Ellis County, Texas

Ellis County
County
Map of Texas highlighting Ellis County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°21′N 96°47′W / 32.35°N 96.79°W / 32.35; -96.79
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1850
Named forRichard Ellis
SeatWaxahachie
Largest cityWaxahachie
Area
 • Total952 sq mi (2,470 km2)
 • Land936 sq mi (2,420 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total192,455
 • Density200/sq mi (78/km2)
DemonymEllisite
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.co.ellis.tx.us
Across from the courthouse is the Ellis County Museum.

Ellis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2020, its population was estimated to be 192,455.[1] The county seat is Waxahachie.[2] The county was founded in 1849 and organized the next year.[3] It is named for Richard Ellis,[4] president of the convention that produced the Texas Declaration of Independence. Ellis County is included in the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan statistical area.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 952 square miles (2,470 km2), of which 935 square miles (2,420 km2) are land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (1.7%) are covered by water.[5]

Lake Waxahachie is located about five miles south of Waxahachie in Ellis County, Texas. Owned and operated by Ellis County Water Control and Improvement District Number One on behalf of the city of Waxahachie, the lake was formed by impounding the Waxahachie Creek in 1956. The water covers about 650 acres and has a maximum depth around 50.[6][7] The former community of South Prong was located beside the creek before the lake was created.[8] There has been a country club and a two-acre public park with boat ramp since the lake was completed.[9] The lake is a recreational resource for the entire county.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Communities

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Bardwell Dam and Lake in Ellis County near the town of Ennis
Ellis County Courts building

Cities (multiple counties)

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Cities

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Towns

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Census-designated place

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Unincorporated communities

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850989—
18605,246430.4%
18707,51443.2%
188021,294183.4%
189031,77449.2%
190050,05957.5%
191053,6297.1%
192055,7003.9%
193053,936−3.2%
194047,733−11.5%
195045,645−4.4%
196043,395−4.9%
197046,6387.5%
198059,74328.1%
199085,16742.6%
2000111,36030.8%
2010149,61034.3%
2020192,45528.6%
2023 (est.)222,82915.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1850–2010[11] 2020[12]
Ellis 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[14] Pop 2020[12] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 79,401 97,987 106,495 71.30% 65.49% 55.34%
Black or African American alone (NH) 9,514 13,161 23,738 8.54% 8.80% 12.33%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 473 565 710 0.42% 0.38% 0.37%
Asian alone (NH) 368 811 1,525 0.33% 0.65% 0.79%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 10 87 202 0.01% 0.06% 0.10%
Other race alone (NH) 82 155 790 0.07% 0.10% 0.41%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 1,004 1,683 6,963 0.90% 1.12% 3.62%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 20,508 35,161 52,032 18.42% 23.50% 27.04%
Total 111,360 149,610 192,455 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

According to the census[15] of 2000, 111,360 people, 37,020 households, and 29,653 families resided in the county. The population density was 118 people per square mile (46 people/km2). The 39,071 housing units averaged 42 units per square mile (16/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.63% White, 8.64% African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 7.92% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. About 18.42% of the population was Hispanic or Latinos of any race. By 2020, its population increased to 192,455.[12] The racial makeup in 2020 was 55.34% non-Hispanic white, 12.33% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.79% Asian American, 0.41% some other race, 3.62% multiracial, and 27.04% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

A Williams Institute analysis of 2010 census data found about 3.2 same-sex couples per 1,000 households were in the county.[16]

Politics

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Ellis is a staunchly Republican county in presidential elections. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976, and since 2000, Republican presidential candidates have won with more than 66% of the vote.

United States presidential election results for Ellis County, Texas[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 56,717 66.19% 27,565 32.17% 1,406 1.64%
2016 44,941 70.10% 16,253 25.35% 2,916 4.55%
2012 39,574 72.94% 13,881 25.59% 799 1.47%
2008 38,078 70.71% 15,333 28.47% 442 0.82%
2004 34,602 74.50% 11,640 25.06% 202 0.43%
2000 26,091 69.94% 10,629 28.49% 587 1.57%
1996 16,046 53.91% 10,832 36.39% 2,888 9.70%
1992 13,564 40.50% 9,537 28.47% 10,394 31.03%
1988 16,422 59.18% 11,169 40.25% 158 0.57%
1984 16,873 67.56% 8,029 32.15% 72 0.29%
1980 10,046 51.31% 9,219 47.08% 315 1.61%
1976 6,996 41.02% 9,991 58.58% 68 0.40%
1972 8,779 69.53% 3,839 30.41% 8 0.06%
1968 3,794 31.44% 5,431 45.01% 2,842 23.55%
1964 2,779 27.62% 7,278 72.33% 5 0.05%
1960 3,666 38.42% 5,841 61.21% 36 0.38%
1956 3,585 40.65% 5,211 59.08% 24 0.27%
1952 4,183 39.91% 6,275 59.86% 24 0.23%
1948 1,055 13.76% 5,792 75.56% 818 10.67%
1944 666 8.02% 7,065 85.08% 573 6.90%
1940 692 8.07% 7,881 91.87% 5 0.06%
1936 319 5.34% 5,644 94.46% 12 0.20%
1932 527 6.93% 7,033 92.49% 44 0.58%
1928 3,569 44.72% 4,399 55.12% 13 0.16%
1924 1,220 13.50% 7,678 84.93% 142 1.57%
1920 819 13.98% 4,081 69.68% 957 16.34%
1916 324 6.32% 4,718 92.02% 85 1.66%
1912 293 7.42% 3,483 88.24% 171 4.33%

Law enforcement

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The Ellis County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services to the county. The current sheriff is Brad Norman. The agency also operates the Ellis County Jail in Waxahachie.[18]

Media

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Ellis County is part of the Dallas/Fort Worth television media market in North Texas. Stations in the market are KDFW-TV, KXAS-TV, WFAA-TV, KTVT-TV, KERA-TV, KTXA-TV, KDFI-TV, KDAF-TV, KFWD-TV, and KDTX-TV.

The county is home to one local radio station KBEC 1390 AM and 99.1 FM. The station has been in continuous operation since 1955 and is the oldest Family owned radio station in Texas. A weekly newspaper, the Ellis County Press, is based in Ferris and published Thursdays. The Waxahachie Daily Light and Waxahachie Sun are published biweekly; other weekly newspapers are The Ennis News and Midlothian Mirror.

Education

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School districts include:[19]

It is in the service area of Navarro College.[20]

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Ellis County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 117.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  6. ^ Texas Parks and Wildlife: Lake Waxahachie. Accessed September 11, 2022.
  7. ^ Premier Angler: Lake Waxahachie. Accessed September 11, 2022.
  8. ^ Forth Worth Genealogical Society: Ghost Towns – South Prong, Ellis County, TX. Accessed September 11, 2022.
  9. ^ Waxahachie Parks and Recreation: Waxahachie Lake. Accessed September 11, 2022.
  10. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ a b c "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Ellis County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Ellis County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Ellis County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ^ Leonhardt, David; Quealy, Kevin (June 26, 2015), "Where Same-Sex Couples Live", The New York Times, retrieved July 6, 2015
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  18. ^ "Home". www.elliscountysheriff.com. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  19. ^ "2020 census - school district reference map: Ellis County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022. - Text list
  20. ^ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.189. Navarro College District Service Area.
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32°21′N 96°47′W / 32.35°N 96.79°W / 32.35; -96.79

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