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Grayson County, Texas
Grayson county tx courthouse
The Grayson County Courthouse in Sherman
Seal of Grayson County, Texas
Seal
Map of Texas highlighting Grayson County
Location in the state of Texas
Map of the U.S
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded 1846
Named for Peter Wagener Grayson
Seat Sherman
Largest city Sherman
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

979 sq mi (2,536 km²)
933 sq mi (2,416 km²)
46 sq mi (119 km²), 4.7%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

135,543
130/sq mi (50/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.grayson.tx.us

Grayson County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 135,543.[1] The county seat is Sherman.[2] The county was founded in 1846 and is named after Peter Wagener Grayson, an attorney general of the Republic of Texas. Grayson County is included in the Sherman-Denison metropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, combined statistical area. It is also part of the Texoma region, with proximity to both Lake Texoma and the Red River.

History[]

The earliest known inhabitants of what is now Grayson County were Caddo Amerindian groups, including Tonkawa, Ionis, and Kichai. These groups engaged in agriculture and traded with Spanish and French colonists at trading posts along the Red River.[3] Trading posts were established at Preston Bend on the Red River, Warren, and Pilot Grove during 1836 and 1837.

After the establishment of the Peters Colony in the early 1840s, settlement near the Red River increased. Grayson County was created from Fannin County by the Texas State Legislature on March 17, 1846.[4] The county seat, Sherman, was also designated by the Texas State Legislature.

In the 1850s, trading and marketing at Preston Bend became more important, as agriculture expanded in the county. This was helped by Preston Road, the first trail in the state. It went from Preston Bend to Austin, Texas. More growth occurred after the establishment of Sherman as a station of the Butterfield Overland Mail route in 1856.

Opinions in the county about secession were divided. County residents voted by more than two to one in 1861 against secession, desiring to remain in the Union. The Great Hanging at Gainesville in nearby Cooke County in October 1862 was an attack on dissenters, men who were suspected of resisting conscription and having been Unionists. After 150-200 men were arrested by state troops, the military organized a so-called "Citizens Court", which had no basis in state law. Its jury made up its own rules and convicted and sentenced more than 25 men to death by hanging. Another 14 were lynched outright by a mob without even the cover of a trial. A total of 42 men were killed in the proceedings that month, considered the largest vigilante murders in U.S. history.

Violence continued for a time in Sherman and other towns of North Texas, at times at the hands of Confederate military. E. Junius Foster, the editor of the Patriot newspaper, was murdered in 1862 by Capt. Jim Young, son of Col. William Young, who had been killed in Cooke County. The senior Young had organized the Citizens Court that put so many men to death, and Foster had "applauded" Young's death. When other men were rounded up as suspect Unionists in Sherman, Brig. General James W. Throckmorton intervened and saved all but five who had already been lynched.[5]

Men from Grayson County served the Confederacy at locations in the South. The Eleventh Texas Cavalry captured federal forts in the Indian Territory north of the Red River.

Grayson County and much of Texas suffered economic depression in the postwar years during the Reconstruction era, based in part on difficulties in reliance on agriculture in the South, adjustments to free labor, and other problems. The driving of cattle herds north along Preston Road provided needed income for the county during this period.

After the Houston and Texas Central Railroad and the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad began operating in the county in 1872, settlement in Grayson County picked up and flourished during the 1870s and 1880s. Cotton plantations were developed to cultivate this as the predominant commodity crop. Many towns, including Denison, Van Alstyne, Howe, Whitewright, Pottsboro, and Tom Bean, were founded during this time.

In 1879, a group of settlers who had settled in North Texas both before and after statehood came together in Grayson County for political discussions. They formed the Old Settlers Association of North Texas. The association accepted donations and purchased 26 acres. They continued to meet on an annual basis for many years.[6][7]

On May 15, 1896, a tornado measuring F5 on the Fujita scale struck Sherman. The tornado's damage path was 400 yards (370 m) wide and 28 miles (45 km) long, and it killed 73 people and injured 200. About 50 homes were destroyed, with 20 of them being obliterated.

20th century to present[]

During the Sherman Riot of 1930 (May 9, 1930),[8] Grayson County's 1876 courthouse was burned down by a white mob that rioted during the trial of George Hughes, an African-American man. When the riot started, Hughes was locked by police in the vault at the courthouse, and died in the fire. After rioters retrieved Hughes' body from the vault, they dragged it behind a car, hanged it, and set afire. Texas Ranger Frank Hamer was in Grayson County during this riot, and reported the situation to Texas Governor Dan Moody.[9] Governor Moody sent National Guard troops to Grayson County on May 9 and more on May 10 to control the situation. Grayson County's current courthouse was completed in 1936.

The Bridge War, also called the Red River Bridge War or the Toll Bridge War, was a 1931 bloodless boundary conflict between the U.S. states of Oklahoma and Texas over an existing toll bridge and a new free bridge crossing the Red River between Grayson County, Texas, and Bryan County, Oklahoma.

In 1938, construction of a dam on the Red River was authorized by the U.S. Congress. The dam's construction was completed in part by the use of labor provided by German prisoners-of-war held at Camp Howze,[10] in Cooke County, Texas, during World War II. The dam is now known as Denison Dam. Lake Texoma was formed behind it and is used for recreation, irrigation, and electrical power generation.

Perrin Air Force Base was constructed in 1941. The base closure in 1971 was a blow to the county economy. The availability of skilled labor formerly associated with the base helped attract industrial plants. In addition, the base was converted to a civilian airport: North Texas Regional Airport - Perrin Field.

Hay Bales

A rancher transports round bales of hay down a rural road in Grayson County, Texas: The economy of the county relies in part upon agriculture and ranchers.

The Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site, which is the birthplace of Dwight D. Eisenhower in Denison, was acquired and restored in 1952. Since 1993, the site is no longer maintained by the state, because of budget cuts, but it is maintained by a private nonprofit organization.[11]

Grayson County is the only county in Texas where "deer may only be hunted with bows, no matter the season", according to an article by Thomas Phillips in the April 10, 2009, issue of Lone Star Outdoor News.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 979 sq mi (2,540 km2), of which 933 sq mi (2,420 km2) are land and 46 sq mi (120 km2) (4.7%) are covered by water.[12]

Major highways[]

  • US 69 U.S. Highway 69
  • US 75 U.S. Highway 75
  • US 82 U.S. Highway 82
  • US 377 U.S. Highway 377
  • Texas 5 State Highway 5
  • Texas 11 State Highway 11
  • Texas 56 State Highway 56
  • Texas 91 State Highway 91
  • Texas 160 State Highway 160
  • Texas 289 State Highway 289
  • Texas Spur 503 Spur 503

Adjacent counties[]

National protected area[]

  • Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1850 2,008
1860 8,184 307.6%
1870 14,387 75.8%
1880 38,108 164.9%
1890 53,211 39.6%
1900 63,661 19.6%
1910 65,996 3.7%
1920 74,165 12.4%
1930 65,843 −11.2%
1940 69,499 5.6%
1950 70,467 1.4%
1960 73,043 3.7%
1970 83,225 13.9%
1980 89,796 7.9%
1990 95,021 5.8%
2000 110,595 16.4%
2010 120,877 9.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1850–2010[14] 2010–2020[1]

As of the census[15] of 2000, 110,595 people, 42,849 households, and 30,208 families resided in the county. The population density was 118 people per square mile (46/km2). The 48,315 housing units averaged 52 per square mile (20/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.20% White, 5.85% Black or African American, 1.31% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.90% from other races, and 2.13% from two or more races; 6.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 42,849 households, 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were not families. About 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was distributed as 25.30% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,178, and for a family was $45,048. Males had a median income of $32,998 versus $23,414 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,862. About 8.40% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 10.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities[]

Cities[]

Towns[]

Census-designated places[]

  • Preston
  • Sherwood Shores

Other unincorporated communities[]

  • Ambrose
  • Carpenter's Bluff
  • Gordonville
  • Luella

Politics[]

United States presidential election results for Grayson County, Texas[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 44,163 74.26% 14,506 24.39% 805 1.35%
2016 35,325 74.50% 10,301 21.72% 1,790 3.78%
2012 30,936 73.20% 10,670 25.25% 658 1.56%
2008 31,136 68.33% 13,900 30.51% 528 1.16%
2004 30,777 69.28% 13,452 30.28% 194 0.44%
2000 25,596 64.09% 13,647 34.17% 697 1.75%
1996 17,169 48.48% 14,338 40.49% 3,904 11.02%
1992 12,322 32.15% 12,547 32.73% 13,463 35.12%
1988 18,825 56.55% 14,347 43.10% 115 0.35%
1984 22,554 65.47% 11,803 34.26% 93 0.27%
1980 16,811 53.66% 13,807 44.08% 708 2.26%
1976 11,981 41.18% 17,015 58.48% 99 0.34%
1972 16,769 70.65% 6,952 29.29% 13 0.05%
1968 8,007 34.81% 10,379 45.12% 4,615 20.06%
1964 5,500 27.88% 14,207 72.01% 21 0.11%
1960 7,312 42.44% 9,866 57.26% 53 0.31%
1956 7,402 45.33% 8,876 54.35% 52 0.32%
1952 7,736 42.52% 10,435 57.35% 23 0.13%
1948 2,174 15.37% 10,991 77.69% 983 6.95%
1944 1,372 9.75% 11,636 82.70% 1,062 7.55%
1940 1,340 9.65% 12,530 90.25% 14 0.10%
1936 947 8.17% 10,627 91.64% 23 0.20%
1932 1,317 11.98% 9,631 87.62% 44 0.40%
1928 6,277 57.63% 4,600 42.23% 15 0.14%
1924 1,973 19.09% 7,413 71.73% 949 9.18%
1920 2,125 26.75% 5,241 65.97% 579 7.29%
1916 1,024 15.95% 5,092 79.30% 305 4.75%
1912 411 7.86% 3,938 75.31% 880 16.83%



See also[]

  • List of museums in North Texas
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Grayson County, Texas
  • Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Grayson County

References[]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/48181.html. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ J., KUMLER, DONNA (2010-06-15). "GRAYSON COUNTY" (in en). https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcg09. 
  4. ^ The Grayson County Historical Commission, "Laws of the State of Texas, An Act to Create the County of Grayson", http://www.co.grayson.tx.us/users/Historical/An_Act.pdf, accessed May 1, 2015.
  5. ^ McCaslin, Richard B.. "Great Hanging of Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/jig01. 
  6. ^ "Grayson County" (in en). http://www.co.grayson.tx.us/default.aspx?name=hist.settlers. 
  7. ^ Old Settlers Association (Grayson County, Tex.). Old Settler's Association of Grayson County, Vol. 1., Book, 1879 - 1899; (http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth11279/ : accessed May 04, 2015), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, http://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Old Settler's Association of Grayson County, Sherman, Texas.
  8. ^ Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "Sherman Riot of 1930" (accessed March 6, 2007)
  9. ^ "Statement from Frank Hamer, May 13, 1930 | TSLAC" (in en). http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/governors/personality/moody-hamer-1.html. 
  10. ^ P., KRAMMER, ARNOLD (2010-06-15). "GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR" (in en). https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qug01. 
  11. ^ BRIAN, HART (2010-06-12). "EISENHOWER BIRTHPLACE STATE HISTORICAL SITE" (in en). https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ghe01. 
  12. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt. 
  13. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  14. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010". Texas Almanac. http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf. 
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  16. ^ "Texas Cities and Towns Sorted by County". https://www.county.org/about-texas-counties/county-data/Documents/towns.html. 
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

External links[]

Coordinates: 33°37′N 96°41′W / 33.62, -96.68

This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Grayson County, Texas. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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