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Dawson County, Texas (TX)



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Dawson County, TX mapCounty population in July 2007: 13,870 (82% urban, 18% rural)
County owner-occupied houses and condos: 3,469
Renter-occupied apartments: 1,257
% of renters here:  27%
State:  36%
Land area: 902 sq. mi.
Water area: 0.1 sq. mi.
Population density: 17 people per square mile 
 
 (low).

Residents with income below the poverty level in 1999:
This county:  19.7%
Whole state:  15.4%

Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 1999:
This county:  7.9%
Whole state:  6.7%

2008 cost of living index in Dawson County: 77.0 (low, U.S. average is 100)

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Industries providing employment: Educational,health and social services (17.8%), Agriculture,forestry,fishing and hunting, and mining (16.1%), Retail trade (14.1%).

Type of workers:

  • Private wage or salary: 64%
  • Government: 21%
  • Self-employed, not incorporated: 14%
  • Unpaid family work: 0%

Dawson County, Texas business data: stores, dealers, real estate agents, wholesalers, restaurants...

Races in Dawson County, Texas:

  • Hispanic (48.2%)
  • White Non-Hispanic (42.4%)
  • Other race (16.6%)
  • Black (8.7%)
  • Two or more races (1.8%)
  • American Indian (0.6%)
(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Median resident age:  35.6 years
Texas median age:  32.3 years

Males: 8,305  (55.4%)
Females: 6,680  (44.6%)
Average wage per job in 2003: $23,010
County population in 2003: 14,532
Jobs in 2003: 5,191

Dawson County, TX forum
Recent posts about Dawson County, Texas on our local forum with over 400,000 registered users:
Lamesa-anyone know ANYTHING about this town?  (19 replies)
Total labor force in 2004: 5,600
Unemployment rate in 2004: 7.4%

Average household size:
Dawson County:  2.7 people
Texas:  2.7 people

Estimated median household income in 2005: $29,774 ($28,211 in 2000)
This county  $29,774
Texas:  $42,139

Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $53,545
Dawson County  $53,545
Texas:  $106,000

Median monthly rent in 2000: $341
Institutionalized population: 2,269
Median monthly costs for houses with a mortgage in Dawson County in 2000: $586


Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):

  • Murders: 0
  • Rapes: 0
  • Robberies: 0
  • Assaults: 1
  • Burglaries: 21
  • Thefts: 26
  • Auto thefts: 8

Crime in 2004 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):

  • Murders: 0
  • Rapes: 0
  • Robberies: 0
  • Assaults: 0
  • Burglaries: 20
  • Thefts: 30
  • Auto thefts: 1

Dawson County races chart


Dawson County, TX map from a distance


2004 Presidential Election results in Dawson County Texas:


Bush/Cheney (Republican): 75.2%
Kerry/Edwards (Democratic): 24.5%




Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000: $541 (1.4%)

Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Dawson County is $401 a month.
Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $484 a month.
Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $624 a month.

Cities in this county include: Lamesa, Ackerly, Los Ybanez.

Neighboring counties: Borden County , Gaines County , Howard County , Lynn County , Martin County , Terry County .


Dawson County close-up map

Click to draw/clear county borders

Notable locations in this county outside city limits:

Notable locations in Dawson County: Caprock Ranch (A), Lamesa Farm Workers Community Historic District (B). Display/hide their locations on the map

Cemeteries: ODonnell Cemetery (1), Midway Cemetery (2), Fairview Cemetery (3), Plain View Cemetery (4). Display/hide their locations on the map

Lakes and reservoirs: Frost Lake (A), Brushy Lake (B), Gravel Pit Lake (C). Display/hide their locations on the map

Creek: Wet Tobacco Creek (A). Display/hide its location on the map

 
Unemployment in September 2007:
Here:  5.8%
Texas:  4.4%


Unemployment by year (%)


County total employment by year


County average yearly wages by year ($)


Current college students: 579
People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 65.2%
People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 10.5%

Number of foreign born residents: 623 (41% naturalized citizens)

Dawson County:  4.2%
Whole state:  13.9%

Year of entry for the foreign-born population
  • 1995 to March 2000: 173
  • 1990 to 1994: 106
  • 1985 to 1989: 64
  • 1980 to 1984: 65
  • 1975 to 1979: 36
  • 1970 to 1974: 41
  • 1970 to 1974: 47
  • 1965 to 1969: 91


Mean travel time to work: 14.3 minutes

Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 89.6%

Dawson County marital status for males
Dawson County marital status for females

Housing units in structures:

  • One, detached: 4,538
  • One, attached: 187
  • Two: 100
  • 3 or 4: 128
  • 5 to 9: 12
  • 10 to 19: 36
  • 20 or more: 113
  • Mobile homes: 386

Housing units in Dawson County with a mortgage: 1,070 (44 second mortgage, 56 home equity loan, 0 both second mortgage and home equity loan)
Houses without a mortgage: 1,843


Agriculture in Dawson County
Average size of farms: 985 acres
Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $95332
Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $199.69
The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 0.08%
The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 5.29%
Average total farm production expenses per farm: $87233
Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 45.89%
Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 19.65%
Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $129892
The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 78.83%
Average age of principal farm operators: 57 years
Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 0.91
All wheat for grain: 3616 harvested acres
Upland cotton: 215421 harvested acres
Vegetables: 749 harvested acres
Land in orchards: 213 acres

Dawson County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is near Texas state average. It is 1.5 times above overall U.S. average.
Tornadoes in this county have caused 9 injuries recorded between 1950 and 2004.
On 6/8/1965, a category 2 (max. wind speeds 113-157 mph) tornado injured 8 people and caused between $5000 and $50,000 in damages.



Class of Workers



Most common industries for males:



  • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (19%)
  • Construction (10%)
  • Public administration (10%)
  • Mining (6%)
  • Repair and maintenance (5%)
  • Accommodation and food services (5%)
  • Truck transportation (4%)


Most common industries for females:



  • Educational services (16%)
  • Health care (14%)
  • Accommodation and food services (9%)
  • Public administration (8%)
  • Food and beverage stores (5%)
  • Social assistance (4%)
  • Private households (4%)


Most common occupations for males



  • Farmers and farm managers (9%)
  • Law enforcement workers including supervisors (7%)
  • Agricultural workers including supervisors (7%)
  • Other sales and related workers including supervisors (7%)
  • Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (6%)
  • Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (6%)
  • Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (5%)


Most common occupations for females



  • Secretaries and administrative assistants (11%)
  • Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (6%)
  • Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (6%)
  • Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks (6%)
  • Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (5%)
  • Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides (5%)
  • Law enforcement workers including supervisors (4%)


Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents:



  • Mexico (87%)
  • Japan (3%)
  • Hong Kong (2%)
  • Canada (2%)
  • Taiwan (1%)
  • Ireland (1%)
  • Germany (1%)


Most common first ancestries reported in Dawson County:



  • United States or American (14%)
  • English (6%)
  • German (6%)
  • Irish (5%)
  • Scotch-Irish (1%)
  • European (1%)
  • Scottish (0%)

Dawson County mode of transportation to work chart

Means of transportation to work

  • Drove a car alone: 3,861 (79%)
  • Carpooled: 692 (14%)
  • Taxi: 7 (0%)
  • Bicycle: 8 (0%)
  • Walked: 81 (2%)
  • Other means: 106 (2%)
  • Worked at home: 133 (3%)

People in group quarters in Dawson County, Texas
  • 2158 people in other types of correctional institutions
  • 68 people in nursing homes
  • 30 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
  • 13 people in wards in general hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere
  • 3 people in homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse

Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $39,740.

6.05% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($26,370 average adjusted gross income)

Here:  6.05%
Texas average:  8.37%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
5.27% relocated from other counties in Texas ($22,593 average AGI)
0.79% relocated from other states ($3,772 average AGI)
Dawson County:  0.79%
Texas average:  3.06%



Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries


Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:
from Lubbock County, TX  1.03% ($24,524 average AGI)
from Midland County, TX  0.54% ($24,409)
from Howard County, TX  0.39% ($24,000)


7.33% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($26,709 average adjusted gross income)

Here:  7.33%
Texas average:  7.44%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
6.50% relocated to other counties in Texas ($23,894 average AGI)
0.83% relocated to other states ($2,818 average AGI)
Dawson County:  0.83%
Texas average:  2.17%



Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries


Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:
to Lubbock County, TX  1.43% ($24,797 average AGI)
to Midland County, TX  0.85% ($27,629)
to Howard County, TX  0.56% ($17,304)
to Lynn County, TX  0.29% ($23,167)
to Ector County, TX  0.27% ($17,091)
to Gaines County, TX  0.27% ($22,182)

Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 15.2
Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2003: 13.9



Births per 1000 population in Dawson County

Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 9.4
Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2003: 10.1



Deaths per 1000 population in Dawson County

Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 4.2
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2003: 10.0



Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Dawson County

Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 2,268 (2,004 aged, 264 disabled)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 26%
Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 27%

Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 6.95
Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 4839.050
Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 264.2
Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 49739.28

General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1283.670
Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 982.040
Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 7.01

Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 13.61
Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 84.18

Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 14.03

Crimes per 100,000 population in 1996 : 1


Household type by relationship


Households: 12,684
  • In family households: 11,483 (2,908 male householders, 628 female householders)
    2,943 spouses, 4,219 children (3,813 natural, 108 adopted, 298 stepchildren), 403 grandchildren, 73 brothers or sisters, 27 parents, 132 other relatives, 150 non-relatives
  • In nonfamily households: 1,201 (427 male householders (415 living alone)), 733 female householders (710 living alone)), 41 nonrelatives
  • In group quarters: 2,301 (2,298 institutionalized population)

Size of family households: 1,479 2-persons, 751 3-persons, 654 4-persons, 362 5-persons, 173 6-persons, 117 7-or-more-persons.

Size of nonfamily households: 1,125 1-person, 35 2-persons.

55.7% of residents of Dawson County speak English at home.
41.4% of residents speak Spanish at home (70% speak English very well, 18% speak English well, 10% speak English not well, 1% don't speak English at all).
1.6% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (67% speak English very well, 14% speak English well, 19% speak English not well, 1% don't speak English at all).
1.0% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (78% speak English very well, 11% speak English well, 11% speak English not well).
0.4% of residents speak other language at home (100% speak English very well).

In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $129,243,000 ($8986 per capita)
Department of Defense expenditure: $375,000
Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $28,121,000
Federal other direct payments to individuals: $32,759,000
Federal direct payments not to individuals: $36,604,000
Federal grants: $28,542,000
Federal procurement contracts: $398,000 ($0,000 Department of Defense)
Federal salaries and wages: $2,819,000 ($0,000 Department of Defense)
Federal Government direct loans: $149,000
Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $1,686,000
Federal Government insurance: $40,599,000

Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 1,036
Here:  73 per 1000 residents
State:  85 per 1000 residents

Deaths: 744
Here:  52 per 1000 residents
State:  35 per 1000 residents

Net international migration: +146
Here:  +10 per 1000 residents
State:  +29 per 1000 residents

Net internal migration: -1,140
Here:  -80 per 1000 residents
State:  +10 per 1000 residents



Population growth in Dawson County

Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 0.67 millions of gallons per day (all from ground)

Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:  5.5
State:  5.8

Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:  4.4
State:  3.8



Year house built:

  • 1999 to March 2000: 22
  • 1995 to 1998: 153
  • 1990 to 1994: 74
  • 1980 to 1989: 505
  • 1970 to 1979: 890
  • 1960 to 1969: 1,324
  • 1950 to 1959: 1,245
  • 1940 to 1949: 738
  • 1939 or earlier: 549

Rooms in owner-occupied houses in Dawson County, Texas:
  • 1 room: 0
  • 2 rooms: 66
  • 3 rooms: 182
  • 4 rooms: 438
  • 5 rooms: 1,050
  • 6 rooms: 900
  • 7 rooms: 457
  • 8 rooms: 217
  • 9+ rooms: 159


Rooms in renter-occupied apartments in Dawson County, Texas:
  • 1 room: 16
  • 2 rooms: 132
  • 3 rooms: 194
  • 4 rooms: 323
  • 5 rooms: 337
  • 6 rooms: 111
  • 7 rooms: 91
  • 8 rooms: 37
  • 9+ rooms: 16


Bedrooms in owner-occupied houses and condos in Dawson County:
  • no bedroom: 36
  • 1 bedroom: 206
  • 2 bedrooms: 805
  • 3 bedrooms: 2,040
  • 4 bedrooms: 324
  • 5+ bedrooms: 58


Bedrooms in renter-occupied apartments in Dawson County:
  • no bedroom: 39
  • 1 bedroom: 303
  • 2 bedrooms: 425
  • 3 bedrooms: 432
  • 4 bedrooms: 28
  • 5+ bedrooms: 30


Cars and other vehicles available in Dawson County in owner-occupied houses/condos:
  • no vehicle: 164
  • 1 vehicle: 1,204
  • 2 vehicles: 1,504
  • 3 vehicles: 481
  • 4 vehicles: 104
  • 5+ vehicles: 12


Cars and other vehicles available in Dawson County in renter-occupied apartments
  • no vehicle: 211
  • 1 vehicle: 655
  • 2 vehicles: 353
  • 3 vehicles: 29
  • 4 vehicles: 9
  • 5+ vehicles: 0


59% of Dawson County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago.
   Out of people who lived in different houses, 42% lived in this county.
   Out of people who lived in different counties, 60% lived in Texas.

Dawson County:  58.5%
State average:  51.6%


Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:

  • This state: 11920
  • Northeast: 488
  • Midwest: 419
  • South: 527
  • West: 925

Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $42,500


Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 1%

Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 2%


Year Householders Moved Into Unit:

 

Most commonly used house heating fuel in houses and condos:
  • Utility gas (73%)
  • Electricity (19%)
  • Bottled, tank, or LP gas (7%)
  • Other fuel (1%)

Most commonly used house heating fuel in apartments:
  • Utility gas (64%)
  • Electricity (28%)
  • Bottled, tank, or LP gas (8%)



Private vs. public school enrollment:
Students in private schools in grades 1 to 8 (elementary and middle school): 0
Here:  0.0%
Texas:  6.8%

Students in private schools in grades 9 to 12 (high school): 74
Here:  7.4%
Texas:  6.2%

Students in private undergraduate colleges: 78
Here:  16.0%
Texas:  15.4%


Educational Attainment


School Enrollment by Level of School



Age and Sex of Sensory-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)


Age and Sex of Physically-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)



Age and Sex of Mentally-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)


Age and Sex of Self-Care Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)



Age and Sex of Go-Outside-Home Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)


Age and Sex of Residents with Employment Disability (Noninst.)


Dawson County government finances in 2004:
  • Charges - Hospital Public: $7,988,000
    All Other: $326,000
  • Current Operations - Own Hospitals: $7,988,000
    Regular Highways: $1,257,000
    Judicial and Legal Services: $978,000
    Financial Administration: $780,000
    Corrections - Other: $614,000
    General Public Buildings: $514,000
    Police Protection: $470,000
    Fire Protection: $343,000
    Libraries: $284,000
    Central Staff Services: $218,000
    General - Other: $209,000
    Parks & Recreation: $182,000
    Welfare - Other: $134,000
    Natural Resources - Other: $111,000
    Health Services - Other: $60,000
  • General - Interest on Debt: $59,000
  • Local Intergovernmental - All Other: $368,000
  • Long Term Debt Beginning Outstanding, NEC: $1,025,000
  • Long Term Debt Issue, Unspecified - Other NEC: $72,000
  • Long Term Debt Outstanding - Full Faith & Credit - Other, NEC: $861,000
  • Long Term Debt Retired Unspecified - Other, NEC: $236,000
  • Miscellaneous - General Revenue, NEC: $294,000
    Interest Earnings: $20,000
    Property Sale Other: $9,000
    Rents: $7,000
  • Other Funds - Cash & Deposits: $319,000
  • Short Term Debt Outstanding - Beginning: $30,000
    End of Fiscal Year: $1,000
  • Sinking Fund - Cash & Deposits: $18,000
  • State Intergovernmental - General Support: $35,000
    Highways: $27,000
  • Tax - Property: $4,077,000
    Motor Vehicle License: $534,000
    Total General Sales: $366,000
  • Total Salaries & Wages: $8,011,000


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Total Number Of Recipients


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of aged recipients


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of blind and disabled recipients


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients under 18


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients between 18 and 64


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients older than 64


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients also receiving OASDI


Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Amount of payments (thousands of dollars)



Dawson County Fatal accident statistics for 1975 - 2006:

Fatal accident count (per 100,000 population)


Fatal accident count (per 100,000 population)




Vehicles involved in fatal accidents (per 100,000 population)


Vehicles involved in fatal accidents (per 100,000 population)




Fatal accidents caused by drunken drivers (per 100,000 population)


Fatal accidents caused by drunken drivers (per 100,000 population)




Fatalities (per 100,000 population)