Wilbarger County is a county in Texas, United States, on the Red River along the Oklahoma border in the Rolling Plains region of North Texas. It had a population of 12,887 at the 2020 census and covers 971 square miles (2,510 km2) of land, centred near 34°05′N 99°14′W.
Vernon is the county seat, and its postal code is 76384. The county has one city (Vernon), three census-designated places (Harrold, Lockett, Oklaunion), and one unincorporated community (Odell). Wilbarger County is in the Central time zone and carries FIPS code 48487.
Towns & Villages in Wilbarger County
Vernon is the only incorporated city and by far the largest population centre; the rest of the county is small farm and ranch communities, several of them ghost towns along old rail and stage routes.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon | City · seat | 10,078 | 76384 |
| Harrold | CDP | 158 | 76364 |
| Oklaunion | CDP | 106 | 76376 |
| Lockett | CDP | — | 76384 |
| Odell | Unincorp. | — | 76366 |
| Doans | Unincorp. | — | 76384 |
| Elliott | Unincorp. | — | 76384 |
| Fargo | Unincorp. | — | 76384 |
| Tolbert | Unincorp. | — | 76384 |
ZIP Codes
- 76384 — Vernon (also serves Doans, Elliott, Fargo, Tolbert and Lockett)
- 76364 — Harrold
- 76366 — Odell
- 76376 — Oklaunion
Grayback, Farmers Valley, Hinds, Northside, Parsley Hill, Rock Crossing, White City, and the informally named Hoot and Holler Crossing and Midway Crossing are historic rural place names with no post office or standalone ZIP of their own; mail there routes through Vernon.
Geography
Wilbarger County sits on rolling prairie cut by the Pease River and Beaver Creek, sloping toward the Red River, which forms the county’s entire northern boundary with Oklahoma. Soils are mostly red clay loam suited to cotton, wheat, and cattle grazing. The county borders:
- Tillman County, Oklahoma — north (across the Red River)
- Jackson County, Oklahoma — northwest
- Wichita County, Texas — east
- Baylor County, Texas — south
- Foard County, Texas — southwest
- Hardeman County, Texas — west
Demographics
The 2020 census recorded 12,887 residents, most concentrated in Vernon (10,078). Oklaunion and Harrold are the next-largest communities, each under 200 people. Wilbarger County’s median household income runs well below the Texas state figure of $75,780. Population density is roughly 13 people per square mile, typical of the sparsely settled Rolling Plains.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the county economy — cotton, wheat, and cattle ranching dominate outside Vernon. Vernon itself hosts a Tyson Foods bacon-processing plant, a Rhodia guar-gum facility, the North Texas State Hospital, and a Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, plus Vernon College, a two-year community college. The Santa Rosa Roundup, a four-day PRCA rodeo, runs every May and is the county’s biggest annual draw; the Doan’s May Picnic, held the first Saturday of May at the Doans crossing site on the old Great Western Cattle Trail, is one of the oldest continuous community gatherings in Texas.
History
The Texas legislature created Wilbarger County in 1858 from Fannin County land, but organized government did not follow until 1881 once settlement was secure enough after the frontier Indian Wars. The county is named for brothers Josiah Pugh Wilbarger and Mathias Wilbarger, early Texas settlers; Josiah survived a well-known 1833 scalping near Austin. Doans, on the Red River, was a major crossing point on the Great Western (Dodge City) Cattle Trail in the 1870s-80s, when Texas longhorns were driven north to Kansas railheads.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 70, 183, 283, and 287 all cross the county, converging at Vernon. Distances from Vernon:
- Wichita Falls — 50 miles east
- Altus, Oklahoma — 45 miles north
- Childress — 55 miles southwest
- Quanah — 30 miles south
Wichita Falls Regional Airport, 50 miles east, offers commuter service to Dallas-Fort Worth; a small county-owned general-aviation field, Wilbarger County Airport, sits 5 miles north of Vernon. No Amtrak service reaches the county.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vernon postcode?
76384.
What is the population of Wilbarger County?
12,887 at the 2020 census.
Which city is the county seat?
Vernon is the county seat.
What is the area of Wilbarger County?
971 square miles (2,510 km2) of land plus 7.0 square miles (18 km2) of water.
Which counties border Wilbarger County?
Tillman and Jackson counties in Oklahoma to the north and northwest, and Wichita, Baylor, Foard, and Hardeman counties in Texas to the east, south, and west.
Where does the county name come from?
From brothers Josiah Pugh Wilbarger and Mathias Wilbarger, early Texas settlers.
What highways run through the county?
U.S. Routes 70, 183, 283, and 287, all meeting at Vernon.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.