Runnels County, Texas

Runnels County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 11,495. Its seat is Ballinger^[1]. The county is named for Hiram G. Runnels, a Texas state legislator.

History Timeline

• Original inhabitants are the Jumano, followed by the Comanche. ^[2]

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

• 1683•84 Juan Domínguez de Mendoza establishes a short-lived mission. ^[3]

• 1685-1690 France plants its flag on Texas soil, but departs after only five years. ^[4].

• 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: ^{[5] [6]}

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.

• 1852 Fort Chadbourne established.^[7]

• 1858 Runnels County, is formed from Bexar and Travis counties. It is named in honor of Hiram G. Runnels. Runnels City is the original county seat. ^[8]

• 1861

February 1 - Texas secedes from the Union

March 2 - Texas joins the Confederate States of America.

• 1862

Pickettville established by Mr. and Mrs. John Guest and their three sons, also Henry and Robert K. Wylie and their cowboys and a black servant, and Mrs. Felicia Gordon and her five sons. ^[9]

Ballinger settled by Richard Coffey and family. ^[10]

• 1863, January 1 • The Emancipation Proclamation. ^[11]

• 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. ^[12]

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

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

• 1880 The county is organized, with a population of 980.

• 1888 Ballinger, namesake of William Pitt Ballinger is the new county seat.

• 1889 The stone county courthouse is erected in the Second Empire style. Architect Eugene T. Heiner.^[13]

• 1899 The community of Pumphrey, originally named New Hope, is established by Wm. M Pumphrey. ^[14]

• 1911

The Santa Fe Depot is built by the A,T,& SF Railroad.

The Ballinger Carnegie Library in Ballinger is dedicated.

• 1919 The Charles H. Noyes statue on the Ballinger courthouse lawn, dedicated to the "Spirit of the Texas Cowboy", is sculptured by Pompeo Coppini. ^[15]

• 1927 MacMillan oil field, is discovered near Ballinger.

• 1949 Eighteen new oil fields arere explored.

• 1987 The county beef cattle industry experiences an all-time high .

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,057 square miles (2,738 km²), of which, 1,051 square miles (2,721 km²) of it is land and 6 square miles (17 km²) of it (0.61%) is water.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 67
• U.S. Highway 87
• State Highway 153
• State Highway 158

Adjacent counties

• Taylor County (north)
• Coleman County (east)
• Concho County (south)
• Tom Green County (southwest)
• Coke County (west)
• Nolan County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the census^[16] of 2000, there were 11,495 people, 4,428 households, and 3,157 families residing in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 5,400 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.44% White, 1.40% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 14.31% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. 29.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,428 households out of which 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.90% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 19.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,806, and the median income for a family was $32,917. Males had a median income of $25,223 versus $18,988 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,577. About 14.90% of families and 19.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.10% of those under age 18 and 19.00% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

• Ballinger
• Miles
• Norton (unincorporated)
• Rowena (unincorporated)
• Wingate (unincorporated)
• Winters

References

1. ^ . National Association of Counties. . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
2. ^ Handbook of Texas, Runnels County [1]
3. ^ Handbook of Texas Juan Domiquez de Mendoza [2]
4. ^ The Six National Flags of Texas [3]
5. ^ The Magnificent Life of Vicente Ramon Guerrero [4]
6. ^ TAMU Chieftans of Mexican Independence [5]
7. ^ Fort Chadbourne [6]
8. ^ Texas Escapes, Runnels City [7]
9. ^ Texas Historical Marker, Picketville [8]
10. ^ Texas Escapes, Ballinger [9]
11. ^ Government documents, Emancipation Proclamation [10]
12. ^ Cinnamon Hearts Juneteenth [11]
13. ^ Texas Escapes, Runnels Courthouse [12]
14. ^ Texas Escapes, Pumphrey. [13]
15. ^ Texas Escapes, Noyes statue [14]
16. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

External links

• Runnels County government’s website
• Runnels County from the Handbook of Texas Online

Coordinates: 31°50′N 99°58′W / 31.83°N 99.97°W

Categories: Texas counties | Runnels County, Texas | 1858 establishments