Irion County, Texas | |
|---|---|
 The Irion County Courthouse in Mertzon | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Texas | |
| Coordinates: 31°18′N 100°59′W / 31.3°N 100.98°W / 31.3; -100.98 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1889 |
| Named after | Robert Anderson Irion |
| Seat | Mertzon |
| Largest city | Mertzon |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,052 sq mi (2,720 km2) |
| • Land | 1,052 sq mi (2,720 km2) |
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2) 0.01% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 1,513 |
| • Density | 1.438/sq mi (0.5553/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 11th |
| Website | www.co.irion.tx.us |
Irion County (/ˈaɪriən/ EYE-ree-ən) is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,513.[1] Its county seat is Mertzon.[2] The county is named for Robert Anderson Irion, a secretary of state of the Republic of Texas.
Irion County is included in the San Angelo metropolitan statistical area.
History
From 1858 to 1861, Butterfield Overland Mail crossed the region.[3]
In 1876, John Arden brought the first flock of sheep from California, and Billy Childress established the Longhorn 7D Ranch.[4]
The Texas Legislature formed Irion County from Tom Green County in 1889. Sherwood became the county seat.[5]
Oil was discovered in Irion County in 1928.[6]
In 1936, Mertzon became the county seat.[7]
In 2020 Irion was the slowest county to comply with the Supreme Court's Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, forbidding the ban on same-sex marriages.
The Old Irion County Courthouse in Sherwood is the only property in the county listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,052 square miles (2,720 km2), of which 1,052 sq mi (2,720 km2) are land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km2) (0.01%) is covered by water.[8] The Spraberry Trend, the third-largest oil field in the United States by remaining reserves, underlies much of the county.[9]
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Tom Green County (north and east)
- Schleicher County (southeast)
- Crockett County (southwest)
- Reagan County (west)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 870 | — | |
| 1900 | 848 | −2.5% | |
| 1910 | 1,283 | 51.3% | |
| 1920 | 1,610 | 25.5% | |
| 1930 | 2,049 | 27.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,963 | −4.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,590 | −19.0% | |
| 1960 | 1,183 | −25.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,070 | −9.6% | |
| 1980 | 1,386 | 29.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,629 | 17.5% | |
| 2000 | 1,771 | 8.7% | |
| 2010 | 1,599 | −9.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,513 | −5.4% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 1,526 | [10] | 0.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1850–2010[12] 2010[13] 2020[14] | |||
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[15] | Pop 2010[13] | Pop 2020[14] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 1,321 | 1,153 | 1,112 | 74.59% | 72.11% | 73.50% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 4 | 11 | 6 | 0.23% | 0.69% | 0.40% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 6 | 7 | 9 | 0.34% | 0.44% | 0.59% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.19% | 0.00% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.07% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.07% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 4 | 18 | 35 | 0.23% | 1.13% | 2.31% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 436 | 407 | 349 | 24.62% | 25.45% | 23.07% |
| Total | 1,771 | 1,599 | 1,513 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,513. The median age was 45.3 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.7 males age 18 and over.[16][17]
The racial makeup of the county was 79.3% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, <0.1% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 8.3% from some other race, and 10.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 23.1% of the population.[17]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[18]
There were 617 households in the county, of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 58.0% were married-couple households, 16.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[16]
There were 785 housing units, of which 21.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.1% were owner-occupied and 20.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.5%.[16]
2000 census
As of the census[19] of 2000, 1,771 people, 694 households, and 523 were families residing in the county. The population density was two people per square mile (0.77 people/km2). The 914 housing units averaged one units per square mile (0.39 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.68% White, 0.40% African American, 0.79% Native American, 6.55% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. About 24.62% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 694 households, 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.80% were married couples living together, 6.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.50% were not families. About 21.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55, and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the age distribution was 26.70% under 18, 4.70% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,500, and for a family was $45,458. Males had a median income of $35,642 versus $20,395 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,515. About 8.30% of families and 8.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.20% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Notable native
- Laura Bullion, female Old West outlaw, born in Knickerbocker.[20]
Politics
As of 2017, only Irion County among those in Texas had stated it would refuse to issue licenses to same-sex couples. Many counties started issuing same-sex marriage licenses within hours of the Obergefell ruling on June 26, 2015, while others awaited direction from state officials, local county attorney advice, or issuance of corrected state marriage license forms. Irion County adopted this reason for not issuing licenses. No marriage applications have yet been made by same-sex couples in Irion County.[21][22] Irion County was the sole holdout in Texas, with reports that the situation was still in effect two years later.[23][24][25] When Alabama replaced marriage licenses with marriage certificates and required that all counties issue them, Irion County became the only remaining county in the country that would not allow same-sex couples to marry. As of 2020, Irion County has a new county clerk who has stated she would issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.[26]
Irion County was one of four Texas counties Ross Perot won in the 1992 presidential election. Otherwise, the county, like most of rural Texas, is extremely Republican. It has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Texas native Lyndon B. Johnson won a statewide and national landslide in 1964.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| № | % | № | % | № | % | |
| 1912 | 0 | 0.00% | 132 | 89.80% | 15 | 10.20% |
| 1916 | 5 | 3.01% | 150 | 90.36% | 11 | 6.63% |
| 1920 | 45 | 20.09% | 148 | 66.07% | 31 | 13.84% |
| 1924 | 73 | 25.35% | 205 | 71.18% | 10 | 3.47% |
| 1928 | 259 | 68.52% | 119 | 31.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 47 | 10.31% | 398 | 87.28% | 11 | 2.41% |
| 1936 | 49 | 9.25% | 476 | 89.81% | 5 | 0.94% |
| 1940 | 74 | 11.62% | 560 | 87.91% | 3 | 0.47% |
| 1944 | 54 | 11.92% | 363 | 80.13% | 36 | 7.95% |
| 1948 | 63 | 14.32% | 366 | 83.18% | 11 | 2.50% |
| 1952 | 268 | 48.73% | 282 | 51.27% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 252 | 58.33% | 178 | 41.20% | 2 | 0.46% |
| 1960 | 238 | 48.87% | 246 | 50.51% | 3 | 0.62% |
| 1964 | 199 | 36.18% | 351 | 63.82% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 211 | 43.06% | 187 | 38.16% | 92 | 18.78% |
| 1972 | 363 | 76.10% | 111 | 23.27% | 3 | 0.63% |
| 1976 | 302 | 50.00% | 297 | 49.17% | 5 | 0.83% |
| 1980 | 427 | 63.73% | 239 | 35.67% | 4 | 0.60% |
| 1984 | 619 | 75.30% | 199 | 24.21% | 4 | 0.49% |
| 1988 | 539 | 62.17% | 326 | 37.60% | 2 | 0.23% |
| 1992 | 283 | 34.06% | 256 | 30.81% | 292 | 35.14% |
| 1996 | 386 | 55.94% | 213 | 30.87% | 91 | 13.19% |
| 2000 | 624 | 78.69% | 162 | 20.43% | 7 | 0.88% |
| 2004 | 684 | 82.61% | 141 | 17.03% | 3 | 0.36% |
| 2008 | 644 | 78.82% | 164 | 20.07% | 9 | 1.10% |
| 2012 | 668 | 84.77% | 112 | 14.21% | 8 | 1.02% |
| 2016 | 660 | 86.16% | 90 | 11.75% | 16 | 2.09% |
| 2020 | 763 | 85.35% | 120 | 13.42% | 11 | 1.23% |
| 2024 | 761 | 87.67% | 105 | 12.10% | 2 | 0.23% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| № | % | № | % | № | % | |
| 2024 | 732 | 84.43% | 118 | 13.61% | 17 | 1.96% |
Education
All of the county is in the Irion County Independent School District.[29]
All of Irion County is in the service area of Howard County Junior College District.[30]
See also
- List of museums in West Texas
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Irion County, Texas
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Irion County
References
- ^ "Irion 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.
- ^ Hunt, William R; Leffler, John. "Irion County". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ Lanning, James and Judy (1995). Texas Cowboys: Memories of the Early Days. TAMU Press. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-89096-658-7.
- ^ "Sherwood, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ Warner, C A; Thompson, Ernest O (2007). Texas Oil & Gas Since 1543. Copano Bay Press. p. 299. ISBN 978-0-9767799-5-7.
- ^ "Mertzon, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
- ^ Top 100 Oil and Gas Fields Archived May 15, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "QuickFacts: Irion County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 15, 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 30, 2015.
- ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Irion 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) – Irion County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Irion County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
- ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ Magness, Perre, Cohort of Butch, Sundance 'retired' here, Commercial Appeal, Memphis, January 12, 1995, page EC2
- ^ Young, Stephen (April 12, 2017). "Texas Senate Approves Recusals For County Clerks Opposed to Same-Sex Marriage". Dallas Observer.
- ^ Reinhard, Chelsea (July 9, 2015). "The Last Stand Against Gay Marriage in Irion County, Texas". sanangelolive.com.
- ^ "Local government responses to Obergefell v. Hodges". ballotpedia.org. June 26, 2017.
- ^ "Irion County clerk cites beliefs, constitution in not issuing same-sex marriage licenses". Archived from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ "WATCH: The Next 'Kim Davis:' Texas Clerk Molly Criner".
- ^ "Irion County Clerk".
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ^ Geography Division (December 22, 2020). 2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Irion County, TX (PDF) (Map). Suitland, Maryland: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2026. - Text list
- ^ "Sec. 130.183. HOWARD COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA".
External links
- Irion County government website
- Irion County from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Inventory of county records, Irion County courthouse, Mertzon, Texas, hosted by the Portal to Texas History
- Irion County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties Archived June 9, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
31°18′N 100°59′W / 31.30°N 100.98°W / 31.30; -100.98
