Archer County, Texas

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Archer County

| state = Texas

| seal =

| founded year = 1880

| founded date =

| seat wl = Archer City

| largest city wl = Archer City

| area_total_sq_mi = 925

| area_land_sq_mi = 903

| area_water_sq_mi = 22

| area percentage = 2.4

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 8560

| density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Central

| footnotes =

| web = www.co.archer.tx.us/

| named for = Branch Tanner Archer

| ex image = Archer courthouse.jpg

| ex image size = 250

| ex image cap = The Archer County Courthouse in Archer City: The Romanesque style structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

| district = 13th

}}

File:EdaphosaurusHarvard.jpg fossil skeleton from Archer County is on display in Harvard Museum of Natural History.]]

File:Edaph boanerg2.jpg

Archer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 8,560.{{cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Archer County, Texas|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/archercountytexas/PST120221|access-date=January 31, 2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}{{Cite web|title=Archer County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48009|website=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=February 23, 2021}} Its county seat is Archer City.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }} It is part of the Wichita Falls metropolitan statistical area.

History

In 1858, the Texas Legislature established Archer County from portions of Fannin County, and it organized in 1880.{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/TX_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Texas: Individual County Chronologies|work=Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=The Newberry Library|date=2008|access-date=May 20, 2015|archive-date=May 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513024355/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/TX_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}} It is named for Branch Tanner Archer, a commissioner for the Republic of Texas.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|925|sqmi|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|903|sqmi|abbr=on}} are land and {{convert|22|sqmi|abbr=on}} (2.4%) are covered by water.{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 18, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}

=Major highways=

=Adjacent counties=

Wichita County (north)
Clay County (east)
Jack County (southeast)
Young County (south)
Baylor County (west)
Wilbarger County (northwest)

Geology

Archer County is part of the Texas Red Beds, which are strata of red-colored sedimentary rock from the Early Permian. One of the most prominent red-bed fossil sites in the county is the Geraldine Bonebed.[https://books.google.com/books?id=9DIloiBThhIC&dq=eryops+archer+county&pg=PA94 The Book Of Life: An Illustrated History of the Evolution of Life on Earth.] W.W. Norton: 2001, pg. 94. Retrieved August 28, 2017. The fossils of Permian-period vertebrates in the Texas Red Beds were first discovered by Edward Drinker Cope in 1877.

Cope, E. D. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/982295 Descriptions of extinct vertebrata from the Permian and Triassic formations of the United States.] Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, 1877. Volume 17:182–195. JSTOR. Accessed on August 28, 2017.Case, E.C.[https://www.jstor.org/stable/30060764 The Red Beds between Wichita Falls, Texas, and Las Vegas, New Mexico, in Relation to Their Vertebrate Fauna.] The Journal of Geology, vol. 22, no. 3, 1914, pp. 243–259. JSTOR. Accessed on August 28, 2017. Subsequent research has revealed rare fossils of Permian period amphibians such as Trimerorhachis,Henry,

Randy. [https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/tx/home/?cid=nrcs144p2_003201 NRCS and Landowner Team Up With Houston Museum after Rare Species Discovery.] Natural Resources Conservation Service. Accessed on August 28, 2017. and rich deposits of other Permian tetrapods such as Dimetrodon and Diadectes.Caulfield, Dave. [http://www.newschannel6now.com/story/30368034/prehistoric-predators-fossil-findings-in-seymour-redefining Prehistoric Predators: Fossil Findings in Seymour 'Redefining'.] Newschannel 6: October 25, 2015. Accessed on August 28, 2017.

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1880= 596

|1890= 2101

|1900= 2508

|1910= 6525

|1920= 5254

|1930= 9684

|1940= 7599

|1950= 6816

|1960= 6110

|1970= 5759

|1980= 7266

|1990= 7973

|2000= 8854

|2010= 9054

|2020= 8560

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=}}
1850–2010{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=April 18, 2015}} 2010 2020

}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Archer County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
{{nobold|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{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Archer County, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48009&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}

!Pop 2010{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Archer County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48009&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau}}

!{{partial|Pop 2020}}{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Archer County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48009&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau}}

!% 2000

!% 2010

!{{partial|% 2020}}

White alone (NH)

|8,263

|8,182

|style='background: #ffffe6; |7,356

|93.33%

|90.37%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |85.93%

Black or African American alone (NH)

|34

|style='background: #ffffe6; |30

|0.08%

|0.38%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.35%

Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|47

|style='background: #ffffe6; |71

|0.53%

|0.52%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.83%

Asian alone (NH)

|11

|18

|style='background: #ffffe6; |18

|0.12%

|0.20%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.21%

Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0

|0.03%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%

Other race alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |21

|0.03%

|0.04%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.25%

Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|89

|91

|style='background: #ffffe6; |322

|1.01%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.76%

Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|431

|675

|style='background: #ffffe6; |742

|4.87%

|7.46%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.67%

Total

|8,854

|9,054

|style='background: #ffffe6; |8,560

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, 8,854 people, 3,345 households, and 2,515 families resided in the county. The population density was {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people|people|abbr=on}}. The 3,871 housing units averaged {{convert|4|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 95.54% White, 0.08% African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.28% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. About 4.87% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 3,345 households, 37.20% had children under 18 living with them, 65.00% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.80% were not families. Of all unmarried partner households, 89.8% were heterosexual, 1.9% were same-sex male, and 8.3% were same-sex female. About 21.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.20% had someone who was 65 or older living alone. The average household size was 2.63, and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the age distribution was 28.20% under 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,514, and for a family was $45,984. Males had a median income of $31,386 versus $22,119 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,300. About 6.80% of families and 9.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.90% of those under age 18 and 10.80% of those age 65 or over.

Education

These school districts serve Archer County:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48009_archer/DC20SD_C48009.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48009_archer/DC20SD_C48009.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Archer County, TX|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=June 29, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48009_archer/DC20SD_C48009_SD2MS.txt Text list]

Megargel Independent School District once served portions of Archer County,Texas Education Agency: See map of [https://web.archive.org/web/20040625173809/http://penick.tea.state.tx.us/schooldistrictlocator/adobe/counties/archer.pdf Archer County]. Retrieved on April 9, 2020. but it closed in 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.kauz.com/news/local/2883291.html |title=Mergargel School Closes Its Doors |publisher=KAUZ-TV |accessdate=July 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928064158/http://www.kauz.com/news/local/2883291.html |archivedate=September 28, 2007 }}

The county is in the service area of Vernon College.[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.207. VERNON REGIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA].

Ranching industry

The Seymour Division of the sprawling 320,000-deeded-acre (1400 km²) La Escalera Ranch is located north of Seymour, Texas in Baylor County with portions in Archer County. The Seymour Division consists of {{convert|34,000|acre|ha|abbr=off}}, which formerly was known as the Cross Bar Ranch when it was owned by the Claude Cowan Sr. Trust. The ranch was purchased in January 2005 by the Gerald Lyda family and La Escalera Limited Partnership, and is managed by partner Jo Lyda Granberg and her husband K. G. Granberg of Seymour. La Escalera Ranch also extends over much of Pecos County and portions of Reeves and Brewster Counties. It is known for its herd of Black Angus cattle and its abundant wildlife.

Joseph Sterling Bridwell, a Wichita Falls philanthropist and oilman, also owned a ranch in Archer County.{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fbrdd|title=Jack O. Loftin, "Joseph Sterling Bridwell"|publisher=Texas State Historical Association online|access-date=April 30, 2013|date=June 12, 2010}}

Dairy industry

Archer County is one of the more prominent areas of dairy product production in Texas. The two southeastern Archer County cities of Scotland and Windthorst have 37 functioning dairy farms nearby as of 2019. The dairy industry moved to the area in the early 1900s and has persisted through the years. Though this area has many operating dairies, the number of dairy cattle makes up a fractions of the numbers that are raised in the other dairy pockets of Texas such as Dalhart/Dumas and the Stephenville area. Every dairy farm in the Scotland/Windthorst area is family owned, and this is from where most of the economy of the two cities derives.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Politics

Archer County is represented in the Texas House of Representatives by Republican James Frank, a businessman from Wichita Falls.

Archer County is heavily Republican, and has voted for the presidential candidate of that party in every election since 1980.

{{PresHead|place=Archer County, Texas|whig=no|source1={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=July 19, 2018}}}}

Communities

=Cities=

Archer City (county seat)
Holliday
Scotland

=Towns=

=Unincorporated communities=

=Ghost towns=

Anarene
Huff

References

External links

[http://www.co.archer.tx.us/ Archer County government]
{{Handbook of Texas|id=hca05|name=}}
[http://www.texasalmanac.com/topics/government/archer-county Archer County] from the Texas Almanac
{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080705020030/http://www.hiddenancestors.com/archertx/ Archer County]}} from the TXGenWeb Project
[http://texashistory.unt.edu/search/?q=%22United+States+-+Texas+-+Archer+County%22&t=dc.coverage Historic Archer County materials], hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Archer County, Texas

|North = Wichita County

|Northeast =

|East = Clay County

|Southeast = Jack County

|South = Young County

|Southwest =

|West = Baylor County

|Northwest =

}}

{{coord|33.61|-98.69|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}