Shackelford County, Texas

Shackelford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 3,105.^[1] Its county seat is Albany.^[2] The county was created in 1858 and later organized in 1874.^[3] Shackelford is named for Dr. Jack Shackelford, a Virginia physician who equipped soldiers at his own expense to fight in the Texas Revolution.

Shackelford County
County
The Shackelford County Courthouse in Albany
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°44′N 99°21′W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1874
Named after	Jack Shackelford
Seat	Albany
Largest city	Albany
Area
• Total	916 sq mi (2,370 km2)
• Land	914 sq mi (2,370 km2)
• Water	1.3 sq mi (3 km2)  0.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,105
• Density	3.4/sq mi (1.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	19th

Dr. Jack Shackelford, namesake of Shackelford County

Historic Fort Griffin, established in 1867, lies within Shackelford County.

During the last two weekends of June, the Fort Griffin Fandangle, a Western musical production, is presented by Shackelford County residents in the Prairie Theater in Albany. The content of the program is changed each year. Begun in 1938, it is billed as "Texas' Oldest Outdoor Musical".

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 916 square miles (2,370 km²), of which 1.3 sq mi (3.4 km²) (0.1%) is covered by water.^[4]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 180
• U.S. Highway 283
• State Highway 6
• State Highway 351

Adjacent counties

• Throckmorton County (north)
• Stephens County (east)
• Eastland County (southeast)
• Callahan County (south)
• Jones County (west)
• Haskell County (northwest)
• Taylor County (southwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	44		—
1870	455		934.1%
1880	2,037		347.7%
1890	2,012		−1.2%
1900	2,461		22.3%
1910	4,201		70.7%
1920	4,960		18.1%
1930	6,695		35.0%
1940	6,211		−7.2%
1950	5,001		−19.5%
1960	3,990		−20.2%
1970	3,323		−16.7%
1980	3,915		17.8%
1990	3,316		−15.3%
2000	3,302		−0.4%
2010	3,378		2.3%
2020	3,105		−8.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1850–2010[6] 2010[7] 2020[8]

Shackelford 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[9]	Pop 2010[7]	Pop 2020[8]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	3,014	2,961	2,612	91.28%	87.66%	84.12%
Black or African American alone (NH)	9	14	20	0.27%	0.41%	0.64%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	13	8	6	0.39%	0.24%	0.19%
Asian alone (NH)	0	9	14	0.00%	0.27%	0.45%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	1	0	0.00%	0.03%	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	0	2	2	0.00%	0.06%	0.06%
Multiracial (NH)	15	43	88	0.45%	1.27%	2.83%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	251	340	363	7.60%	10.07%	11.69%
Total	3,302	3,378	3,105	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2000 census,^[10] 3,302 people, 1,300 households, and 941 families resided in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km²). The 1,613 housing units had an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.22% White, 0.48% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 4.24% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. About 7.60% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 1,300 households, 32.8% had children under 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were not families. About 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the age distribution was 26.7% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,479, and for a family was $38,447. Males had a median income of $26,953 versus $19,766 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,341. About 10.9% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under 18 and 16.9% of those 65 or over.

Education

Shackelford County includes these school districts:

• Lueders-Avoca Independent School District
• Albany Independent School District
• Moran Independent School District

Communities

• Albany (county seat)
• Lueders (mostly in Jones County)
• Moran

See also

• Texas portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Shackelford County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Shackelford County

Politics

Shackelford County is a strongly Republican county.

United States presidential election results for Shackelford County, Texas^[11]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	1,565	90.57%	146	8.45%	17	0.98%
2020	1,484	91.15%	130	7.99%	14	0.86%
2016	1,378	91.62%	103	6.85%	23	1.53%
2012	1,218	89.36%	131	9.61%	14	1.03%
2008	1,284	85.32%	208	13.82%	13	0.86%
2004	1,292	84.61%	229	15.00%	6	0.39%
2000	1,066	79.14%	264	19.60%	17	1.26%
1996	792	53.84%	502	34.13%	177	12.03%
1992	623	40.64%	484	31.57%	426	27.79%
1988	865	55.66%	681	43.82%	8	0.51%
1984	1,181	73.63%	415	25.87%	8	0.50%
1980	959	60.66%	606	38.33%	16	1.01%
1976	748	49.28%	764	50.33%	6	0.40%
1972	909	73.07%	331	26.61%	4	0.32%
1968	557	36.96%	673	44.66%	277	18.38%
1964	487	34.20%	934	65.59%	3	0.21%
1960	684	48.96%	713	51.04%	0	0.00%
1956	849	60.26%	555	39.39%	5	0.35%
1952	1,057	57.54%	776	42.24%	4	0.22%
1948	211	18.41%	892	77.84%	43	3.75%
1944	135	10.08%	1,007	75.21%	197	14.71%
1940	229	13.06%	1,521	86.77%	3	0.17%
1936	152	11.65%	1,153	88.35%	0	0.00%
1932	117	8.14%	1,316	91.52%	5	0.35%
1928	558	51.10%	533	48.81%	1	0.09%
1924	727	49.93%	729	50.07%	0	0.00%
1920	116	22.01%	342	64.90%	69	13.09%
1916	51	10.92%	378	80.94%	38	8.14%
1912	18	5.29%	246	72.35%	76	22.35%

United States Senate election results for Shackelford County, Texas1^[12]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	1,520	88.73%	173	10.10%	20	1.17%