Hudspeth County
County
Hudspeth County Courthouse in Sierra Blanca
Hudspeth County Courthouse in Sierra Blanca
Map of Texas highlighting Hudspeth County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°27′N 105°22′W / 31.45°N 105.37°W / 31.45; -105.37
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1917
Named forClaude Benton Hudspeth
SeatSierra Blanca
Largest communityFort Hancock
Area
 • Total4,572 sq mi (11,840 km2)
 • Land4,571 sq mi (11,840 km2)
 • Water0.8 sq mi (2 km2)  0.02%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2020)
3,202
 • Density0.7/sq mi (0.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district23rd
Websitewww.co.hudspeth.tx.us

Hudspeth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,202.[1] Its county seat is Sierra Blanca,[2] and the largest community is Fort Hancock. The county is named for Claude Benton Hudspeth, a state senator and United States Representative from El Paso.[3] It is northeast of the Mexico–U.S. border.

Hudspeth County is included in the El Paso Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. Hudspeth is one of two Texas counties to entirely observe Mountain Time, along with neighboring El Paso, while Culberson County partly observes it (in the northwestern region, as the rest of the county observes Central Time).

History

Prehistoric Jornada Mogollón peoples[4] were practicing agriculture in the Rio Grande floodplain circa 900–1350 AD. These people left behind artifacts and pictographs as evidence of their presence.[5]

The Rodriguez-Sanchez Expedition[6] of 1581 encountered friendly Native Americans bestowing gifts upon the explorers. Antonio de Espejo's[7] 1582-83 expedition encountered Otomoaco people in the county.

The Mescalero Apache[8] frequented the area to irrigate their crops. In 1849, John Salmon "RIP" Ford[9] explored the area between San Antonio and El Paso noting in his mapped report the productive land upon which the Mescalero Indians farmed. By the mid-17th century the Mescaleros expanded their territory to the Plains Navajos and Pueblos from the Guadalupes, and El Paso del Norte. Their feared presence deterred white settlers. In January 1870, a group of soldiers attacked a Mescalero Apache village near Delaware Creek in the Guadalupe Mountains. In July 1880, soldiers at Tinaja de las Palmas attacked a group of Mescaleros led by Chief Victorio.[10] In August 1880, buffalo soldiers ambushed Victorio at Rattlesnake Springs. Victorio retreated to Mexico and was killed in October by Mexican soldiers.[11] Two weeks later, Apaches killed seven buffalo soldier,[12] members of the famous black Tenth United States Cavalry.

The demand for new routes from Texas to California caused an uptick in explorations.[3] The San Antonio-to-El Paso leg of the San Antonio-California Trail was surveyed in 1848 under the direction of John Coffee Hays. Hudspeth became known as a place travelers passed through, on their way to somewhere else. Fort Quitman[13] was established in 1858 to provide protection for travelers.

Lt. Francis Theodore Bryan[14] camped at Guadalupe Pass while exploring a route from San Antonio to El Paso via Fredericksburg. Upon reaching El Paso in July 1849, his report recommended sink wells along the route. In July 1848, Secretary of War William L. Marcy wanted a military post established on the north side of the Rio Grande. Major Jefferson Van Horne[15] was sent out in 1849 to establish Marcy's goal.

John Russell Bartlett[16][17] was commissioned in 1850 to carry out the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Bartlett declared the Guadalupe Mountains dark and gloomy, and proposed a transcontinental railroad be built south of the peaks. Three years later, Captain John Pope[18] was sent to scout out a railroad route, and in the succeeding year to search for artesian water supplies. Texas Commissioner Robert Simpson Neighbors[19] was sent by Governor Peter Hansborough Bell in 1850 to organize El Paso.

The Butterfield Overland Mail[20] and the San Antonio-San Diego Mail [21] served the county from 1857 to 1861. These mail coaches provided a means for travelers to reach California in 27 days, if the passenger had the $200 for a one-way fare and was courageous enough to withstand the weather and dangers en route.

Men from San Elizario and the other villages along the Rio Grande near El Paso had become dependent on the salt trade[22] for their livelihoods. After the Civil War, they broke a road from Fort Quitman to the Salt Basin in northeastern Hudspeth County, but Anglo politicians tried to capitalize on this trade by asserting ownership of the salt lakes and levying fees on the traders. The result was the 7-year San Elizario Salt War,[23] which heightened tensions between Mexicans and Americans in the 1870s.

Rival railway companies began competing for rights of way. The Texas and Pacific Railway[24] and the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway[25] eventually reached an agreement to share the tracks, with a number of towns arising along the way

Hudspeth was formed in 1917 from El Paso County, Texas. Sierra Blanca was named the county seat, and has the only adobe courthouse[26] in Texas.

From 1992 to 2002, the county accepted over 200 tons per day of treated, dried sewage from New York City. The waste was spread over a remote site in the county.[27]

In recent times, Hudspeth County has become notorious as a location for frequent drug arrests for individuals traveling east on Interstate 10 from El Paso, due to the presence of a US Border Patrol checkpoint. Several celebrities, including touring musicians Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, and Fiona Apple, and actor Armie Hammer have been arrested on drug charges at this location.[28]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,572 square miles (11,840 km2), of which 4,571 square miles (11,840 km2) are land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2) (0.02%) is covered by water.[29] It is the third largest county in Texas by land area. Part of Guadalupe Mountains National Park lies in the northeast corner of the county.

Major highways

Adjacent counties and municipalities

Protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1920962—
19303,728287.5%
19403,149−15.5%
19504,29836.5%
19603,343−22.2%
19702,392−28.4%
19802,72814.0%
19902,9156.9%
20003,34414.7%
20103,4763.9%
20203,202−7.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[30]
1850–2010[31] 2010[32] 2020[33]
Hudspeth County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[32] Pop 2020[33] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 628 1,094 18.07% 34.17%
Black or African American alone (NH) 30 6 0.86% 0.19%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 11 6 0.32% 0.19%
Asian alone (NH) 13 10 0.37% 0.31%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 0 0.00% 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 1 7 0.03% 0.22%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 25 43 0.72% 1.34%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,768 2,036 79.63% 63.59%
Total 3,476 3,202 100.00% 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.

As of the 2010 United States census, 3,476 people resided in the county. 78.8% were White, 1.4% Black or African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 16.1% of some other race, and 2.2% of two or more races; 79.6% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census[34] of 2000, 3,344 people, 1,092 households, and 841 families resided in the county. The population density was 0.7 people per square mile (0.27 people/km2). The 1,471 housing units averaged 0.3 units per square mile (0.12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.23% White, 0.33% African American 1.41% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 8.76% from other races, and 2.09% from two or more races. About 75.03% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,092 households, 45.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were not families. About 21.1% of all households were made up of one person, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.56.

In the county, the population was distributed as with 34.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 102.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $21,045, and for a family was $22,314. Males had a median income of $22,862 versus $18,594 for females. The per capita income for the county was $9,549. About 32.6% of families and 35.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.3% of those under age 18 and 42.6% of those age 65 or over. The county's per capita income makes it one of the poorest counties in the United States.

Education

Hudspeth County is served by four school districts. The Fort Hancock Independent School District, based in Fort Hancock, covers the western part of the county, along the El Paso County line from the Mexican border to the New Mexico state line. A strip along the Culberson County line in the eastern part of Hudspeth County, which includes Allamoore, is served by the Culberson County-Allamoore Independent School District based in Van Horn. Most of the northern part of the county is served by the Dell City Independent School District, based in Dell City. Most of the southern part of the county is served by the Sierra Blanca Independent School District, based in Sierra Blanca.[35]

The former Allamoore ISD merged into Culberson County ISD in 1995.[36]

According to statistics from January 2009, 52% of Hudspeth County adults were illiterate in English.[37]

All of the county is in the service area of El Paso Community College.[38]

Communities

City

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Politics

United States presidential election results for Hudspeth County, Texas[39]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 779 66.87% 371 31.85% 15 1.29%
2016 503 57.75% 324 37.20% 44 5.05%
2012 471 54.58% 379 43.92% 13 1.51%
2008 458 51.00% 430 47.88% 10 1.11%
2004 577 65.12% 302 34.09% 7 0.79%
2000 514 55.75% 380 41.21% 28 3.04%
1996 367 40.87% 427 47.55% 104 11.58%
1992 325 37.40% 364 41.89% 180 20.71%
1988 405 49.63% 406 49.75% 5 0.61%
1984 557 60.35% 362 39.22% 4 0.43%
1980 471 53.28% 394 44.57% 19 2.15%
1976 395 44.84% 479 54.37% 7 0.79%
1972 467 64.24% 250 34.39% 10 1.38%
1968 285 40.31% 289 40.88% 133 18.81%
1964 224 33.68% 438 65.86% 3 0.45%
1960 267 38.98% 409 59.71% 9 1.31%
1956 316 45.66% 368 53.18% 8 1.16%
1952 355 57.07% 262 42.12% 5 0.80%
1948 49 9.84% 437 87.75% 12 2.41%
1944 35 8.84% 333 84.09% 28 7.07%
1940 54 11.23% 426 88.57% 1 0.21%
1936 24 6.19% 363 93.56% 1 0.26%
1932 31 8.31% 341 91.42% 1 0.27%
1928 123 51.25% 117 48.75% 0 0.00%
1924 34 23.94% 84 59.15% 24 16.90%
1920 37 27.41% 97 71.85% 1 0.74%

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Hudspeth County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Kohout, Martin Donell: Hudspeth County from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 12 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
  4. ↑ "Jornada Mogollon". Texas Beyond History. Retrieved May 12, 2010. Texas Beyond History
  5. ↑ "Artistic Expression". Texas Beyond History. Retrieved May 12, 2010. Texas Beyond History
  6. ↑ Timmons, W H: Rodriguez-Sanchez Expedition from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 12 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  7. ↑ Blake, Robert Bruce: de Espejo, Antonio from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 12 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  8. ↑ "Texas Indians Map". R E. Moore and Texarch Associates. Retrieved May 12, 2010. R E. Moore and Texarch Associates
  9. ↑ Connor, Seymour V: Ford, John Salmon from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 12 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  10. ↑ Stout, Joseph A. "Chief Victorio". King Snake. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  11. ↑ Davis, Stanford L. "Victorio's War". Buffalo Soldier. Archived from the original on September 21, 2007. Retrieved May 12, 2010. Stanford L. Davis, M.A.
  12. ↑ "Buffalo Soldiers and Indian Hot Springs". Texas Historical Markers. Archived from the original on January 19, 2011. Retrieved May 12, 2010.Texas Historical Markers
  13. ↑ Rock, James L (2010). Southern and Western Texas Guide for 1878. General Books LLC. pp. 33, 40, 271. ISBN 978-1-4588-5239-7.
  14. ↑ Powell, William S: Bryan, Francis Theodore from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 12 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  15. ↑ Kohout, Martin Donell: Van Horne, Jefferson from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 12 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  16. ↑ Faulk, Odie B: Bartlett, John Russell from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 12 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  17. ↑ "Bartlett, John Russell". The John Russell Bartlett Society. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  18. ↑ Cutrer, Thomas W: Pope, John from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 12 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  19. ↑ Richardson, Rupert N: Neighbors, Robert Simpson from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 12 May2010. Texas State Historic
  20. ↑ Greene, A C (2006). 900 Miles on the Butterfield Trail. University of North Texas Press. ISBN 978-1-57441-213-0.
  21. ↑ "San Antonio-San Diego Mail". State of California Parks Department. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Salt Flat". Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved May 12, 2010. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
  23. ↑ Sonnichsen, C L: San Elizario Salt War from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 12 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  24. ↑ "Texas and Pacific Railway". Texas and Pacific Railway. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  25. ↑ "Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway". Texas Transportation Museum. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  26. ↑ "Hudspeth Courthouse". Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved May 12, 2010. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
  27. ↑ Minor drug busts at border checkpoint breaking Texas county’s budget, by Andrew Becker and G W Shulz, 19 June 2013, Center for Investigative Reporting
  28. ↑ "Singer Fiona Apple arrested on drug charge in Texas - Yahoo! News". Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  29. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  31. ↑ "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.
  32. 1 2 "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Hudspeth County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  33. 1 2 "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Hudspeth County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  34. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  35. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hudspeth County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022. - Text list
  36. ↑ "CONSOLIDATIONS, ANNEXATIONS AND NAME CHANGES FOR TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS" (PDF). Texas Education Agency. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  37. ↑ Percentage by County of Illiterate Adult Texans, Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy & Learning, 2016. Accessed 2016-08-14.
  38. ↑ Texas Education Code, Section 130.178, "El Paso County Community College District Service Area".
  39. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.

31°27′N 105°22′W / 31.45°N 105.37°W / 31.45; -105.37

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