Wheeler County was formerly one of 30 entirelydry counties in the state of Texas.[4] However,circa 2010, the community ofShamrock, located in Wheeler County at the intersection ofInterstate 40 andU.S. Highway 83, voted to allow liquor sales. Within the city limits of Shamrock is the only place to purchase liquor in Wheeler County.
According to theU.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]
Wheeler 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 4,990. The median age was 42.3 years. 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.3 males age 18 and over.[22]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[24]
There were 2,001 households in the county, of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 55.2% were married-couple households, 17.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[22]
There were 2,598 housing units, of which 23.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.4% were owner-occupied and 23.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 18.3%.[22]
As of the2000 census, 5,284 people, 2,152 households, and 1,487 families resided in the county. Thepopulation density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km2). The 2,687 housing units had an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2 units/km2). Theracial 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. About 12.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[25]
Of the 2,152 households, 29.6% had children under 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were not families. About 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county, the age distribution was 24.9% under 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 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,029, and for a family was $36,989. Males had a median income of $26,790 versus $19,091 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $16,083. About 11.6% of families and 13.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.3% of those under 18 and 16.8% of those 65 or over.
