Welcome to Haskell County
Haskell County, in the Rolling Plains region of northwest Texas, was named for Charles R. Haskell, who was killed in the Goliad Massacre.
The county covers 901 square miles of rolling plains broken and drained by tributaries of the upper Brazos River. It is bordered on the north by Knox County, on the west by Stonewall County, on the south by Jones and Shackelford counties, and on the east by Throckmorton County.
The center of the county lies at approximately 33″10′ north latitude and 99″45′ west longitude, about fifty miles north of Abilene. The county is criss-crossed by two U.S. highways (277 and 380), two State highways (6 and 283), and a number of farm-to-market roads.
The elevation ranges between 1,416 and 1,681 feet above sea level. Soils vary from sandy loam to gray, black, and chocolate loam. Temperatures range from an average high of 97 F in July, to an average low of 29 F in January. The annual rainfall averages 24.14 inches. The average growing season lasts 232 days.
Haskell, the county seat and largest town, remains a farm trading center and maintains the county hospital. Other towns include Rule, O’Brien, Rochester, and Weinert. The Paint Creek community is also part of the county.
The population in Haskell County is approximately 5,900 residents. The current average age of Haskell County residents is 42 years. Over 25% of the county’s residents are over the age of 65.
There are three school districts in the county: Haskell, Paint Creek, and Rule with an estimated enrollment of 1,000+ students.
The leading employers in the county include:
1. services which includes personal and business services, wholesale and retail trade, finance, insurance, real estate, transportation and public utilities,
2. government including federal, state, and local government employment,
3. farm involving proprietor and wage income from farms, agricultural service, forestry, fisheries, and other sources, and
4. goods production such as mining, construction, and manufacturing.
County Government and Texas AgriLife Extension Service – Partners in Education
Texas AgriLife Extension Service educates Texans in the areas of agriculture, environmental stewardship, youth and adult life skills, human capital and leadership, and community economic development.
Texas AgriLife Extension offers the knowledge resources of the land-grant university system to educate Texans for self-improvement, individual action, and community problem-solving.
Texas AgriLife Extension is a statewide educational agency and a member of the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) linked in a unique partnership with the nationwide AgrilLife Extension System and Texas county governments.