Taylor County, Texas
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2000, there were 126,555 people, 47,274 households, and 32,524 families residing in the county. The population density
was 138 people per square mile (53/km²). There were 52,056 housing units at an average density of 57 per square mile (22/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.61% White
, 6.73% Black
or African American
, 0.58% Native American
, 1.25% Asian
, 0.07% Pacific Islander
, 8.35% from other races
, and 2.42% from two or more races. 17.64% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 47,274 households out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were married couples
living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.60% under the age of 18, 13.80% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 19.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,035, and the median income for a family was $40,859. Males had a median income of $28,964 versus $21,021 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $17,176. About 10.40% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those age 65 or over.
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...
of 2000, there were 126,555 people, 47,274 households, and 32,524 families residing in the county. The population density
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...
was 138 people per square mile (53/km²). There were 52,056 housing units at an average density of 57 per square mile (22/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.61% 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...
, 6.73% Black
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...
or African American
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...
, 0.58% Native American
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...
, 1.25% Asian
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...
, 0.07% Pacific Islander
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...
, 8.35% from other races
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 2.42% from two or more races. 17.64% of the population were Hispanic
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...
or Latino
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...
of any race.
There were 47,274 households out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.60% under the age of 18, 13.80% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 19.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,035, and the median income for a family was $40,859. Males had a median income of $28,964 versus $21,021 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 $17,176. About 10.40% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- AbileneAbilene, TexasAbilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
- Buffalo GapBuffalo Gap, TexasBuffalo Gap is an incorporated town in Taylor County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 463 at the 2000 census. It is the former county seat of Taylor County, having been supplanted in 1883 by the much larger Abilene to its north...
- CapsCaps, TexasCaps is an unincorporated community in Taylor County, Texas, United States. It is located southwest of Abilene near the intersection of U.S. Highway 277 and FM 707. The community is part of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area....
- ImpactImpact, TexasImpact is a village in Taylor County, Texas, United States. The population was 39 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Impact is located at ....
- LawnLawn, TexasLawn is a town in Taylor County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 353. It is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Lawn is located at ....
- MerkelMerkel, TexasMerkel is a town in Taylor County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,637 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Merkel is located 17 miles west of Abilene near the Interstate Highway 20....
- OvaloOvalo, TexasOvalo is an unincorporated community in Taylor County, Texas, United States. Although it is unincorporated, Ovalo has a post office, with the ZIP code of 79541.The community is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area....
- PotosiPotosi, TexasPotosi is a census-designated place in Taylor County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,664 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Potosi is located at...
- TrentTrent, TexasTrent is a town in Taylor County, Texas, United States. The population was 318 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Trent is located at ....
- TuscolaTuscola, TexasTuscola is a city in Taylor County, Texas, United States. The population was 714 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Tuscola is located at ....
- TyeTye, TexasTye is a city in Taylor County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,158 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Abilene, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Tye is located at ....
- ViewView, TexasView is an unincorporated community in Taylor County, Texas, United States. It is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 277 and FM 1235, approximately thirteen miles southwest of Abilene...
- WylieWylie, Taylor County, TexasWylie is an unincorporated community in Taylor County, Texas, United States. The once predominantly rural area has developed into a suburban bedroom community in recent years as the city of Abilene has expanded southward...
See also
- Abilene State ParkAbilene State ParkAbilene State Park is a park near Lake Abilene south of Abilene, Texas. It features camping, trailer facilities, picnicking, shelters, a swimming pool, hiking and fishing. A large grove of oak, elm and pecan trees, now a favorite picnic area, was once a campground for Comanche Indians...
, recreational facility - Horse Hollow Wind Energy CenterHorse Hollow Wind Energy CenterHorse Hollow Wind Energy Center is a large wind farm with 735.5 megawatt capacity. It consists of 291 GE 1.5 MW wind turbines and 130 Siemens 2.3 MW wind turbines spread over nearly 47,000 acres of land in Taylor and Nolan County, Texas....
, the world's largest wind farmWind farmA wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other... - Gary D. McCalebGary D. McCalebGary Day McCaleb is the vice president and professor of management at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, and a prominent civic leader who formerly served as mayor of Abilene, the seat of Taylor County...
, former mayorMayorIn many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Abilene - National Register of Historic Places listings in Taylor County, Texas
- Charles PerryCharles Perry (Texas politician)Charles Lee Perry is a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 83 based in Lubbock, Texas. A certified public accountant, Perry unseated incumbent Representative Delwin L. Jones, the oldest current member of the Texas House, in the April 13, 2010, runoff election. He...
, incoming 2011 member of the Texas House of RepresentativesTexas House of RepresentativesThe Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
from LubbockLubbock, TexasLubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
, was born in Taylor County in 1962.