Cochran County, Texas


Cochran County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 2,547. The county seat is Morton. The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1924. It is named for Robert E. Cochran, a defender of the Alamo.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is covered by water. Cochran County lies on the high plains of the Llano Estacado. The western border of the county lies along the border of Texas and New Mexico.

Major highways

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 2,547, a median age of 36.0 years, and 28.7% of residents were under the age of 18 while 17.3% were 65 years of age or older; for every 100 females there were 96.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.5 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 56.9% White, 2.8% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 22.8% from some other race, and 17.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 60.0% of the population.
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 940 households in the county, of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.0% were married-couple households, 16.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 1,242 housing units, of which 24.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.4% were owner-occupied and 22.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.9%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 3,730 people, 1,309 households, and 1,017 families were living in the county. The population density was. The 1,587 housing units had an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 64.48% White, 4.53% African American, 0.83% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 27.35% from other races, and 2.55% from two or more races. About 44.13% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
Of the 1,309 households, 38.1% had children under 18 living with them, 63.8% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were not families. Around 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the county, the age distribution was 31.5% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.10 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,525, and for a family was $31,163. Males had a median income of $25,064 versus $17,652 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,125. About 21.40% of families and 27.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.20% of those under age 18 and 11.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

As with other areas in the Solid South, Cochran County voted predominantly Democratic at the presidential level through 1968, except for 1928, then voted solidly Republican, except for 1976.

Education

School districts serving the county include:
Three Way Independent School District formerly served a part of Cochran County. It closed in 2002, becoming a part of Sudan ISD.
The county is in the service area of South Plains College.