Stephens County
Stephens County, Texas
Stephens County is in north central Texas, bounded on the east by Palo Pinto County, on the south by Eastland County, on the west by Shackelford County, and on the north by Young and Throckmorton counties. The center of the county lies at 32°45' north latitude and 98°50' west longitude, sixty-five miles northeast of Abilene. Originally named Buchanan County after President James Buchanan, the county was renamed in 1861 to honor Alexander H. Stephens, the vice president of the Confederate States of America. The county extends across almost 922 square miles of broken, hilly plateau country with loamy topsoils covering deep reddish, clayey, or mottled subsoils. The area is drained by the Clear Fork of the Brazos River and by other tributaries of the Brazos. Elevations range between 1,000 to 1,600 feet above sea level; outstanding physical features include summits known as Gunsight Mountain, Double Mountain, and Evans Peak. Trees include mesquite, hackberry, elm, and pecan, while broomweed, wild rye, and milkweed are some of the grasses that grow in the area. The annual average rainfall is 26.4 inches. Temperatures range from an average low of 31° F in January to an average high of 98° in July; the growing season lasts 222 days. In the 1980s the agricultural sector of the economy earned an annual average income of $12.5 million, 90 percent of which derived from livestock, including beef cattle, horses, hogs, and sheep. Crops grown in the area included wheat, oats, hay, peanuts, and sorghum. The manufacture of mobile homes, furniture, aircraft parts, petrochemicals, and oilfield equipment earned $9.7 million in 1982; almost five million barrels of oil, valued at $169,688,194, were also produced in the county that year. Major roads include U.S. Highway 180 (west to east), U.S. Highway 183 (north to south), and State Highway 67, which runs from Breckenridge to the northeast.
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.
Stephens County at a Glance
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County Map of Texas
Stephens County
- Stephens County
Currently Exists
Yes
Place type
Stephens County is classified as a County
Altitude Range
995 ft – 1628 ft
Places of Stephens County
Noteworthy | Place | Type |
---|---|---|
Algoma | Town | |
Bear Branch Mills | Town | |
Bivouac | Town | |
Bray | Town | |
Breckenridge | Town | |
Breckwalker | Town | |
Burkett | Town | |
Caddo | Town | |
Carroll | Town | |
Carter | Town | |
Cobb | Town | |
Cotton Plant | Town | |
Crystal Falls | Town | |
Curry | Town | |
Duff Prairie | Town | |
Edward | Town | |
Eolian | Town | |
Eureka | Town | |
Fambrough | Town | |
Finley Point | Town | |
Fleetwood | Town | |
Frankell | Town | |
Gentry | Town | |
Gilking | Town | |
Gudger | Town | |
Gunsight | Town | |
Harpersville | Town | |
Hight | Town | |
Hilo | Town | |
Hubbard Creek Reservoir | Lake | |
Ivan | Town | |
Jimkurn | Town | |
Ketch | Town | |
La Casa | Town | |
Lake Daniel | Lake | |
Leeray | Town | |
Lewalt | Town | |
Mankins Mill | Town | |
Maxbury | Town | |
McGuire | Town | |
Morg | Town | |
Moses | Town | |
Necessity | Town | |
Orland | Town | |
Parks Camp | Town | |
Picketville | Town | |
Plateau | Town | |
Possum Kingdom Lake | Lake | |
Randal's Store | Town | |
Ray Lee | Town | |
Ringling Junction | Town | |
Rock Hill | Town | |
Satterfield | Town | |
Sebrick | Town | |
South Hanlon | Town | |
South Prairie | Town | |
Trigg | Town | |
Union Hill | Town | |
Wards | Town | |
Wayland | Town | |
Wiles | Town | |
Zelma | Town |
Photos of Stephens County and surrounding areas
Stephens County, Texas
The Stephens County Courthouse is located in Breckenridge, Texas. Photograph by Renelibrary.

Stephens County, Texas
Map of Stephens County, Texas. Map Credit: Robert Plocheck.
Breckenridge, Texas
Mural in the downtown area of the city of Breckenridge, the seat of Stephens County, Texas. Photograph by Kairos14. Breckenridge

Children hiking near Possum Kingdom Lake
Photo by Loadmaster, CC by SA 3 Possum Kingdom Lake

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Stephens County by the Numbers
Population & Civilian Labor Counts
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Population Counts
Stephens County
Pop. | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
9,366 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Civilian Labor Counts
Stephens County
People | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
3,848 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Per Capita Income
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Per Capita Income (USD) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
$39,289 | 2019 | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |
Property Values, Retail Sales, and Wages
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Property Values
Stephens County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
1,573,361,733 | 2019 | State Property Tax Board |
Retail Sales
Stephens County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
81,963,437 | 2019 | State Comptroller of Public Accounts |
Wages
Stephens County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
35,100,576 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Unemployment
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Unemployment Percentage | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
7.1 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Rainfall
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Rainfall (inches) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
30.0 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Temperature Ranges
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Min. (January Average, °F) | Max. (July Average, °F) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|---|
30.3 | 95.8 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Land Area & Total Area
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Land Area
Stephens County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
896.7 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Total Area
Stephens County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
921.5 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |