Erath County, Texas

Erath County
Erath County
County
	Erath County Courthouse in Stephenville, Texas.
	Location within the U.S. state of Texas
	Texas's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 32°14′N 98°13′W / 32.23°N 98.22°W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1856
Named for	George Bernard Erath
Seat	Stephenville
Largest city	Stephenville
Area
• Total	1,090 sq mi (2,800 km2)
• Land	1,083 sq mi (2,800 km2)
• Water	6.7 sq mi (17 km2) 0.6%
Population (2020)
• Total	42,545
• Density	39/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	25th
Website	www.co.erath.tx.us

Erath County (/ˈiːræθ/) is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. According to the United States Census bureau its population was 42,545 in 2020.^[1] The county seat is Stephenville.^[2] The county is named for George Bernard Erath, an early surveyor and a soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto.

Erath County is included in the Stephenville, Texas, Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Erath County is the location of two of North America's largest renewable natural gas plants. The largest is at Huckabay Ridge, near Stephenville. The second largest is located outside Dublin at Rio Leche Estates.

History

Native Americans

Caddo tribe Anadarko villages were scattered along the Trinity and Brazos Rivers.^[3] French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe developed camaraderie among the Anadarko in 1719 when he established Fort Saint Louis de los Cadodaquious.^[4] The Anadarko became entangled with the French battles with the Spanish and later the Anglos and suffered the consequences, including diseases from which they had no immunity. By 1860, these tribes moved to Oklahoma. Erath County falls into Comancheria and found itself raided by Comanches until their removal to Oklahoma after 1875.^[5]

County established and growth

Erath County was formed from Bosque and Coryell counties in 1856 and named for George Bernard Erath, one of the original surveyors of the area.^[6] In 1856, John M. Stephen offered to donate land for a townsite. It was named Stephenville after him and became the county seat.^[7]

Jones Barbee founded the community of Dublin in 1854.^[8] His children were the first citizens to be buried in Erath County in the community of Edna Hill, which is located in Southern Erath. Barbee Cemetery is named after him. Jones traveled with his wife and children across the country coming from North Carolina. He is the grandson of Christopher "Old Kit" Barbee who was the largest wealthiest landowner in North Carolina. He was the largest land donor for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.^[9] Barbee served as board president; a bronze statue of him is in the university. Jones had many children who went on to populate the county with names still enduring today such as Barbee, White, Durham, and Brambeletts. Some of his great-grandchildren still reside in the community. His great-great-great-granddaughter, Carolina, lives on his land today in Edna Hill and is the 6th generation to continually live on his old homestead. Her children are the 7th generation to do so. The families of other early settlers still endure there today. Dublin later became famous as the early boyhood home of the PGA, U.S. Open and Masters golf champion Ben Hogan.^[10]

In 1857, thirty pioneers settled in the county led by surveyors George Erath (1813–1891). The group included brothers William F. and John M. Stephen and a black family whose name and destiny is unknown.^[11]

Erath, an immigrant from Vienna, Austria, was a Texas Ranger and member of Billingsley's Company C, 1st Regiment of Texas Volunteers, under the command of Col. Charles Burleson at the Battle of San Jacinto, and a member of the Confederate Home Guard.^[12] As a Freemason, he was a charter member and secretary of Bosque Lodge #92, from 1852 to 1855 – which changed its name to Waco #92 in 1857 and remains the oldest continuous organization in Waco, Texas.^[13]

Cotton became the major crop between 1875 and 1915, with the largest crop being in 1906. The industry was helped in 1879 when the Texas Central Railroad reached Dublin, and in 1889 when the Fort Worth and Rio Grande railroad was completed through Stephenville. This opened eastern markets for the county's cotton crops. By 1910, soil erosion and the boll weevil caused diversity planning that led to dairy farms, fruit orchards, nurseries, peanuts, feed crops and poultry.^[6]

The community of Thurber was created by the Johnson Coal Company.^[14] From 1888 to 1921, the Texas Pacific Coal Company mined coal near Thurber, making it a leading coal producer in the state. Fifty-two percent of the miners were of Italian ancestry, creating the "Italian Hill" community just outside Thurber. The United Mine Workers in 1903 sent Joe Fenoglio to organize the Italian workers, thus beginning the Thurber Coal Miners Strike. In the 1970s, the area began bituminous coal production for fuel in the cement industry.^[15]

Tarleton State University was founded in 1893 as Stephenville College but was renamed in 1899 after the local rancher John Tarleton rescued the institution from financial difficulties.^[16]

On November 4, 2008, Erath County voters elected to allow the sale of beer and wine in the county for off-premises consumption.

Courthouse

Erath's original 1866 wooden courthouse burned to the ground, destroying county documents along with it. A second stone courthouse was built in 1877 but eventually razed. The cornerstone for the current courthouse was laid in 1891. The architects James Riely Gordon and D. E. Laub designed the present three-story showcase Victorian structure. In addition to Erath, Gordon designed the Arizona State Capitol, and courthouses in Aransas, Bexar, Brazoria, Comal, Ellis, Fayette, Gonzales, Harrison, Hopkins, Lee, McLennan, Victoria and Wise counties.^[17] The building was completed in 1893, with limestone from the Leon River and red sandstone from Pecos County. The building's centralized 95-foot tower has a bell tower and creates a chandeliered atrium from the first floor to the third. The interior is east Texas pine, with cast and wrought-iron stairways, and tessellated imported marble floors. It was renovated in 1988.^[18]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,090 square miles (2,800 km²), of which 1,083 square miles (2,800 km²) is land and 6.7 square miles (17 km²) (0.6%) is water.^[19]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Palo Pinto County (north)
Hood County (northeast)
Somervell County (east)
Bosque County (southeast)
Hamilton County (south)
Comanche County (southwest)
Eastland County (west)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1860	2,425	—
1870	1,801	−25.7%
1880	11,796	555.0%
1890	21,584	83.0%
1900	29,966	38.8%
1910	32,095	7.1%
1920	28,385	−11.6%
1930	20,804	−26.7%
1940	20,760	−0.2%
1950	18,434	−11.2%
1960	16,236	−11.9%
1970	18,141	11.7%
1980	22,560	24.4%
1990	27,991	24.1%
2000	33,001	17.9%
2010	37,890	14.8%
2020	42,545	12.3%
U.S. Decennial Census^[20] 1850–2010^[21] 2010^[22] 2020^[23]

**Erath County, Texas - Demographic Profile**
(*NH = Non-Hispanic*)
Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2010^[22]	Pop 2020^[23]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	29,382	30,006	77.55%	70.53%
Black or African American alone (NH)	431	1,194	1.14%	2.81%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	170	215	0.45%	0.51%
Asian alone (NH)	240	348	0.63%	0.82%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	12	13	0.03%	0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	18	104	0.05%	0.24%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	358	1,411	0.94%	3.32%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	7,279	9,254	19.21%	21.75%
Total	37,890	42,545	100.00%	100.00%

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 can be of any race.

At the 2010 census,^[24] there were 37,890 people, 14,569 households and 9,003 families residing in the county. The racial makeup of the county was 85.6% White, 1.2% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.0003% Pacific Islander, 10% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. 19.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,569 households, of which 29.59% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.03% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 38.2% were non-families. 27% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.06.

22.29% of the population were under the age of 18, 19.40% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.5 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males.

Communities

Cities

Dublin
Stephenville (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Duffau

Politics

At the presidential level, Erath County is predominantly Republican. In 2012, Mitt Romney won the county in the presidential election, taking over 80% of the vote. The last Democrat to win the county was Jimmy Carter, in 1976 and 1980.^[25]

United States presidential election results for Erath County, Texas^[25]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	13,684	81.08%	2,916	17.28%	277	1.64%
2016	11,210	80.69%	2,160	15.55%	523	3.76%
2012	10,329	82.81%	1,965	15.75%	179	1.44%
2008	10,768	76.81%	3,128	22.31%	123	0.88%
2004	9,506	77.40%	2,710	22.07%	65	0.53%
2000	8,126	73.11%	2,804	25.23%	185	1.66%
1996	4,750	49.49%	3,664	38.17%	1,184	12.34%
1992	3,835	36.77%	3,531	33.85%	3,065	29.38%
1988	5,427	56.71%	4,113	42.98%	30	0.31%
1984	6,122	65.16%	3,234	34.42%	39	0.42%
1980	3,981	47.93%	4,156	50.04%	169	2.03%
1976	2,925	37.55%	4,821	61.89%	44	0.56%
1972	4,777	74.26%	1,648	25.62%	8	0.12%
1968	2,209	36.46%	2,915	48.11%	935	15.43%
1964	1,642	29.87%	3,851	70.04%	5	0.09%
1960	2,696	51.69%	2,490	47.74%	30	0.58%
1956	2,775	53.66%	2,377	45.97%	19	0.37%
1952	3,249	54.93%	2,664	45.04%	2	0.03%
1948	598	14.94%	3,172	79.26%	232	5.80%
1944	411	9.85%	3,330	79.84%	430	10.31%
1940	646	15.67%	3,459	83.90%	18	0.44%
1936	290	9.68%	2,694	89.95%	11	0.37%
1932	284	7.83%	3,319	91.46%	26	0.72%
1928	1,923	56.94%	1,372	40.63%	82	2.43%
1924	406	10.27%	3,396	85.89%	152	3.84%
1920	358	13.05%	1,914	69.78%	471	17.17%
1916	184	7.32%	2,024	80.57%	304	12.10%
1912	156	8.19%	1,569	82.36%	180	9.45%

Media

Two newspapers have offices located in Erath County: The Stephenville Empire-Tribune and The Dublin Citizen. Local television stations that provide coverage for Erath County and surrounding areas come from the Dallas/Fort Worth and Waco/Temple/Killeen metropolitan areas.

Five radio stations have their main studios and offices in Erath County: KEQX 89.5, KTRL 90.5, KSTV-FM 93.1, KXTR-LP 100.7 and KSTV (AM) 1510. KTRL and KXTR-LP are operated by Tarleton State University.

In popular culture

Several scenes in the Paul Greengrass Western movie News of the World starring Tom Hanks take place in a fictionalized Erath County shortly after the end of the Civil War.^[26]

In 2023 television and film producer Taylor Sheridan's company used several locations in Erath County including the Court House Square to film The Bass Reeves Story for Netflix as the Yellowstone franchise evolved to include additional places, times and events. Downtown Stephenville was transformed for several weeks into a 19th-century facsimile of Ft. Smith, Arkansas.

Erath County is home to several nationally famous people including 7-time American Rodeo Association World Champion and co-founder of Professional Bull Riders (PBR Rodeo) Tye Murray; comedic actress and winner of the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress (1972- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In) and 5-time Emmy Award nominee Ruth Buzzi; activist Taya Kyle, widow of Navy Seal Cris Kyle who was murdered in Erath County; and it is the birth home of the late country singer-songwriter Johnny Duncan. Stephenville in Erath County is also home to pro football star Cody Davis who plays Safety for the New England Patriots. It is also home to 3-time national "coach of the year in college football, Arthur "Art" Briles, who is currently coaching an Italian professional football team and was formerly the coach of Houston Cougars and the Baylor Bears football teams.

References

^ "Erath County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ "Anadarko Indian History". Access Genealogy. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
- "Caddo Indian History". Access Genealogy. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
^ Weddle, Robert S (1991). "Cannibal Coast". The French Thorn: Rival Explorers in the Spanish Sea, 1682-1762. TAMU Press. pp. 208–228. ISBN 978-0-89096-480-4.
^ "Texas Indian Lands". R E. Moore and Texarch Associates. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
^ ^a ^b Young, Dan M (June 12, 2010). "Erath County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
^ "Stephenville, Texas". Texas Escapes. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
^ "Dublin, Texas". Texas Escapes. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
^ "Early Land Donations · Carolina's Early Benefactors · Carolina Story: Virtual Museum of University History".
^ "Beh Hogan bio". World Golf Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
^ Longwell, Evelyn Clark (June 15, 2010). "Neil McLennan". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
^ "Officers and Enlisted Men Battle of San Jacinto 21st April 1836". Sons of Dewitt Colony Texas. Archived from the original on December 5, 2010. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
^ "George B. Erath - Texas Mason Honored in Stephenville". The Grand Lodge of Texas Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
^ "Thurber, Texas". Texas Escapes. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
^ "The Italian Presence in the Coal Camp of Thurber, Texas". Thurber, Texas. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
- Taylor, Wilma Rugh (2005). "Finding Surprises in East Texas". Gospel Tracks through Texas: The Mission of Chapel Car Good Will. TAMU Press. pp. 47–56. ISBN 978-1-58544-434-2.
^ Dethloff, Henry C (1996). Texas A&M University: A Pictorial History, 1876-1996, Second Edition. TAMU Press. pp. 62–64. ISBN 978-0-89096-704-1.
- Peterson's (2008). Colleges in the South: Compare Colleges in Your Region. Peterson's. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-7689-2695-8.
^ Lurie, Maxine N; Mappen, Marc; Siegel, Michael (2004). Encyclopedia of New Jersey. Rutgers University Press. p. 324. ISBN 978-0-8135-3325-4.
^ Herda, Ed.D., Lou Ann. "Erath County Courthouse". Texas Escapes. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
^ ^a ^b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Erath 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) - Erath County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
^ ^a ^b Leip, Dave. "United States Presidential Election Results". Atlas of US Presidential Elections.
^ Tallerico, Brian. "News of the World movie review (2020) | Roger Ebert". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved April 13, 2021.