McCulloch County, Texas
Encyclopedia
McCulloch County is a county
located on the Edwards Plateau
in the U.S. state
of Texas
. The geographical center
of Texas lies within the county. In 2000, its population was 8,205. Its county seat
is Brady
. McCulloch is named for Benjamin McCulloch
, a famous Texas Ranger
and Confederate
general.
, the county has a total area of 1073 square miles (2,779.1 km²), of which 1069 square miles (2,768.7 km²) is land and 4 square miles (10.4 km²) (0.38%) is water.
of 2000, there were 8,205 people, 3,277 households, and 2,267 families residing in the county. The population density
was 8 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 4,184 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.64% White
, 1.57% Black
or African American
, 0.26% Native American
, 0.17% Asian
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
, 11.71% from other races
, and 1.63% from two or more races. 27.04% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 3,277 households out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples
living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.60% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 19.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,705, and the median income for a family was $30,783. Males had a median income of $25,844 versus $18,337 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $14,579. About 17.30% of families and 22.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.40% of those under age 18 and 21.50% of those age 65 or over.
camp in McCulloch County, near Brady
on a former prisoner of war
camp leased from the Federal Government of the United States
. In 1950 the state replaced the Brady facility with the Crockett State School
.
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
located on the Edwards Plateau
Edwards Plateau
The Edwards Plateau is a region of west-central Texas which is bounded by the Balcones Fault to the south and east, the Llano Uplift and the Llano Estacado to the north, and the Pecos River and Chihuahuan Desert to the west. San Angelo, Austin, San Antonio and Del Rio roughly outline the area...
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...
. The geographical center
Geographic centers of the United States
This is a list of geographic centers of each U.S. state. Note that the geographical center of the entire U.S. is northeast of Belle Fourche in Butte County, South Dakota , while that of the contiguous 48 is near Lebanon in Smith County, Kansas...
of Texas lies within the county. In 2000, its population was 8,205. 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 Brady
Brady, Texas
Brady is a city in McCulloch County, Texas, United States. Brady refers to itself as "The Heart of Texas", as it is the closest city to the geographical center of the state. The population was 5,523 at the 2000 census...
. McCulloch is named for Benjamin McCulloch
Benjamin McCulloch
Benjamin McCulloch was a soldier in the Texas Revolution, a Texas Ranger, a U.S. marshal, and a brigadier general in the army of the Confederate States during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
, a famous Texas Ranger
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
and Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
general.
History timeline
- 5000 b.c. – 1500 a.d. Early native American inhabitants include TonkawaTonkawaThe Tickanwa•tic Tribe , better known as the Tonkawa , are a Native American people indigenous to present-day Oklahoma and Texas. They once spoke the now-extinct Tonkawa language believed to have been a language isolate not related to any other indigenous tongues...
, Lipan Apache, ComancheComancheThe 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...
, Tawakoni. - 1788 José Mares expedition from San Antonio to Santa FeSanta Fe, New MexicoSanta Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
. - 1831, November 21 - In the BradyBrady, TexasBrady is a city in McCulloch County, Texas, United States. Brady refers to itself as "The Heart of Texas", as it is the closest city to the geographical center of the state. The population was 5,523 at the 2000 census...
vicinity, James Bowie, Rezin P. BowieRezin BowieRezin Pleasant Bowie was an American inventor and designer of the Bowie knife. He also served three terms in the Louisiana Legislature....
, David Buchanan, Cephas D. Hamm, Matthew Doyle, Jesse Wallace, Thomas McCaslin, Robert Armstrong, James Coryell with two servants, Charles and Gonzales, hold at bay for a day and a night 164 CaddoCaddoThe Caddo Nation is a confederacy of several Southeastern Native American tribes, who traditionally inhabited much of what is now East Texas, northern Louisiana and portions of southern Arkansas and Oklahoma. Today the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma is a cohesive tribe with its capital at Binger, Oklahoma...
and Lipans. After 80 warriors have been killed, the Indians withdraw. - 1852 Camp San SabaFort McKavett State Historic SiteFort McKavett State Historic Site is a state park in Menard County, Texas, United States. Fort McKavett was a frontier fort established as Camp San Saba in 1852 to protect settlers from Indian raids...
established to protect settlers from Indians. - 1856 The Sixth Legislature forms McCulloch County from BexarBexar County, TexasAs of the census of 2000, there were 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 people per square mile . There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 per square mile...
, named for Benjamin McCullochBenjamin McCullochBenjamin McCulloch was a soldier in the Texas Revolution, a Texas Ranger, a U.S. marshal, and a brigadier general in the army of the Confederate States during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
. - 1876 Voca Waterwheel Mill built.
- 1880 Brady Sentinel is established by D.F. Hayes, county’s first newspaper. Later is absorbed by Heart o’ Texas News run by R.B. Boyle.
- 1886-1912 County SwedishSwedesSwedes are a Scandinavian nation and ethnic group native to Sweden, mostly inhabiting Sweden and the other Nordic countries, with descendants living in a number of countries.-Etymology:...
colonies of East Sweden, West Sweden and MelvinMelvin, TexasMelvin is a town in McCulloch County, Texas, United States. The population was 155 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Melvin is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
are established. - 1897-1910 Brady Enterprise aka McCulloch County Enterprise is published.
- 1899 McCulloch County sandstone courthouse built. Romanesque RevivalRomanesque Revival architectureRomanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
style by architects Martin & Moodie. - 1900 The Milburn Messenger is edited by T.F. Harwell. CottonCottonCotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
becomes a major county crop. - 1903 Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway comes to McCulloch.
- 1904-1907 W.D. Currie publishes the Mercury Mascot.
- 1906-1910 McCulloch County Star is published.
- 1909 Brady Standard, edited by F.W. Schwenker, begins publication. Absorbs McCulloch County Star and the Brady Enterprise in 1910.
- 1909 The Rochelle Record started by W.D. Cowan.
- 1915 The Melvin Rustler begins publication.
- 1917 J. Marvin HunterJ. Marvin HunterJohn Marvin Hunter was an author, historian, journalist, and printer who founded the Frontier Times Museum in Bandera, Texas...
founds Melvin Enterprise. - 1920’s McCulloch County billing itself as "The Turkey Center of the Universe", holds an annual Turkey TrotTurkey TrotA Turkey Trot is a fun run or footrace, usually of the long-distance variety, that is held on or around Thanksgiving Day in the United States. Americans anticipate indulgent Thanksgiving feasts and run in turkey trots to burn off calories before the big meal....
. - 1923 J. Marvin HunterJ. Marvin HunterJohn Marvin Hunter was an author, historian, journalist, and printer who founded the Frontier Times Museum in Bandera, Texas...
founds Frontier Times in Melvin and later moves it to BanderaBandera, TexasBandera is the county seat of Bandera County, Texas, United States,in the Texas Hill Country, which is part of the Edwards Plateau. The population was 957 at the 2000 census, and according to a 2009 estimate, the population had jumped up to 1,216 people...
. - 1923 Dan Collins TaylorDan Taylor (rodeo)Dan Collins Taylor was an American cowboy and rodeo performer and promoter.-Rodeo career:Taylor was born to third-generation ranchers Babb Taylor and Kathleen Taylor in rural Doole near Brady in McCulloch County in central Texas...
, a rodeo perfomer and promoter was born in Doole in McCulloch County. He died there in 2010. - 1930’s Tenant farmingTenant farmerA tenant farmer is one who resides on and farms land owned by a landlord. Tenant farming is an agricultural production system in which landowners contribute their land and often a measure of operating capital and management; while tenant farmers contribute their labor along with at times varying...
in the county peaks at 60%. - 1932 Colorado RiverColorado River (Texas)The Colorado River is a river that runs through the U.S. state of Texas; it should not be confused with the much longer Colorado River which flows from Colorado into the Gulf of California....
floods, cresting at 62.2 feet (19 m). - 1938 Brady CreekBrady Creek (San Saba River)-References:**USGS Hydrologic Unit Map - State of Texas...
floods, cresting at 29.1 feet (8.9 m). The San Saba RiverSan Saba RiverThe San Saba River is a river in the U.S. state of Texas. It is an undeveloped and scenic waterway located on the northern boundary of the Edwards Plateau.-Course:...
floods, cresting at 39.8 feet (12.1 m). - 1941 Curtis FieldCurtis FieldCurtis Field is a city-owned, public-use airport located northeast of the central business district of Brady, a city in McCulloch County, Texas, United States. This airport is included in the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2009–2013, which categorizes it as a general...
, named for Brady Mayor Harry L. Curtis, opens with 80 students as a flying school. - 1943 County prisoner of war camp set up and includes Rommel's Afrika Corps, as well as members of the S.S.SchutzstaffelThe Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
and the GestapoGestapoThe Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
. - 1946 Crockett State School takes over former POW camp and uses as a training school for delinquent black girls.
- 1954-1960 Forty-eight restraining structures installed in the county to control flooding.
- 1963 Brady Creek ReservoirBrady Creek ReservoirBrady Creek Reservoir is a reservoir on Brady Creek in McCulloch County, Texas in the United States. The lake is just west of downtown Brady, Texas. The dam and lake are managed by the City of Brady. The reservoir was officially impounded in 1963...
is constructed, partially controlling flooding on the San Saba River. Tourist Information Marker placed, declaring McCulloch the geographical center of Texas.
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 1073 square miles (2,779.1 km²), of which 1069 square miles (2,768.7 km²) is land and 4 square miles (10.4 km²) (0.38%) is water.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 87
U.S. Highway 190
U.S. Highway 283
U.S. Highway 377
State Highway 71State Highway 71 (Texas)State Highway 71 or SH 71 is a Texas state highway that runs . The northern terminus is at US 87 and US 377 south of Brady and its southern terminus is at SH 35 near Blessing. This highway is designated the "10th Mountain Division Highway" from SH 95 to Interstate 35.Through Austin, SH 71 is known...
Adjacent counties
- Coleman County (north)
- Brown CountyBrown County, TexasBrown County is a county in West Central Texas. As of 2000, the population was 37,674. Its county seat is Brownwood. Brown is named for Henry Stevenson Brown, a commander at the Battle of Velasco...
(northeast) - San Saba CountySan Saba County, TexasSan Saba County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in Western Central Texas. In 2010, its population was 6,131. Its county seat is San Saba. It is named for the San Saba River, which flows through the county.-History:...
(east) - Mason CountyMason County, TexasMason County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 4, 012. Its county seat is Mason...
(south) - Menard County (southwest)
- Concho County (west)
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 8,205 people, 3,277 households, and 2,267 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 8 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 4,184 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.64% 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...
, 1.57% 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...
, 0.26% 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...
, 0.17% Asian
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...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
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...
, 11.71% 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 1.63% from two or more races. 27.04% 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 3,277 households out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% 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, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.60% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 19.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,705, and the median income for a family was $30,783. Males had a median income of $25,844 versus $18,337 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 $14,579. About 17.30% of families and 22.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.40% of those under age 18 and 21.50% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- BradyBrady, TexasBrady is a city in McCulloch County, Texas, United States. Brady refers to itself as "The Heart of Texas", as it is the closest city to the geographical center of the state. The population was 5,523 at the 2000 census...
- DooleDoole, TexasDoole is an unincorporated community in McCulloch County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 74 in 1990....
(unincorporated) - FifeFife, TexasFife is an unincorporated community in McCulloch County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 32 in 2000.-External links:...
(unincorporated) - LohnLohn, TexasLohn is an unincorporated community in McCulloch County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 149 in 2000.-Geography:...
(unincorporated) - MelvinMelvin, TexasMelvin is a town in McCulloch County, Texas, United States. The population was 155 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Melvin is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
- MercuryMercury, TexasMercury is an unincorporated community in McCulloch County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 166 in 2000....
(unincorporated) - Pear ValleyPear Valley, TexasPear Valley is an unincorporated community in McCulloch County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 37 in 2000.-External links:...
(unincorporated) - RochelleRochelle, TexasRochelle is an unincorporated community in McCulloch County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 163 in 2000.-Geography:...
(unincorporated) - VocaVoca, TexasVoca is an unincorporated community in McCulloch County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 56 in 2000.Although it is unincorporated, Voca has a post office, with the ZIP code of 76887....
(unincorporated)
Education
The following school districts serve McCulloch County:- Brady ISDBrady Independent School DistrictBrady Independent School District is a public school district based in Brady, Texas .In addition to Brady, the district also serves the town of Melvin...
(small portion in Concho County) - Lohn ISDLohn Independent School DistrictThe Lohn Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Lohn, Texas, United States.In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.-Lohn School:...
- Mason ISDMason Independent School DistrictMason Independent School District is a public school district based in Mason, Texas .The district serves most of Mason County and extends into small portions of Kimble, McCulloch, Menard, and San Saba counties....
(mostly in Mason County; small portions in Kimble, Menard, and San Saba counties) - Rochelle ISDRochelle Independent School DistrictRochelle Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Rochelle, Texas .The district has one school that serves students in grades kindergarten through twelve....
Government and infrastructure
In 1947 the State of Texas opened the Brady State School for Negro Girls in a former prisoner of warPrisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
camp in McCulloch County, near Brady
Brady, Texas
Brady is a city in McCulloch County, Texas, United States. Brady refers to itself as "The Heart of Texas", as it is the closest city to the geographical center of the state. The population was 5,523 at the 2000 census...
on a former prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
camp leased from the Federal Government of the United States
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
. In 1950 the state replaced the Brady facility with the Crockett State School
Crockett State School
The Crockett State School was a Texas Youth Commission juvenile correctional facility in Crockett, Texas. The students at the state school had committed various crimes, including property crimes and crimes against persons...
.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in McCulloch County, Texas
- Old McCulloch County JailOld McCulloch County Jail (Texas)The Old McCulloch County Jail is located in Brady, McCulloch County, in the U.S. state of Texas. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in McCulloch County, Texas in 1975, and became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1976. In 1963, the Texas Historical Commission...