Mitchell County

Mitchell County, Texas

Mitchell County, Texas

The Mitchell County Courthouse is located in Colorado City, the county seat. Photographby Aualliso.

Mitchell County is in the prairie of west central Texas, bounded on the east by Nolan County, on the south by Sterling and Coke counties, on the west by Howard County, and on the north by Scurry County. The county center is at 32°18' north latitude and 100°55' west longitude. Colorado City, the largest town, is in the northeastern part of the county, roughly 229 miles west of Fort Worth. The area was named for Asa and Eli Mitchell , prominent participants in the Texas Revolution. The county embraces 912 square miles of prairieland surfaced mainly with sandy, red, and dark soils. The altitudes range from 2,004 to 2,616 feet above sea level. The main physical feature is the Colorado River, which enters the county from the north and flows through the center. The river traverses the Callahan Divide, a line of hills that extends from east to west in the southern part of the county. In the county are several lakes, including Lake Colorado City, Champion Creek Reservoir, Lake Gregory, and Lake Butler, all of which are recreational sites. Wild china, live oak, willow cedar, black walnut, pecan, and other trees grow in the area; grasses include bunchgrass, shortgrass, grama, needlegrass, and Johnson grass. During the spring Mitchell County sports a variety of wildflowers, including buttercups, daisies, sunflowers, and honeysuckle. Rabbits, prairie dogs, coyotes, and wolves are found in the area. The most common reptile is the rattlesnake. Temperatures in the county range from an average high of 96° F in July to an average low of 30° in January, rainfall averages 19.68 inches a year, and the growing season lasts 217 days. The county is served by Interstate Highway 20, which runs from west to east, and by State highways 163 (north to south) and 208 (north to southeast). The Missouri Pacific Railroad runs east to west across the county, through Colorado City.

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.

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County Map of Texas

Mitchell County

Highlighted:
  • Mitchell County

Currently Exists

Yes

Place type

Mitchell County is classified as a County

Altitude Range

1930 ft – 2574 ft

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Mitchell County by the Numbers

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Population Counts

Mitchell County
Pop. Year Source
8,545 2019 United States Census Bureau

Civilian Labor Counts

Mitchell County
People Year Source
2,279 2019 Texas Workforce Commission

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Per Capita Income (USD) Year Source
$31,913 2019 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

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Property Values

Mitchell County
USD ($) Year Source
1,388,315,826 2019 State Property Tax Board

Retail Sales

Mitchell County
USD ($) Year Source
38,297,897 2019 State Comptroller of Public Accounts

Wages

Mitchell County
USD ($) Year Source
22,550,436 2019 Texas Workforce Commission

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Unemployment Percentage Year Source
9.5 2019 Texas Workforce Commission

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Rainfall (inches) Year Source
20.4 2019 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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Min. (January Average, °F) Max. (July Average, °F) Year Source
28.3 95.0 2019 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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Land Area

Mitchell County
Area (square miles) Year Source
911.1 2019 United States Census Bureau

Total Area

Mitchell County
Area (square miles) Year Source
915.9 2019 United States Census Bureau