Kerr County, Texas
| Kerr County, Texas |
|
Kerr County Courthouse, southside view
|
Location in the state of Texas |
Texas's location in the U.S. |
| Founded |
1856 |
| Seat |
Kerrville |
Area
- Total
- Land
- Water |
1,108 sq mi (2,870 km²)
1,106 sq mi (2,865 km²)
2 sq mi (5 km²), 0.14% |
Population
- (2010)
- Density |
49,625
39/sq mi (15/km²) |
| Website |
www.co.kerr.tx.us |
Kerr County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 49,625.[1] Its county seat is Kerrville[2]. Kerr County was named by Joshua D. Brown for his fellow Kentucky native, James Kerr, a congressman of the Republic of Texas. Kerr never set foot in Kerr County, as he died six years before the establishment of Kerrville.
The Kerrville Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Kerr County.
History Timeline
- 8000 b.c. Early Native American inhabitants arrive. Numerous successive cultures inhabited the area in prehistoric times. Historic tribes encountered by Europeans included the Kiowa, Comanche and Lipan Apache.[3]
- 1842 Adelsverein[4] Fisher-Miller Land Grant sets aside three million acres (12,000 km²) to settle 600 families and single men of German, Dutch, Swiss, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian ancestry in Texas.[5]
- 1844, June 26 - Henry Francis Fisher sells interest in land grant to Adelsverein.
- 1845 Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels secures title to 1,265 acres (5.12 km2) of the Veramendi grant, including the Comal Springs and River, for the Adelsverein. Thousands of German immigrants are stranded at port of disembarkation Indianaola on Matagorda Bay. With no food or shelters, living in holes dug into the ground, an estimated 50% die from disease or starvation.[6][7]
- 1846Joshua Brown (Texas pioneer) becomes first settler.[8]
- 1854 May 14–15, The Texas State Convention of Germans meet in San Antonio and adopt a political, social and religious platform, including: 1) Equal pay for equal work; 2) Direct election of the President of the United States; 3) Abolition of capital punishment; 4) “Slavery is an evil, the abolition of which is a requirement of democratic principles..”; 5) Free schools – including universities - supported by the state, without religious influence; and 6) Total separation of church and state.[9]
- 1855, July 8 - United States Army post Camp Verde established.[10]
- 1856 Kerr County is formed from Bexar Land District Number 2. Joshua Brown donates the land that will become Kerrville, and has it named for his friend James Kerr. Kerrville is the county seat.[3] U.S. Camel Corps headquartered at Verde is the brainchild of United States Secretary of War (1853–57) Jefferson Davis.[11]
- 1859 Community of Center Point is established.[12]
- 1860-1861 County population of 634, includes 49 slaves. Sons of Hermann lodge, for descendents of German heritage, is established in the County. The lodge is named for German chieftain folk hero Hermann the Cherusker.[3]
- 1861 A bitterly divided Kerr County votes 76-57 for secession from the Union, with most German residents being against it. Unionists from Kerr, Gillespie, and Kendall counties participate in the formation of the Union League, a secret organization to support President Abraham Lincoln’s policies.[13]
- 1862 The Union League forms companies to protect the frontier against Indians and their families against local Confederate forces. Conscientious objectors to the military draft are primarily among Tejanos and Germans . Confederate authorities impose martial law on Central Texas. Nueces massacre in Kinney County. Jacob Kuechler serves as a guide for 61 conscientious objectors attempting to flee to Mexico. Scottish born Confederate irregular James Duff and his Duff’s Partisan Rangers pursue and overtake them at the Nueces River. 34 are killed, some executed after being taken prisoner. Jacob Kuechler survives the battle. The cruelty shocks the people of Gillespie County. 2,000 take to the hills to escape Duff's reign of terror. Spring Creek Cemetery near Harper in Gillespie County has a singular grave with the names Sebird Henderson, Hiram Nelson, Gus Tegener and Frank Scott. The inscription reads “Hanged and thrown in Spring Creek by Col. James Duff’s Confederate Regiment.”[14][15][16]
- 1866, August 10 - Treue der Union Monument ("Loyalty to the Union") in Comfort dedicated to the Texans slain at the Nueces massacre. It is the only monument to the Union outside of the National Cemeteries on Confederate territory. It is one of only six such sites allowed to fly the United States flag at half-mast in perpetuity.[17][18]
- 1880 Y O Ranch is founded by Charles Armand Schreiner .[19]
- 1887 The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway is built through Kerrville.
- 1919 The American Legion of Texas establishes what will eventually be called the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Kerrville.[20]
- 1923 Schreiner University is established in Kerrville.[21]
- 1926 Ora Johnson establishes Camp Waldemar Christian girls camp in Hunt.[22]
- 1929 Mooney Aircraft is established in Kerrville.[23]
- 1930 Kerrville is called the "Mohair Capital of the World."[3]
- 1949 The Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital is completed.[24]
- 1951 Kerrville State Hospital opens.[25]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,108 square miles (2,869.7 km2), of which 1,106 square miles (2,864.5 km2) is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km2) (0.14%) is water.
Major highways
Adjacent counties
Demographics
| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1860 |
634 |
|
—
|
| 1870 |
1,042 |
|
64.4% |
| 1880 |
2,168 |
|
108.1% |
| 1890 |
4,462 |
|
105.8% |
| 1900 |
4,980 |
|
11.6% |
| 1910 |
5,505 |
|
10.5% |
| 1920 |
5,842 |
|
6.1% |
| 1930 |
10,151 |
|
73.8% |
| 1940 |
11,650 |
|
14.8% |
| 1950 |
14,022 |
|
20.4% |
| 1960 |
16,800 |
|
19.8% |
| 1970 |
19,454 |
|
15.8% |
| 1980 |
28,780 |
|
47.9% |
| 1990 |
36,304 |
|
26.1% |
| 2000 |
43,653 |
|
20.2% |
| 2010 |
49,625 |
|
13.7% |
U.S. Decennial Census[26]
Texas Almanac: 1850-2010[27]
|
As of the census[28] of 2000, there were 43,653 people, 17,813 households, and 12,308 families residing in the county. The population density was 40 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 20,228 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.89% White, 1.78% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 6.60% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. 19.13% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 17,813 households out of which 25.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the county, the population was spread out with 22.70% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 22.20% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 24.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,283, and the median income for a family was $40,713. Males had a median income of $27,425 versus $21,149 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,767. About 10.30% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.60% of those under age 18 and 8.40% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
Unincorporated
Kerr County in popular culture
See also
References
- ^ United States Census Bureau. "2010 Census Data". United States Census Bureau. http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ a b c d Odintz, Mark. "Kerr County". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hck06. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ Brister, Louis E.. "Adelsverein". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ufa01. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ Ramos, Mary G. "The German Settlements in Central Texas". Texas Almanac. Texas State Historical Association. http://www.texasalmanac.com/history/highlights/german/. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ "Indianola, Texas". Blueprints For Travel, LLC. http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasGhostTowns/IndianolaTexas/IndianolaTx.htm. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
- ^ Block, W T. "The Story of our Texas' German Pilgrims". Blueprints For Travel, LLC. http://www.texasescapes.com/WTBlock/Texas-German-Pilgrims-Death-March-to-Comal-County.htm. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ "History Kerr County". Kerr County Historical Association. http://www.co.kerr.tx.us/historical/history.html. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ Biesele, R L; The Texas State Convention of Germans in 1854 (April 1930). The Southwestern Historical Quarterly XXXIII (24).
- ^ "Camp Verde". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qbc29. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ "Camel Corps". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasHillCountryTowns/CampVerdeTexas/CampVerdeTx.htm. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ "Center Point". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. http://www.texasescapes.com/EastTexasTowns/Center-Point-Texas.htm. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ Moneyhon, Charles H. "The Union League". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/wau01. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ Shook, Robert W.. "Duff, James". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fdu06. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ "Spring Creek Cemetery". Texas Gen Web. http://www.txgenweb2.org/txgillespie/spring.htm. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ Tegener, Gus at Find a Grave
- ^ "Treue der UnionMonument". Blueprints For Travel, LLC. http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasHistory/Treue-Der-Union-Loyalty-to-the-Union.htm. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ "List of Dead-Treue Der Union Monument". Texas Gen Web. http://www.txgenweb2.org/txkendall/treue.htm. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ Hollon, W Eugene. "Charles Schreiner". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fsc15. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ Herring, Rebecca. "Veterans Affairs Center-Kerrville". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/sbv07. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ Baulch, Joe R. "Schreiner University". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/kbs16. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ "Camp Waldemar". Camp Waldemar. http://www.waldemar.com/Content/AboutUs/AboutUs.asp?Link=Welcome. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ "Mooney Aircraft". Mooney Aviation Company, Inc. http://www.mooney.com/about-us/mooney-history.html. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ "Peterson Regional Medical Center". Peterson Regional Medical Center. http://www.petersonrmc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=2. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ "Kerrville State Hospital". State of Texas. http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/mhhospitals/KerrvilleSH/KSH_About.shtm. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ U.S. Decennial Census
- ^ Texas Almanac: County Population History 1850-2010
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Treat, Wesley. "StoneHenge II - A Megalithic Facsimile". http://www.texastwisted.com/attr/stonehenge2/. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
External links