Lampasas County, Texas

Infobox U.S. County
county = Lampasas County
state = Texas

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map size = 250
founded = 1856
seat = Lampasas | area_total_sq_mi =714
area_land_sq_mi =712
area_water_sq_mi =2
area percentage = 0.27%
census yr = 2000
pop = 17762
density_km2 =10
web =
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Lampasas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 17,762. Its seat is LampasasGR|6. The county is named for the Lampasas River.

Lampasas County is part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 714 square miles (1,849 km²), of which, 712 square miles (1,844 km²) of it is land and 2 square miles (5 km²) of it (0.27%) is water.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

*Hamilton County (north)
*Coryell County (northeast)
*Bell County (southeast)
*Burnet County (south)
*San Saba County (west)
*Mills County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 17,762 people, 6,554 households, and 4,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 7,601 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.75% White, 3.10% Black or African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 6.49% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. 15.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,554 households out of which 35.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were non-families. 21.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.60% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,176, and the median income for a family was $41,395. Males had a median income of $30,320 versus $20,637 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,184. About 10.70% of families and 14.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.70% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.

History

For centuries various Indians hunted in the area, attracted by the large herds of buffalo, the plentiful streams, and the various mineral springs on Burleson and Sulphur creeks, which were noted for their healing properties. In 1721 the Aguayo expedition supposedly passed through the area on its way to East Texas, and in 1735 a missionary expedition from San Antonio is said to have discovered mineral springs in the future county on the way home from an inspection trip. The region was later part of what came to be known as Robertson's colony; although no known settlements were established there, the colony brought a number of families near the area when it was settled in the 1830s.

Settlers were drawn to the area after Moses Hughes and his invalid wife, Hannah, moved near the site of what is now Lampasas in November 1853, seeking to take advantage of the medicinal springs. Another early settler was John Burleson, who had received convert|1280|acre|km2, including the site of the future town of Lampasas, for his services during the Texas Revolution. In July 1855 his daughter Elizabeth and her husband, George W. Scott, laid out the town of Burleson in what was then Coryell County. At this time the town consisted of about 500 to 600 people, most of them living in tents and wagons.

On February 1, 1856, in response to a petition signed by 135 Lampasas County citizens, the Sixth Texas Legislature formed Lampasas County, named after the Lampasas River, from parts of Travis, Bell and Coryell counties. Burleson, renamed Lampasas, was made the county seat, and the new county was organized on March 10, 1856. Two years later the northeastern corner of Lampasas County became part of Hamilton County. In 1873 an act of the legislature extended the southern boundary of Lampasas County thirty miles into Burnet County, but the next year the boundary was returned to its previous position. In 1887 the new Mills County received northern and northwestern sections of Lampasas County. Subsequently, the county boundaries remained unchanged.

Cities and towns

*Bend (unincorporated; partly in San Saba County)
*Copperas Cove (partly in Bell and Coryell Counties)
*Kempner
*Lampasas
*Lometa

References

External links

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