Young County is a county in Texas, United States, on the rolling plains of the state’s north-central Cross Timbers region. It had a population of 17,867 at the 2020 census and covers 914 square miles (2,370 km2) of land, centred near 33°11′N 98°42′W.
Graham is the county seat, and its postal code is 76450. The county has three incorporated cities and one census-designated place. It sits in the Central time zone and was carved from Bosque and Fannin Counties before organising its own government.
Towns & Villages in Young County
Most residents live in or near Graham, the county’s commercial hub, with smaller populations in Newcastle and Olney and a scatter of unincorporated crossroads communities across the county’s ranchland.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graham | City · seat | 8,732 | 76450 |
| Olney | City | 3,007 | 76374 |
| Newcastle | City | 526 | 76372 |
| Loving | CDP | 143 | — |
| Eliasville | Unincorp. | — | 76438 |
| South Bend | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bunger | Unincorp. | — | — |
| True | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Farmer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Markley | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 76450 — Graham (also serves Loving and most of the county’s ranch country)
- 76374 — Olney
- 76372 — Newcastle
- 76438 — Eliasville
Loving and the smaller unincorporated crossroads communities have no ZIP of their own; mail there is delivered through Graham, Olney or a neighboring county’s post office.
Geography
Young County sits in the Western Cross Timbers, a belt of post oak and blackjack woodland giving way westward to mesquite grassland. The Brazos River’s Clear Fork crosses the county, and Possum Kingdom Lake laps its southern edge near the Palo Pinto County line. The county borders Archer County to the north, Jack County to the east, Palo Pinto County to the southeast, Stephens County to the south and Throckmorton County to the west.
Demographics
Young County had 17,867 residents at the 2020 census. Graham and Olney are its two largest communities. Median household income runs below the Texas state figure of $75,780, reflecting the county’s dependence on ranching and oilfield work rather than the metro-driven wages of North Texas. Population density is about 20 people per square mile, typical of the rolling ranch country between Fort Worth and Abilene.
Economy & Local Life
Oil and gas production, cattle ranching and light manufacturing anchor the county economy, a pattern set since the 1917 oil discovery near Graham. Graham Regional Medical Center and Graham Independent School District are among the county’s larger employers, alongside North Central Texas College’s Graham campus. The Young County Fair, held each fall in Graham, remains the county’s biggest annual gathering.
History
The Texas Legislature created Young County in 1856 from parts of Bosque and Fannin Counties, then organized its government in 1874 after Reconstruction-era frontier conflict had delayed settlement. The county is named for William Cocke Young, a soldier and early Texas settler. An 1876 meeting of cattlemen in Graham to address rustling grew into the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, one of the state’s oldest ranching organizations. Oil production, discovered in 1920, went on to yield more than 3.4 million barrels by 1990.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 380 crosses the county east-west through Graham, and State Highways 16, 67, 79 and 114 connect it to surrounding towns.
- Wichita Falls — about 45 miles north on US 82/US 281
- Abilene — about 65 miles southwest via US 380 and US 283
- Fort Worth — about 90 miles southeast via US 380
Graham Municipal Airport serves general aviation; the nearest commercial air service is Wichita Falls Regional Airport to the north.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Young County?
It is in north-central Texas, between Wichita Falls and Abilene, in the Western Cross Timbers region.
What is the Graham postcode?
76450.
What is the county seat of Young County?
Graham is the county seat.
How big is Young County?
It covers 914 square miles (2,370 km2) of land.
What is the population of Young County?
It had a population of 17,867 at the 2020 census.
What counties border Young County?
Archer to the north, Jack to the east, Palo Pinto to the southeast, Stephens to the south and Throckmorton to the west.
Who is Young County named after?
William Cocke Young, a soldier and early Texas settler.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.