Caldwell County, Texas
{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Caldwell, Texas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county = Caldwell County
| state = Texas
| ex image = Caldwell courthouse 2005.jpg
| ex image size = 300px
| ex image cap = The Caldwell County Courthouse in Lockhart
| type = County
| flag =
| seal =
| logo =
| coordinates = {{Coord|29.832399|-97.628141|region:US-TX_type:county|display=inline,title}}
| founded year = 1848
| founded date = March 6
| named for = Mathew Caldwell
| seat wl = Lockhart
| largest city wl = San Marcos
| leader_title = County judge
| leader_name = Hoppy Haden
| area_total_sq_mi = 546.452
| area_land_sq_mi = 544.541
| area_water_sq_mi = 1.911
| area percentage = 0.35%
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_total = 45883
| pop_est_as_of = 2024
| population_est = 52430 {{increase}}
| density_sq_mi = 96.296
| time zone = Central
| district = 27th
| website = {{URL|https://www.co.caldwell.tx.us/|co.caldwell.tx.us}}
| footnote =
}}
Caldwell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 45,883,{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Caldwell_County,_Texas?g=050XX00US48055 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 8, 2025}} and was estimated to be 52,430 in 2024, Its county seat is Lockhart.{{cite web|title=Find a County |url=https://ce.naco.org/?find=true |publisher=National Association of Counties |access-date=April 8, 2025}} The county was founded on March 6, 1848 and named after Mathew Caldwell, a ranger captain who fought in the Battle of Plum Creek against the Comanches and against Santa Anna's armies during the Texas Revolution. Caldwell was also a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
Caldwell County is part of the {{nowrap|Greater Austin}} metropolitan area.
History
Around 8000 BC, Paleo-Indians hunter-gatherers inhabited the area, and later Tonkawa, Karankawa and Comanche peoples became the first identified inhabitants.{{cite web|last=Smyrl|first=Vivian Elizabeth|title=Caldwell County, Texas|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcc01|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=December 1, 2010|date=June 12, 2010}} Caldwell County, of Green DeWitt's petition for a land grant to establish a colony in Texas, was approved by the Mexican government in 1825.
In 1839, Edmund Bellinger became the first settler of Prairie Lea, the county's oldest town. Sam Houston named the town for his future wife Margaret Lea Houston.{{cite web|last=Stock|first=Barbara|title=Prairie Lea|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hlp50|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=December 1, 2010|date=June 15, 2010}}{{cite web|title=Prairie Lea, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/CentralTexasTownsSouth/Prairie-Lea-Texas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=December 1, 2010}} The legislature formed Caldwell County from Bastrop and Gonzales counties in March 1845. Lockhart was named as the county seat.{{cite web|title=Lockhart, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/LOCKHART/Lockhart.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=December 1, 2010}}
By 1860, the county population was 2,871, with 1,610 slaves. The community of Fentress was established, originally as Riverside, but later changed to honor the town's first physician, James Fentress.{{cite web|title=Fentress, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/CentralTexasTownsSouth/Fentress-Texas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=December 1, 2010}} The next year, the county voted 434–188 in favor of secession from the Union. Several hundred men from Caldwell County served in the Confederate States Army.
In the 1870s, St. John Colony was established by former slaves.{{cite web|title=St John Colony, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/CentralTexasTownsSouth/St-John-Colony-Texas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=December 1, 2010}} The town of Luling was established in 1874,{{cite web|title=Luling, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Luling/luling.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=December 1, 2010}} close to an earlier farming settlement named Atlanta . John and James Merriwether and Leonidas Hardeman built a gristmill and a sawmill, later known as Zedler's Mills.{{cite web|title=Zedler's Mills|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/Preservation/Luling-Texas-Zedlers-Mills.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=December 1, 2010}}
The Missouri, Kansas, and Texas completed its track between Lockhart and San Marcos in 1887. Two years later, the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway connected Lockhart and Luling to Shiner. By 1892, the Missouri, Kansas and Texas had laid track from Lockhart east to Smithville.
From 1880 to 1900, tenant farming accounted for nearly half of all the county's farming and as much as 75% of the 3,149 farms. The Southwest Texas Sacred Harp Singing Convention was established in 1902 in McMahan.{{cite web|title=McMahan|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/CentralTexasTownsSouth/McMahan-Texas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=December 1, 2010}}
On August 9, 1922, Edgar B. Davis discovered the Luling Oilfield.{{cite web|last=Smyrl|first=Vivian Elizabeth|title=Luling Oilfield|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/gol02|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=December 1, 2010|date=June 15, 2010}} The Luling Foundation was established in 1927 by Davis to teach diversity in agriculture and improve the lives of farm and ranch families.{{cite book|last=Parsons|first=Chuck|title=Luling (Images of America)|year=2009|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-7145-4|pages=101–106|author2=Luling Main Street|chapter=Agriculture and the Foundation Farm}}
The Lockhart State Park opened to the public in 1948.{{cite book|last=Taylor|first=Tom|title=60 Hikes within 60 Miles: San Antonio and Austin |year=2003|publisher=Menasha Ridge Press|isbn=978-0-89732-533-2|author2=Molloy, Johnny|page=88|chapter=Lockhart State Park Trail}} In 1953, Luling established its annual Watermelon Thump celebration.{{cite book|last=Pohlen|first=Jerome|title=Oddball Texas: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places|year=2006|publisher=Chicago Review Press|isbn=978-1-55652-583-4|page=160}}
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|546.452|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|544.541|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.911|sqmi}} (0.35%) is water.{{Cite web|title=2024 County Gazetteer Files – Texas|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_counties_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 8, 2025}} It is the 235th largest county in Texas by total area.
=Major highways=
=Adjacent counties=
- Travis County (northeast)
- Bastrop County (north)
- Fayette County (southeast)
- Gonzales County (southwest)
- Guadalupe County (south)
- Hays County (west)
Demographics
{{US Census population
|1850= 1329
|1860= 4481
|1870= 6572
|1880= 11757
|1890= 15769
|1900= 21765
|1910= 24237
|1920= 25160
|1930= 31397
|1940= 24893
|1950= 19350
|1960= 17222
|1970= 21178
|1980= 23637
|1990= 26392
|2000= 32194
|2010= 38066
|2020= 45883
|estyear=2024
|estimate=52430
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2014}}
1790–1960{{cite web|title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |publisher=University of Virginia Library |url-status=live |date=2007 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212224028/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=December 12, 2009}} 1900–1990{{cite web|last=Forstall |first=Richard L. |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/tx190090.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |url-status=live |date=March 27, 1995 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990219135447/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/tx190090.txt |archive-date=February 19, 1999}}
1990–2000{{cite web|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010}} 2010–2020
}}
As of the third quarter of 2024, the median home value in Caldwell County was $214,150.{{Cite web|title=County Median Home Price|url=https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/housing-statistics/county-median-home-prices-and-monthly-mortgage-payment|publisher=National Association of Realtors|access-date=April 8, 2025}}
As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 15,741 estimated households in Caldwell County with an average of 2.78 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $68,503. Approximately 13.7% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Caldwell County has an estimated 58.0% employment rate, with 16.4% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 80.3% holding a high school diploma.{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Caldwell County, Texas |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/caldwellcountytexas/PST045224 |access-date=April 8, 2025 |website=www.census.gov |language=en}}
The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (64.1%), Spanish (35.0%), Indo-European (0.5%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.2%), and Other (0.3%).
The median age in the county was 38.2 years.
Caldwell 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.}}
=2020 census=
As of the 2020 census, there were 45,883 people, 15,010 households, and 10,716 families residing in the county.{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Caldwell%20County,%20Texas%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=April 8, 2025 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} The population density was {{convert|84.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 16,379 housing units at an average density of {{convert|30.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the county was 51.51% White, 5.32% African American, 1.09% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 21.16% from some other races and 20.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 55.51% of the population.{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Caldwell County, Texas |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/caldwell-county-texas/050-48055/ |access-date=April 8, 2025 |publisher=USA Today}}
=2010 census=
As of the 2010 census, there were 38,066 people, 12,278 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|69.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 13,733 housing units at an average density of {{convert|25.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the county was 75.65% White, 6.78% African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 13.03% from some other races and 2.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 47.08% of the population.
=2000 census=
As of the 2000 census, there were 32,194 people, 10,816 households, and 8,079 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|59.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 11,901 housing units at an average density of {{convert|22.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the county was 70.13% White, 8.50% African American, 0.61% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 17.66% from some other races and 2.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 40.44% of the population.
Of the 10,816 households, 37.0% had children under 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were not families. About 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.82, and the average family size was 3.28.
A Williams Institute analysis of 2010 census data found about 5.8 same-sex couples per 1,000 households lived in the county.{{citation |title=Where Same-Sex Couples Live|date=June 26, 2015|access-date=July 6, 2015|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/upshot/supreme-court-gay-marriage-ruling-where-same-sex-couples-live.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=0|newspaper=The New York Times|last1=Leonhardt|first1=David|last2=Quealy|first2=Kevin}}
In the county, the age distribution was 28.3% under 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,573, and for a family was $41,300. Males had a median income of $29,295 versus $21,595 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,099. About 10.40% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.10% of those under age 18 and 15.40% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
=Cities=
- Lockhart (county seat)
- Luling (small part in Guadalupe County)
- Martindale
- Mustang Ridge (mostly in Travis County and a small part in Bastrop County)
- Niederwald (mostly in Hays County)
- San Marcos (mostly in Hays County and a small part in Guadalupe and Comal Counties)
- Uhland (mostly in Hays County)
=Unincorporated communities=
{{div col}}
- Brownsboro
- Dale
- Delhi
- Elm Grove
- Fentress
- Joliet
- Lytton Springs
- Maxwell
- McMahan
- McNeil
- Mendoza
- Pettytown (partly in Bastrop County)
- Prairie Lea
- Reedville
- Saint John Colony
- Seawillow
- Soda Springs
- Stairtown
- Taylorsville
- Tilmon
{{div col end}}
=Ghost town=
Politics
=County government=
==Caldwell County elected officials==
| class=wikitable |
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| Position
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| Name ! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| Party |
|---|
| style="background:red;"|
| County Judge |
| style="background:red;"|
| Commissioner, Precinct 1 |
| style="background:red;"|
| Commissioner, Precinct 2 |
| style="background:red;"|
| Commissioner, Precinct 3 |
| style="background:blue;"|
| Commissioner, Precinct 4 | Joe Roland |
{{PresHead|place=Caldwell County, Texas|source={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|8,880|6,618|239|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|8,031|6,672|270|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|6,691|4,795|692|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|6,021|4,791|256|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|6,107|5,403|138|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|6,436|5,052|99|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|5,216|3,872|337|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|3,239|3,961|621|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,749|3,794|1,801|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|3,553|4,649|60|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,315|3,401|16|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|2,879|3,155|150|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,235|3,647|39|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,171|1,974|15|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,402|2,889|839|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,046|3,580|3|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,482|2,729|11|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,747|2,513|5|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|2,052|2,887|2|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|623|2,792|201|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|704|2,916|268|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|659|3,499|1|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|247|3,019|25|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|291|3,317|2|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|1,189|1,211|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|399|2,194|204|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|269|1,240|558|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|225|1,216|17|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|56|1,068|83|Texas}}
{{U.S. SenHead|place=Caldwell County, Texas|Seat=1|source={{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Texas by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/texas-senate-results}}}}
{{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|8,227|6,851|463|Texas}}
{{U.S. SenFoot}}
Education
School districts:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48055_caldwell/DC20SD_C48055.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48055_caldwell/DC20SD_C48055.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Caldwell County, TX|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 29, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48055_caldwell/DC20SD_C48055_SD2MS.txt List]
- Gonzales Independent School District
- Hays Consolidated Independent School District
- Lockhart Independent School District
- Luling Independent School District
- Prairie Lea Independent School District
- San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District
- Waelder Independent School District
Austin Community College is the designated community college for the county.[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.166. AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.].
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.co.caldwell.tx.us/ Caldwell County Government official site]
- [https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcc01 Caldwell County in Handbook of Texas Online] at the University of Texas.
- [https://www.texasalmanac.com/places/caldwell-county "Caldwell County"], Almanac of Texas - includes printable county map
{{Geographic location
|Centre = Caldwell County, Texas
|North = Travis County
|Northeast = Bastrop County
|East =
|Southeast = Fayette County
|South = Gonzales County
|Southwest = Guadalupe County
|West =
|Northwest = Hays County
}}
{{Caldwell County, Texas}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1848 establishments in Texas