Hartley County, Texas


Hartley County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 5,382. The county seat is Channing. The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1891. It is named for Oliver C. Hartley and his brother, Rufus K. Hartley, two early Texas legislators and lawyers.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which are land and are covered by water.

Major highways

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 5,382, a median age of 38.7 years, 21.6% of residents under the age of 18, and 14.6% of residents 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 137.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 150.6 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 69.6% White, 3.7% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 15.6% from some other race, and 10.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 30.3% of the population.
53.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 46.2% lived in rural areas.
There were 1,716 households in the county, of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 59.9% were married-couple households, 17.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 18.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 1,930 housing units, of which 11.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.6% were owner-occupied and 31.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.9%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 5,537 people, 1,604 households, and 1,220 families were residing in the county. The population density was. The 1,760 housing units had an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 81.07% White, 8.15% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 8.65% from
other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. About 13.69% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. In ancestry, 21.0% were of German, 12.6% were of English, 12.3% were of Irish, 6.6% were of American, 4.3% were of French, 3.0% were of Scottish, and 3.0% were of Dutch.
Of the 1,604 households, 35.5% had children under 18 living with them, 68.9% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were not families; 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56, and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the age distribution was 20.8% under 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.90% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 154.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 172.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $46,327, and for a family was $53,004. Males had a median income of $29,783 versus $21,783 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,067. About 3.70% of families and 6.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Dalhart Unit prison in an unincorporated area in the county, near Dalhart.

Politics

Communities

Cities

  • Channing
  • Dalhart

    Census-designated place

  • Hartley

    Education

School districts include:
Hartley County is in the service area of Frank Phillips College.