Rockwall County, Texas

Infobox U.S. County
county = Rockwall County
state = Texas


map size = 275
founded = 1873
seat = Rockwall | area_total_sq_mi =149
area_land_sq_mi =129
area_water_sq_mi =20
area percentage = 13.39%
census yr = 2000
pop = 43080
density_km2 =129
web = www.rockwallcountytexas.com
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Rockwall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is Texas's smallest county in land area. In 2000, its population was 43,080. Its seat is RockwallGR|6. Rockwall County forms part of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

The county was founded in 1873 because access to the county seat of Kaufman County, of which county the area was then a part, was inconvenient for the residents of what became Rockwall County. The county and city are named for a wall-like subterranean rock formation that runs throughout the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 149 square miles (385 km²), making it the smallest county in Texas. 129 square miles (334 km²) of it is land and 20 square miles (52 km²) of it (13.39%) is water.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

*Collin County (north)
*Hunt County (east)
*Kaufman County (south)
*Dallas County (west)

Demographics

USCensusPop
title=Historical populations
1900=8531
1910=8072
1920=8591
1930=7658
1940=7051
1950=6156
1960=5878
1970=7046
1980=14528
1990=25604
2000=43080
estimate=69155
estyear=2006

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 43,080 people, 14,530 households, and 11,972 families residing in the county. The population density was 334 people per square mile (129/km²). There were 15,351 housing units at an average density of 119 per square mile (46/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.17% White, 3.24% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 1.32% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.45% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 11.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,530 households out of which 44.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.00% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.60% were non-families. 14.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the county, the population was spread out with 30.10% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 8.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 100.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $65,164, and the median income for a family was $71,448. Males had a median income of $49,636 versus $32,410 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,573. About 3.80% of families and 4.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.60% of those under age 18 and 4.10% of those age 65 or over.

Rockwall County was ranked the third fastest-growing county in the nation by the US Census Bureau from 2000 to 2005, adding 19,870 people (a 46.1% change).

Cities and towns

† Dallas is a city primarily in Dallas County but a portion extends into Rockwall County due to the city's ownership of Lake Ray Hubbard.
*Heath is mainly a city of Rockwall County but a small portion extends into northern Kaufman County.
** Rowlett is mainly a city of Dallas County but a portion of it extends into Rockwall County.
*** Royse City is mainly a city of Rockwall County but a portion of it extends into Collin County and Hunt County.
**** Wylie is mainly a city of Collin County but a small part extends into Rockwall County and Dallas County.

Education

The following school districts serve Rockwall County:

*Rockwall Independent School District (small portion in Kaufman County)
*Royse City Independent School District (small portion in Collin, Hunt counties)

References

External links

* [http://www.rockwallcountytexas.com/ Rockwall County government's website]
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