Ector County, Texas


Ector County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In the 2020 census, its population was 165,171. Its county seat is Odessa. The county was founded in 1887 and organized in 1891. It is named for Matthew Ector, a Confederate general in the American Civil War.
Ector County comprises the Odessa, Texas, metropolitan statistical area, which is included in the Midland–Odessa combined statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which are land and are covered by water. Ector County has an average rainfall of about 14 in per year and a warm, sunny, semiarid climate. Most of the county is relatively flat, with small areas of slightly rolling terrain. The area is known for its stark landscape. The few naturally occurring trees are mostly mesquite trees, which more resemble large bushes.

Major highways

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 165,171. The median age was 32.8 years, with 27.7% of residents under the age of 18 and 10.8% of residents 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.4 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 48.4% White, 4.9% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 20.7% from some other race, and 23.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 60.6% of the population.
90.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 9.1% lived in rural areas.
There were 57,336 households in the county, of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.7% were married-couple households, 20.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 66,086 housing units, of which 13.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 67.6% were owner-occupied and 32.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 21.3%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 121,123 people, 43,846 households, and 31,700 families resided in the county. The population density was. The 49,500 housing units averaged. The racial makeup of the county was 73.69% White, 4.61% African American, 0.83% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 17.38% from other races, and 2.81% from two or more races. About 42.36% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 43,846 households, 38.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.10% were married couples living together, 13.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were not families. About 24.00% of all households was made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the county, the population was distributed as 30.40% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 10.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,152, and for a family was $36,369. Males had a median income of $30,632 versus $21,317 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,031. About 16.10% of families and 18.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.90% of those under age 18 and 14.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Ector County is overwhelmingly Republican. It voted against Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson, a Texas native, in his 1964 landslide. The last time Democrats carried the county was in 1948.