County: Texas
Region: Northwest
2000 County Population: 20,107
Labor Force within 30 Miles: 16,400

Texas County was formed at statehood from the central on-third of "Old Beaver County," also known as "No Man's land." It took its name from the state of Texas. Its county seat is named for E.T. Guymon, uncle of George E. Ellison, who established the first business in that town.
The Beaver River is the principal stream in Texas County, rising in northeastern New Mexico and emptying into the Canadian River near Eufaula. It is joined by Wolf Creek near Fort Supply and from there becomes known as the North Canadian River.
Texas County consists of level plains and rolling hills. Many trees, especially cottonwood, grow along the streams. A large number of irrigation wells in the county help stabilize farming.
Wheat, grain sorghums, and cattle are the chief agricultural industries, ranking near the top among counties of the state in all three. The county ranks high in natural gas and petroleum, being first in gas production among all counties of the United States. Industries in the area include the Adams Hard Surfacing and gasoline extraction plants.
The county is served by three historical societies: Texhoma Historical Society, Beaver River Historical Society, and Daughters of the American Revolution. For more information, call the County Clerk's office at 580-338-3141.

Location: Texas County is in the panhandle in northwestern Oklahoma.
Climate: The average precipitation is 20.3 inches yearly in this area. January's average temperature is 38.1 and July's average is 77.7.
County Seat: Guymon - population 10,472 (2000 census data)
Distances: Guymon to: Enid - 212 miles Oklahoma City - 265 miles.
Land Area: 2,048 square miles of level plains and rolling hills.

POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

The population density of the county is 8.1 persons per square mile. The median age of all persons in the county is 33.0, the female median age is 34.1 and the male median age is 31.8.

UTILITIES

Utility services are provided primarily by the following carriers:

Southwestern Public Service Co., Tri-County Electric Co-Operative, Inc.
Guymon Municipal Gas Co., Southern Union Gas Co.
General Telephone Company of the Southwest, Panhandle Telephone Cooperative

LABOR FORCE

The Texas County labor force was 13,390 in 1997. Participation rate in the county labor force constitutes 77.71% of males and 54.73% of females. An average annual unemployment rate of 2.6% was recorded by the county in 1998, and the per capita personal income for this county was $19,204 in 1997.

TRANSPORTATION

Texas County, like other counties in Oklahoma, has the benefit of modern, quality transportation systems, facilities and services. Major highways in this county are SH 3 and SH 136.

HOUSING

The county has 7,328 housing units of which 71.6% are owner occupied. The median home value in the county is $44,500, the median housing rental contract is $215.00 per month, and statewide housing units number 1,406,499 and of these 68.1% are owner occupied. The statewide median home value is $48,100.

TAX STRUCTURE

The county tax in Texas County is 1% and the state sales tax is 4.5%, local sales tax for cities in this county can be found in the individual community profiles, and the corporate tax statewide is 6%.

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES

The county is home to Oklahoma Panhandle State University a senior state university. In Texas County 75.5% of persons over 25 years of age have a high school diploma and 15.1% are college graduates. Statewide high school graduates in the same age range total 74.6% and the percent of college graduates over 25 years of age is 17.8%.

PRIMARY EMPLOYERS IN THE AREA

INDUSTRIAL SITES AND BUILDINGS

Data on Industrial and Building sites are available for this county. Please contact Information Management, of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce for a current printout of this Real Estate Database. Call (405) 815-5144 in Oklahoma City.

Certified Industrial Parks in Texas County
Guymon Industrial Park - 408.56 total acres/204.87 acres available.

TOURISM POINTS OF INTEREST

Major Lake - Optima
Major Stream Systems - North Canadian (Beaver) and Cimarron rivers
Museums and Historic Sites - No Man Land's Historical Museum, Goodwell

Revised May, 2000
Oklahoma Department of Commerce,
Information Management

* Only past five edits are shown