Eastland County, Texas

Eastland County is a county located in central West Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 17,725.^[1] The county seat is Eastland.^[2] The county was founded in 1858 and later organized in 1873.^[3] It is named for William Mosby Eastland, a soldier during the Texas Revolution and the only officer to die as a result of the "Black Bean executions" of the Mier Expedition.

Eastland County
County
Eastland County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°20′N 98°50′W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1873
Seat	Eastland
Largest city	Eastland
Area
• Total	932 sq mi (2,410 km2)
• Land	926 sq mi (2,400 km2)
• Water	5.4 sq mi (14 km2)  0.6%
Population  (2020)
• Total	17,725
• Density	19/sq mi (7.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	25th
Website	www.eastlandcountytexas.com

The Confederate States of America monument on the courthouse lawn in Eastland

Across from the courthouse is the Eastland County Museum and Historical Society building.

The Eastland Telegram newspaper serves Eastland County.

Two Eastland County communities, Cisco and Ranger, have junior colleges.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 932 sq mi (2,410 km²), of which 5.4 sq mi (14 km²) (0.6%) are covered by water.^[4]

Major highways

• Interstate 20
• U.S. Highway 183
• State Highway 6
• State Highway 16
• State Highway 36
• State Highway 112

Adjacent counties

• Stephens County (north)
• Palo Pinto County (northeast)
• Erath County (east)
• Comanche County (southeast)
• Brown County (south)
• Callahan County (west)
• Shackelford County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	99		—
1870	88		−11.1%
1880	4,855		5,417.0%
1890	10,373		113.7%
1900	17,971		73.2%
1910	23,421		30.3%
1920	58,505		149.8%
1930	34,156		−41.6%
1940	30,345		−11.2%
1950	23,942		−21.1%
1960	19,526		−18.4%
1970	18,092		−7.3%
1980	19,480		7.7%
1990	18,488		−5.1%
2000	18,297		−1.0%
2010	18,583		1.6%
2020	17,725		−4.6%
2024 (est.)	18,290	[5]	3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1850–2010[7] 2010[8] 2020[9]

Eastland 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[10]	Pop 2010[8]	Pop 2020[9]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	15,686	15,271	13,653	85.73%	82.18%	77.03%
Black or African American alone (NH)	397	318	335	2.17%	1.71%	1.89%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	61	92	96	0.33%	0.50%	0.54%
Asian alone (NH)	36	62	95	0.20%	0.33%	0.54%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	2	8	16	0.01%	0.04%	0.09%
Other race alone (NH)	15	8	26	0.08%	0.04%	0.15%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	124	151	570	0.68%	0.81%	3.22%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,976	2,673	2,934	10.80%	14.38%	16.55%
Total	18,297	18,583	17,725	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census^[11] of 2000, 18,297 people, 7,321 households, and 5,036 families resided in the county. The population density was 20 inhabitants per square mile (7.7/km²). The 9,547 housing units averaged 10 per square mile (3.9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.03% White, 2.18% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 4.85% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. About 10.80% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 7,321 households, 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were not families. About 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was distributed as 23.20% under 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 22.30% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 20.90% who were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,832, and for a family was $33,562. Males had a median income of $25,598 versus $17,112 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,870. About 12.10% of families and 16.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.10% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.

Eastland Complex fires of 2022

Eastland Complex fires of 2022
Part of the 2022 Texas wildfires
Date(s)	March 17, 2022
Location	Central Texas
Statistics
Total fires	382
Total area	54,463 acres (22,040 ha)
Impacts
Deaths	1
Non-fatal injuries	1
Structures destroyed	50
Damage	Unknown

On March 17, 2022, a fire complex formed approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Romney.^[12] It was claimed to have been started by drought condition and is now 60% contained. The biggest fire so far is the Kidd fire, burning about 42,333 acres.^[13]

Smoke from the fires reached as far as Houston.^[14]

Education

School districts include:^[15]

• Cisco Independent School District
• Cross Plains Independent School District
• De Leon Independent School District
• Eastland Independent School District
• Gorman Independent School District
• Huckabay Independent School District
• Lingleville Independent School District
• Ranger Independent School District
• Rising Star Independent School District

Despite its small population, the county is home to two community colleges – Cisco College and Ranger College, located in their respective towns.

The service area of Cisco College in the county is Cisco ISD, as per the Texas Education Code.^[16] The service area of Ranger College in the county is the portion of Ranger ISD in that county, except for the "old Bullock School Land", as per the Texas Education Code.^[17] As of 2024^[update] the TEC does not specify community college service areas for the remainder of the county.

Media

Eastland County is part of the Abilene/Sweetwater/Brownwood television viewing area in west-central Texas. Local news media outlets include KRBC-TV, KTXS-TV, KXVA, and KTAB-TV. In the cities of Eastland, Ranger, and Cisco on Suddenlink Communications Cable Television service, residents can view the Dallas/Fort Worth market stations WFAA-TV and KERA-TV.

Eastland County is also served by four local newspapers: the Eastland Telegram, the Rising Star, Ranger Times, and Cisco Press.

Communities

Cities

• Cisco
• Eastland (county seat)
• Gorman
• Ranger

Towns

• Carbon
• Rising Star

Unincorporated communities

• Kokomo
• Morton Valley
• Nimrod
• Olden
• Romney

Ghost towns

• Mangum

Politics

United States presidential election results for Eastland County, Texas^[18]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	7,397	88.44%	918	10.98%	49	0.59%
2020	7,237	87.27%	983	11.85%	73	0.88%
2016	6,011	86.33%	776	11.14%	176	2.53%
2012	5,444	83.82%	970	14.93%	81	1.25%
2008	5,165	79.35%	1,271	19.53%	73	1.12%
2004	5,249	76.55%	1,582	23.07%	26	0.38%
2000	4,531	70.64%	1,774	27.66%	109	1.70%
1996	3,272	49.61%	2,594	39.33%	730	11.07%
1992	2,830	38.87%	2,738	37.60%	1,713	23.53%
1988	3,929	54.83%	3,215	44.86%	22	0.31%
1984	4,841	65.52%	2,522	34.13%	26	0.35%
1980	3,442	50.05%	3,346	48.65%	89	1.29%
1976	2,340	34.95%	4,320	64.53%	35	0.52%
1972	4,106	71.50%	1,630	28.38%	7	0.12%
1968	2,453	38.63%	2,884	45.42%	1,013	15.95%
1964	2,049	30.35%	4,692	69.49%	11	0.16%
1960	3,359	52.09%	3,058	47.42%	32	0.50%
1956	3,580	58.61%	2,512	41.13%	16	0.26%
1952	4,518	57.15%	3,370	42.63%	18	0.23%
1948	1,177	17.66%	5,121	76.83%	367	5.51%
1944	643	10.59%	4,607	75.87%	822	13.54%
1940	1,063	15.43%	5,818	84.48%	6	0.09%
1936	724	13.36%	4,659	85.99%	35	0.65%
1932	598	10.76%	4,958	89.24%	0	0.00%
1928	3,233	56.38%	2,501	43.62%	0	0.00%
1924	972	17.11%	4,548	80.04%	162	2.85%
1920	941	23.13%	2,942	72.30%	186	4.57%
1916	146	7.53%	1,486	76.64%	307	15.83%
1912	66	3.99%	1,498	90.51%	91	5.50%

United States Senate election results for Eastland County, Texas1^[19]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	7,132	86.21%	1,026	12.40%	115	1.39%

See also

• Texas portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Eastland County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Eastland County
• Santa Claus Bank Robbery