Ellis_County,_Texas
Ellis County, Texas
County in Texas, United States
Ellis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2020, its population was estimated to be 192,455.[1] The county seat is Waxahachie.[2] The county was founded in 1849 and organized the next year.[3] It is named for Richard Ellis,[4] president of the convention that produced the Texas Declaration of Independence. Ellis County is included in the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan statistical area.
Ellis County | |
|---|---|
The Ellis County Courthouse in Waxahachie | |
Location within the U.S. state of Texas | |
Texas's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 32°21′N 96°47′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1850 |
| Named for | Richard Ellis |
| Seat | Waxahachie |
| Largest city | Waxahachie |
| Area | |
| • Total | 952 sq mi (2,470 km2) |
| • Land | 936 sq mi (2,420 km2) |
| • Water | 16 sq mi (40 km2) 1.7% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 192,455  |
| • Density | 200/sq mi (80/km2) |
| Demonym | Ellisite |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | www |
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 952 square miles (2,470 km2), of which 935 square miles (2,420 km2) are land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (1.7%) are covered by water.[5]
Lake Waxahachie is located about five miles south of Waxahachie in Ellis County, Texas. Owned and operated by Ellis County Water Control and Improvement District Number One on behalf of the city of Waxahachie, the lake was formed by impounding the Waxahachie Creek in 1956. The water covers about 650 acres and has a maximum depth around 50.[6][7] The former community of South Prong was located beside the creek before the lake was created.[8] There has been a country club and a two-acre public park with boat ramp since the lake was completed.[9] The lake is a recreational resource for the entire county.
Major highways
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
Adjacent counties
- Dallas County (north)
- Kaufman County (northeast)
- Henderson County (east)
- Navarro County (south)
- Hill County (southwest)
- Johnson County (west)
- Tarrant County (northwest)
Cities (multiple counties)
- Cedar Hill (mostly in Dallas County)
- Ferris (small part in Dallas County)
- Glenn Heights (mostly in Dallas County)
- Grand Prairie (mostly in Dallas and Tarrant Counties)
- Mansfield (mostly in Tarrant County and a small part in Johnson County)
- Ovilla (small part in Dallas County)
Cities
- Bardwell
- Ennis
- Maypearl
- Midlothian
- Oak Leaf
- Pecan Hill
- Red Oak
- Waxahachie (county seat)
Towns
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 989 | — | |
| 1860 | 5,246 | 430.4% | |
| 1870 | 7,514 | 43.2% | |
| 1880 | 21,294 | 183.4% | |
| 1890 | 31,774 | 49.2% | |
| 1900 | 50,059 | 57.5% | |
| 1910 | 53,629 | 7.1% | |
| 1920 | 55,700 | 3.9% | |
| 1930 | 53,936 | −3.2% | |
| 1940 | 47,733 | −11.5% | |
| 1950 | 45,645 | −4.4% | |
| 1960 | 43,395 | −4.9% | |
| 1970 | 46,638 | 7.5% | |
| 1980 | 59,743 | 28.1% | |
| 1990 | 85,167 | 42.6% | |
| 2000 | 111,360 | 30.8% | |
| 2010 | 149,610 | 34.3% | |
| 2020 | 192,455 | 28.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 222,829 | 15.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1850–2010[11] 2020[12] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[13] | Pop 2020[12] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 97,987 | 106,495 | 65.49% | 55.34% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 13,161 | 23,738 | 8.80% | 12.33% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 565 | 710 | 0.38% | 0.37% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 811 | 1,525 | 0.65% | 0.79% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 87 | 202 | 0.06% | 0.10% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 155 | 790 | 0.10% | 0.41% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 1,683 | 6,963 | 1.12% | 3.62% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 35,161 | 52,032 | 23.50% | 27.04% |
| Total | 149,610 | 192,455 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
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.
According to the census[14] of 2000, 111,360 people, 37,020 households, and 29,653 families resided in the county. The population density was 118 people per square mile (46 people/km2). The 39,071 housing units averaged 42 units per square mile (16/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.63% White, 8.64% African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 7.92% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. About 18.42% of the population was Hispanic or Latinos of any race. By 2020, its population increased to 192,455.[12] The racial makeup in 2020 was 55.34% non-Hispanic white, 12.33% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.79% Asian American, 0.41% some other race, 3.62% multiracial, and 27.04% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
A Williams Institute analysis of 2010 census data found about 3.2 same-sex couples per 1,000 households were in the county.[15]
Ellis is a staunchly Republican county in presidential elections. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976, and since 2000, Republican presidential candidates have won with more than 66% of the vote.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 56,717 | 66.19% | 27,565 | 32.17% | 1,406 | 1.64% |
| 2016 | 44,941 | 70.10% | 16,253 | 25.35% | 2,916 | 4.55% |
| 2012 | 39,574 | 72.94% | 13,881 | 25.59% | 799 | 1.47% |
| 2008 | 38,078 | 70.71% | 15,333 | 28.47% | 442 | 0.82% |
| 2004 | 34,602 | 74.50% | 11,640 | 25.06% | 202 | 0.43% |
| 2000 | 26,091 | 69.94% | 10,629 | 28.49% | 587 | 1.57% |
| 1996 | 16,046 | 53.91% | 10,832 | 36.39% | 2,888 | 9.70% |
| 1992 | 13,564 | 40.50% | 9,537 | 28.47% | 10,394 | 31.03% |
| 1988 | 16,422 | 59.18% | 11,169 | 40.25% | 158 | 0.57% |
| 1984 | 16,873 | 67.56% | 8,029 | 32.15% | 72 | 0.29% |
| 1980 | 10,046 | 51.31% | 9,219 | 47.08% | 315 | 1.61% |
| 1976 | 6,996 | 41.02% | 9,991 | 58.58% | 68 | 0.40% |
| 1972 | 8,779 | 69.53% | 3,839 | 30.41% | 8 | 0.06% |
| 1968 | 3,794 | 31.44% | 5,431 | 45.01% | 2,842 | 23.55% |
| 1964 | 2,779 | 27.62% | 7,278 | 72.33% | 5 | 0.05% |
| 1960 | 3,666 | 38.42% | 5,841 | 61.21% | 36 | 0.38% |
| 1956 | 3,585 | 40.65% | 5,211 | 59.08% | 24 | 0.27% |
| 1952 | 4,183 | 39.91% | 6,275 | 59.86% | 24 | 0.23% |
| 1948 | 1,055 | 13.76% | 5,792 | 75.56% | 818 | 10.67% |
| 1944 | 666 | 8.02% | 7,065 | 85.08% | 573 | 6.90% |
| 1940 | 692 | 8.07% | 7,881 | 91.87% | 5 | 0.06% |
| 1936 | 319 | 5.34% | 5,644 | 94.46% | 12 | 0.20% |
| 1932 | 527 | 6.93% | 7,033 | 92.49% | 44 | 0.58% |
| 1928 | 3,569 | 44.72% | 4,399 | 55.12% | 13 | 0.16% |
| 1924 | 1,220 | 13.50% | 7,678 | 84.93% | 142 | 1.57% |
| 1920 | 819 | 13.98% | 4,081 | 69.68% | 957 | 16.34% |
| 1916 | 324 | 6.32% | 4,718 | 92.02% | 85 | 1.66% |
| 1912 | 293 | 7.42% | 3,483 | 88.24% | 171 | 4.33% |
The Ellis County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services to the county. The current sheriff is Brad Norman. The agency also operates the Ellis County Jail in Waxahachie.[17]
Ellis County is part of the Dallas/Fort Worth television media market in North Texas. Stations in the market are KDFW-TV, KXAS-TV, WFAA-TV, KTVT-TV, KERA-TV, KTXA-TV, KDFI-TV, KDAF-TV, KFWD-TV, and KDTX-TV.
The county is home to one local radio station KBEC 1390 AM and 99.1 FM. The station has been in continuous operation since 1955 and is the oldest Family owned radio station in Texas. A weekly newspaper, the Ellis County Press, is based in Ferris and published Thursdays. The Waxahachie Daily Light and Waxahachie Sun are published biweekly; other weekly newspapers are The Ennis News and Midlothian Mirror.
School districts include:[18]
- Avalon Independent School District
- Ennis Independent School District
- Ferris Independent School District
- Frost Independent School District
- Italy Independent School District
- Maypearl Independent School District
- Midlothian Independent School District
- Milford Independent School District
- Palmer Independent School District
- Red Oak Independent School District
- Waxahachie Independent School District
It is in the service area of Navarro College.[19]
- Clyde Barrow of Bonnie and Clyde
- J. D. Grey, clergyman, pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Ennis, 1931–1934; later president of the Southern Baptist Convention
- Ernest Tubb, country singer and songwriter
- Lecil Travis Martin, known more commonly as Boxcar Willie, country singer and songwriter
.jpg){kind=link}
- "Ellis County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
- "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
- Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 117.
- "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
- Texas Parks and Wildlife: Lake Waxahachie. Accessed 11 Sep 2022.
- Premier Angler: Lake Waxahachie. Accessed 11 Sep 2022.
- Forth Worth Genealogical Society: Ghost Towns – South Prong, Ellis County, TX. Accessed 11 Sep 2022.
- Waxahachie Parks and Recreation: Waxahachie Lake. Accessed 11 Sep 2022.
- "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- Leonhardt, David; Quealy, Kevin (June 26, 2015), "Where Same-Sex Couples Live", The New York Times, retrieved July 6, 2015
- Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- "2020 census - school district reference map: Ellis County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022. - Text list
- Ellis County government's website
- Ellis County from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Memorial and biographical history of Ellis county, Texas ..., published 1892, hosted by the Portal to Texas History
- The Texas spirit of '17: a pictorial and biographical record of the gallant and courageous men from Ellis County who served in the Great War, hosted by the Portal to Texas History