Wilson County, Texas

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Not to be confused with Wilson, Texas.
Wilson County, Texas
Wilson courthouse.jpg
The Wilson County Courthouse in Floresville. The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 5, 1978.
Map of Texas highlighting Wilson County
Location in the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded 1860
Named for James Charles Wilson
Seat Floresville
Largest city Floresville
Area
 • Total 808 sq mi (2,093 km2)
 • Land 804 sq mi (2,082 km2)
 • Water 4.7 sq mi (12 km2), 0.6%
Population
 • (2010) 42,918
 • Density 53/sq mi (20/km²)
Congressional districts 15th, 28th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.wilson.tx.us

Wilson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,918.[1] Its county seat is Floresville.[2] The county is named after James Charles Wilson.

Wilson County is part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Native Americans

Archeological[3][4] evidence in the Wilson County area reveals early habitation from the Paleo-Indians Hunter-gatherers period. Later, the area was a hunting range for Tonkawa, Aranamas, Tamiques, Karankawa. Tawakoni, Lipan Apache and Comanche lived and hunted in the county.

Explorations and county established

In September 1718 Martín de Alarcón crossed the area on his way to explore the bay of Espíritu Santo. Pedro de Rivera y Villalón crossed the county in 1727 as part of an expedition to inspect the frontier defenses of New Spain.[5] In 1766–67 the Marqués de Rubí included the area in his inspection of the Spanish frontier,[6] and the 1798 explorations of the coast by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado[7] skirted the area.

The first two land grants in the area were to Luis Menchaca and Andrés Hernández,[8] who established ranches circa 1832-1833.

Anglos began arriving in the 1840s,[6] and Southern planters in 1850 and 1860, followed by German and Polish immigrants from other counties.

Wilson County was formed in 1860 from Bexar and Karnes. Sutherland Springs[9] was designated the county seat.

Wilson County voted in favor of secession[6] from the Union, and sent several military units to serve. Wartime hardships were compounded by a 3-year drought.

Following the civil war, the county seat[10] was moved to Floresville. The 1872 courthouse was destroyed by fire and replaced in 1884 with a new building[11] designed by Alfred Giles.

Fence Cutting Wars in Texas lasted for approximately five years, 1883-1888. The 40,000-acre (160 km2) ranch of Houston and Dilworth became the focal point in Wilson County. As farmers and ranchers began to compete for precious land and water, cattlemen found it more difficult to feed their herds, prompting cowboys to cut through fences. Texas Governor John Ireland[12] prodded a special assembly to order the fence cutters to cease. In response, the legislature made fence-cutting and pasture-burning crimes punishable with prison time, while at the same time regulating fencing. The practice abated with sporadic incidents of related violence 1888.

The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway[13] reached Floresville in 1886. In 1898 the San Antonio and Gulf Railroad[14] was extended to Stockdale,

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 808 square miles (2,090 km2), of which 804 square miles (2,080 km2) is land and 4.7 square miles (12 km2) (0.6%) is water.[15]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1870 2,556 —
1880 7,118 178.5%
1890 10,655 49.7%
1900 13,961 31.0%
1910 17,066 22.2%
1920 17,289 1.3%
1930 17,606 1.8%
1940 17,066 −3.1%
1950 14,672 −14.0%
1960 13,267 −9.6%
1970 13,041 −1.7%
1980 16,756 28.5%
1990 22,650 35.2%
2000 32,408 43.1%
2010 42,918 32.4%
Est. 2014 46,402 [16] 8.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[17]
1850–2010[18] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[19] of 2000, there were 32,408 people, 11,038 households, and 8,830 families residing in the county. The population density was 40 people per square mile (16/km²). There were 12,110 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.19% White, 1.21% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 14.25% from other races, and 2.43% from two or more races. 36.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,038 households out of which 40.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.50% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.00% were non-families. 17.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the county, the population was spread out with 29.20% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,006, and the median income for a family was $45,681. Males had a median income of $31,716 versus $23,582 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,253. About 9.20% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.40% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Notable people

Gallery

  • The "Peanut Marker" at the Wilson County Courthouse lawn commemorates the life of Joe T. Sheehy (1886–1967), who introduced peanut farming to the area in 1916.

  • The Wilson County Public Library near the courthouse.

  • The Wilson County Hardware store in Floresville.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. UT Texas at Austin
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. UT Texas at Austin
  5. ↑ Blake, Robert Bruce: Pedro de Rivera y Villalón from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 13 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Long, Christopher: Wilson County from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 13 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Texas General Land Office
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Texas State Library and Archives Commission
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Williams, Howard C: Texas and New Orleans Railroad from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 13 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

 Bexar County Guadalupe County Gonzales County
  Wilson County, Texas  
Atascosa County Karnes County

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