Cochran County, Texas

Cochran County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 2,547.^[1][2] The county seat is Morton.^[3] The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1924.^[4] It is named for Robert E. Cochran, a defender of the Alamo.^[5]

Cochran County
County
The Cochran County Courthouse in Morton.
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°36′N 102°50′W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1924
Named after	Robert E. Cochran
Seat	Morton
Largest city	Morton
Area
• Total	775 sq mi (2,010 km2)
• Land	775 sq mi (2,010 km2)
• Water	0.09 sq mi (0.2 km2)  0.01%
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,547
• Density	3.3/sq mi (1.3/km2)
Congressional district	19th
Website	www.co.cochran.tx.us

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 775 square miles (2,010 km²), of which 0.09 square miles (0.23 km²) (0.01%) is covered by water.^[6] Cochran County lies on the high plains of the Llano Estacado. The western border of the county lies along the border of Texas and New Mexico.

Major highways

• State Highway 114
• State Highway 125
• State Highway 214

Adjacent counties

• Bailey County (north)
• Lamb County (northeast)
• Hockley County (east)
• Terry County (southeast)
• Yoakum County (south)
• Lea County, New Mexico (southwest/Mountain Time Zone)
• Roosevelt County, New Mexico (northwest/Mountain Time Zone)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	25		—
1910	65		160.0%
1920	67		3.1%
1930	1,963		2,829.9%
1940	3,735		90.3%
1950	5,928		58.7%
1960	6,417		8.2%
1970	5,326		−17.0%
1980	4,825		−9.4%
1990	4,377		−9.3%
2000	3,730		−14.8%
2010	3,127		−16.2%
2020	2,547		−18.5%
2024 (est.)	2,583	[7]	1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1850–2010[9] 2010[10] 2020[11]

Cochran County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
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[12]	Pop 2010[10]	Pop 2020[11]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	1,864	1,329	912	49.97%	42.50%	35.81%
Black or African American alone (NH)	168	110	62	4.50%	3.52%	2.43%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	18	12	6	0.48%	0.38%	0.24%
Asian alone (NH)	8	3	0	0.21%	0.10%	0.00%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	3	0	0.00%	0.10%	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	0	0	0	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Mixed race or multiracial (NH)	26	16	40	0.70%	0.51%	1.57%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,646	1,654	1,527	44.13%	52.89%	59.95%
Total	3,730	3,127	2,547	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2000 census,^[13] 3,730 people, 1,309 households, and 1,017 families were living in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (1.9 people/km²). The 1,587 housing units had an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 64.48% White, 4.53% African American, 0.83% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 27.35% from other races, and 2.55% from two or more races. About 44.13% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 1,309 households, 38.1% had children under 18 living with them, 63.8% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were not families. Around 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the county, the age distribution was 31.5% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.10 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,525, and for a family was $31,163. Males had a median income of $25,064 versus $17,652 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,125. About 21.40% of families and 27.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.20% of those under age 18 and 11.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

• Bledsoe
• Morton (county seat)
• Whiteface

Unincorporated communities

• Famuliner
• Griffith
• Lehman

Politics

As with other areas in the Solid South, Cochran County voted predominantly Democratic at the presidential level through 1968, except for 1928, then voted solidly Republican, except for 1976.

United States presidential election results for Cochran County, Texas^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	735	82.31%	148	16.57%	10	1.12%
2020	809	80.90%	177	17.70%	14	1.40%
2016	679	75.36%	190	21.09%	32	3.55%
2012	649	70.77%	256	27.92%	12	1.31%
2008	758	71.71%	284	26.87%	15	1.42%
2004	856	77.12%	249	22.43%	5	0.45%
2000	807	68.92%	344	29.38%	20	1.71%
1996	667	49.93%	541	40.49%	128	9.58%
1992	750	51.33%	454	31.07%	257	17.59%
1988	771	52.74%	681	46.58%	10	0.68%
1984	1,117	66.13%	557	32.98%	15	0.89%
1980	1,064	66.21%	513	31.92%	30	1.87%
1976	701	40.31%	1,031	59.29%	7	0.40%
1972	1,106	72.01%	415	27.02%	15	0.98%
1968	548	33.62%	633	38.83%	449	27.55%
1964	497	28.22%	1,260	71.55%	4	0.23%
1960	646	38.59%	1,028	61.41%	0	0.00%
1956	599	39.33%	923	60.60%	1	0.07%
1952	780	46.07%	906	53.51%	7	0.41%
1948	119	10.03%	971	81.87%	96	8.09%
1944	123	12.30%	716	71.60%	161	16.10%
1940	122	13.69%	765	85.86%	4	0.45%
1936	58	7.74%	683	91.19%	8	1.07%
1932	31	7.99%	345	88.92%	12	3.09%
1928	197	64.38%	109	35.62%	0	0.00%
1924	9	12.50%	59	81.94%	4	5.56%

United States Senate election results for Cochran County, Texas1^[15]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	706	80.23%	149	16.93%	25	2.84%

Education

School districts serving the county include:^[16]

• Morton Independent School District
• Sudan Independent School District
• Whiteface Consolidated Independent School District

Three Way Independent School District formerly served a part of Cochran County.^[17] It closed in 2002, becoming a part of Sudan ISD.^[18]

The county is in the service area of South Plains College.^[19]

See also

• Texas portal

• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Cochran County