Habitation of Coryell County dates as far back as 4500 BC. TheTonkawa,Lipan Apache,Kiowa, andComanche were among the tribes who migrated through the area at various periods.[5]When theGeneral Colonization Law went into effect in 1824, followed by the 1825 State Colonization Law ofCoahuila y Tejas, Robert Leftwich obtained a grant to settle 800 families in Texas.[6][7] The grant went through several legal challenges, and later becameRobertson's Colony, named forSterling C. Robertson. The grant encompassed all or parts of 30 present-day Texas counties.[8] Settlers began moving into the area afterFort Gates was established atGatesville. The Texas state legislature created the county in 1854, naming it after Texas Ranger James Coryell.[5][9] Originally, Coryell was to be named Pierce County, but the name was changed after James Coryell's death at the hands ofCaddo Indians.[9]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,057 square miles (2,740 km2), of which 4.7 sq mi (12 km2) (0.4%) are covered by water.[10]
Coryell 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.
As of thecensus[17] of 2000, 74,978 people, 19,950 households, and 15,780 families were residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 71 people per square mile (27 people/km2). The 21,776 housing units averaged 21 per square mile (8.1/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 65.28% White, 21.80% African American, 0.88% Native American, 1.75% Asian, 0.49% Pacific Islander, 6.26% from other races, and 3.54% from two or more races. About 12.57% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
Of the 19,950 households, 47.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.80% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.90% were not families. About 16.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91, and the average family size was 3.27.
In the county, the age distribution was 26.20% under 18, 17.90% from 18 to 24, 36.30% from 25 to 44, 13.80% from 45 to 64, and 5.70% who were 65 or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,999, and for a family was $38,307. Males had a median income of $24,236 versus $21,186 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $14,410. About 7.80% of families and 9.50% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 12.30% of those under age 18 and 9.00% of those age 65 or over.
Mountain View opened in July 1975,[25] Crain opened in August 1980,[21] Hilltop opened in November 1981,[22] and Hughes opened in January 1990.[26] Murray opened in November 1995,[23] and Woodman opened in June 1997.[24] In 1995, of the counties in Texas, Coryell had the third-highest number of state prisons and jails, afterWalker andBrazoria.[27]
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