Stephens County, Texas

Stephens County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 9,101.^[1] Its county seat is Breckenridge.^[2] The county was created in 1858 and organized in 1876.^[3] It was originally named Buchanan County, after U.S. President James Buchanan, but was renamed in 1861 for Alexander H. Stephens, the vice president of the Confederate States of America.

Stephens County
County
The Stephens County Courthouse in Breckenridge
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°44′N 98°50′W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1876
Named after	Alexander H. Stephens
Seat	Breckenridge
Largest city	Breckenridge
Area
• Total	921 sq mi (2,390 km2)
• Land	897 sq mi (2,320 km2)
• Water	25 sq mi (60 km2)  2.7%
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,101
• Density	9.9/sq mi (3.8/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	25th
Website	www.co.stephens.tx.us

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 921 square miles (2,390 km²), of which 25 sq mi (65 km²) (2.7%) are covered by water.^[4]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 180
• U.S. Highway 183
• State Highway 67

Adjacent counties

• Young County (north)
• Palo Pinto County (east)
• Eastland County (south)
• Shackelford County (west)
• Throckmorton County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	230		—
1870	330		43.5%
1880	4,725		1,331.8%
1890	4,926		4.3%
1900	6,466		31.3%
1910	7,980		23.4%
1920	15,403		93.0%
1930	16,560		7.5%
1940	12,356		−25.4%
1950	10,597		−14.2%
1960	8,885		−16.2%
1970	8,414		−5.3%
1980	9,926		18.0%
1990	9,010		−9.2%
2000	9,674		7.4%
2010	9,630		−0.5%
2020	9,101		−5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1850–2010[6] 2010[7] 2020[8]

Stephens 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)	7,861	7,289	6,256	81.26%	75.69%	68.74%
Black or African American alone (NH)	277	195	237	2.86%	2.02%	2.60%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	17	43	36	0.18%	0.45%	0.40%
Asian alone (NH)	27	31	60	0.28%	0.32%	0.66%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	2	1	1	0.02%	0.01%	0.01%
Other race alone (NH)	2	0	27	0.02%	0.00%	0.30%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	70	60	280	0.72%	0.62%	3.08%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,418	2,011	2,204	14.66%	20.88%	24.22%
Total	9,674	9,630	9,101	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census^[10] of 2000, 9,674 people, 3,661 households, and 2,591 families resided in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile (4.2 people/km²). The 4,893 housing units averaged 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.89% White, 2.92% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 8.15% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. About 14.66% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 3,661 households, 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were not families. Around 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was distributed as 24.40% under the age of 18, 9.10% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,583, and for a family was $35,293. Males had a median income of $26,421 versus $21,280 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,475. About 12.60% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.60% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Breckenridge (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Caddo
• Crystal Falls
• Eolian
• Frankell
• Gunsight
• Harpersville
• Ivan
• La Casa
• Necessity

Notable people

• Jack Cox, businessman and politician
• Rupert N. Richardson, historian and president of Hardin-Simmons University^[11]

Politics

Stephens County is a powerfully Republican county. In 2016, the Democrat for president, Hillary Clinton, received just 10% of the county's vote. The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election was southerner Jimmy Carter, and the last Democrat to receive over 1,000 votes in the county was southerner Bill Clinton. The Democrat who has come closest to 1,000 votes since then is southerner Al Gore, who got 811 votes.^[12]

United States presidential election results for Stephens County, Texas^[12]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,368	89.55%	384	10.21%	9	0.24%
2020	3,385	88.96%	397	10.43%	23	0.60%
2016	3,034	87.44%	348	10.03%	88	2.54%
2012	2,892	84.76%	475	13.92%	45	1.32%
2008	2,869	81.37%	626	17.75%	31	0.88%
2004	2,803	79.65%	703	19.98%	13	0.37%
2000	2,425	73.69%	811	24.64%	55	1.67%
1996	1,714	52.27%	1,218	37.15%	347	10.58%
1992	1,573	41.88%	1,115	29.69%	1,068	28.43%
1988	2,342	60.45%	1,519	39.21%	13	0.34%
1984	2,898	73.27%	1,046	26.45%	11	0.28%
1980	2,161	59.89%	1,372	38.03%	75	2.08%
1976	1,621	47.27%	1,796	52.38%	12	0.35%
1972	2,259	76.73%	678	23.03%	7	0.24%
1968	1,287	42.18%	1,239	40.61%	525	17.21%
1964	1,119	38.94%	1,753	61.00%	2	0.07%
1960	1,664	54.94%	1,357	44.80%	8	0.26%
1956	1,832	61.66%	1,126	37.90%	13	0.44%
1952	2,272	60.64%	1,471	39.26%	4	0.11%
1948	572	19.79%	2,132	73.77%	186	6.44%
1944	217	7.74%	2,104	75.04%	483	17.23%
1940	471	14.61%	2,750	85.32%	2	0.06%
1936	681	22.11%	2,380	77.27%	19	0.62%
1932	256	8.62%	2,684	90.40%	29	0.98%
1928	1,789	60.60%	1,163	39.40%	0	0.00%
1924	372	13.98%	2,184	82.07%	105	3.95%
1920	141	16.69%	643	76.09%	61	7.22%
1916	12	1.75%	572	83.26%	103	14.99%
1912	11	1.93%	462	80.91%	98	17.16%

United States Senate election results for Stephens County, Texas1^[13]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,216	86.29%	450	12.07%	61	1.64%

See also

• Texas portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Stephens County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in Stephens County