Mason County, Texas

Mason County
Mason County
County
	The Mason County Courthouse in Mason
	Location within the U.S. state of Texas
	Texas's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 30°43′N 99°13′W / 30.72°N 99.22°W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1858
Named for	Fort Mason
Seat	Mason
Largest city	Mason
Area
• Total	932 sq mi (2,410 km2)
• Land	929 sq mi (2,410 km2)
• Water	3.4 sq mi (9 km2) 0.4%
Population (2020)
• Total	3,953
• Density	4.2/sq mi (1.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	11th
Website	www.co.mason.tx.us

Mason County is a rural county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. At the 2020 census, its population was 3,953.^[1] Its county seat is Mason.^[2] The county is named for Fort Mason, which was located in the county.

History

Original inhabitants Lipan Apache, Comanches^[3]
1847 Meusebach–Comanche Treaty^[4]
1851, July 6 – Fort Mason is established.^[5]
1858, January 22 – Mason County, named for Fort Mason, is established by an act of Texas state legislature.^[6] First post offices are established.
1860 Population of 630 includes 18 slaves.
1861,

February – County, spurred in part by anti-slavery sentiments of German residents, overwhelmingly votes against secession from the Union.

March – Fort Mason surrendered to the Confederacy, who leave it mostly vacant and thereby cause an uptick in Indian attacks on the area.^[7]^[8]

May 20 – Voters select town of Mason as County Seat.^[9]

1866–1868 Federal troops occupy Fort Mason, only to eventually abandon it.^[10]
1869 Courthouse and jail are erected.^[11]
1870 May 16 – Herman Lehmann and brother Willie are captured by Apaches, but Willie escapes within days.^[12]^[13]
1870–1898 The county had four women homesteaders: Louisa J. Hendryx, Mahala Hunnicutt, Sarah E. Morris and Priscilla Sparks^[14]
1875–1877

County’s first newspaper begins publication.^[15]

Hoo Doo War over cattle rustling.^[16]

Most famous participant in the war is Johnny Ringo, who on September 25, 1875, kills James Cheyney.^[17]^[18]^[19]

Courthouse fire destroys all records.^[11]

1878, May 12 – Herman Lehmann, escorted by soldiers, finally returns to his family.^[12]
1880s Manganese is discovered. Wakefield Company opens Spiller mines. Iron ore is discovered. Prospecting begins for gold, silver and coal.^[20]
1882–83 Hereford cattle are introduced into the county.^[21] Provisions made for county wide road work.
1887 The county petitions for state aid for needy residents.
1890s County places a bounty on wolves, wildcats and mountain lions.^{[citation needed]}
1902 Mason installs its first telephone in the county judge's office.
1918 October 3 – Eighteen months after United States Congress declares war on Germany, the Mason County Council of Defense draws up resolution to abandon the use of the German language in the county. The majority of County residents are of German heritage.^[3]
1919 First oil and gas lease in the county. Construction begins on the Mason County section of the Puget Sound-to-the-Gulf Highway.
1920s Radios come to Mason County.
1938 Pedernales Electric Cooperative is formed to provide rural electrification. Mason County joins in June.^[22]
1946 Local soil-conservation board organized. County schools consolidated.
2021 Mason County Courthouse (Texas), constructed in 1909, burns down as a result of arson.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 932 square miles (2,410 km²), of which 929 square miles (2,410 km²) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²) (0.4%) is water.^[23]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

McCulloch County (north)
San Saba County (northeast)
Llano County (east)
Gillespie County (south)
Kimble County (southwest)
Menard County (west)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1860	630	—
1870	678	7.6%
1880	2,655	291.6%
1890	5,180	95.1%
1900	5,573	7.6%
1910	5,683	2.0%
1920	4,824	−15.1%
1930	5,511	14.2%
1940	5,378	−2.4%
1950	4,945	−8.1%
1960	3,780	−23.6%
1970	3,356	−11.2%
1980	3,683	9.7%
1990	3,423	−7.1%
2000	3,738	9.2%
2010	4,012	7.3%
2020	3,953	−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census^[24] 1850–2010^[25] 2010^[26] 2020^[27]

**Mason 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 2010^[26]	Pop 2020^[27]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	3,092	2,948	77.07%	74.58%
Black or African American alone (NH)	14	4	0.35%	0.10%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	11	0	0.27%	0.00%
Asian alone (NH)	7	2	0.17%	0.05%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0	0.00%	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	4	16	0.10%	0.40%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	20	100	0.50%	2.53%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	864	883	21.54%	22.34%
Total	4,012	3,953	100.00%	100.00%

At the 2000 census,^[28] there were 3,738 people, 1,607 households and 1,110 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km²). There were 2,372 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.60% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.75% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. 20.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,607 households, of which 25.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 29.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.83.

22.40% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.70% from 18 to 24, 20.70% from 25 to 44, 28.80% from 45 to 64, and 23.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 92.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.60 males.

The median household income was $30,921 and the median family income was $39,360. Males had a median income of $28,125 compared with $20,000 for females. The per capita income was $20,931. About 10.10% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.50% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

Mason (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

J. Marvin Hunter (1880–1957): Born in Mason County. Historian, journalist, printer of the American West, founder of Frontier Times magazine and the Frontier Times Museum in Bandera
Anna Mebus Martin (1820–1864): Chartered the Commercial Bank of Mason, wealthy business woman and rancher.
Louis (Ludwig) Martin (1820–1864): Co-founder of Hedwigs Hill, Mason County Justice of the Peace.
Governor Coke Stevenson (1888–1975): Born in Mason County.
Leonie von Meusebach–Zesch (1882–1944): Born in Mason County. Pioneer dentist.
Gene Zesch (1932–) Sculptor
Fred Gipson (February 7, 1908 – August 14, 1973), author of Old Yeller

Politics

United States presidential election results for Mason County, Texas^[29]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	1,991	80.48%	457	18.47%	26	1.05%
2016	1,656	80.51%	354	17.21%	47	2.28%
2012	1,565	79.52%	380	19.31%	23	1.17%
2008	1,544	72.80%	546	25.74%	31	1.46%
2004	1,600	77.03%	459	22.10%	18	0.87%
2000	1,352	75.07%	417	23.15%	32	1.78%
1996	949	54.70%	618	35.62%	168	9.68%
1992	776	45.06%	570	33.10%	376	21.84%
1988	975	58.91%	671	40.54%	9	0.54%
1984	1,168	67.01%	570	32.70%	5	0.29%
1980	966	59.59%	630	38.86%	25	1.54%
1976	805	49.09%	814	49.63%	21	1.28%
1972	1,096	73.71%	369	24.82%	22	1.48%
1968	789	51.98%	560	36.89%	169	11.13%
1964	590	38.44%	941	61.30%	4	0.26%
1960	833	58.79%	575	40.58%	9	0.64%
1956	885	63.67%	504	36.26%	1	0.07%
1952	1,069	63.71%	606	36.11%	3	0.18%
1948	498	36.73%	836	61.65%	22	1.62%
1944	420	28.07%	822	54.95%	254	16.98%
1940	634	37.25%	1,065	62.57%	3	0.18%
1936	359	31.30%	787	68.61%	1	0.09%
1932	309	27.08%	828	72.57%	4	0.35%
1928	807	76.64%	244	23.17%	2	0.19%
1924	171	23.82%	384	53.48%	163	22.70%
1920	269	39.97%	304	45.17%	100	14.86%
1916	157	27.30%	386	67.13%	32	5.57%
1912	152	17.21%	472	53.45%	259	29.33%

References

^ "Mason County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ ^a ^b Rhoades, Alice J. "Mason County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
^ "Comanche Indian Treaty". William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
^ DeVos, Julius E. "Fort Mason, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
^ "Mason County – Mason vicinity". Texas State Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
^ "Texas Forts Trails". Texas Monthly: 72. June 1991.
^ "Texas Escapes-Fort Mason, Texas". Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
^ Rhoades, Alice J. "Mason, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
^ "History Fort Mason (1851–1871)". Texas Forts of the Old West. Legends of America. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
^ ^a ^b "Mason County Courthouse". Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
^ ^a ^b Lehmann, Herman; Hunter, J Marvin; Giese, Dale F (1993). Nine Years Among the Indians, 1870–1879: The Story of the Captivity and Life of a Texan Among the Indians. University of New Mexico Press. ISBN 978-0-8263-1417-8.
^ Hudspeth, Brewster. "The Savage Life Of Herman Lehmann". Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 27, 2010. Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
^ Gould, Florence C; Pando, Patricia N. "Mason Co Tx Women Homesteaders". Tx Gen Web. Archived from the original on October 20, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
^ "Gem of the Hill Country-Mason, Tex". Hill Country Portal. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
^ Johnson, David; Miller, Rick (2009). The Mason County ""Hoo Doo"" War, 1874–1902 (A.C. Greene Series). University of North Texas Press. ISBN 978-1-57441-262-8.
^ Johnson, David; Parsons, Chuck (2008). John Ringo, King of the Cowboys: His Life and Times from the Hoo Doo War to Tombstone, Second Edition (A. C. Greene). University of North Texas Press. ISBN 978-1-57441-243-7.
^ Hadeler, Glenn. "The Mason County Hoo Doo Wars". TexFiles. Archived from the original on May 12, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2010. TexFiles
^ "Johnny Ringo and the Hoo Doo War". Retrieved April 30, 2010.
^ Garner, L Edwin. "Mineral Resources and Mining". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Society. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
^ Leatherwood, Art. "Hereford Cattle". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
^ Wentsch, George M. "Pedernales Electric Coop". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Society. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
^ "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.
^ ^a ^b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mason County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
^ ^a ^b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mason County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 11, 2018.