Wilbarger County, Texas

Wilbarger County (/ˈwɪlbɑːrɡər/ WIL-bar-gər) is a county located in the North Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,887.^[1] The county seat is Vernon.^[2] The county was created in 1858 and later organized in 1881.^[3] Wilbarger is named for Josiah Pugh Wilbarger and Mathias Wilbarger, two early settlers.

Wilbarger County
County
The Wilbarger County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°05′N 99°14′W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1881
Named after	Josiah Pugh Wilbarger and Mathias Wilbarger
Seat	Vernon
Largest city	Vernon
Area
• Total	978 sq mi (2,530 km2)
• Land	971 sq mi (2,510 km2)
• Water	7.0 sq mi (18 km2)  0.7%
Population  (2020)
• Total	12,887
• Density	13/sq mi (5.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	13th
Website	www.co.wilbarger.tx.us

"Wilbarger County Remembers", says the veteran's memorial at the courthouse.

Confederate soldier monument at Wilbarger County Courthouse

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 978 square miles (2,530 km²), of which 971 sq mi (2,510 km²) are land and 7.0 sq mi (18 km²) (0.7%) are covered by water.^[4]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 70
• U.S. Highway 183
• U.S. Highway 283
• U.S. Highway 287

Adjacent counties

• Tillman County, Oklahoma (north)
• Wichita County (east)
• Baylor County (south)
• Foard County (west)
• Hardeman County (west)
• Jackson County, Oklahoma (northwest)

Demographics

Census-designated places

• Harrold
• Lockett
• Oklaunion

Population

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	126		—
1890	7,092		5,528.6%
1900	5,759		−18.8%
1910	12,000		108.4%
1920	15,112		25.9%
1930	24,579		62.6%
1940	20,474		−16.7%
1950	20,552		0.4%
1960	17,748		−13.6%
1970	15,355		−13.5%
1980	15,931		3.8%
1990	15,121		−5.1%
2000	14,676		−2.9%
2010	13,535		−7.8%
2020	12,887		−4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1850–2010[6] 2010[7] 2020[8]

Wilbarger 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)	10,083	8,585	7,012	68.70%	63.43%	54.41%
Black or African American alone (NH)	1,278	1,049	1,013	8.71%	7.75%	7.86%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	78	115	96	0.53%	0.85%	0.74%
Asian alone (NH)	91	97	566	0.62%	0.72%	4.39%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	4	6	0	0.03%	0.04%	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	7	6	32	0.05%	0.04%	0.25%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	120	169	434	0.82%	1.25%	3.37%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3,015	3,508	3,734	20.54%	25.92%	28.97%
Total	14,676	13,535	12,887	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census^[10] of 2000, 14,676 people, 5,537 households, and 3,748 families were residing in the county. The population density was 15 people/sq mi (5.8 people/km²). The 6,371 housing units averaged 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 78.17% White, 8.86% African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 9.76% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. About 20.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 5,537 households, 32.20% had children under 18 living with them, 53.10% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were not families. About 29.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.90% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48, and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the age distribution was 27.90% under 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males. The median income for a household in the county was $29,500, and for a family was $38,685. Males had a median income of $26,001 versus $19,620 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,520. About 9.00% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.00% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

County Seat

• Vernon (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Odell^[11]
• Harrold
• Lockett
• Oklaunion

Education

School districts serving sections of the county include:^[12]

• Chillicothe Independent School District
• Harrold Independent School District
• Northside Independent School District
• Vernon Independent School District

The county is in the service area of Vernon College.^[13]

Notable people

• Clyde Gates, wide receiver for the New York Jets
• Jack English Hightower, Memphis, Texas, native; former member of both houses of the Texas State Legislature, and former U.S. Representative
• Roy Orbison, singer/songwriter, was born in Wilbarger County.
• Daryl Richardson, running back for the St. Louis Rams
• Bernard Scott, running back for the Cincinnati Bengals
• Jack Teagarden, bandleader and trombonist
• John Clay Wolfe, American radio personality who began his career in Wilbarger County on KSEY

Politics

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

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,566	79.83%	860	19.25%	41	0.92%
2020	3,524	77.90%	956	21.13%	44	0.97%
2016	3,166	77.13%	809	19.71%	130	3.17%
2012	2,956	74.27%	971	24.40%	53	1.33%
2008	3,283	72.81%	1,196	26.52%	30	0.67%
2004	3,685	73.85%	1,284	25.73%	21	0.42%
2000	3,138	68.56%	1,356	29.63%	83	1.81%
1996	2,037	47.73%	1,730	40.53%	501	11.74%
1992	1,959	36.69%	1,924	36.03%	1,457	27.28%
1988	2,669	54.15%	2,248	45.61%	12	0.24%
1984	3,644	64.23%	2,011	35.45%	18	0.32%
1980	3,031	55.48%	2,347	42.96%	85	1.56%
1976	2,145	39.17%	3,280	59.90%	51	0.93%
1972	3,183	70.44%	1,139	25.20%	197	4.36%
1968	1,909	36.73%	1,996	38.40%	1,293	24.87%
1964	1,539	32.45%	3,200	67.48%	3	0.06%
1960	2,796	54.51%	2,319	45.21%	14	0.27%
1956	2,230	48.62%	2,347	51.17%	10	0.22%
1952	3,019	53.28%	2,646	46.70%	1	0.02%
1948	529	13.92%	2,963	77.97%	308	8.11%
1944	517	11.70%	3,382	76.53%	520	11.77%
1940	697	17.64%	3,249	82.21%	6	0.15%
1936	316	8.75%	3,279	90.76%	18	0.50%
1932	199	5.51%	3,397	94.13%	13	0.36%
1928	1,590	52.30%	1,447	47.60%	3	0.10%
1924	269	17.05%	1,222	77.44%	87	5.51%
1920	335	21.73%	1,118	72.50%	89	5.77%
1916	99	6.79%	1,242	85.13%	118	8.09%
1912	44	3.38%	993	76.33%	264	20.29%

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

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,419	77.13%	926	20.89%	88	1.99%

See also

• Texas portal

• List of museums in North Texas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Wilbarger County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Wilbarger County