Erath County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}} {{Distinguish|Earth, Texas}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Erath County | ex image = 250px | ex image cap = Erath County Courthouse in Stephenville, Texas. | founded = 1856 | state = Texas | named for = George Bernard Erath | seat wl = Stephenville | largest city wl = Stephenville | area_total_sq_mi = 1090 | area_land_sq_mi = 1083 | area_water_sq_mi = 6.7 | area percentage = 0.6 | census yr = 2020 | pop = 42545 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 43911 {{increase}} | density_sq_mi = auto | website = {{Official URL}} | time zone = Central | district = 25th }}

'''Erath County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|iː|r|æ|θ}}) is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. According to the United States Census bureau, its population was 42,545 in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Erath County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48143|website=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=February 23, 2021}}</ref> The county seat is Stephenville.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The county is named for George Bernard Erath, an early surveyor and a soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto.

Erath County is included in the Stephenville, Texas, Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Erath County contains two of North America's largest renewable natural gas plants. The largest is at Huckabay Ridge, near Stephenville. The second-largest is outside Dublin at Rio Leche Estates.

==History== ===Native Americans=== Caddo tribe Anadarko villages were scattered along the Trinity and Brazos Rivers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Anadarko Indian History|url=http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/tribes/caddo/anadarkohist.htm|publisher=Access Genealogy|access-date=December 15, 2010}} - {{cite web|title=Caddo Indian History|url=http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/tribes/caddo/caddohist.htm |publisher=Access Genealogy|access-date=December 15, 2010}}</ref> French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe developed camaraderie among the Anadarko in 1719 when he established Fort Saint Louis de los Cadodaquious.<ref>{{cite book|last=Weddle|first=Robert S|title=The French Thorn: Rival Explorers in the Spanish Sea, 1682-1762|year=1991|publisher=TAMU Press|isbn=978-0-89096-480-4|pages=208–228|chapter=Cannibal Coast}}</ref> The Anadarko became entangled with the French battles with the Spanish and later the Anglos and suffered the consequences, including diseases to which they had no immunity. By 1860, these tribes moved to Oklahoma. Erath County falls into Comancheria and found itself raided by Comanches until their removal to Oklahoma after 1875.<ref>{{cite web|title=Texas Indian Lands|url=http://www.texasindians.com/map2.htm|publisher=R E. Moore and Texarch Associates|access-date=December 15, 2010}}</ref>

===County established and growth=== Erath County was formed from Bosque and Coryell counties in 1856 and named for George Bernard Erath, one of the area's original surveyors.<ref name="Erath County, Texas">{{cite web|last=Young|first=Dan M|title=Erath County, Texas|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hce06|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=December 15, 2010|date=June 12, 2010}}</ref> In 1856, John M. Stephen offered to donate land for a townsite. It was named Stephenville after him and became the county seat.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stephenville, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/CentralTexasTownsNorth/StephenvilleTexas/StephenvilleTexas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|access-date=December 15, 2010}}</ref>

Jones Barbee founded the community of Dublin in 1854.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dublin, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/CentralTexasTownsNorth/DublinTexas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|access-date=December 15, 2010}}</ref> His children were the first citizens to be buried in Erath County in the community of Edna Hill, in Southern Erath. Barbee Cemetery is named after him. Jones traveled with his wife and children across the country from North Carolina. He is the grandson of Christopher "Old Kit" Barbee, North Carolina's wealthiest landowner and the largest land donor for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://museum.unc.edu/exhibits/show/early-benefactors/contiguous-land-donations-to-t|title = Early Land Donations · Carolina's Early Benefactors · Carolina Story: Virtual Museum of University History}}</ref> Barbee served as board president; a bronze statue of him is in the university. Jones had many children who went on to populate the county, with names such as Barbee, White, Durham, and Brambeletts. Some of his great-grandchildren still live in the community. His great-great-great-granddaughter, Carolina, lives on his land today in Edna Hill and is the sixth generation to continually live on his old homestead. Her children are the seventh. The families of other early settlers also remain there. Dublin later became famous as the early boyhood home of the PGA, U.S. Open and Masters golf champion Ben Hogan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Beh Hogan bio |url=http://www.worldgolfhalloffame.org/hof/member.php?member=1061 |publisher=World Golf Hall of Fame |access-date=December 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604054553/http://www.worldgolfhalloffame.org/hof/member.php?member=1061 |archive-date=June 4, 2011 }}</ref>

In 1857, thirty pioneers settled in the county, led by George Erath. The group included brothers William F. and John M. Stephen and a black family whose name and fate is unknown.<ref>{{cite web|last=Longwell|first=Evelyn Clark|title=Neil McLennan|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fmc89|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=December 15, 2010|date=June 15, 2010}}</ref>

Erath, an immigrant from Vienna, Austria, was a Texas Ranger and member of Billingsley's Company C, 1st Regiment of Texas Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Charles Burleson at the Battle of San Jacinto, and a member of the Confederate Home Guard.<ref>{{cite web|title=Officers and Enlisted Men Battle of San Jacinto 21st April 1836|url=http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/sjvetsunit.htm|publisher=Sons of Dewitt Colony Texas|access-date=December 15, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205100747/http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/sjvetsunit.htm|archive-date=December 5, 2010}}</ref> As a Freemason, he was a charter member and secretary of Bosque Lodge #92, from 1852 to 1855. The lodge's name changed to Waco #92 in 1857. It is the oldest continuous organization in Waco, Texas.<ref>{{cite web|title=George B. Erath - Texas Mason Honored in Stephenville |url=http://www.grandlodgeoftexas.org/node/2148 |publisher=The Grand Lodge of Texas Ancient Free and Accepted Masons |access-date=December 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123215754/http://grandlodgeoftexas.org/node/2148 |archive-date=November 23, 2010 }}</ref>

Cotton became the major crop between 1875 and 1915, with the largest harvest in 1906. The industry was helped in 1879 when the Texas Central Railroad reached Dublin, and in 1889 when the Fort Worth and Rio Grande railroad was completed through Stephenville. This opened eastern markets for the county's cotton crops. By 1910, soil erosion and the boll weevil caused diversity planning that led to dairy farms, fruit orchards, nurseries, peanuts, feed crops, and poultry.<ref name="Erath County, Texas"/>

The community of Thurber was created by the Johnson Coal Company.<ref>{{cite web |title=Thurber, Texas |url=http://www.texasescapes.com/FEATURES/Thurber_Texas/Thurber_Texas_ghosttown.htm |work=Texas Escapes |access-date=December 15, 2010}}</ref> From 1888 to 1921, the Texas Pacific Coal Company mined coal near Thurber, making it a leading coal producer in the state. Fifty-two percent of the miners were of Italian ancestry, creating the "Italian Hill" community just outside Thurber. In 1903, the United Mine Workers sent Joe Fenoglio to organize the Italian workers, beginning the Thurber Coal Miners Strike. In the 1970s, the area began bituminous coal production for fuel in the cement industry.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Italian Presence in the Coal Camp of Thurber, Texas |url=http://www.thurbertexas.com/history/italian.html |publisher=Thurber, Texas |access-date=December 15, 2010}} - {{cite book |last=Taylor |first=Wilma Rugh |title=Gospel Tracks through Texas: The Mission of Chapel Car Good Will |year=2005 |publisher=TAMU Press |isbn=978-1-58544-434-2 |pages=47–56 |chapter=Finding Surprises in East Texas}}</ref>

Tarleton State University was founded in 1893 as Stephenville College. It was renamed in 1899 after local rancher John Tarleton rescued the institution from financial difficulties.<ref>{{cite book |last=Dethloff |first=Henry C |title=Texas A&M University: A Pictorial History, 1876-1996, Second Edition |year=1996 |publisher=TAMU Press |isbn=978-0-89096-704-1 |pages=62–64}} - {{cite book |last=Peterson's |title=Colleges in the South: Compare Colleges in Your Region |year=2008 |publisher=Peterson's |isbn=978-0-7689-2695-8 |page=194}}</ref>

On November 4, 2008, Erath County voters elected to allow the sale of beer and wine in the county for off-premises consumption.

===Courthouse=== Erath's original 1866 wooden courthouse burned to the ground, destroying county documents along with it. A second stone courthouse was built in 1877 but eventually razed. The cornerstone for the current courthouse was laid in 1891. The architects James Riely Gordon and D. E. Laub designed the three-story showcase Victorian structure. Gordon also designed the Arizona State Capitol and courthouses in Aransas, Bexar, Brazoria, Comal, Ellis, Fayette, Gonzales, Harrison, Hopkins, Lee, McLennan, Victoria and Wise Counties.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lurie|first=Maxine N|title=Encyclopedia of New Jersey |year=2004|publisher=Rutgers University Press|isbn=978-0-8135-3325-4|author2=Mappen, Marc |author3=Siegel, Michael |page=324}}</ref> The building was completed in 1893 with limestone from the Leon River and red sandstone from Pecos County. Its central 95-foot tower has a bell tower and creates a chandeliered atrium from the first floor to the third. The interior is east Texas pine, with cast and wrought-iron stairways, and tessellated imported marble floors. It was renovated in 1988.<ref>{{cite web|last=Herda, Ed.D.|first=Lou Ann|title=Erath County Courthouse|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TRIPS/GreatAmericanLegendTour/ErathCountyTx/ErathCountyCourthouse.htm|work=Texas Escapes|access-date=December 15, 2010}}</ref>

==Geography== According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of {{convert|1090|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1083|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|6.7|sqmi}} (0.6%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 26, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Major highways=== [[File:Stephenville August 2017 13 (S Graham Avenue).jpg|thumb|State Highway 108 as S Graham Avenue in Stephenville]] * 20px Interstate 20 * 20px U.S. Highway 67 * 25px U.S. Highway 281 * 25px U.S. Highway 377 * 20px State Highway 6 * 20px State Highway 108

===Adjacent counties=== * Palo Pinto County (north) * Hood County (northeast) * Somervell County (east) * Bosque County (southeast) * Hamilton County (south) * Comanche County (southwest) * Eastland County (west)

==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1860 = 2425 | 1870 = 1801 | 1880 = 11796 | 1890 = 21584 | 1900 = 29966 | 1910 = 32095 | 1920 = 28385 | 1930 = 20804 | 1940 = 20760 | 1950 = 18434 | 1960 = 16236 | 1970 = 18141 | 1980 = 22560 | 1990 = 27991 | 2000 = 33001 | 2010 = 37890 | 2020 = 42545 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 43911 | estref =<ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}} | align-fn = center | footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=}}</ref> 1850–2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=April 26, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/> | align = right }}

===2020 census===

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 42,545. The median age was 31.5 years. 20.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.3 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A143&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 9, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

The racial makeup of the county was 76.8% White, 2.9% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 8.6% from some other race, and 9.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 21.8% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A143&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 9, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

49.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 51.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A143&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=January 9, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 15,858 households in the county, of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.6% were married-couple households, 20.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 18,325 housing units, of which 13.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 58.8% were owner-occupied and 41.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 14.2%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===Racial and ethnic composition=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Erath County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''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.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !Pop 1980<ref name=1980CensusRaceStats>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics- Texas - Table 15. Persons by Race and Table 16. Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_txAB-03.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|page=21-46|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007094958/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_txAB-03.pdf| archive-date=October 7, 2022}}</ref> !Pop 1990<ref name=1990CensusRaceStats>{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics- Texas - Table 3. Race and Hispanic Origin: 1990|page=29-138 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-45-1.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260203162919/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-45-1.pdf| archive-date=February 3, 2026}}</ref> !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Erath County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US48143&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Erath County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US48143&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Erath County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US48143&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !% 1980 !% 1990 !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |White alone (NH) |21,259 |25,123 |27,269 |29,382 |style='background: #ffffe6; |30,006 |94.23% |89.75% |82.63% |77.55% |style='background: #ffffe6; |70.53% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |176 |192 |257 |431 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,194 |0.78% |0.69% |0.78% |1.14% |style='background: #ffffe6; |2.81% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |33 |90 |127 |170 |style='background: #ffffe6; |215 |0.15% |0.32% |0.38% |0.45% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.51% |- |Asian alone (NH) |70 |109 |117 |240 |style='background: #ffffe6; |348 |0.31% |0.39% |0.35% |0.63% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.82% |- |Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref> |9 |12 |style='background: #ffffe6; |13 |x |x |0.03% |0.03% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03% |- |Other race alone (NH) |102 |19 |20 |18 |style='background: #ffffe6; |104 |0.45% |0.07% |0.06% |0.05% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.24% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> |243 |358 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,411 |x |x |0.74% |0.94% |style='background: #ffffe6; |3.32% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |920 |2,458 |4,959 |7,279 |style='background: #ffffe6; |9,254 |4.08% |8.78% |15.03% |19.21% |style='background: #ffffe6; |21.75% |- |'''Total''' |'''22,560''' |'''27,991''' |'''33,001''' |'''37,890''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''42,545 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

===2010 census===

At the 2010 census,<ref name="GR8">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 37,890 people, 14,569 households and 9,003 families residing in the county. The racial makeup of the county was 85.6% White, 1.2% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.0003% Pacific Islander, 10% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. 19.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,569 households, of which 29.59% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.03% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 38.2% were non-families. 27% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.06.

22.29% of the population were under the age of 18, 19.40% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.5 years. For every 100 females there were 96.50 males. ==Communities== ===Cities=== * Dublin * Stephenville (county seat)

===Census-designated places===

* Bluff Dale * Huckabay * Lingleville

===Unincorporated communities=== {{div col|colwidth=12em}} * Alexander * Chalk Mountain * Clairette * Edna Hill * Harbin * Morgan Mill * Oak Dale * Purves * Selden * Three Way * Thurber * Johnsville {{div col end}}

===Ghost town=== * Duffau

==Politics== {{PresHead|place=Erath County, Texas|source=<ref name="election">{{cite web |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |title=United States Presidential Election Results|website=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|first=Dave|last=Leip}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://results.texas-election.com/contestdetails?officeID=1001&officeName=PRESIDENT%2FVICE-PRESIDENT&officeType=FEDERAL%20OFFICES&from=race|title=PRESIDENT/VICE-PRESIDENT|last=Nelson|first=Jane|author-link=Jane Nelson|date=November 5, 2024|work=Secretary of State of Texas|access-date=January 28, 2026}}</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|156|1,569|180|Texas}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|184|2,024|304|Texas}} {{PresRow|1920|Democratic|358|1,914|471|Texas}} {{PresRow|1924|Democratic|406|3,396|152|Texas}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,923|1,372|82|Texas}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|284|3,319|26|Texas}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|290|2,694|11|Texas}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|646|3,459|18|Texas}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|411|3,330|430|Texas}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|598|3,172|232|Texas}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,249|2,664|2|Texas}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,775|2,377|19|Texas}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,696|2,490|30|Texas}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,642|3,851|5|Texas}} {{PresRow|1968|Democratic|2,209|2,915|935|Texas}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,777|1,648|8|Texas}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,925|4,821|44|Texas}} {{PresRow|1980|Democratic|3,981|4,156|169|Texas}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|6,122|3,234|39|Texas}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,427|4,113|30|Texas}} {{PresRow|1992|Republican|3,835|3,531|3,065|Texas}} {{PresRow|1996|Republican|4,750|3,664|1,184|Texas}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|8,126|2,804|185|Texas}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|9,506|2,710|65|Texas}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|10,768|3,128|123|Texas}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|10,329|1,965|179|Texas}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|11,210|2,160|523|Texas}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|13,684|2,916|277|Texas}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|15,349|2,871|131|Texas}} {{PresFoot}} {{U.S. SenHead|place=Erath County, Texas|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Texas by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/texas-senate-results}}</ref>}}  {{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|14,672|3,126|380|Texas}} {{U.S. SenFoot}} {{U.S. SenHead|place=Erath County, Texas|Seat=2|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=Texas Senate Election Results 2020|website=NBCNews.com|date=November 3, 2020|access-date=April 10, 2026 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-elections/texas-senate-results}}</ref>}}  {{U.S. SenRow|2020|Republican|13,564|2,707|437|Texas}} {{U.S. SenFoot}} {{T.X. GovHead|place=Erath County|Seat=|source=}}  {{T.X. GovRow|2022|Republican|10,956|1,976|183}} {{T.X. GovFoot}} At the presidential level, Erath County is predominantly Republican. In 2012, Mitt Romney won the county in the presidential election with over 80% of the vote. The last Democrat to win the county was Jimmy Carter, in 1976 and 1980.<ref name="election" />

==Media== Two newspapers have offices in Erath County, ''The Stephenville Empire-Tribune'' and ''The Dublin Citizen''. Local television stations that provide coverage for Erath County and surrounding areas come from the Dallas/Fort Worth and Waco/Temple/Killeen metropolitan areas.

Five radio stations have their main studios and offices in Erath County: KEQX 89.5, KTRL 90.5, KSTV-FM 93.1, KXTR-LP 100.7 and KSTV (AM) 1510. KTRL and KXTR-LP are operated by Tarleton State University.

==In popular culture== Several scenes in the Paul Greengrass Western movie ''News of the World ''take place in a fictionalized Erath County shortly after the end of the Civil War.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tallerico|first=Brian|title=News of the World movie review (2020) {{!}} Roger Ebert|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/news-of-the-world-movie-review-2020|access-date=April 13, 2021|website=RogerEbert.com|language=en}}</ref>

In 2023 television and film producer Taylor Sheridan's company used several Erath County locations, including the Court House Square, to film ''The Bass Reeves Story'' for Netflix as the ''Yellowstone'' franchise evolved to include additional places, times and events. Downtown Stephenville was transformed for several weeks into a 19th-century facsimile of Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Erath County is home to several nationally famous people, including 7-time American Rodeo Association World Champion and co-founder of Professional Bull Riders (PBR Rodeo) Tye Murray; comedic actress and winner of the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress (1972) and 5-time Emmy Award nominee Ruth Buzzi; and activist Taya Kyle, widow of Navy Seal Cris Kyle, who was murdered in Erath County. It is the birthplace of country singer-songwriter Johnny Duncan. Stephenville is also home to NFL player Cody Davis and 3-time college football national "coach of the year" Arthur "Art" Briles, who now coaches an Italian professional football team and formerly coached the Houston Cougars and Baylor Bears.

==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category}}

* {{Official website}} * {{Handbook of Texas|id=hce06|name=Erath County}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311024133/http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-5827%3A177 Entry for George B. Erath] from the [https://archive.today/20121205004737/http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-5827 ''Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas''] published 1880, hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History.]

{{Geographic location |Centre = Erath County, Texas |North = Palo Pinto County |Northeast = Hood County |East = Somervell County |Southeast = Bosque County |South = Hamilton County |Southwest = Comanche County |West = Eastland County |Northwest = }}

{{Erath County, Texas}} {{Texas counties}} {{Texas}} {{Authority control}} {{coord|32.23|-98.22|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Erath County, Texas Category:1856 establishments in Texas Category:Populated places established in 1856