View source for Yoakum County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Yoakum, Texas}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Yoakum County
 | state                = Texas
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = 1907
 | seat wl              = Plains
 | largest city wl      = Denver City
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 800
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 800
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 0.01
 | area percentage      = 0
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 7694 {{decrease}}
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2022
 | population_est       = 
 | population_density_sq_mi = 9.6
 | ex image             = Yoakum County Courthouse August 2020.jpg
 | ex image size        = 250
 | ex image cap         = The Yoakum County Courthouse in Plains.
 | web                  = www.co.yoakum.tx.us
 | district             = 19th
}}

'''Yoakum County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the western Panhandle portion of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 7,694.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yoakum County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48501|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=February 23, 2021}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Plains, Texas|Plains]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1907.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/TX_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Texas: Individual County Chronologies|work=Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=[[Newberry Library|The Newberry Library]]|date=2008|access-date=May 27, 2015|archive-date=April 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412140748/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/TX_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is named for [[Henderson King Yoakum]], a Texas historian.

Until the passage of a liquor sales referendum held on May 11, 2013, Yoakum had been one of 19 remaining [[prohibition]] or entirely [[dry county|dry counties]] within Texas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/local_option_elections/index.asp|title=TABC Home Page|website=www.tabc.state.tx.us|language=en|access-date=August 3, 2018|archive-date=May 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516154641/http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/local_option_elections/index.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Voters in [[Denver City, Texas|Denver City]] also approved a separate referendum to permit liquor sales within that community.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lubbockonline.com/|title=Voters approve sales of alcohol in three elections|publisher=[[Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]], May 12, 2013|access-date=May 13, 2013}}</ref>

In 1965, [[Recorded Texas Historic Landmark]] number 5927 was placed at the county courthouse, acknowledging the creation of the county in 1876.<ref>{{cite web|title=Yoakum County - Plains, Yoakum County, Texas|url=http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5501005927|work=Recorded Texas Historic Landmark|publisher=William Nienke, Sam Morrow|access-date=February 19, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707072048/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5501005927|archive-date=July 7, 2011}}</ref>

Until 1900, the county contained primarily nomadic buffalo hunters and a few scattered ranchers. Yoakum County was organized in 1907, and the population increased to 602 because of the sale of state land deeds.<ref>[http://www.stoppingpoints.com/texas/sights.cgi?marker=Yoakum+County&cnty=yoakum Yoakum County Texas Historical Marker]</ref>

==History==

===Native Americans===

Early tribes included [[Suma-Jumano]], [[Comanche]], [[Cheyenne]], and [[Kiowa]].<ref name="Yoakum County, Texas">{{cite web|title=Yoakum County, Texas|last=Leffler|first=John|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcy01|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=December 13, 2010|date=June 15, 2010}}</ref>

The Comanches and Indians before them knew that the sand dunes that one can still see today called the Lea-Yoakum Sand Dunes and those visible around Denver City did not signify a desert. Instead, these dunes are remnants of an ancient river system that once flowed northwest to southeast through the area. Indians knew to dig beneath the surface of the sand dunes to find water, so they frequented the sand dunes to hunt the plentiful game once there, and perform sacred rites during their encampments. Evidence of these visits to the area by Comanche, Kiowa, and prehistoric Indians before them was discovered in the 20th century by local ranchers and verified by archaeologists.

A Quanah Parker Trail arrow, installed December 14, 2011, marked Denver City as a place with historic ties to the Comanche and other native peoples who once hunted and lived in the region. In March 2015, Denver City removed and stored the arrow for eventual reinstallation at the site of a new museum.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.quanahparkertrail.com/Quanah_Parker_Trail/Yoakum_County_2.html|title = Yoakum County 2}}</ref>

===County established===

The Texas Legislature established Yoakum County from [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar County]] in 1876. The county was organized in 1907, and [[Plains, Texas|Plains]] became the county seat. In 1900, the area had only 26 residents. One ranch in the county that year was devoted to cattle, rather than crops.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bennett|first=Leoti A|title=Plains, Texas|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hjp09|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=December 13, 2010|date=June 15, 2010}}</ref>

Sale of state land after 1900 brought an increase in population. By 1910, 107 farms or ranches were in the area, and the population had increased to 602.<ref name="Yoakum County, Texas"/>

By 1920, 109 ranches or farms in the area, but the population had fallen to 504. More than 21,000 cattle were reported that year, but crop cultivation remained limited; about {{convert|2200|acre|km2}} were planted in corn, 600 in sorghum, and 47 in cotton. During the 1920s, the county experienced a minor expansion of crop farming, and cotton became the most important crop; by 1930, over {{convert|10000|acre|km2}} were devoted to cotton. There were 239 farms, and the population had increased to 1,263.<ref name="Yoakum County, Texas"/>

The first oil well in the county gushed in 1935. Denver City benefited with a resulting boom economy. By January 1, 1991, almost {{convert|1664036000|oilbbl}} of oil had been taken from county lands since 1936.<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Julie Cauble|title=Wasson Field|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/downk|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=December 13, 2010|date=June 15, 2010}}</ref>

Irrigation in the county led to more acres being planted on sorghum, cotton, alfalfa, watermelons, and castor beans. In 1982, 93% of the land in Yoakum County was in farms and ranches, and 44% of the farmland was under cultivation. Some {{convert|110000|acre|km2}} were irrigated. About 95% of agricultural revenue was derived from crops, especially cotton, sorghum, wheat, hay, and corn.<ref name="Yoakum County, Texas"/>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|800|sqmi}}, virtually all of which is land.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 12, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 82.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 82 in Texas|U.S. Highway 82]]
* [[Image:US 380.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 380#Texas|U.S. Highway 380]]
* [[Image:Texas 83.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 83|State Highway 83]]
* [[Image:Texas 214.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 214|State Highway 214]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Cochran County, Texas|Cochran County]] (north)
* [[Terry County, Texas|Terry County]] (east)
* [[Gaines County, Texas|Gaines County]] (south)
* [[Lea County, New Mexico]] (west/[[Mountain Time Zone]])

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 4
|1900= 26
|1910= 602
|1920= 504
|1930= 1263
|1940= 5354
|1950= 4339
|1960= 8032
|1970= 7344
|1980= 8299
|1990= 8786
|2000= 7322
|2010= 7879
|2020= 7694
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br />1850–2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=May 12, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Yoakum County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''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.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Yoakum County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48501&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Yoakum County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48501&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|3,090
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,488
|39.22%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |32.34%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|55
|style='background: #ffffe6; |55
|0.70%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.71%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|30
|style='background: #ffffe6; |22
|0.38%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.29%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|26
|style='background: #ffffe6; |46
|0.33%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.60%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0
|0.01%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|5
|style='background: #ffffe6; |15
|0.06%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.19%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|50
|style='background: #ffffe6; |100
|0.63%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.30%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|4,622
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,968
|58.66%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |64.57%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''7,879'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''7,694'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 7,694 people, 2,617 households, and 1,985 families residing in the county.

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, 7,322 people, 2,469 households, and 2,007 families resided in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. The 2,974 housing units averaged {{convert|4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 70.62% White, 1.39% African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 25.48% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. About 45.93% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 2,469 households, 43.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.80% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.70% were not families. About 17.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.34.

In the county, the population was distributed as 32.10% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,672, and for a family was $36,772. Males had a median income of $32,188 versus $19,913 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $14,504. About 17.60% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 24.00% of those under age 18 and 13.00% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Towns===
* [[Denver City, Texas|Denver City]] (small part in [[Gaines County, Texas|Gaines County]])
* [[Plains, Texas|Plains]] (county seat)

===Unincorporated community===
* [[Allred, Texas|Allred]]

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Yoakum County, Texas|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=August 3, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|0|40|9|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1|85|1|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|0|79|2|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|9|95|8|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|86|66|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|11|245|1|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|13|227|5|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|134|885|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|106|646|87|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|119|861|40|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|858|873|2|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|923|989|3|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,207|994|14|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|859|1,415|6|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,123|615|724|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,952|457|34|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,477|1,181|22|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,937|715|42|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,204|456|8|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,762|727|18|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,486|595|494|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,485|738|231|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,911|531|23|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,228|376|9|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|1,989|450|19|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,698|409|21|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,797|426|80|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|2,174|420|42|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|2,039|342|16|Texas}}
{{PresFoot}}
{{U.S. SenHead|place=Yoakum County, Texas|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Texas by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/texas-senate-results}}</ref>}}
<!-- U.S. SenRow should be {{U.S. SenRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|1,928|357|56|Texas}}
{{U.S. SenFoot}}

==Education==
School districts serving the county include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48501_yoakum/DC20SD_C48501.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48501_yoakum/DC20SD_C48501.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Yoakum County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=June 29, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48501_yoakum/DC20SD_C48501_SD2MS.txt list]</ref>
* [[Brownfield Independent School District]]
* [[Denver City Independent School District]]
* [[Plains Independent School District]]
* [[Seagraves Independent School District]]

The county is in the service area of [[South Plains College]].<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.198. SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [[List of Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (Trinity-Zavala)#Yoakum County|Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Yoakum County]]
* [[Dry counties]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.co.yoakum.tx.us/ Youkum County government’s website]
* {{Handbook of Texas|id=hcy01|name=Yoakum County}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081207010014/http://yoakumco.vibobgen.com/YoakumCoMemories.htm TxGenWeb Yoakum County Memories]
* [http://www.txcip.org/tac/census/profile.php?FIPS=48501 Yoakum County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919001719/http://www.txcip.org/tac/census/profile.php?FIPS=48501 |date=September 19, 2015 }}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Yoakum County, Texas
|North     = [[Cochran County, Texas|Cochran County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Terry County, Texas|Terry County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Gaines County, Texas|Gaines County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Lea County, New Mexico]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Yoakum County, Texas}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|33.18|-102.82|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Yoakum County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:1907 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1907]]