Loving County, Texas
Encyclopedia
US Census
2000
Of the 67 residents, 60 were White
, 6 of "some other race"
, and 1 person of two or more races. There were 7 residents who were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Loving County is one of only a few counties in the U.S.—outside of the northeast—where the largest self-identified ancestry group is Irish American
.
There were 31 households out of which 5 had children under the age of 18 living with them, 17 are married couples living together, 2 had a female householder with no husband present, and 11 are non-families. Ten households were made up of individuals and 2 consisted of someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. Average household size was 2.16, while the average family size was 2.65.
In the county, the population was spread out with 13 people under the age of 18, one between 18 and 24, 18 from 25 to 44, 24 from 45 to 64, and 11 who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 10 females there are 11.61 males. For every 10 females age 18 and over, there are 12.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,000, and the median income for a family was $53,750. Males had a median income of $25,833 versus $0 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $24,084.
Loving County's population has been rapidly declining in recent years, with a decline of over 35% between 1990 and 2000, and another 22% of its population between 2000 and 2004.
Loving County is the only county in the United States
with no people below the poverty line as of 2000.
The county is the least populous county in the United States, with a 2000 census population of only 67 persons. With an average of only 0.0384 inhabitants/km² (0.0995/sq mi), the county is also the least densely populated
county outside of Alaska
. (Lake and Peninsula Borough
and North Slope Borough
in Alaska are both lower, as is the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area
, which is not a county.) Its population has declined further, with a 2007 estimate of 55 and a 2008 estimate of 42, according to figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. In the 2008 presidential election
, the county recorded 79 votes, suggesting the population had risen since the 2007 estimate.
. The county's school system was closed and consolidated into Wink's ISD in 1972 because the enrollment had fallen to two pupils.
. It appears on his 1998 album Life of the Party.
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
2000
| Population | Households | Families | Population Density | Housing Units | Housing Unit Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | 31 | 19 | 0.1/sq.mi. (0.03/km2) | 70 | 0.1/sq.mi. (0.04/km2.) |
Of the 67 residents, 60 were White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 6 of "some other race"
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1 person of two or more races. There were 7 residents who were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Loving County is one of only a few counties in the U.S.—outside of the northeast—where the largest self-identified ancestry group is Irish American
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
.
There were 31 households out of which 5 had children under the age of 18 living with them, 17 are married couples living together, 2 had a female householder with no husband present, and 11 are non-families. Ten households were made up of individuals and 2 consisted of someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. Average household size was 2.16, while the average family size was 2.65.
In the county, the population was spread out with 13 people under the age of 18, one between 18 and 24, 18 from 25 to 44, 24 from 45 to 64, and 11 who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 10 females there are 11.61 males. For every 10 females age 18 and over, there are 12.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,000, and the median income for a family was $53,750. Males had a median income of $25,833 versus $0 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $24,084.
Loving County's population has been rapidly declining in recent years, with a decline of over 35% between 1990 and 2000, and another 22% of its population between 2000 and 2004.
Loving County is the only county in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with no people below the poverty line as of 2000.
The county is the least populous county in the United States, with a 2000 census population of only 67 persons. With an average of only 0.0384 inhabitants/km² (0.0995/sq mi), the county is also the least densely populated
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
county outside of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. (Lake and Peninsula Borough
Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska
-National protected areas:* Alagnak Wild River* Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge ** Sutwik Island* Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge * Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve...
and North Slope Borough
North Slope Borough, Alaska
-National protected areas:* Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge ** Cape Lisburne** Cape Thompson* Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ** Mollie Beattie Wilderness * Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve...
in Alaska are both lower, as is the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area is a census area located in the state of Alaska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,588. It is part of the unorganized borough and therefore has no borough seat...
, which is not a county.) Its population has declined further, with a 2007 estimate of 55 and a 2008 estimate of 42, according to figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. In the 2008 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, the county recorded 79 votes, suggesting the population had risen since the 2007 estimate.
Economy
Loving County's economy is based almost entirely upon oil and gas drilling, ranching, and county services.Education
Loving County is served by the Wink-Loving Independent School DistrictWink-Loving Independent School District
Wink-Loving Independent School District is a public school district based in Wink, Texas in Winkler County, Texas . The district serves students in southern and western Winkler County along with all of Loving County....
. The county's school system was closed and consolidated into Wink's ISD in 1972 because the enrollment had fallen to two pupils.
Popular culture
"Loving County" is the name of a song written and performed by Charlie RobisonCharlie Robison
Charles Fitzgerald "Charlie" Robison is an Texas Country singer/songwriter, who was raised in Bandera, Texas. His brother is singer/songwriter Bruce Robison...
. It appears on his 1998 album Life of the Party.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Loving County, Texas
External links
Contains valuable information on early history of Loving County.- Loving County Texas Almanac Page
- Mentone from MyWestTexas.com Brief but detailed report on life in Mentone and Loving County. Includes several videos of Mentone and interviews with the local sheriff and judge.
- Loving County at Davickservices.com Numerous photos and stories about Loving County and Mentone. A small picture of the "wanted" poster for Mssrs. Pendarvis, Emory and Duncan may also be seen here
- Inventory of county records, Loving County Courthouse, Mentone, Texas, hosted by the Portal to Texas History