Bailey County, Texas

History

In 1876, the Texas Legislature established Bailey County from portions of Bexar County, naming it for Peter James Bailey, a defender of the Alamo. (See List of Texas county name etymologies.) The county organized in 1919.

Bailey County history is highlighted in the Muleshoe Heritage Center located off U.S. Highways 70 and 64 in Muleshoe. The Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge was founded in 1935 and is the oldest such refuge in Texas.

Bailey County once was one of 30 prohibition or entirely dry counties in Texas, but is now a wet county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 827 sqmi, of which 0.7 sqmi (0.08%) is covered by water.

Major highways

• [[Image:US 70.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 70
• [[Image:US 84.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 84
• [[Image:Texas 214.svg|20px]] State Highway 214

Adjacent counties

• Parmer County (north)
• Lamb County (east)
• Hockley County (southeast)
• Cochran County (south)
• Roosevelt County, New Mexico (west/Mountain Time Zone)
• Curry County, New Mexico (northwest/Mountain Time Zone)

National protected areas

• Grulla National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1850–1900 1910 1920 1930 1940

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 6,904. The median age was 33.6 years. 29.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 106.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 104.0 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 48.5% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian,

74.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 25.3% lived in rural areas.

There were 2,359 households in the county, of which 40.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.3% were married-couple households, 18.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 2,746 housing units, of which 14.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 65.2% were owner-occupied and 34.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.6%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, 7,165 people lived in the county. About 75.3% were White, 1.4% Native American, 1.2% Black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 19.6% of some other race, and 2.0% of two or more races; 59.8% were Hispanics or Latinos (of any race).

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 6,594 people, 2,348 households, and 1,777 families lived in the county. The population density was 8 /mi2. The 2,738 housing units averaged 3 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 66.68% White, 1.27% Black or African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 28.60% from other races, and 2.65% from two or more races; 47.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 2,348 households, 37.1% had children under living with them, 64.9% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were not families. About 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.78, and the average family size was 3.28.

In the county, the age distribution was 30.3% under 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,901, and for a family was $32,898. Males had a median income of $25,150 versus $18,309 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,979. About 13.50% of families and 16.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 12.60% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Most of Bailey County is served by the Muleshoe Independent School District, which extends into neighboring counties. Farwell Independent School District and Sudan Independent School District, which are based in nearby counties, extend into Bailey County and serve small portions of it.

Three Way Independent School District formerly served a part of Bailey County. It closed in 2002, becoming a part of Sudan ISD.

The county is in the service area of South Plains College.

Communities

City

• Muleshoe (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Baileyboro
• Bula
• Circle Back
• Enochs
• Goodland
• Maple
• Needmore
• Progress

Ghost town

• Virginia City

Politics

References

References

1. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
2. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Bailey County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
3. "Bailey County, Texas".
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6. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
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11. "1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
12. "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
13. "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
14. "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
15. "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
16. "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas".
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20. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
21. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
22. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
23. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Bailey County, Texas". [[United States Census Bureau]].
24. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bailey County, Texas".
25. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bailey County, Texas".
26. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
27. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Bailey County, TX". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
28. (March 11, 2001). "School Districts in Bailey County". [[Texas Education Agency]].
29. (February 3, 2002). "Three Way folds into Sudan district". [[Lubbock Avalanche-Journal]].
30. [https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.198. SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]
31. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
32. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".