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Texas Counties
Texas is divided into two hundred and fifty-four counties, more than any other state. Texas was originally divided into municipalities, a unit of local government under Spanish and Mexican rule. When the Republic of Texas gained its independence in 1836, there were 23 municipalities, which became the original Texas counties. Many of these would later be divided into new counties. The most recent county to be created was Kenedy County in 1921. The most recent county to be organized was Loving County in 1931Moore County, Texas
Moore County Education, Geography, and History
Moore County is a county located in the state of Texas. Based on the 2010 census, its population was 21,904. The county seat is Dumas. The
county was created in 1876 and organized in 1892. It is named for Edwin Ward Moore, the commander of the Texas Navy.
The Dumas, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Moore County.
Etymology - Origin of Moore County Name
Edwin Ward Moore, the commodore of the Texan navy during the Republic of Texas
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Moore County History
Moore County is a county located in the US state of Texas. Moore is named for Edwin Ward Moore, the commander of the Texas Navy. The county seat is Dumas, which is named for Louis Dumas, originally from the Sherman, Texas, area.
Handbook of Texas Online
Although early Spanish explorers and later American expeditions crossed the county by way of the Canadian River,
the entire region remained the domain of Indians from prehistoric times until the 1870s. Following the Red River War
of 1874, the Comanches and Kiowas were permanently removed to Indian Territory. In 1876 the Texas legislature formed
Moore County from lands formerly assigned to Bexar County, and soon ranchers began moving into the area. Ranching
dominated the local economy from the 1870s to the 1920s, when farming began to develop significantly. During 1877
George W. Littlefield established his famous LIT Ranch
in southwestern Moore and eastern Hartley counties. Soon others followed. The LX Ranch,
with headquarters in Potter County, had substantial Moore County acreage, as did the LS Ranch,
which was headquartered in eastern Oldham County. Lesser stock-raising operations developed in the unclaimed ranges
between these larger ranches. During the 1880s the local ranching economy stabilized, and the few stock raisers and
farmers who lived in the county saw the need for a local government. The founding of the town of Dumas by Louis
Dumas and the Panhandle Townsite Company in 1890 encouraged county organization. As a result, Moore County was
organized with Dumas as the county seat following an election held on July 5, 1892. By 1900 there were fifty-seven
ranches and farms in the county, encompassing about 115,500 acres, and the United States agricultural census
reported 6,885 cattle and 300 sheep. Only 1,708 acres were classified as "improved," and only forty-two were devoted
to corn, at that time the county's most important crop. The county population grew from 15 to 209 between 1890 and
1900. More at
Donald R. Abbe, "MOORE COUNTY," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcm18),
accessed January 24, 2016. Uploaded on June 15, 2010. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 910 square miles (2,356 km2), of which, 900
square miles (2,330 km2) of it is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) of it (1.09%) is water.
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- Sherman County (north)
- Hutchinson County (east)
- Carson County (southeast)
- Potter County (south)
- Oldham County (southwest)
- Hartley County (west)
Education
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