Llano County, Texas

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Llano County

| state = Texas

| seal =

| founded = 1856

| seat wl = Llano

| largest city wl = Horseshoe Bay

| area_total_sq_mi = 966

| area_land_sq_mi = 934

| area_water_sq_mi = 32

| area percentage = 3.3

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 21243

| density_sq_mi = auto

| ex image = Llano County Courthouse August 2020.jpg

| ex image size = 250

| ex image cap = The Llano County Courthouse in Llano

| web = www.co.llano.tx.us

| time zone = Central

| named for = Llano River

| district = 11th

}}

Llano County ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|æ|n|oʊ}}) is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 21,243.{{Cite web|title=Llano County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48299|website=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=February 23, 2021}} Its county seat is Llano,{{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}} and the county is named for the Llano River.Image:Llano County marker, Kingsland, TX IMG 1949.JPG

Image:Opuntia lindheimeri in bloom, Llano County, TX IMG 1921.jpg

History

The Tonkawa tribe were the first inhabitants.{{cite web|last=Speck|first=Ernest B|title=Llano County, Texas|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcl12|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 27, 2010}}
1842 April 20 – Adelsverein{{cite web|last=Brister|first=Louis E.|title=Adelsverein|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ufa01|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 27, 2010}} 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.{{cite web|last=Ramos|first=Mary G|title=The German Settlements in Central Texas|url=http://www.texasalmanac.com/history/highlights/german/|work=Texas Almanac|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 27, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207191825/http://www.texasalmanac.com/history/highlights/german/|archive-date=February 7, 2011}}
1844 June 26 – Henry Francis Fisher sells interest in land grant to Adelsverein
1845 December 20 – Henry Francis Fisher and Burchard Miller sell their rights in the land grant to Adelsverein.
1847 Meusebach–Comanche Treaty{{cite web|title=Comanche Indian Treaty |url=http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5411000991 |publisher=William Nienke, Sam Morrow |access-date=November 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718162232/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5411000991 |archive-date=July 18, 2011 }} Bettina commune, last Adelsverein community in Texas, is established by a group of free thinking intellectuals, and named after German liberal Bettina Brentano von Arnim. The community fails within a year due to lack of any governing structure and conflict of authority.{{cite book|title=German American annals|year=2010|publisher=University of Michigan Library|page=31}}{{cite web|last=Heckert-Green|first=James B|title=Castell, Texas|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hnc23|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 27, 2010}}
1860 Population 1,101 – 21 slaveholders, 54 slaves
1862 One hundred Llano County volunteers join Major John George Walker Division of the Confederate States Army.
1864 April – A cavalry company is formed in Llano County under Captain Brazeal to defend the area from Indian attacks. It served under Brig. Gen. John David McAdoo until the war's end, when it disbanded in June 1865.
1873 August 4 – Packsaddle Mountain becomes the site of the region's last battle with the Indians. The county's farming economy begins to grow after threats of Indian attacks cease.{{cite web|last=Hazelwood|first=Claudia|title=Packsaddle Mountain Fight|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/btp01|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 27, 2010}}
1892 June 7 – Llano branch of Austin and Northwestern Railroad arrives
1893 Completion of County Courthouse, designed by Austin architect A O Watson{{cite web|title=Llano County Courthouse|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasHillCountryTowns/LLanoTexas/LlanoTexasLLanoCountyCourthouse.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=November 27, 2010}}
1895 Llano County Jail erected by the Pauly Jail Building and Manufacturing Company of St Louis, MO{{cite web|title=Llano County Jail|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasHillCountryTowns/LLanoTexas/Llano-County-Jail.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=November 27, 2010}}{{cite web|title=Redtop Jail|url=http://www.llanomainstreet.com/Redtopjail/Redtop.html|publisher=Friends of the Llano Redtop Jail|access-date=November 27, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020130332/http://www.llanomainstreet.com/Redtopjail/Redtop.html|archive-date=October 20, 2010}}
1900 Frank Teich establishes the Teich Monument Works{{cite web|title=Frank Teich|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fte05|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 27, 2010}}
1901 Llano Women's Literary Society organized – 16 charter members
1901 The Victorian style Antlers Hotel, a railroad resort in Kingsland, opened for business.

=Darmstadt Society of Forty=

Count Castell{{cite web|last=Brister|first=Louis E|title=Count Carl of Castell-Castell|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fcaap|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=January 16, 2011}} of the Adelsverein negotiated with the separate Darmstadt Society of Forty to colonize 200 families on the Fisher–Miller Land Grant in Texas. In return, they were to receive $12,000 in money, livestock, and equipment, and provisions for a year. After the first year, the colonies were expected to support themselves.King (1967) p. 122 The colonies attempted were Castell,{{cite web|last=Heckert-Greene|first=James B|title=Castell, Texas|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hnc23|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=January 20, 2011}} Leiningen, Bettina,{{cite web|last=Lich|first=Glen E|title=Bettina, Texas|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hvb55|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=January 20, 2011}} Schoenburg and Meerholz in Llano County; Darmstädler Farm in Comal County; and Tusculum in Kendall County.{{cite web|last=Lich|first=Glen E|title=The Forty|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/pnf02|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=January 20, 2011}} Of these, only Castell survives. The colonies failed after the Adelsverein funding expired, and also due to conflict of structure and authorities. Some members moved to other Adelsverein settlements in Texas. Others moved elsewhere, or returned to Germany.

=Library book bans=

Llano county libraries were purged of books containing sex education and discussion of racism in 2021 and 2022 by county commissioners. Titles removed include In the Night Kitchen, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, and Between the World and Me. Librarian Suzette Baker in Kingsland was fired for her refusal to remove books from the shelves. The library board voted unanimously to close its meetings to the public in 2022.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/04/17/public-libraries-books-censorship/ |first=Annie |last=Gowen |date=April 17, 2022 |title=Censorship battles' new frontier: Your public library |newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{cite news |url=https://www.dailytrib.com/2022/03/04/llano-county-library-advisory-board-closes-meetings-to-the-public/ |first=Brigid |last=Cooley |title=Llano County Library Advisory Board closes meetings to the public |work=DailyTrib.com |date=March 4, 2022}} After a lawsuit was filed, a federal judge ruled in March 2023 that at least 12 of the books must be placed back onto shelves.{{Cite news |last1=Elassar |first1=Alaa |last2=Romine |first2=Taylor |last3=Rose |first3=Andy |date=April 1, 2023 |title=Judge orders books removed from Texas public libraries due to LGBTQ and racial content must be returned within 24 hours |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/01/us/texas-book-ban-removed-library-replaced-judge/index.html |access-date=April 2, 2023 |publisher=CNN |language=en}} In response, county commissioners considered closing the library in a special meeting.{{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Suzanne |date=April 10, 2023 |title=Llano County could close libraries |url=https://www.dailytrib.com/2023/04/10/2-llano-library-lawsuit-defendants-ordered-before-judge-april-27/ |access-date=April 11, 2023 |work=Daily Tribune |language=en}} They have appealed the decision by the federal judge.{{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Suzanne |date=October 17, 2023 |title=Llano library lawsuit trial date passes as appeal wait continues |url=https://www.dailytrib.com/2023/10/17/llano-library-lawsuit-trial-date-passes-as-appeal-wait-continues/ |access-date=February 6, 2024 |work=Daily Tribune |language=en-US}}

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|966|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|934|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|32|sqmi}} (3.3%) 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=May 3, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}

Enchanted Rock, a designated state natural area and popular tourist destination, is located in southern Llano county.

Two significant rivers, the Llano and the Colorado, flow through Llano County. These rivers contribute to Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, and Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, which are all located partially within the county.

=Major highways=

=Adjacent counties=

San Saba County (north)
Burnet County (east)
Blanco County (southeast)
Gillespie County (south)
Mason County (west)

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1860= 1101

|1870= 1379

|1880= 4962

|1890= 6772

|1900= 7301

|1910= 6520

|1920= 5360

|1930= 5538

|1940= 5996

|1950= 5377

|1960= 5240

|1970= 6979

|1980= 10144

|1990= 11631

|2000= 17044

|2010= 19301

|2020= 21243

|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 Decade|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=May 3, 2015}} 2010 2020

}}

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

|+Llano 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 – Llano County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48299&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) – Llano County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48299&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) – Llano County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48299&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau}}

!% 2000

!% 2010

!{{partial|% 2020}}

White alone (NH)

|15,869

|17,303

|style='background: #ffffe6; |17,530

|93.11%

|89.65%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |82.52%

Black or African American alone (NH)

|51

|102

|style='background: #ffffe6; |97

|0.30%

|0.53%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.46%

Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|58

|87

|style='background: #ffffe6; |115

|0.34%

|0.45%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.54%

Asian alone (NH)

|59

|76

|style='background: #ffffe6; |121

|0.35%

|0.39%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.57%

Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |4

|0.03%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.02%

Other Race alone (NH)

|11

|style='background: #ffffe6; |61

|0.05%

|0.06%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.29%

Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH)

|119

|175

|style='background: #ffffe6; |807

|0.70%

|0.91%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.80%

Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|875

|1,542

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,508

|5.13%

|7.99%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |11.81%

Total

|17,044

|19,301

|style='background: #ffffe6; |21,243

|100.00%

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

As of the 2000 census,{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}} 17,044 people, 7,879 households, and 5,365 families resided in the county. The population density was {{convert|18|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 11,829 housing units at an average density of {{convert|13|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.3% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. About 5.1% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 7,879 households, 16.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were not families. About 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.56.

In the county, the population was distributed as 15.9% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 18.4% from 25 to 44, 30.5% from 45 to 64, and 30.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,830, and for a family was $40,597. Males had a median income of $30,839 versus $21,126 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,547. About 7.2% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

=Cities=

=Census-designated places=

=Other unincorporated communities=

=Ghost towns=

Notable person

Emil Kriewitz, who lived with the Penateka Comanche, served as guide for Fisher–Miller Land Grant settlers, 1870 Llano County justice of the peace, 1871 Llano County election judge, and was postmaster of Castell from 1876 to 1883. He was buried in Llano County Cemetery.{{cite web|last=Hadeler|first=Glenn|title=Emil von Kriewitz de Czepry|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fkr12|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=February 17, 2011}}

Politics

Llano County, in common with the Solid South, voted predominantly for Democratic presidential candidates well into the 1960s, with those voters being in the majority even in the 1928, 1952 and 1956 campaigns, with both races from the 1950s featuring native son Dwight D. Eisenhower heading the Republican ticket. This trend reversed itself beginning in 1972 and has become more pronounced, beginning in 2000.

{{PresHead|place=Llano County, Texas|source={{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 26, 2018}}}}