Burnet County, Texas

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Burnet County, Texas
250px
The Burnet County Courthouse in Burnet
Map of Texas highlighting Burnet County
Location in the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded 1854
Named for David Gouverneur Burnet
Seat Burnet
Largest city Marble Falls
Area
 • Total 1,021 sq mi (2,644 km2)
 • Land 994 sq mi (2,574 km2)
 • Water 27 sq mi (70 km2), 2.6
Population
 • (2010) 42,750
 • Density 43/sq mi (17/km²)
Congressional district 25th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.burnetcountytexas.org
File:Veterans Monument, Burnet, TX IMG 1982.JPG
Veterans Memorial at Burnet County courthouse
File:Rolling highway west of Burnet County, TX IMG 2010.JPG
Rolling highway in Burnet County in Texas Hill Country toward Longhorn Cavern State Park

Burnet County (/ˈbɜːrnᵻt/ BUR-nit) is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 42,750.[1] Its county seat is Burnet.[2] The county was founded in 1852 and later organized in 1854.[3] It is named for David Gouverneur Burnet, the first (provisional) president of the Republic of Texas. The name of the county is pronounced with the emphasis or accent on the first syllable, just as its namesake David Burnet.

History

Indigenous peoples inhabit the area as early as 4500 B.C. Later known tribes in the area include Tonkawa, Lipan Apache and Comanche.[4]

During the 1820s-1830s Stephen F. Austin and Green DeWitt surveying and Indian fighting explorations.[4] In 1849 the United States established Fort Croghan[5] and in 1848 First settlers arrived in the county, Samuel Eli Holland, Logan Vandeveer, Peter Kerr, William Harrison Magill, Noah Smithwick, Captain Jesse B. Burnham, R. H. Hall, Adam Rankin "Stovepipe" Johnson and Captain Christian Dorbandt.[6] In 1851 Twenty Mormon families under the leadership of Lyman Wight establish a colony at Hamilton Creek, later to be known as Morman Mill.[7]

In 1852 the Fourth Texas Legislature created Burnet County from Bell, Travis and Williamson.[4] The first post office was established at Hamilton in 1853.[4]

In 1860 there were 235 slaves in Burnet County[4]

After the war some former slaves left the county, but many stayed. A group of them settled on land in the eastern part of Oatmeal. In 1870 the black population of the county had increased to 358, keeping pace with the growth of the total number of residents; the number of blacks had fallen to 248 by 1880, however, and the number of new white residents was such that after 1890, blacks represented less than 3 percent of the total population. Some found work on farms and ranches, but by the turn of the century many had moved into the Marble Falls area to work in town.

During 1882-1903 Railroad tracks to Burnet, Granite Mountain, Marble Falls, Lampasas. Lake Victor and Bertram become shipping point communities. Other communities lose population as the railroad offers employment.[4] During the Great Depression County farmers suffered financially but found work with government sponsored public-works projects. The Lower Colorado River Authority employed hundreds of people for the construction of the Hamilton (Buchanan) Dam and Roy B. Inks Dam.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,021 square miles (2,640 km2), of which 994 square miles (2,570 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) (2.6%) is water.[8]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1860 2,487 —
1870 3,688 48.3%
1880 6,855 85.9%
1890 10,747 56.8%
1900 10,528 −2.0%
1910 10,755 2.2%
1920 9,499 −11.7%
1930 10,355 9.0%
1940 10,771 4.0%
1950 10,356 −3.9%
1960 9,265 −10.5%
1970 11,420 23.3%
1980 17,803 55.9%
1990 22,677 27.4%
2000 34,147 50.6%
2010 42,750 25.2%
Est. 2014 44,943 [9] 5.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1850–2010[11] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 34,147 people, 13,133 households, and 9,665 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13/km²). There were 15,933 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.64% White, 1.52% Black or African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 6.24% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. 14.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,133 households out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.50% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.40% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.50% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,921, and the median income for a family was $43,871. Males had a median income of $30,255 versus $20,908 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,850. About 7.90% of families and 10.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.50% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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Notable people

  • Adam R. "Stovepipe" Johnson, Confederate general and the 1887 founder of Marble Falls, despite being blinded during the war.
  • Gerald Lyda (1923–2005), general contractor and cattle rancher, born and raised in Burnet County.
  • Logan Vandeveer, early Texas soldier, ranger, cattleman and civic leader. Vandeveer was a leader in presenting the petition to the legislature in 1852 to establish Burnet County and was instrumental in having the town of Burnet named the county seat.
  • Al Witcher (born 1936), American football player

See also

References

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External links

 San Saba County Lampasas County Bell County
Llano County Williamson County
  Burnet County, Texas  
Blanco County Travis County

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