Question

Explain the reason behind why counties in West Texas have a different shape than those in East Texas.

Answer 1

The reason behind why counties in West Texas have a different shape than those in East Texas was due to requirement of the Texas Constitution of 1876

Explanation:

• The amended Texan Constitution in 1876 found that unorganisationed land in less than 900 square kilometres could not create new counties and counties must be as square as possible.
• Several of the previous counties were largely divided by rivers or lakes. Nevertheless,  new counties required to be a large grid of at least 900 kilometres .
• Counties already formed were to be atleast 700 sq.miles & none of the parent county could be decreased to less than was was stipulate as the minimum..
• A 2/3rd majority of the Legislature was required for a county between 700-900 square miles. Moreover, the border would be 12 miles east of a new county from the county seat of the parent county.
• Much of the proposed counties were located within 3 miles of the proposed county centre. Due to the expansion in the area of rail construction & a square boundary configuration, the Texas legislative formed in 1876 four new counties in Panhandle & Lower West Texas in the hope of growth.
• The "young Territory" property was divided into 54 counties in "Panhandle Plains." Therefore rectangles are the counties in North-West Texas.
• In the late 19th century , the main counties of Texas were separated into smaller divisions because of growth in the population of the western part of the state . Many counties, divided into smaller districts, have been created from larger former counties.

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