Archer County is part of the Texas Red Beds, which are strata of red-colored sedimentary rock from the Early Permian. The fossils of Permian period vertebrates in the Texas Red Beds were first discovered by Edward Drinker Cope in 1877. Subsequent research has revealed rare fossils of Permian period amphibians such as Trimerorhachis, and rich deposits of other Permian tetrapods such as Dimetrodon and Diadectes. One of the most prominent fossil sites in the red beds is the Geraldine Bonebed, which is located in Archer County.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, 8,854 people, 3,345 households, and 2,515 families resided in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile. The 3,871 housing units averaged 4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 95.54% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.28% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. About 4.87% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 3,345 households, 37.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.00% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.80% were not families. Of all unmarried partner households, 89.8% were heterosexual, 1.9% were same-sex male, and 8.3% were same-sex female. About 21.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.08. In the county, the population was distributed as 28.20% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males. The median income for a household in the county was $38,514, and for a family was $45,984. Males had a median income of $31,386 versus $22,119 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,300. About 6.80% of families and 9.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.90% of those under age 18 and 10.80% of those age 65 or over.
The Seymour Division of the sprawling 320,000-deeded-acre La Escalera Ranch is located north of Seymour, Texas in Baylor County and part of Archer County. The Seymour Division consists of 34,000 acres which was formerly known as the Cross Bar Ranch when it was owned by the Claude Cowan Sr. Trust. The ranch was purchased in January, 2005 by the Gerald Lyda family and La Escalera Limited Partnership and is managed by partner Jo Lyda Granberg and her husband K. G. Granberg of Seymour. La Escalera Ranch extends over much of Pecos County and portions of Reeves, Brewster, Archer, and Baylor Counties. It is known for its herd of Black Angus cattle and its abundant wildlife. Joseph Sterling Bridwell, the Wichita Falls philanthropist and oilman, also owned a ranch in Archer County.
Dairy Industry
Archer county is one of the more prominent areas of dairy product production in the state of Texas. The two southeastern Archer County cities of Scotland and Windthorst share 37 functioning dairy farms as of 2019. The dairy industry moved to the area in the early 1900s and has persisted through the years. Though this area has many operating dairies, the number of dairy cattle makes up a fractions of the amounts that are raised in the other dairy pockets of texas such as Dalhart/Dumas and the Stephenville area. Every dairy farm in the Scotland/Windthorst area is family owned, and this is where most of the economy of the two cities derives from.
Politics
Archer County is heavily Republican, it has voted for the presidential candidate of that party in every election since 1980.
