Childress, Texas: Conservative and out yonder

Childress is the county seat of Childress County. The county is nestled in the southeast corner of the Panhandle.

In 2015, a Seattle newspaper named Childress as ninth among 10 most conservative cities in the United States, based on political contributions. Three other cities on the list are in the area – Hereford (1), Monahans (5) and Dalhart (8).

http://www.ctpost.com/national/article/The-most-liberal-and-most-conservative-cities-in-6702954.php

The newspaper story says staff looked at all towns of 6,000 population and up, but also says some of the towns listed do not have 6,000 people. OK.

By official 2000 count, 6,778 people lived in the town of Childress. The racial breakdown was 64.5% white, 15.65 African-American and 22.4 percent “Hispanic or Latino of any race.” Nice thing about the Federal headcounters and race assigners – You can be African-American and Hispanic or Latino, as well as white and Hispanic or Latino. You are not allowed to be white and African-American, though. Doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. On the census form, I’d like to put “Texan” or “Texian,” but I don’t get that choice. I wouldn’t count in Texas anyway, since I am a Florida resident (temporarily, until such time as I can assign whatever might be left of my land-enhancing properties to Texas soil).

Here is a 1910 picture of downtown Childress during cotton-baling time.

http://www.texasescapes.com/Cotton/Scenes/ChildressTXCottonScenes4SellingCottonMainStPm1910WmBchmp.jpg

Of the 7,688 people in the county, 67.7% are white, 14.1% Black or African-American, 20.5% Hispanic or Latino of any race and 15.7% in the Federal category of “other.” When you figure in 0.33% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.05 Pacific Islander and 1.83% “from two or races,” that almost 16% “other” is a large amount. Statistically. In a Texas Panhandle County. Of less than 7,000 people.

The Texas Association of Counties has numbers somewhat different: 87% white; 10% black.

http://www.txcip.org/tac/census/profile.php?FIPS=48075

Another example of State/Local numbers not matching Federal counts.

In 1930, the county population was 16,044.

Given where Childress County is and the low population, there is a goodly amount of land for sale. More than likely, the county is one of those Texas places where cattle and deer outnumber people.