Milam County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 24,754.[1] The county seat is Cameron.[2] The county was created in 1834 as a municipality in Mexico and organized as a county in 1837.[3][4] Milam County is named for Benjamin Rush Milam, an early settler and a soldier in the Texas Revolution.[5]

Milam County
The Milam County Courthouse in Cameron. The Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 20, 1977.
The Milam County Courthouse in Cameron. The Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 20, 1977.
Map of Texas highlighting Milam County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°47′N 96°59′W / 30.79°N 96.98°W / 30.79; -96.98
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1837
Named forBenjamin Rush Milam
SeatCameron
Largest cityRockdale
Area
 • Total
1,022 sq mi (2,650 km2)
 • Land1,017 sq mi (2,630 km2)
 • Water4.8 sq mi (12 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
24,754
 • Density24/sq mi (9.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district17th
Websitewww.milamcounty.net

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,022 square miles (2,650 km2), of which 1,017 sq mi (2,630 km2) are land and 4.8 sq mi (12 km2) (0.5%) are covered by water.[6]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18502,907
18605,17578.0%
18708,98473.6%
188018,659107.7%
189024,77332.8%
190039,66660.1%
191036,780−7.3%
192038,1043.6%
193037,915−0.5%
194033,120−12.6%
195023,585−28.8%
196022,263−5.6%
197020,028−10.0%
198022,73213.5%
199022,9460.9%
200024,2385.6%
201024,7572.1%
202024,7540.0%
Milam County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[12] Pop 2010[10] Pop 2020[11] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 16,763 16,216 15,367 69.16% 65.50% 62.08%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,627 2,380 2,097 10.84% 9.61% 8.47%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 85 76 67 0.35% 0.31% 0.27%
Asian alone (NH) 49 95 111 0.20% 0.38% 0.45%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 2 0 11 0.01% 0.00% 0.04%
Other Race alone (NH) 22 10 84 0.09% 0.04% 0.34%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) 174 200 753 0.72% 0.81% 3.04%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4,516 5,780 6,264 18.63% 23.35% 25.31%
Total 24,238 24,757 24,754 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census[13] of 2000, 24,238 people, 9,199 households, and 6,595 families were residing in the county. The population density was 24/sq mi (9.3/km2). The 10,866 housing units averaged 11/sq mi (4.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 78.89% White, 11.05% African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 7.71% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. About 18.63% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. By ancestry, 16.7% were of American, 16.1% German, 7.2% English, and 6.8% Irish according to Census 2000.

Of the 9,199 households, 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples living together, 11.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were not families. About 25.90% were single-person households, and 14.10% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59, and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county, the age distribution was 27.50% under 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 24.70% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,186, and for a family was $40,431. Males had a median income of $30,149 versus $20,594 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,920. About 12.20% of families and 15.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.80% of those under age 18 and 15.30% of those age 65 or over.

Education

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Six independent school districts are present in Milam County:[14]

Five additional districts extend into parts of Milam County, but are based in neighboring counties: Bartlett, Caldwell, Holland, Lexington, and Rosebud-Lott.[14]

St. Paul Lutheran School St. Paul Lutheran Church and School, Thorndale in Thorndale, a private institution, serves students from prekindergarten through grade 8.

Temple Junior College District is the designated community college for county residents in Bartlett, Buckholts, Cameron, Rockdale, Rosebud-Lott, and Thorndale ISDs. Legislation also states that the district covers Holland ISD "located in Bell County". Blinn College is the designated community college for county residents in Gause, Lexington, and Milano ISDs.[15] Legislation does not state whether a community college or which community college covers residents of Caldwell ISD.

Communities

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Cities

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Town

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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Politics

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United States presidential election results for Milam County, Texas[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 7,984 75.48% 2,496 23.60% 98 0.93%
2016 6,364 73.45% 2,051 23.67% 249 2.87%
2012 5,481 66.60% 2,636 32.03% 113 1.37%
2008 5,217 62.43% 3,044 36.42% 96 1.15%
2004 5,291 60.24% 3,445 39.22% 47 0.54%
2000 4,706 56.91% 3,429 41.47% 134 1.62%
1996 3,019 39.90% 3,869 51.13% 679 8.97%
1992 2,414 32.32% 3,542 47.43% 1,512 20.25%
1988 3,512 41.83% 4,865 57.94% 19 0.23%
1984 4,384 53.86% 3,734 45.87% 22 0.27%
1980 3,251 42.62% 4,230 55.46% 146 1.91%
1976 2,404 32.86% 4,871 66.59% 40 0.55%
1972 3,554 62.14% 2,159 37.75% 6 0.10%
1968 1,614 25.18% 3,269 51.01% 1,526 23.81%
1964 1,334 23.37% 4,368 76.51% 7 0.12%
1960 1,898 34.16% 3,640 65.51% 18 0.32%
1956 2,486 45.48% 2,969 54.32% 11 0.20%
1952 2,539 43.94% 3,227 55.85% 12 0.21%
1948 646 15.05% 3,261 75.98% 385 8.97%
1944 623 12.53% 3,537 71.11% 814 16.37%
1940 1,110 21.31% 4,083 78.38% 16 0.31%
1936 288 6.57% 4,077 93.02% 18 0.41%
1932 264 5.32% 4,676 94.22% 23 0.46%
1928 1,270 30.86% 2,842 69.05% 4 0.10%
1924 930 14.68% 5,087 80.31% 317 5.00%
1920 371 7.68% 2,598 53.81% 1,859 38.50%
1916 576 19.15% 2,198 73.07% 234 7.78%
1912 244 8.75% 1,939 69.57% 604 21.67%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Milam County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  4. ^ "Milam County". Texas Almanac. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 207.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  7. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  9. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  10. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Milam County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Milam County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Milam County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. ^ a b "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Milam County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 10, 2024. - Text list
  15. ^ "Education Code Chapter 130. Junior College Districts". statutes.capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
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30°47′24″N 96°58′48″W / 30.79000°N 96.98000°W / 30.79000; -96.98000