{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Wilbarger County | state = Texas | seal = | founded = 1881 | seat wl = Vernon | largest city wl = Vernon | area_total_sq_mi = 978 | area_land_sq_mi = 971 | area_water_sq_mi = 7.0 | area percentage = 0.7 | census yr = 2020 | pop = 12887 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 12481 {{decrease}} | density_sq_mi = auto | ex image = Wilbarger Courthouse.jpg | ex image size = 250 | ex image cap = The Wilbarger County Courthouse | website = {{Official URL}} | time zone = Central | district = 13th | named for = Josiah Pugh Wilbarger and Mathias Wilbarger }} right|200px|thumb|"Wilbarger County Remembers", says the veteran's memorial at the courthouse.

[[Image:Confederate soldier, Wilbarger County Courthouse, Vernon, TX Picture 2204.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Confederate soldier monument at Wilbarger County Courthouse]]

'''Wilbarger County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|ɪ|l|b|ɑːr|ɡ|ər}} {{respell|WIL|bar-gər}}) is a county located in the North Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,887.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wilbarger County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48487|website=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=February 23, 2021}}</ref> The county seat is Vernon.<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}}</ref> The county was created in 1858 and later organized in 1881.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/TX_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Texas: Individual County Chronologies|work=Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=The Newberry Library|date=2008|access-date=May 27, 2015|archive-date=May 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513024355/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/TX_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Wilbarger is named for Josiah Pugh Wilbarger and Mathias Wilbarger, two early settlers.

==Geography== According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|978|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|971|sqmi|abbr=on}} are land and {{convert|7.0|sqmi|abbr=on}} (0.7%) are covered by 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=May 12, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Major highways=== * 20px U.S. Highway 70 * 25px U.S. Highway 183 * 25px U.S. Highway 283 * 25px U.S. Highway 287

===Adjacent counties=== * Tillman County, Oklahoma (north) * Wichita County (east) * Baylor County (south) * Foard County (west) * Hardeman County (west) * Jackson County, Oklahoma (northwest)

==Demographics== ===Census-designated places=== * Harrold * Lockett * Oklaunion

===Population=== {{US Census population | 1880 = 126 | 1890 = 7092 | 1900 = 5759 | 1910 = 12000 | 1920 = 15112 | 1930 = 24579 | 1940 = 20474 | 1950 = 20552 | 1960 = 17748 | 1970 = 15355 | 1980 = 15931 | 1990 = 15121 | 2000 = 14676 | 2010 = 13535 | 2020 = 12887 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 12481 | 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> {{decrease}} | 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><br />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=May 12, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/> | align = right }}

===Racial and ethnic composition=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Wilbarger County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{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.''}}</small> !Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small> !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wilbarger County, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48487&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=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) – Wilbarger County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48487&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> !{{partial|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) – Wilbarger County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48487&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> !% 2000 !% 2010 !{{partial|% 2020}} |- |White alone (NH) |10,083 |8,585 |style='background: #ffffe6; |7,012 |68.70% |63.43% |style='background: #ffffe6; |54.41% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |1,278 |1,049 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,013 |8.71% |7.75% |style='background: #ffffe6; |7.86% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |78 |115 |style='background: #ffffe6; |96 |0.53% |0.85% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.74% |- |Asian alone (NH) |91 |97 |style='background: #ffffe6; |566 |0.62% |0.72% |style='background: #ffffe6; |4.39% |- |Pacific Islander alone (NH) |4 |6 |style='background: #ffffe6; |0 |0.03% |0.04% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00% |- |Other race alone (NH) |7 |6 |style='background: #ffffe6; |32 |0.05% |0.04% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.25% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |120 |169 |style='background: #ffffe6; |434 |0.82% |1.25% |style='background: #ffffe6; |3.37% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |3,015 |3,508 |style='background: #ffffe6; |3,734 |20.54% |25.92% |style='background: #ffffe6; |28.97% |- |'''Total''' |'''14,676''' |'''13,535''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''12,887''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

===2020 census===

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 12,887. The median age was 39.3 years. 23.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.4 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%3A487&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 11, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

The racial makeup of the county was 62.8% White, 8.2% Black or African American, 1.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.4% Asian, &lt;0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 12.7% from some other race, and 10.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 29.0% 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%3A487&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 11, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

73.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 26.1% 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%3A487&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=January 11, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 4,944 households in the county, of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.0% were married-couple households, 20.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 5,836 housing units, of which 15.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.6% were owner-occupied and 36.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 15.4%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2000 census===

As of the 2000 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> of 2000, 14,676 people, 5,537 households, and 3,748 families were residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|15|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people|people|abbr=on}}. The 6,371 housing units averaged {{convert|7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 78.17% White, 8.86% African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 9.76% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. About 20.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 5,537 households, 32.20% had children under 18 living with them, 53.10% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were not families. <!-- In 2000, there were 136 unmarried partner households: 129 heterosexual, 3 same-sex male, and 2 same-sex female. --> About 29.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.90% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48, and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the age distribution was 27.90% under 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males. The median income for a household in the county was $29,500, and for a family was $38,685. Males had a median income of $26,001 versus $19,620 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,520. About 9.00% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.00% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==

===County Seat=== * Vernon (county seat)

===Census-designated places===

* Harrold * Lockett * Oklaunion

===Unincorporated communities=== * Odell<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/elliott-tx-wilbarger-county|title = TSHA &#124; Elliott, TX (Wilbarger County)}}</ref>

==Education== School districts serving sections of the county include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48487_wilbarger/DC20SD_C48487.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48487_wilbarger/DC20SD_C48487.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wilbarger County, TX|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=June 29, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48487_wilbarger/DC20SD_C48487_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> * Chillicothe Independent School District * Harrold Independent School District * Northside Independent School District * Vernon Independent School District

The county is in the service area of Vernon College.<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.207. VERNON REGIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA].</ref>

==Notable people== * Clyde Gates, wide receiver for the New York Jets * Jack English Hightower, Memphis, Texas, native; former member of both houses of the Texas State Legislature, and former U.S. Representative * Roy Orbison, singer/songwriter, was born in Wilbarger County. * Daryl Richardson, running back for the St. Louis Rams * Bernard Scott, running back for the Cincinnati Bengals * Jack Teagarden, bandleader and trombonist * John Clay Wolfe, American radio personality who began his career in Wilbarger County on KSEY

==Politics== Wilbarger County is located within District 69 of the Texas House of Representatives. Wilbarger County is located within District 28 of the Texas Senate. {{PresHead|place=Wilbarger County, Texas|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=August 2, 2018}}</ref>}} <!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} --> {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|44|993|264|Texas}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|99|1,242|118|Texas}} {{PresRow|1920|Democratic|335|1,118|89|Texas}} {{PresRow|1924|Democratic|269|1,222|87|Texas}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,590|1,447|3|Texas}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|199|3,397|13|Texas}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|316|3,279|18|Texas}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|697|3,249|6|Texas}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|517|3,382|520|Texas}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|529|2,963|308|Texas}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,019|2,646|1|Texas}} {{PresRow|1956|Democratic|2,230|2,347|10|Texas}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,796|2,319|14|Texas}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,539|3,200|3|Texas}} {{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,909|1,996|1,293|Texas}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,183|1,139|197|Texas}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,145|3,280|51|Texas}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,031|2,347|85|Texas}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,644|2,011|18|Texas}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,669|2,248|12|Texas}} {{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,959|1,924|1,457|Texas}} {{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,037|1,730|501|Texas}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,138|1,356|83|Texas}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,685|1,284|21|Texas}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,283|1,196|30|Texas}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,956|971|53|Texas}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,166|809|130|Texas}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,524|956|44|Texas}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,566|860|41|Texas}} {{PresFoot}} {{U.S. SenHead|place=Wilbarger 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 should be {{U.S. SenRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} --> {{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|3,419|926|88|Texas}} {{U.S. SenFoot}} {{U.S. SenHead|place=Wilbarger County, Texas|Seat=2|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2020 Senate Election (Official Returns)|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 should be {{U.S. SenRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} --> {{U.S. SenRow|2020|Republican|3,473|874|72|Texas}} {{U.S. SenFoot}} {{T.X. GovHead|place=Wilbarger County|Seat=|source=}} <!-- T.X. GovRow should be {{T.X. GovRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} --> {{T.X. GovRow|2022|Republican|2,606|517|29}} {{T.X. GovFoot}}

==See also== {{Portal|Texas}} * List of museums in North Texas * National Register of Historic Places listings in Wilbarger County, Texas * Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Wilbarger County

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

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

* {{Official website}} * {{Handbook of Texas|id=hcw09|name=Wilbarger County}} * [http://vernonrecord.com/ '''Vernon Daily Record''' - Wilbarger County News] * [http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-5827:338 Josiah Wilbarger's entry] in the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-5827 Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas] hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History]. * [http://www.txcip.org/tac/census/profile.php?FIPS=48487 Wilbarger County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918180138/http://www.txcip.org/tac/census/profile.php?FIPS=48487 |date=September 18, 2015 }}

{{Geographic Location |Centre = Wilbarger County, Texas |North = Tillman County, Oklahoma |Northeast = |East = Wichita County |Southeast = |South = Baylor County |Southwest = |West = Hardeman County and Foard County |Northwest = Jackson County, Oklahoma }}

{{Wilbarger County, Texas}} {{Texas counties}} {{Texas}} {{Authority control}} {{coord|34.08|-99.24|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Wilbarger County, Texas Category:1881 establishments in Texas Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1881