Wheeler County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 4,990.^[1] Its county seat is Wheeler.^[2] The county was formed in 1876 and organized in 1879.^[3] It is named for Royall Tyler Wheeler, a chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court.

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Wheeler County
County
Wheeler County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°24′N 100°16′W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1879
Named for	Royall T. Wheeler
Seat	Wheeler
Largest city	Shamrock
Area
• Total	915 sq mi (2,370 km2)
• Land	915 sq mi (2,370 km2)
• Water	1.0 sq mi (3 km2)  0.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,990
• Density	5.5/sq mi (2.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	13th
Website	www.co.wheeler.tx.us

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Wheeler County was formerly one of 30 entirely dry counties in the state of Texas.^[4] However, circa 2010, the community of Shamrock, located in Wheeler County at the intersection of Interstate 40 and U.S. Highway 83, voted to allow liquor sales. Within the city limits of Shamrock is the only place to purchase liquor in Wheeler County.

The Pioneer West Museum, the Wheeler County historical museum, is located in Shamrock off U.S. Highway 83.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 915 square miles (2,370 km²), of which 915 square miles (2,370 km²) are land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²) (0.1%) is covered by water.^[5]

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 can be of any race.

As of the census^[10] of 2000, there were 5,284 people, 2,152 households, and 1,487 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km²). There were 2,687 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.83% White, 2.78% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 6.64% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. 12.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,152 households, out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.90% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 22.50% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 20.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,029, and the median income for a family was $36,989. Males had a median income of $26,790 versus $19,091 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,083. About 11.60% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.30% of those under age 18 and 16.80% of those age 65 or over.

Republican Drew Springer, Jr., a businessman from Muenster in Cooke County, has since January 2013 represented Wheeler County in the Texas House of Representatives.^[11]

The representative from 1971 to 1979 was the Democrat Phil Cates, later a lobbyist in Austin.^[12]

• List of museums in the Texas Panhandle
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Wheeler County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Wheeler County