Sterling City is a city in and the county seat of Sterling County, Texas, United States. Its population was 1,121 at the 2020 census.
History
Sterling City was named for W.S. Sterling, a buffalo hunter and Indian fighter. Land for the new town was donated in January 1891 by R.C. Stewart, and was platted by H.B. Tarver in February. That same year, it was designated the seat of Sterling County. The town soon grew to 300 residents and had its own newspaper, a hotel, a post office, several other businesses, a school, and three churches.
Sterling City was a stop on the Santa Fe Railroad by 1910, but the service was eventually abandoned. The depot still exists as a tourist site.
Geography
Sterling City is located on the Edwards Plateau in west-central Texas along the North Concho River at (31.839066, –100.985871). It is accessed by U.S. Highway 87 and State Highways 158 and 163, and covers area of 0.98 sq mi (2.5 km), all land.
Windmills have been a feature of Sterling City since the early 20th century, when the town claimed to have more windmills per acre than any other place in the world, totaling some 300. Today, most of Sterling City's windmills are giant turbines in modern wind farms on a ridge approximately 20 miles northwest of the town and visible from U.S. Highway 87.
Climate
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, 1,121 people lived in Sterling City, including 291 families.
The median age was 38.5 years. 27.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 108.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 104.5 males age 18 and over.
There were 393 households in Sterling City, of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 56.2% were married-couple households, 20.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 18.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 17.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 846 || 75.5%
|-
| Black or African American || 3 || 0.3%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 5 || 0.4%
|-
| Asian || 1 || 0.1%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 2 || 0.2%
|-
| Some other race || 107 || 9.5%
|-
| Two or more races || 157 || 14.0%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 422 || 37.6%
|}
2000 census
As of the census and is home to the Sterling City High School Eagles.
All of Sterling County is in the service area of Howard County Junior College District.
Gallery
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Image:City Hall at Sterling City, TX IMG 1412.JPG|City Hall is located across from the courthouse in Sterling City.
Image:Windmill at courthouse, Sterling City, TX IMG 1404.JPG|A windmill on the courthouse grounds in Sterling City
Image:Wind turbines south of Sterling City, TX IMG 1400.JPG|Wind turbines off U.S. Highway 87 south of Sterling City
Image:First Baptist Church of Sterling City, TX IMG 1416.JPG|First Baptist Church at 401 Water Street in Sterling City, pastor, Jason McGuire (2013)
</gallery>