Brooks County, Texas

Brooks County, Texas
Map of Texas highlighting Brooks County
Location in the state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded 1911
Named for James Brooks
Seat Falfurrias
Largest city Falfurrias
Area
 • Total 944 sq mi (2,445 km2)
 • Land 943 sq mi (2,442 km2)
 • Water 0.3 sq mi (1 km2), 0.03%
Population
 • (2010) 7,223
 • Density 7.7/sq mi (3/km²)
Congressional district 15th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5

Brooks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 7,223.[1] Its county seat is Falfurrias.[2] The county is named for James Abijah Brooks, a Texas Ranger and legislator.

The county faces a range of challenges due to immigration issues. Sheriff's deputies are often the only line of defense for residents whose homes are broken into for food and water and to respond to violent crimes committed by some immigrants, but the increase in these challenges has left the sheriffs department to contend with budgetary limitations.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 944 square miles (2,440 km2), of which 943 square miles (2,440 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.03%) is water.[4]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19204,560—
19305,90129.4%
19406,3627.8%
19509,19544.5%
19608,609−6.4%
19708,005−7.0%
19808,4285.3%
19908,204−2.7%
20007,976−2.8%
20107,223−9.4%
Est. 20147,194−0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1850–2010[6] 2010–2014[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 7,223 people living in the county. 89.6% were White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 7.9% of some other race and 1.4% of two or more races. 91.2% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 7,976 people, 2,711 households, and 2,079 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 3,203 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 75.84% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 21.58% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more races. 91.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,711 households out of which 38.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.20% were married couples living together, 19.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.30% were non-families. 21.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the county, the population was spread out with 31.60% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $18,622, and the median income for a family was $22,473. Males had a median income of $23,051 versus $16,103 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,234. About 36.90% of families and 40.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 51.70% of those under age 18 and 30.40% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

While the state of Texas is a stronghold of the Republican Party, Brooks County has never voted for a Republican Presidential candidate since its creation in 1911. In the 2004 presidential election, the county gave 1,820 votes to Democratic candidate John Kerry to 844 for Republican George W. Bush.

In 2012, 78.5% of the county's voters choose President Obama while only 21% voted for the Republican candidate Mitt Romney.

Communities

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Saslow, Eli. "Going it alone". www.washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  7. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.

External links

 Duval County Jim Wells County Kleberg County
Jim Hogg County Kenedy County
   Brooks County, Texas  
Starr County Hidalgo County

Coordinates: 27°02′N 98°13′W / 27.04°N 98.21°W