Crockett County, Texas

Crockett County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 4,099. It is named in honor of Davy Crockett, the legendary frontiersman who died at the Battle of the Alamo. The county seat is Ozona^[1].

History Timeline

• Prehistoric people live in Gobbler Shelter, located on a small tributary canyon of Live Oak Creek. Earliest known native American tribes are Tonkawa, Lipan Apache and Comanche. ^[2]

• 1519-1685 Hernando Cortez and Alonso Álvarez de Pineda claim Texas for Spain.

• 1535 Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca Explorations for Spain.

• 1590 Spanish explorer Gaspar Castaño de Sosa leads a mining expedition of 170 who pass through the western section of Crockett County to reach the Pecos River.

• 1685-1690 France plants its flag on Texas soil, but departs after only five years.^[3]

• 1684, May 22 - Juan Domínguez de Mendoza and his expedition cross the Pecos River and camp at San Pantaleón.

• 1821 Mexico claims its independence from Spain. Anglos from the north settle in Texas and claim Mexican citizenship.

• 1829, September 15 - Mexican President Vicente Ramon Guerrero, himself an ex-slave of Spanish, African and Native American descent, emancipates all slaves within the Republic of Mexico: ^{[4] [5]}

1st - Slavery is abolished in the republic.

2nd - Consequently, those who have been until now considered slaves are free.

3rd - When the circumstances of the treasury may permit, the owners of the slaves will be indemnified in the mode that the laws may provide. And in order that every part of this decree may be fully complied with, let it be printed, published, and circulated.

Given at the Federal Palace of Mexico, the 15th of September, 1829.

Vicente Guerrero To José María Bocanegra

• 1836

March 2 - Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico establishes the Republic of Texas.

March 6 - The Alamo falls.

April 21-22 - Battle of San Jacinto, Antonio López de Santa Anna captured.

May 14 - Santa Anna signs the Treaties of Velasco.

• 1845, December 29 - Texas Annexation by the United States

• 1846, May 13 - The United States Congress officially declares war on Mexico.

• 1848, February 2 - Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo officially ends the Mexican-American War.

• 1849 John Coffee Hays expedition charting waterholes for transporting people and freight.

• 1852 U. S. Army Colonel Joseph K. Mansfield recommends establishing a new post on Live Oak Creek to protect travelers.

• 1855, August 20, Fort Lancaster is established in response to Mansfield’s recommendation. ^[6]

• 1861

February 1 - Texas secedes from the Union.

March 2 - Texas joins the Confederate States of America.

• 1863, January 1 • The Emancipation Proclamation. ^[7]

• 1865

April 9 • Robert E. Lee formally surrenders to Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Court House.

April 15 • President Abraham Lincoln dies of a head wound inflicted by assassin John Wilkes Booth.

June 19 • Major General Gordon Granger arrives in Galveston to enforce the emancipation of all slaves. It is the first time African Americans in Texas know of the Emancipation. The date becomes celebrated annually in Texas as Juneteenth, and later as an official state holiday known as Emancipation Day. ^[8]

December 6 • The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits slavery.

• 1866 The Texas legislature provides three battalions of Texas Rangers to protect settlers in the area.

• 1868 Camp Melvin established.

• 1870, March 30 - The United States Congress readmits Texas into the Union.

• 1875, January 12 - Crockett County, named for Davy Crockett, is formed from Bexar County.

• 1880’s

Sheep and cattle ranchers establish themselves in the county.

Kirkpatrick Hotel built to serve stagecoach passengers and cowboys. ^[9]

• 1885

W. P. Hoover becomes one of the first settlers, on the Pecos River.

Crockett County becomes a subsidiary of Val Verde County.

• 1887 Crockett County is further reduced as Sutton and Schleicher counties are formed from it.

• 1889 Emerald becomes first town in Crockett County.

• 1891

Crockett County is organized. Ozona becomes the county seat.

The first water well is drilled at the First Baptist Church in Ozona.

• 1900

Stagecoach service begins in Crockett County.

County reports seven manufacturing firms.

• 1902 Crockett County Courthouse built, Empire style, architect Oscar Ruffini. The building does multiple duty for courtroom and county offices, as well as a community center and dance hall. ^[10]

• 1925 First producing oil well on L. P. Powell's ranch in north central Crockett County. ^[11]

• 1938 Ozona erects a statue of Davy Crockett in the town square. ^[12]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,807 square miles (7,271 km²), virtually all of which is land.

Major highways

• Interstate 10
• U.S. Highway 190
• State Highway 137
• State Highway 163
• State Highway 349

Adjacent counties

• Upton County (north)
• Reagan County (north)
• Irion County (northeast)
• Schleicher County (east)
• Sutton County (east)
• Val Verde County (south)
• Terrell County (southwest)
• Pecos County (west)
• Crane County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the census^[13] of 2000, there were 4,099 people, 1,524 households, and 1,114 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 2,049 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.34% White, 0.68% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 19.71% from other races, and 2.39% from two or more races. 54.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,524 households out of which 36.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the population was spread out with 28.90% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,355, and the median income for a family was $34,653. Males had a median income of $29,925 versus $14,695 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,414. About 14.90% of families and 19.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.30% of those under age 18 and 18.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Census-designated place

• Ozona

Other place

• Emerald

References

1. ^ . National Association of Counties. . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
2. ^ Handbook of Texas, Crockett County [1]
3. ^ The Six National Flags of Texas [2]
4. ^ The Magnificent Life of Vicente Ramon Guerrero [3]
5. ^ TAMU Chieftans of Mexican Independence [4]
6. ^ Texas Bob Travel, Fort Lancaster [5]
7. ^ Government documents, Emancipation Proclamation [6]
8. ^ Cinnamon Hearts Juneteenth [7]
9. ^ US Gen Web, Kirkpatrick Hotel [8]
10. ^ US GenNet, Crockett County Courthouse [9]
11. ^ US Gen Net First, Crockett County, First Producing Oil Well [10]
12. ^ Ozona home page, Davy Crockett statue [11]
13. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

External links

• Crockett County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of Texas
• Inventory of county records, Crockett County courthouse, Ozona, Texas, hosted by the Portal to Texas History

Coordinates: 30°44′N 101°25′W / 30.73°N 101.41°W

Categories: Texas counties | Crockett County, Texas | United States counties with Hispanic majority populations -- /fixalpha -->