King County, Texas


King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 286, making it the second-least populous county in Texas and the third-least populous of any county in the United States. King County has no incorporated communities. Its county seat is the Census Designated Place of Guthrie. The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1891. It is named for William Philip King, who died at the Battle of the Alamo.

History

Native Americans

and Comanche were early tribes in the area. The Red River War of 1874-1875 was a United States Army campaign to force the removal of Natives in Texas and their relocation to reservations, to open the region to white settlers.

County established

On August 21, 1876, the Texas legislature formed King County from Bexar County. By 1880 the United States Census counted forty residents in the county. In 1891, the county was organized. Guthrie was designated as the county seat.
to George Preston Humphreys, the manager of the 6666 Ranch, who also served as King County sheriff from 1928-1948
Early ranchers preserved water by damming canyons and draws to hold the heavy spring rains. In the 1890s windmills became the method of water preservation. Some of the earliest settlers were Isom Lynn, A. C. Tackett, Brants Baker, and Bud Arnett. The Four Sixes Ranch. was established in 1902 by Samuel Burk Burnet. The formerly-named Pitchfork Land and Cattle Company was organized in 1883, and SMS ranches were established during the same time frame. The 6666, also founded in 1883, was managed from 1965–1986 by George Humphreys, who was also affiliated with the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock.
Dumont was formed in the late 19th century. By that time, farmers began to share the land with ranchers. Cotton was the leading crop for a time, followed by corn, sorghum, and fruit trees.
Oil was discovered in the county in 1943. By January 1, 1991, almost of oil had been pumped from King County lands since the first wells were drilled.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

Major highways

As of the census of 2000, there were 356 people, 108 households, and 88 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.39 people per square mile. There were 174 housing units at an average density of 0.19 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 94.10% White, 1.12% Native American, 3.09% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. 9.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 108 households out of which 41.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 79.60% were married couples living together, 1.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.60% were non-families. 16.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the county, the population was spread out with 33.70% under the age of 18, 3.70% from 18 to 24, 29.50% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,625, and the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $21,389 versus $30,179 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,321. 20.70% of the population and 17.90% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 23.00% are under the age of 18 and 31.60% are 65 or older.

Politics

King County was once a strongly Democratic county even by Solid South standards. In 1948, 95.85 percent of voters supported Harry S. Truman, in 1960 76.9 percent of voters chose John F. Kennedy and in 1964, 84.1 percent of voters supported Lyndon Johnson. The county also voted for Hubert Humphrey by a plurality in 1968, with 48.7 percent supporting Humphrey while 31.7 percent voted for George Wallace and a mere 19.6 percent voted for Richard Nixon.
However, the county has shifted strongly Republican since the 1980s. The last Democratic presidential nominee to win over twenty percent of the vote in King County was Bill Clinton in 1996. In 2016, by percentage of votes, it was the second most Republican county in the entire country, only being surpassed by Roberts County, Texas.
In the 2004 presidential election, 87.8 percent supported incumbent U.S. President George W. Bush, a Republican, whereas only 11.5 percent backed the Democratic challenger, U.S. Senator John Kerry.
In the 2008 presidential election, 93.2 percent supported the Republican, Senator John McCain, whereas only 4.9 percent backed the Democrat, Senator Barack Obama. Of all United States counties, King had the largest percentage of support for McCain.
In the 2012 presidential election, President Obama fared even worse in King County. His Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, received 139 votes in the county, while President Obama received only 5 votes — amounting to 3.4 percent of the total. That percentage was the smallest percentage that President Obama received in any county in the United States in 2012.
In addition, in the 2012 Democratic presidential primaries, King County was one of two counties that voted for Bob Ely over President Obama. There were only 7 votes cast in the Democratic presidential primary in King County that year. Ely won 4 of them, Obama won 1, and two other minor candidates won 1 each.
In the 2016 presidential election, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continued the downward trend. Her Republican challenger, Donald Trump, received 149 votes in the county, while Secretary Clinton received only 5 votes — amounting to 3.1 percent of the total. Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson also received 5 votes.
In the 2012 U.S. Senate election, Republican candidate Ted Cruz received 117 votes, while Democratic candidate Paul Sadler received 4 votes, or 3.3 percent of the total.
In the 2014 U.S. Senate election, Republican incumbent Senator John Cornyn received 87 votes, while Democratic candidate David Alameel received 1 vote or 1.1 percent of the total. Libertarian Party candidate Rebecca Paddock received 2 votes or 2.2 percent of the total.
In the 2014 Texas gubernatorial election, Republican candidate Greg Abbott received 90 votes, while Democratic candidate Wendy Davis received 1 vote or 1.1 percent of the total. Libertarian Party candidate Kathie Glass received 2 votes or 2.2 percent of the total.
Republican Drew Springer Jr., a businessman from Muenster in Cooke County, has since January 2013 represented King County in the Texas House of Representatives.

Economy

The primary industries are raising beef cattle, and oil production. Corn and cotton are the leading planted farm crops.

Communities

There are no incorporated areas in King County.