Donley County was established in 1876 from land given by the Bexar District.[5] It is named for Stockton P. Donley, justice of the state supreme court.[6]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total land area of 933 sq mi (2,420 km2), of which 5.6 sq mi (15 km2) (0.7%) are covered by water.[7]
Donley 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 the census[13] of 2000, 3,828 people, 1,578 households, and 1,057 families resided in the county. The population density was four people per square mile (1.5 people/km2). The 2,378 housing units averaged 3 units per square mile (1.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.41% White, 3.94% Black or African American, 0.89% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 2.72% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. About 6.35% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 1,578 households, 24.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were not families. About 31.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the county, the population was distributed as 22.40% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 20.60% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 21.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,006, and for a family was $37,287. Males had a median income of $24,375 versus $18,882 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,958. About 10.50% of families and 15.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.90% of those under age 18 and 15.90% of those age 65 or over.
Culture
The Harold Dow Bugbee Ranch, formerly owned by the Western artist and his second wife, Olive Vandruff Bugbee, also an artist, is located in Donley County.
U.S. Highway 287, which passes through the county, has a modern rest area. The rest area also provides sanctuary from weather, offering a tornado shelter in the main building.[14]
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