Yoakum is a county seat in the western part of Texas in the U.S. The largest town in the county is Denver city. The county was initially instituted in early 1876 and later was officially founded in 1907. Yoakum is named after a Texas historian known as Henderson King Yoakum.

The Native Americans and the early tribes that settled in the region initially were the Kiowas, Comanches, Suma-Jumano, and the Cheyennes.

Geography

The entire county, including the land and a tiny water body, covers 800 square miles. The county is served by four major highways, including the Texas 83.SVG State Highway 83, United States Highway 82, Texas 214.SVG State Highway 214 and the US 380.The SVG United States. Highway 380. Yoakum borders four counties. On the northern side is Cochran County, while Terry County borders to the east, Gaines County at the south part, and Lea County, while New Mexico sits on the West.

County’s Demographics

During the first census in Yoakum conducted in 1890, the county only had four people. Ten years later, the number of residents had increased to 26 people, more than a 500% population increase. By the time the world was entering the new millennium in 2000, the population of Yoakum County had massively grown to at least 7322 residents. The number steadily grew to 7879 during the 2010 census. By 2020 the number had increased to more than 8713 residents, a high population compared to other counties in Texas. Over the years, the racial composition of the county has diversified, and below is the breakdown;

White residents 34%
African-American settlers 0.71%
Native Americans 0.29%
Asian residents 0.6%
Hispanic and Latino residents 57%
Other races and Mixed race residents 49%

Communities in Yoakum

Below are three major communities in the county:

Denver city

Denver is a relatively medium-sized city in Yoakum County and closely borders New Mexico. The town is known and named after the petroleum company established in the region. It is densely populated with 4479 residents, according to the census results of 2010—most Denver city residents concentrate on ranching, oil drilling, and mining. The main tourist attractions in Denver city include The Bickley library, Bennett Plaza, numerous oil well pumps, and the famous windmill adjusted to the U.S. flags that greets tourists entering Denver.

Plains

Plains acts as the County seat in Yoakum, with a population of the region as of 2010 was 1481. The number dropped to 1355 residents, according to the findings of the 2020 Census. Plains has a semiarid climate, BSk on climate maps, according to the Köppen climatic classification system.

Allred

Allred is an unincorporated settlement in Yoakum County, Texas. The small town was founded in 1938 and was named after the 33rd Governor of Texas, James V. Allred.

Attractions and Historical centers

Several historical sites have been maintained and are now essential landmarks that draw tourists to Yoakum County. They are as follows:

Yoakum Heritage Museum

The Heritage Museum is home to various railroad and leather exhibits. The museum, housed in a 1912 mansion, houses massive memorabilia and photographs related to the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad. The Leather Room features fine-tooled saddles and other leather objects and information about early tanneries in the region.

The County Courthouse

The current County Courthouse in Yoakum is physically located at Plains, Texas. The building was established in 1949 by a famous architect known as Wyatt C. Hedrick. The building had a Moderne style that was built using: Bricks. The Courthouse housed chambers of judges offices where they heard and ruled on cases.

Median Chapel Primitive Baptist Church

This is one of the few landmarks in the county. The Median Chapel Primitive Baptist Church is marker number 3317, located at the Medlan Chapel Rd. W of S.H. 67. The marker was designated in 1965 and is still famous. If you visit this marker, go S.H. 67 south about 3 miles from Graham, then Canty Road west for another 5 miles.

County Offices

County Auditor

Darinda D. McWhirter is the County Auditor of Yoakum. The office has three assistant County Auditors, including Ashlee Esty, Brandi Lopez, and Robin Welch. The County auditor department is in charge of auditing all financial books, documents and records in every department of Yoakum County.

You may reach out to the office through their mailing address to P. O. Box 516 Plains, TX 79355. They have also provided their official Phone number 806-456-7491 ext. 292 and a fax number: 806-456-6175 available during their regulated office hours from eight in the morning to five in the evening.

County Clerk’s Office

The Honourable Summer Lovelace is the current Yoakum County Clerk. His office has four deputies, including Marissa Urias, who is the 1st Deputy, and Rosalie Rivera, Valerie Valles, and

Crystal Vargas are all second deputies. You may contact the office via mail on P.O. Box 309 Plains, Texas 79355. Alternatively, you can call their office phone number: 806/456-7491 Ext. 294 or send a fax through 806-696-8606.

Justice of the Peace

The department in Yoakum is tasked with hearing petty criminal cases and hearing and providing judgement on any civil matter. In Yoakum, they have two precincts, and below are their addresses;

Precinct One

Judge Marc Traweek is the presiding judge. The precinct address is P. O. Box 532 Plains, TX 79355. You can call them on 806-456-7491 ext. 293 or send a fax through 806-456-4263.

Precinct Two

Judge Troy Scott is the presiding judge of precinct two located at 412 West 5th St. Denver City, Texas 79323. You can call them on their number, 806-592-3963 or send them a fax to 806-592-7543.

County Tax Assessor and Collector

Ann Saxon is the current head of Department County’s Tax Assessor and Collectors office. The office is in charge of any tax-related issue in the county government and the entire Yoakum County. For any enquiries, you can send them mail through their postal address, P. O. Box 250 Plains, Texas 79355. You can also call them during official working hours on 806-456-7491 or send them a fax message to 806-456-7118.