Ector County, Texas | |
|---|---|
_DSCN1270.JPG/1280px-Ector_County,_TX,_Courthouse_(2014)_DSCN1270.JPG) Ector County Courthouse in Odessa | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Texas | |
| Coordinates: 31°52′N 102°32′W / 31.87°N 102.54°W / 31.87; -102.54 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1891 |
| Named after | Matthew Ector |
| Seat | Odessa |
| Largest city | Odessa |
| Area | |
• Total | 902 sq mi (2,340 km2) |
| • Land | 898 sq mi (2,330 km2) |
| • Water | 4.1 sq mi (11 km2) 0.5% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 165,171 |
| • Density | 184/sq mi (71.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 11th |
| Website | www.co.ector.tx.us |
Ector County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In the 2020 census, its population was 165,171.[1] Its county seat is Odessa.[2] The county was founded in 1887 and organized in 1891.[3] It is named for Matthew Ector,[4] a Confederate general in the American Civil War.
Ector County comprises the Odessa, Texas, metropolitan statistical area, which is included in the Midland–Odessa combined statistical area.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 902 sq mi (2,340 km2), of which 898 sq mi (2,330 km2) are land and 4.1 sq mi (11 km2) (0.5%) are covered by water.[5] Ector County has an average rainfall of about 14 in per year and a warm, sunny, semiarid climate. Most of the county is relatively flat, with small areas of slightly rolling terrain. The area is known for its stark landscape. The few naturally occurring trees are mostly mesquite trees, which more resemble large bushes.
Major highways
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Adjacent counties
- Andrews County (north)
- Midland County (east)
- Upton County (southeast)
- Crane County (south)
- Ward County (southwest)
- Winkler County (west)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 224 | — | |
| 1900 | 381 | 70.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,178 | 209.2% | |
| 1920 | 760 | −35.5% | |
| 1930 | 3,958 | 420.8% | |
| 1940 | 15,051 | 280.3% | |
| 1950 | 42,102 | 179.7% | |
| 1960 | 90,995 | 116.1% | |
| 1970 | 91,805 | 0.9% | |
| 1980 | 115,374 | 25.7% | |
| 1990 | 118,934 | 3.1% | |
| 2000 | 121,123 | 1.8% | |
| 2010 | 137,130 | 13.2% | |
| 2020 | 165,171 | 20.4% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 170,022 | [6] | 2.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1850–2010[8] 2010[9] 2020[10] | |||
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[11] | Pop 2010[9] | Pop 2020[10] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 61,168 | 56,306 | 51,023 | 51.33% | 41.06% | 30.89% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 5,370 | 5,596 | 7,430 | 4.43% | 4.08% | 4.50% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 526 | 623 | 568 | 0.43% | 0.45% | 0.34% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 744 | 1,004 | 2,257 | 0.61% | 0.73% | 1.37% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 31 | 106 | 327 | 0.03% | 0.08% | 0.20% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 29 | 68 | 492 | 0.02% | 0.05% | 0.30% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 949 | 1,096 | 3,023 | 0.78% | 0.80% | 1.83% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 51,306 | 72,331 | 100,051 | 42.36% | 52.75% | 60.57% |
| Total | 121,123 | 137,130 | 165,171 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 165,171. The median age was 32.8 years, with 27.7% of residents under the age of 18 and 10.8% of residents 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.4 males age 18 and over.[12]
The racial makeup of the county was 48.4% White, 4.9% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 20.7% from some other race, and 23.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 60.6% of the population.[13]
90.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 9.1% lived in rural areas.[14]
There were 57,336 households in the county, of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.7% were married-couple households, 20.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]
There were 66,086 housing units, of which 13.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 67.6% were owner-occupied and 32.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 21.3%.[12]
2000 census
As of the 2000 census[15], 121,123 people, 43,846 households, and 31,700 families resided in the county. The population density was 134 people per square mile (52 people/km2). The 49,500 housing units averaged 55 units per square mile (21/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 73.69% White, 4.61% African American, 0.83% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 17.38% from other races, and 2.81% from two or more races. About 42.36% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 43,846 households, 38.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.10% were married couples living together, 13.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were not families. About 24.00% of all households was made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the county, the population was distributed as 30.40% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 10.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,152, and for a family was $36,369. Males had a median income of $30,632 versus $21,317 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,031. About 16.10% of families and 18.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.90% of those under age 18 and 14.30% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
Ghost town
Politics
Ector County is overwhelmingly Republican. It voted against Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson, a Texas native, in his 1964 landslide. The last time Democrats carried the county was in 1948.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| № | % | № | % | № | % | |
| 1912 | 3 | 3.13% | 89 | 92.71% | 4 | 4.17% |
| 1916 | 2 | 1.64% | 120 | 98.36% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 23 | 18.40% | 100 | 80.00% | 2 | 1.60% |
| 1924 | 12 | 7.74% | 138 | 89.03% | 5 | 3.23% |
| 1928 | 168 | 52.66% | 151 | 47.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 37 | 6.22% | 530 | 89.08% | 28 | 4.71% |
| 1936 | 81 | 8.92% | 816 | 89.87% | 11 | 1.21% |
| 1940 | 451 | 13.92% | 2,783 | 85.92% | 5 | 0.15% |
| 1944 | 432 | 13.98% | 2,265 | 73.28% | 394 | 12.75% |
| 1948 | 1,145 | 20.11% | 4,305 | 75.61% | 244 | 4.29% |
| 1952 | 8,259 | 61.01% | 5,270 | 38.93% | 8 | 0.06% |
| 1956 | 8,805 | 62.41% | 5,109 | 36.21% | 194 | 1.38% |
| 1960 | 11,145 | 53.91% | 8,996 | 43.52% | 531 | 2.57% |
| 1964 | 11,497 | 51.36% | 10,826 | 48.36% | 63 | 0.28% |
| 1968 | 10,557 | 43.02% | 5,312 | 21.65% | 8,671 | 35.33% |
| 1972 | 21,386 | 79.32% | 5,449 | 20.21% | 125 | 0.46% |
| 1976 | 18,973 | 62.56% | 10,802 | 35.62% | 553 | 1.82% |
| 1980 | 26,188 | 72.38% | 9,069 | 25.07% | 922 | 2.55% |
| 1984 | 31,228 | 77.41% | 8,913 | 22.09% | 201 | 0.50% |
| 1988 | 23,155 | 67.80% | 10,825 | 31.70% | 172 | 0.50% |
| 1992 | 18,161 | 50.35% | 11,130 | 30.85% | 6,782 | 18.80% |
| 1996 | 17,746 | 54.29% | 12,017 | 36.76% | 2,923 | 8.94% |
| 2000 | 22,893 | 69.58% | 9,425 | 28.65% | 583 | 1.77% |
| 2004 | 27,502 | 75.74% | 8,579 | 23.63% | 229 | 0.63% |
| 2008 | 26,199 | 73.49% | 9,123 | 25.59% | 329 | 0.92% |
| 2012 | 24,010 | 73.85% | 8,118 | 24.97% | 385 | 1.18% |
| 2016 | 25,020 | 68.49% | 10,249 | 28.06% | 1,261 | 3.45% |
| 2020 | 32,697 | 73.33% | 11,367 | 25.49% | 527 | 1.18% |
| 2024 | 32,429 | 75.96% | 9,881 | 23.15% | 380 | 0.89% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| № | % | № | % | № | % | |
| 2024 | 30,729 | 72.70% | 10,620 | 25.13% | 919 | 2.17% |
See also
- List of museums in West Texas
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Ector County, Texas
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Ector County
- Odessa College
- Presidential Museum and Leadership Library
- University of Texas of the Permian Basin
- Odessa Meteor Crater
References
- ^ "Ector County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 114.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
- ^ "QuickFacts: Ector County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
- ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". 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) – Ector 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) – Ector County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Ector County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
External links
- Ector County government’s website
- Ector County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of Texas
- Inventory of county records, Ector County courthouse, hosted by the Portal to Texas History
- Ector County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties
31°52′N 102°32′W / 31.87°N 102.54°W / 31.87; -102.54
