Bosque County
- Coordinates
- 31° 54' 0" N, 97° 37' 48" W (31.9, -97.63)
- State
- Texas
- Region
- Central
- County Seat:
- Meridian
- Year Organized:
- 1854
- Total Square Miles:
-
1002.543
983 sq mi (2,550 km2) land
20 square miles (52 km2) (2.0%) water - Population:
-
18326 (2017)
Population: 18,685 Est. (2019) 18,212 (2010) - Persons/Square Mile:
- 18
- Bosque County Website
- http://www.bosquecounty.us/
Contiguous Counties
Somervell (N)Johnson (NE)
Hill (E)
McLennan (SE)
Coryell (S)
Hamilton (W)
Erath (NW)
Bosque County Offices
Bosque County Town List
County structure
- Government Type:
- County
- Authority:
- Dillon's Rule
- Legislative Body:
- Commisioners Court
- Size of Legislative Body:
- 5
Demographics
- 2018 Population:
- 18326
- 25 to 64 Years of Age:
- 46.99%
- 65 Years of Age and Older:
- 24.65%
Economy, 2018
- Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
- $603.5 M
- Labor Force:
- 8,220
- Unemployment Rate:
- 3.70%
Bosque County is situated in Central Texas on the Edwards Plateau. It was officially formed from McLennan County in February 1854. Its first inhabitants were Americans of Norwegian descent.
Bosque County borders Somervell and Erath counties to the north. It borders Hamilton County to the west, Hill, and Johnson to the east, while Coryell and McLennan border to the south. Bosque County has a population of 18,685 as of 2019. The county is named after Bosque River, which cuts across the county from north to south. Another notable river in the county is the Brazos River which forms the eastern boundary and drains into Lake Whitney. Bosque County covers 1003 square miles.
Meridian is the county seat and is situated in the central region of the Bosque.
Cities and Towns in Bosque County
There are several cities and townships in Bosque County. The biggest City in the county is Clifton. Other towns and townships are:
- Meridian – the county seat
- Iredell
- Morgan
- Hollis Prairie
- Norse
- Steiner (Fowler)
- Walnut Springs
- Rock Springs
- Valley
- Mills
- Cedron
- Cranfills Gap
History of the Bosque County Courthouse
Four courthouses have been constructed in Bosque County. The first courthouse was built in 1851 and lasted until 1860.
The second Bosque County courthouse was constructed in 1860. It was a three-frame building and was burned in 1871.
The third Bosque County Courthouse was built in1875. It was a two-story structure constructed using stone and was dome-shaped.
The current Bosque County courthouse was built in 1886. It is a three-storied building that was designed by J.J Kane and is made with limestone.
The courthouse is built in Romanesque style. Its openings are rounded arches, with narrow entrances between every pavilion. It has a central tower, which is a clock tower. The interior is composed of carved medallions and colonettes. The courthouse houses the Bosque county offices.
Bosque County Jail, Texas
The sheriff’s department is in charge of the Bosque County Jail. It is a male and female facility, and it houses a maximum of thirty-five inmates. In prison, duties are performed by prison employees and trustee inmates. Offenders are also held in the facility as they await presentation to the court for prosecution. Also, offenders who fail to raise bonds are held in the facility until their hearing. Most of the inmates in the jail are from local police departments in Bosque County.
Safety in Bosque County
Bosque County is relatively safe. In a typical year, your probability of becoming a victim of crime is 1 in 36. The average crime rate is 2,809 per 100,000 people in Bosque County. Compared to the national average, it is safer in Bosque County.
The rates of crimes have been going down. In the past two years, the rate was at 1,790 per 100,000 residents.
The climate in Bosque County, Texas
The most comfortable months of the year in terms of temperature are May, October, and April. In these months, temperatures range between 70-85°. August has the highest temperature, with an average temperature of 96.3°. Bosque is warmer compared to most of Texas.
There are about 228 sunny days annually in Bosque County versus the U.S. average of 205 sunny days.
Bosque gets precipitation in the form of hail, sleet, snow, and rain. On average, it receives rainfall seventy days a year.
Bosque County averagely registers about 35 inches of rainfall annually. The U.S. average is 38 inches of rain annually.
During summer, it is unpleasant in Bosque County due to humidity. Although the humid period runs from May to September, the most unpleasant months are August, July, and June. The most pleasant months are October to April.
The Economy in Bosque County, Texas
Bosque County has an unemployment rate of 5.6%. This is lower than the county’s rate of 6.0%.
The job market in Bosque County has increased by 1.4% in the last year. The prediction is that the growth will be 31.4% in the next ten years. Compared to the national growth of 33.5%, it is lower. The Sales Tax Rate is 7.4% for Bosque County, compared to the U.S. average, 7.3%.
Ambulance Services in Bosque County, Texas
Emergency Medical Services (EMS), together with other Bosque Ambulance Service providers like Bosque County government and non-profit organizations, offer transports services for patients to hospitals and other health care facilities.
There is one ambulance service per 5,985 residents or 327 square miles. This ratio ranks Bosque 28th of all counties in Texas.
Schools in Bosque County
There are twelve public schools in Bosque County. Three thousand sixty-five students are enrolled in the schools for the year 2021-2022. Most of the schools are top ranking in Texas.
Some of the high-ranking public institutions in Bosque County are Clifton High and Middle School and Valley Mills Elementary School. Testing and ranking are based on reading proficiency and combined mathematics.
The average math proficiency score for public schools in Bosque County is 40% compared to the 51% average in public institutions. Also, the ability to read proficiently in Bosque is 40% compared to the statewide average of 47%.
Sports Facilities Bosque County
There are several sports facilities, including stadiums spread over in Bosque County. Stadiums include:
- Yellow Jacket Stadium
- Katy Fields
- John Bryant Field
- Dragon Field
- Lion Stadium
- J. C. Larkin Complex
- Eagle Field Club Stadium
- Club Stadium
Bosque County Offices
The Bosque County offices are situated at the Bosque County Courthouse. It has several offices, notably; the county judge, county sheriff, county clerk, and county commissioners. Notable officers include; Marvin Wickman –Precinct 1, Terry W. Townley – Precinct 11, Larry Phillip – Precinct 111, Ronnie Liardon – Precinct iv, Anthony Malott – County Sheriff, and Hon. Don Pool – County Judge
You can contact the county offices through these contacts:
P.O. Box 617, 110 South Main Room 110
Meridian, Texas 76665-0647
Telephone (254) 435-2201