Sutton County, Texas


Sutton County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 [United States census|2020 census], the population was 3,372. Its county seat is Sonora. The county was created in 1887 and organized in 1890. Sutton County is named for John S. Sutton, an officer in the Confederate Army.

History

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

Major highways

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 3,372. The median age was 44.6 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.7 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 58.1% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 15.4% from some other race, and 25.4% from two or more races. Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino] residents of any race comprised 62.1% of the population.
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 1,359 households in the county, of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.2% were married-couple households, 19.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 1,878 housing units, of which 27.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.4% were owner-occupied and 26.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 24.6%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 4,077 people, 1,515 households, and 1,145 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 1,998 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 45.28% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 2.27% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. 49.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,515 households, out of which 38.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.60% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.40% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.80% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,385, and the median income for a family was $38,143. Males had a median income of $31,193 versus $18,587 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,105. About 14.10% of families and 18.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.20% of those under age 18 and 16.10% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Sutton County is served by the Sonora Independent School District, based in Sonora.
Sutton County is in the service area of Howard County Junior College District.

Communities

City

Sutton County is very conservative in national politics. In 2016, it gave 76% of its vote to Republican candidate Donald Trump. It last supported a Democrat in 1964, when Texan Lyndon B. Johnson was the Democratic candidate. However, this was not always the case. In fact, in 1916, the Democratic candidate received 10 times as many votes as the Republican. It hasn't supported a Democrat in Texas gubernatorial elections since 1974, when Dolph Briscoe, the Democrat, carried all but five counties in the state.