King County is located in the Rolling Prairie
region of Northwest Texas and has the distinction of being the
third smallest county (by population) in the United States.
The area that is now King County was occupied by Apache
Indians until the early eighteenth century, when Comanche
moved into the region. Comanches of the Wanderers band
controlled the area until the late nineteenth century. The
material culture of the Wanderers reflected the tribe's
nomadic habits.
Today, the 912 square miles that comprise King County are
home to ranches that were formed in the 1880s and 1890s--the
Four Sixes, the Pitchfork, the Matador, and the SMS ranches.
King
County is truly a county with many more horses and cattle than
people. Most residents live in housing provided by the ranches
or the school district.
A majority of King County voters supported Democratic
candidates in virtually every presidential election from 1892
to 1968; the single exception occurred in 1928, when county
voters backed Republican Herbert Hoover. In all but one
presidential election between 1972 and 1992, however, the
voters of King County went Republican. In 1976 Democrat Jimmy
Carter took the county over Republican Gerald Ford.
The population of King
County, Texas fell by 1 in 2013 bringing the total to 285
people living in 186 housing units spread across 911 square
miles.
The US Census Bureau reports
6.6% of the county's residents are foreign immigrants who
have settled in one of the most remote places in America.
The new estimate moves King County to number 3 in our list
of least populated counties in the US.
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Four Sixes Ranch, King County, Texas ca
1960 |
People who live in King
County have an annual income of $32356 which is $6547 more
than the statewide average for Texas. The average per capita
income nationwide is $28051. King County ranks number 15 for
highest income in sparsely populated counties.
Homes are cheap here with the
median value of home being $90700 compared to $181400
nationwide. 59.2% of housing units in King County are
occupied by their owners.
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