Knox County

Knox County is in the Rolling Plains region of northwest central Texas, bordered on the north by Foard County, on the east by Baylor County, on the south by Haskell County, and on the west by King County. Its center point is 99°45' west longitude and 33°35' north latitude, about seventy-five miles north of Abilene. The county was named for Henry Knox, the secretary of war in George Washington's first cabinet. Knox County embraces 854 square miles of level to rolling, mesquite-covered plains, dissected by hilly ranges and eroded breaks; altitudes range from 1,401 to 1,646 feet above sea level. The area is drained by the North Wichita River along most of its northern border, and by the South Wichita and Upper Brazos rivers, which cross the county. The soils, ranging from black waxy to sandy loam, are good for both farming and stock raising. Temperatures range from an average minimum of 28° F in January to an average maximum of 98° in July. The annual rainfall is 24.64 inches, and the average growing season lasts 217 days. Two railroad lines, owned by the Santa Fe and Burlington Northern companies, serve the county, and the area is crossed by two U.S. highways (82 and 277), three State highways (6, 114, and 222) and several farm-to-market roads.

Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.