Milam County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 24,754.[1] The county seat is Cameron.[2] The county was created in 1834 as a municipality in Mexico and organized as a county in 1837.[3][4] Milam County is named for Benjamin Rush Milam, an early settler and a soldier in the Texas Revolution.[5]
Milam County | |
|---|---|
 The Milam County Courthouse in Cameron. The Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 20, 1977. | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Texas | |
 Texas's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 30°47′N 96°59′W / 30.79°N 96.98°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1837 |
| Named for | Benjamin Rush Milam |
| Seat | Cameron |
| Largest city | Rockdale |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,022 sq mi (2,650 km2) |
| • Land | 1,017 sq mi (2,630 km2) |
| • Water | 4.8 sq mi (12 km2) 0.5% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 24,754 |
| • Density | 24/sq mi (9.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 17th |
| Website | www |
Geography
editAccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,022 square miles (2,650 km2), of which 1,017 sq mi (2,630 km2) are land and 4.8 sq mi (12 km2) (0.5%) are covered by water.[6]
Major highways
editAdjacent counties
edit- Falls County (north)
- Robertson County (northeast)
- Burleson County (southeast)
- Lee County (south)
- Williamson County (southwest)
- Bell County (northwest)
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 2,907 | — | |
| 1860 | 5,175 | 78.0% | |
| 1870 | 8,984 | 73.6% | |
| 1880 | 18,659 | 107.7% | |
| 1890 | 24,773 | 32.8% | |
| 1900 | 39,666 | 60.1% | |
| 1910 | 36,780 | −7.3% | |
| 1920 | 38,104 | 3.6% | |
| 1930 | 37,915 | −0.5% | |
| 1940 | 33,120 | −12.6% | |
| 1950 | 23,585 | −28.8% | |
| 1960 | 22,263 | −5.6% | |
| 1970 | 20,028 | −10.0% | |
| 1980 | 22,732 | 13.5% | |
| 1990 | 22,946 | 0.9% | |
| 2000 | 24,238 | 5.6% | |
| 2010 | 24,757 | 2.1% | |
| 2020 | 24,754 | 0.0% |
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[12] | Pop 2010[10] | Pop 2020[11] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 16,763 | 16,216 | 15,367 | 69.16% | 65.50% | 62.08% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,627 | 2,380 | 2,097 | 10.84% | 9.61% | 8.47% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 85 | 76 | 67 | 0.35% | 0.31% | 0.27% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 49 | 95 | 111 | 0.20% | 0.38% | 0.45% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Other Race alone (NH) | 22 | 10 | 84 | 0.09% | 0.04% | 0.34% |
| Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) | 174 | 200 | 753 | 0.72% | 0.81% | 3.04% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4,516 | 5,780 | 6,264 | 18.63% | 23.35% | 25.31% |
| Total | 24,238 | 24,757 | 24,754 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census[13] of 2000, 24,238 people, 9,199 households, and 6,595 families were residing in the county. The population density was 24/sq mi (9.3/km2). The 10,866 housing units averaged 11/sq mi (4.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 78.89% White, 11.05% African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 7.71% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. About 18.63% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. By ancestry, 16.7% were of American, 16.1% German, 7.2% English, and 6.8% Irish according to Census 2000.
Of the 9,199 households, 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples living together, 11.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were not families. About 25.90% were single-person households, and 14.10% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59, and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county, the age distribution was 27.50% under 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 24.70% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,186, and for a family was $40,431. Males had a median income of $30,149 versus $20,594 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,920. About 12.20% of families and 15.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.80% of those under age 18 and 15.30% of those age 65 or over.
Education
editSix independent school districts are present in Milam County:[14]
- Buckholts Independent School District
- Cameron Independent School District
- Gause Independent School District
- Milano Independent School District
- Rockdale Independent School District
- Thorndale Independent School District
Five additional districts extend into parts of Milam County, but are based in neighboring counties: Bartlett, Caldwell, Holland, Lexington, and Rosebud-Lott.[14]
St. Paul Lutheran School St. Paul Lutheran Church and School, Thorndale in Thorndale, a private institution, serves students from prekindergarten through grade 8.
Temple Junior College District is the designated community college for county residents in Bartlett, Buckholts, Cameron, Rockdale, Rosebud-Lott, and Thorndale ISDs. Legislation also states that the district covers Holland ISD "located in Bell County". Blinn College is the designated community college for county residents in Gause, Lexington, and Milano ISDs.[15] Legislation does not state whether a community college or which community college covers residents of Caldwell ISD.
Communities
editCities
edit- Cameron (county seat)
- Milano
- Rockdale
- Thorndale (small part in Williamson County)
Town
editCensus-designated places
editUnincorporated communities
editGhost towns
editPolitics
edit| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 8,691 | 78.31% | 2,331 | 21.00% | 76 | 0.68% |
| 2020 | 7,984 | 75.48% | 2,496 | 23.60% | 98 | 0.93% |
| 2016 | 6,364 | 73.45% | 2,051 | 23.67% | 249 | 2.87% |
| 2012 | 5,481 | 66.60% | 2,636 | 32.03% | 113 | 1.37% |
| 2008 | 5,217 | 62.43% | 3,044 | 36.42% | 96 | 1.15% |
| 2004 | 5,291 | 60.24% | 3,445 | 39.22% | 47 | 0.54% |
| 2000 | 4,706 | 56.91% | 3,429 | 41.47% | 134 | 1.62% |
| 1996 | 3,019 | 39.90% | 3,869 | 51.13% | 679 | 8.97% |
| 1992 | 2,414 | 32.32% | 3,542 | 47.43% | 1,512 | 20.25% |
| 1988 | 3,512 | 41.83% | 4,865 | 57.94% | 19 | 0.23% |
| 1984 | 4,384 | 53.86% | 3,734 | 45.87% | 22 | 0.27% |
| 1980 | 3,251 | 42.62% | 4,230 | 55.46% | 146 | 1.91% |
| 1976 | 2,404 | 32.86% | 4,871 | 66.59% | 40 | 0.55% |
| 1972 | 3,554 | 62.14% | 2,159 | 37.75% | 6 | 0.10% |
| 1968 | 1,614 | 25.18% | 3,269 | 51.01% | 1,526 | 23.81% |
| 1964 | 1,334 | 23.37% | 4,368 | 76.51% | 7 | 0.12% |
| 1960 | 1,898 | 34.16% | 3,640 | 65.51% | 18 | 0.32% |
| 1956 | 2,486 | 45.48% | 2,969 | 54.32% | 11 | 0.20% |
| 1952 | 2,539 | 43.94% | 3,227 | 55.85% | 12 | 0.21% |
| 1948 | 646 | 15.05% | 3,261 | 75.98% | 385 | 8.97% |
| 1944 | 623 | 12.53% | 3,537 | 71.11% | 814 | 16.37% |
| 1940 | 1,110 | 21.31% | 4,083 | 78.38% | 16 | 0.31% |
| 1936 | 288 | 6.57% | 4,077 | 93.02% | 18 | 0.41% |
| 1932 | 264 | 5.32% | 4,676 | 94.22% | 23 | 0.46% |
| 1928 | 1,270 | 30.86% | 2,842 | 69.05% | 4 | 0.10% |
| 1924 | 930 | 14.68% | 5,087 | 80.31% | 317 | 5.00% |
| 1920 | 371 | 7.68% | 2,598 | 53.81% | 1,859 | 38.50% |
| 1916 | 576 | 19.15% | 2,198 | 73.07% | 234 | 7.78% |
| 1912 | 244 | 8.75% | 1,939 | 69.57% | 604 | 21.67% |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Milam County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
- ^ "Milam County". Texas Almanac. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 207.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Milam County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Milam County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Milam County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ a b "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Milam County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 10, 2024. - Text list
- ^ "Education Code Chapter 130. Junior College Districts". statutes.capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 7, 2018.