Hansford County is a county in Texas, United States, in the northern tip of the Texas Panhandle along the Oklahoma border. It had a population of 5,285 at the 2020 census and covers 920 square miles (2,400 km2) centred near 36°17′N 101°21′W.
Spearman is the county seat, and its postal code is 79081. The county has two incorporated cities, one census-designated place, and several small unincorporated communities. Hansford County observes Central time and has no civil townships.
Towns & Villages in Hansford County
Hansford County has nine named places on record, ranging from the county seat to scattered unincorporated ranching communities. The table below marks incorporated cities, the one CDP, and the unincorporated places; population figures are shown only where a 2020 census count exists for that place.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spearman | City · seat | — | 79081 |
| Gruver | City | — | 79040 |
| Morse | CDP | — | 79062 |
| Hansford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bernstein | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hitchland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kimball | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McKibben | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Phillips Camp | Unincorp. | — | — |
Spearman and Gruver are the county’s only incorporated cities; Morse, on US 83 south of Spearman, is a census-designated place. Hansford, Bernstein, Hitchland, Kimball, McKibben and Phillips Camp are unincorporated rural communities and former rail or ranch sidings without their own census counts or ZIP codes today — residents there use Spearman’s or Gruver’s postal service instead.
ZIP Codes
- 79081 — Spearman (also serves Hansford, Bernstein, Hitchland, Kimball and Phillips Camp)
- 79040 — Gruver
- 79062 — Morse (also serves McKibben)
The county has three standard ZIP codes; Spearman’s covers just over half of the county’s population.
Geography
Hansford County sits on the flat, high plains of the Texas Panhandle, drained by the North Fork of the Palo Duro Creek and Coldwater Creek. Land is overwhelmingly given to wheat, milo and cattle ranching, with the terrain broken only by shallow draws and playa lakes. The county has a total area of 920 square miles, of which about 0.6 square miles is water.
Hansford County borders Texas County, Oklahoma to the north, Ochiltree County to the east, Roberts County to the southeast, Hutchinson County to the south, and Sherman County to the west.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 5,285 residents in Hansford County. Spearman and Gruver are by far the two largest communities, together holding the large majority of the county’s population. Median household income in the county runs above the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting the strength of local farming, ranching and oil-field wages. Population density is roughly 5.7 people per square mile, one of the sparser counties in the Panhandle.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the local economy — wheat, grain sorghum, corn and cattle dominate — alongside oil and natural gas production, which has run continuously in the county since the 1937 discovery. Spearman ISD and Gruver ISD are the two largest local employers outside agribusiness and energy, and Hansford County Hospital District serves the county from Spearman. Both towns hold annual county-fair and rodeo events tied to the fall harvest season.
History
Hansford County was created from the Bexar and Young territories in 1876 and formally organized in 1889. It is named for John M. Hansford, a Texas judge and state legislator killed in 1844. The county endured severe Dust Bowl conditions in the 1930s, and the 1937 discovery of oil brought decades of steady energy-sector income that continues to shape the county’s tax base today.
Getting There
State Highways 15, 51, 136 and 207, along with Loop 84, cross the county; there is no interstate access.
- Perryton, Texas (Ochiltree County) — 27 miles east
- Dumas, Texas (Moore County) — 45 miles south
- Guymon, Oklahoma (Texas County) — 40 miles north
- Amarillo, Texas — 90 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Amarillo International Airport, about 90 miles to the south; Spearman and Gruver both have small county-owned general-aviation airfields.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hansford County, Texas?
It is in the northern Texas Panhandle, on the Oklahoma state line, roughly 90 miles north of Amarillo.
What is the population of Hansford County?
5,285 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Hansford County?
920 square miles (2,400 km2), almost entirely land.
What is the county seat of Hansford County?
Spearman is the county seat.
How many towns are in Hansford County?
Two incorporated cities (Spearman and Gruver), one census-designated place (Morse), and several small unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Hansford County?
79081 (Spearman), 79040 (Gruver) and 79062 (Morse).
Why is it called Hansford County?
It is named after John M. Hansford, a Texas judge and state representative killed in 1844.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.