from two or more races. About 42.36% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 43,846 households, 38.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.10% were married couples living together, 13.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were not families. About 24.00% of all households was made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the county, the population was distributed as 30.40% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 10.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,152, and for a family was $36,369. Males had a median income of $30,632 versus $21,317 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,031. About 16.10% of families and 18.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.90% of those under age 18 and 14.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost town

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Politics

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Ector County is overwhelmingly Republican. It voted against Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson, a Texas native, in his 1964 landslide. The last time Democrats carried the county was in 1948.

United States presidential election results for Ector County, Texas[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 32,697 73.33% 11,367 25.49% 527 1.18%
2016 25,020 68.49% 10,249 28.06% 1,261 3.45%
2012 24,010 73.85% 8,118 24.97% 385 1.18%
2008 26,199 73.49% 9,123 25.59% 329 0.92%
2004 27,502 75.74% 8,579 23.63% 229 0.63%
2000 22,893 69.58% 9,425 28.65% 583 1.77%
1996 17,746 54.29% 12,017 36.76% 2,923 8.94%
1992 18,161 50.35% 11,130 30.85% 6,782 18.80%
1988 23,155 67.80% 10,825 31.70% 172 0.50%
1984 31,228 77.41% 8,913 22.09% 201 0.50%
1980 26,188 72.38% 9,069 25.07% 922 2.55%
1976 18,973 62.56% 10,802 35.62% 553 1.82%
1972 21,386 79.32% 5,449 20.21% 125 0.46%
1968 10,557 43.02% 5,312 21.65% 8,671 35.33%
1964 11,497 51.36% 10,826 48.36% 63 0.28%
1960 11,145 53.91% 8,996 43.52% 531 2.57%
1956 8,805 62.41% 5,109 36.21% 194 1.38%
1952 8,259 61.01% 5,270 38.93% 8 0.06%
1948 1,145 20.11% 4,305 75.61% 244 4.29%
1944 432 13.98% 2,265 73.28% 394 12.75%
1940 451 13.92% 2,783 85.92% 5 0.15%
1936 81 8.92% 816 89.87% 11 1.21%
1932 37 6.22% 530 89.08% 28 4.71%
1928 168 52.66% 151 47.34% 0 0.00%
1924 12 7.74% 138 89.03% 5 3.23%
1920 23 18.40% 100 80.00% 2 1.60%
1916 2 1.64% 120 98.36% 0 0.00%
1912 3 3.13% 89 92.71% 4 4.17%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Ector County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 114.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  6. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  7. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  8. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ector County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  9. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ector County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  10. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Ector County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
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31°52′N 102°32′W / 31.87°N 102.54°W / 31.87; -102.54

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