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Texas Counties
Texas is divided into two hundred and fifty-four counties, more than any other state. Texas was originally divided into municipalities, a unit of local government under Spanish and Mexican rule. When the Republic of Texas gained its independence in 1836, there were 23 municipalities, which became the original Texas counties. Many of these would later be divided into new counties. The most recent county to be created was Kenedy County in 1921. The most recent county to be organized was Loving County in 1931Crane County, Texas
Crane County Education, Geography, and History
Crane County is a county located in the state of Texas. Based on the 2010 census, its population was 4,375. The county seat is Crane. The county was created in 1887 and later organized in 1927. It was named for William Carey Crane, a president of Southern Baptist affiliated Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
Etymology - Origin of Crane County Name
William Carey Crane, a past president of Baylor University
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Crane County History
Crane County is located in the US state of Texas. It is named for William Carey Crane, a president of Baylor University. The seat of the county is Crane
Handbook of Texas Online
Crane County was formed in 1887 from land previously assigned to Tom Green County the same year, but for many
years the area's scant rainfall deterred settlement. In 1890 only fifteen people lived in Crane County; as late as
1900 the United States census enumerated only fifty-one people and twelve ranches in the county. Almost 17,650
cattle and 3,750 sheep were counted that year.
Crane County was attached to Ector County for administrative purposes until 1927, but with (according to one
estimate) 6,000 oil boomers in the area by that time, the county was ready for organization. The town of Crane,
bustling with as many as 4,500 fortune-seekers, was designated as the county seat, and citizens organized to build a
courthouse. Water was a scarce commodity. People paid a dollar a barrel for water brought from a well seven miles
east of town, or, if prosperous, paid $2.25 a barrel for better water from Alpine. Water was too precious then for
any use but cooking or home-made whiskey; women sent their laundry to El Paso. According to the census 2,221 people
were living in Crane County in 1930. More at
John Leffler, "CRANE COUNTY," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcc25),
accessed January 23, 2016. Uploaded on June 12, 2010. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 786 square miles (2,035 km2), virtually all of which is land.
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- Ector County (north)
- Upton County (east)
- Crockett County (southeast)
- Pecos County (south)
- Ward County (west)
Education
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