The county is named after the Medina River, which was named in 1689 after Spanish cartographerPedro de Medina by Spanish explorerAlonso de Leon, the first European to encounter the river.[4] Because Pedro de Medina derived his surname from the Andalusian city ofMedina-Sidonia, the name Medina comes from theArabic for city.
TheTexas Legislature formed Medina County on February 12, 1848, and enlarged it on February 1, 1850, using land taken fromBexar County.Castroville was the county seat, and the county erected the first permanent courthouse there in 1854. The county seat moved to Hondo in 1892, and a new courthouse was completed there in 1893.[5]
The county was subject to frequentComanche andKiowa raids during the early-late 1800s. Battles like theBattle of Seco Creek in 1838 highlight the conflicts with Native Americans in the county. In 1862, Comanches kidnapped 3 children 10 miles south ofBandera.[6] Also, in 1866, Lipan Apaches killed and kidnapped 2 young settlers onHondo Creek. On June 11, 1873, Comanches attacked four settlers on Verde Creek near modern day Hondo.[7] By 1875, the Comanches were done raiding the county. Although the Comanche were gone, other tribes, like the Lipan Apaches andKickapoos still were raiding the county. The last Indian raid in the county happened on April 22, 1877, when 19-year-old Joe Wilton was killed by Kickapoo Indians at Black Creek nearDevine, marking the end of theAmerican Indian Wars In Medina County.[8][9]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,335 square miles (3,460 km2), of which 9.2 square miles (24 km2) (0.7%) are covered by water.[10]
Medina 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 the2020 census, the county had a population of 50,748. The median age was 40.8 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 105.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 105.7 males age 18 and over.[16]
15.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 84.3% lived in rural areas.[18]
There were 17,359 households in the county, of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 56.3% were married-couple households, 16.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[16]
There were 19,594 housing units, of which 11.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 81.0% were owner-occupied and 19.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.3%.[16]
As of the2000 census, 39,304 people, 12,880 households, and 10,136 families were residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 30 people per square mile (12 people/km2). The 14,826 housing units had an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 79.38% White, 2.20% Black or African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 14.48% from other races, and 2.88% from two or more races. About 45.47% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.[19]
Of the 12,880 households, 39.1% had children under 18 living with them, 63.2% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.30% were not families. About 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the county, the age distribution was 29.0% under 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.60 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 104.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,063, and for a family was $40,288. Males had a median income of $27,045 versus $21,734 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $15,210. About 12.00% of families and 15.40% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 19.80% of those under age 18 and 15.60% of those age 65 or over.
Holt, Jr., C.L.R. (1959).Geology and ground-water resources of Medina County, Texas [U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1422]. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Castro Colonies Heritage Association,The History of Medina County, Texas, Dallas, TX: National Share Graphics, 1983).
Houston B. Eggen,History of Public Education in Medina County, Texas, 1848–1928 (M.A. thesis, University of Texas, 1950).
Cyril Matthew Kuehne, S.M.,Ripples from Medina Lake, San Antonio, TX: Naylor, 1966.
Bobby D. Weaver,Castro's Colony: Empresario Development in Texas, 1842–1865, College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 1985.
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