Hardeman County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 3,549. The county seat and largest city is Quanah. The county was created in 1858 and later organized in 1884. It is named for two brothers, Bailey Hardeman and Thomas Jones Hardeman, early Texas politicians and legislators. Hardeman County was one of 46 prohibition or entirely dry counties in Texas until November 2006, when voters approved referenda to permit the legal sale of alcoholic beverages for on- and off-premises consumption.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which are land and (0.3%) are covered by water.
The Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River joins with Buck Creek in the northwestern corner of the county to form the Red River, which flows east to form the northern border of the county, separating it from Oklahoma.
Hardeman County is the northernmost county in Texas that is not part of the Texas Panhandle.
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 3,549. The median age was 42.9 years; 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.5 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 77.4% White, 4.0% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, 8.8% from some other race, and 8.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 23.0% of the population.
Almost none of residents lived in urban areas, while nearly 100.0% lived in rural areas.
Of the 1,509 households in the county, 30.4% had children under 18 living in them, 46.3% were married-couple households, 21.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.
Of the 1,804 housing units, 16.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.7% were owner-occupied and 31.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.1%.
As of the 2000 census, 4,724 people, 1,943 households, and 1,319 families were residing in the county. The population density was . The 2,358 housing units averaged . The racial makeup of the county was 85.4% White, 4.8% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 7.1% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. About 14.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 1,943 households, 29.9% had children under 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were not families. About 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.40, and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population distribution was 25.4% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,312 and for a family was $33,325. Males had a median income of $26,683 versus $18,566 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,824. About 14.6% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.0% of those under 18 and 13.4% of those 65 or over.
Georgia-Pacific operates a gypsum plant in the small community of Acme, located west of Quanah on U.S. Highway 287.
Republican Drew Springer, Jr., a businessman from Muenster in Cooke County, has represented Hardeman County in the Texas Senate since 2021, and previously in the Texas House of Representatives from 2013 to 2021. Hardeman County formerly leaned Democratic, but in recent years, it has swung to become solidly Republican.
Hardeman County is located within District 69 of the Texas House of Representatives. Hardeman County is located within District 28 of the Texas Senate.
School districts serving sections of the county include:
The county is in the service area of Vernon College.