Borden County, Texas
Encyclopedia
Borden County is a rural
county located in the U.S. state
of Texas
. In 2000, its population was 729. Its county seat
is Gail
. Gail and Borden County are named for Gail Borden, Jr.
, businessman, publisher, surveyor
, and inventor of condensed milk
. Borden County is one of thirty prohibition
or entirely dry counties in the state of Texas.
According to a 2007 census estimate, Borden County is the fourth least populous county in the state of Texas, behind Loving
, King, and Kenedy counties, and it is the tenth least populous county in the United States.
The county is served mostly by Borden County Independent School District
. The district offers pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Borden County School is among the few public schools in Texas to receive a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 9 out of 10.
Many of the teachers reside in board-owned housing in Gail. The school offers six-man football
, basketball
, baseball
, and tennis
. The Borden County head coach is Trey Richey. Assistant coach Fernando Baeza (born 1981) is an alumnus of the school who also teaches social studies. Baeza was the running back on the 1997 Borden County state championship six-man football team. His coaching colleague, Colt McCook, played with Baeza on the 1997 championship team. McCook, a health teacher at the school, was thereafter the quarterback on the losing 1998 Borden County team. The Borden Coyotes also won championships in 2007 and 2008. Peter Benavidez, another assistant football coach, also handles the girls' sports.
The weekly newspaper
, the Borden Star, covers events for the school and county.
, the county has a total area of 906 square miles (2,346.5 km²), of which 899 square miles (2,328.4 km²) is land and 7 square miles (18.1 km²) (0.80%) is water.
of 2000, there were 729 people, 292 households, and 216 families residing in the county. The population density
was 0.80 people per square mile (0.31/km²). There were 435 housing units at an average density of 0.48 per square mile (0.19/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.53% White
, 0.14% Black
or African American
, 0.27% Native American
, 6.31% from other races
, and 2.74% from two or more races. 11.93% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 292 households out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.10% were married couples
living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.60% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 103.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,205, and the median income for a family was $36,458. Males had a median income of $25,556 versus $21,607 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $18,364. 14.00% of the population and 11.80% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 14.30% are under the age of 18 and 11.60% are 65 or older.
The county is served by nearby radio stations KBXJ (FM) and KPET (AM), and the various Midland and Odessa radio and TV stations.
and the Penateka
band of Comanches were early tribes in the area.
and named for Gail Borden, Jr., the inventor of condensed milk
. Borden was publisher and editor of the Telegraph and Texas Register
, as well as a political leader in the Republic of Texas
. The county was organized in 1891, and Gail was made the county seat.
Farmers and ranchers settled the county, but the population remained relatively small. In 1902, Texas placed lands in the public domain and spurred a land rush in Borden County. Many of the newcomers grew cotton.
Borden County has had two courthouses, one built in 1890. The current courthouse is of brick and cement construction and was erected in 1939. The architect was David S. Castle Co.
Oil was discovered in the county in 1949. By 1991, more than 340003000 barrels (54,056,157,261.9 l) of petroleum had been taken out of Borden County since discovery in 1949.
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
county located in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. In 2000, its population was 729. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Gail
Gail, Texas
Gail is a Census Designated Place in Borden County, Texas, United States. Located at the junction of U.S. Highway 180 and Farm to Market Road 669, it is the county seat of Borden County. The town and county are named for Gail Borden, Jr., of Houston, the inventor of condensed milk...
. Gail and Borden County are named for Gail Borden, Jr.
Gail Borden
Gail Borden, Jr. was a 19th century U.S. inventor, surveyor, and publisher, and was the inventor of condensed milk in 1853.- Early years :...
, businessman, publisher, surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
, and inventor of condensed milk
Condensed milk
Condensed milk, also known as sweetened condensed milk, is cow's milk from which water has been removed and to which sugar has been added, yielding a very thick, sweet product which when canned can last for years without refrigeration if unopened. The two terms, condensed milk and sweetened...
. Borden County is one of thirty prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
or entirely dry counties in the state of Texas.
According to a 2007 census estimate, Borden County is the fourth least populous county in the state of Texas, behind Loving
Loving County, Texas
US Census 2000Of the 67 residents, 60 were White, 6 of "some other race", and 1 person of two or more races. There were 7 residents who were Hispanic or Latino of any race...
, King, and Kenedy counties, and it is the tenth least populous county in the United States.
The county is served mostly by Borden County Independent School District
Borden County Independent School District
Borden County Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Gail, Texas . The district serves all of Borden County with the exception of a small southwestern portion, which is served by the Sands Consolidated Independent School District...
. The district offers pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Borden County School is among the few public schools in Texas to receive a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 9 out of 10.
Many of the teachers reside in board-owned housing in Gail. The school offers six-man football
Six-man football
Six-man football is a variant of American football that is played with six players per team, instead of 11.-History:6-man football was developed in 1934 by Chester High School coach Stephen Epler as an alternative means for small high schools to field a football team during the Great Depression...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
. The Borden County head coach is Trey Richey. Assistant coach Fernando Baeza (born 1981) is an alumnus of the school who also teaches social studies. Baeza was the running back on the 1997 Borden County state championship six-man football team. His coaching colleague, Colt McCook, played with Baeza on the 1997 championship team. McCook, a health teacher at the school, was thereafter the quarterback on the losing 1998 Borden County team. The Borden Coyotes also won championships in 2007 and 2008. Peter Benavidez, another assistant football coach, also handles the girls' sports.
The weekly newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, the Borden Star, covers events for the school and county.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 906 square miles (2,346.5 km²), of which 899 square miles (2,328.4 km²) is land and 7 square miles (18.1 km²) (0.80%) is water.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 180
Farm to Market Road 669Farm to Market Road 669Farm to Market Road 669 is a Farm to Market Road in West Texas. It extends in a northerly direction for from Big Spring in Howard County to Post in Garza County....
Adjacent counties
- Garza CountyGarza County, TexasGarza County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas southeast of Lubbock. In 2000, its population was 4,872. Its county seat is Post. Garza is named for a pioneer Bexar County family, as it was once a part of that county....
(north) - Scurry County (east)
- Mitchell County (southeast)
- Howard County (south)
- Dawson County (west)
- Lynn County (northwest)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 729 people, 292 households, and 216 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 0.80 people per square mile (0.31/km²). There were 435 housing units at an average density of 0.48 per square mile (0.19/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.53% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.14% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.27% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 6.31% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.74% from two or more races. 11.93% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 292 households out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.10% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.60% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 103.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,205, and the median income for a family was $36,458. Males had a median income of $25,556 versus $21,607 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $18,364. 14.00% of the population and 11.80% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 14.30% are under the age of 18 and 11.60% are 65 or older.
The county is served by nearby radio stations KBXJ (FM) and KPET (AM), and the various Midland and Odessa radio and TV stations.
Native Americans
ShoshoneShoshone
The Shoshone or Shoshoni are a Native American tribe in the United States with three large divisions: the Northern, the Western and the Eastern....
and the Penateka
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
band of Comanches were early tribes in the area.
County established
Borden County was created in 1876 from Bosque CountyBosque County, Texas
Bosque County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population is 17,204. Its county seat is Meridian. Clifton, however, is the largest city and the cultural/financial center of the county. Bosque is named for the Bosque River, which runs through...
and named for Gail Borden, Jr., the inventor of condensed milk
Condensed milk
Condensed milk, also known as sweetened condensed milk, is cow's milk from which water has been removed and to which sugar has been added, yielding a very thick, sweet product which when canned can last for years without refrigeration if unopened. The two terms, condensed milk and sweetened...
. Borden was publisher and editor of the Telegraph and Texas Register
Telegraph and Texas Register
Telegraph and Texas Register was the second permanent newspaper in Texas. Originally conceived as the Telegraph and Texas Planter, the newspaper was renamed shortly before it began publication, to reflect its new mission to be "a faithful register of passing events"...
, as well as a political leader in the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
. The county was organized in 1891, and Gail was made the county seat.
Farmers and ranchers settled the county, but the population remained relatively small. In 1902, Texas placed lands in the public domain and spurred a land rush in Borden County. Many of the newcomers grew cotton.
Borden County has had two courthouses, one built in 1890. The current courthouse is of brick and cement construction and was erected in 1939. The architect was David S. Castle Co.
Oil was discovered in the county in 1949. By 1991, more than 340003000 barrels (54,056,157,261.9 l) of petroleum had been taken out of Borden County since discovery in 1949.
Cities and towns
- GailGail, TexasGail is a Census Designated Place in Borden County, Texas, United States. Located at the junction of U.S. Highway 180 and Farm to Market Road 669, it is the county seat of Borden County. The town and county are named for Gail Borden, Jr., of Houston, the inventor of condensed milk...
(unincorporated) - MesquiteMesquite, Texas (Borden County)Mesquite is a ghost town in Borden County, Texas, United States. From its inception, Mesquite has remained a rural farming community. A school, established in 1905, served the area until sometime around 1930 when the building appears to have fallen into disuse. Today all that remains of Mesquite...
(ghost town) - PlainsPlains, Borden County, TexasPlains is an unincorporated community in Borden County, Texas, United States. Plains is located on Farm to Market Road 1054 northwest of Gail....
(unincorporated)
External links
- Borden County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of TexasUniversity of Texas at AustinThe University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
. - Borden County Courthouse
