Austin County, Texas

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Austin County
County
Austin County Courthouse Bellville Wiki (1 of 1).jpg
The Austin County Courthouse in Bellville
Flag of Austin County, Texas.svg
Flag
Map of Texas highlighting Austin County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas in United States.svg
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°53′N96°17′W / 29.88°N 96.28°W / 29.88; -96.28
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Texas.svg  Texas
Founded1837
Named for Stephen F. Austin
Seat Bellville
Largest city Sealy
Area
 • Total656 sq mi (1,700 km2)
 • Land647 sq mi (1,680 km2)
 • Water9.9 sq mi (26 km2)  1.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total30,167
 • Density46/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 10th
Website www.austincounty.com

Austin County is a rural, agricultural dominated county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,167. [1] [2] Its seat is Bellville. [3] The county and region was settled primarily by German emigrants in the 1800s. [4]

Contents

Austin County is included in the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Austin County does not contain the city of Austin, the state capital of Texas, which lies in Travis County, about 110 miles to the northwest.

History

In 1836, the Texas Legislature established Austin County, naming it for Stephen F. Austin, who facilitated Texas' Anglo-American colonization.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 656 square miles (1,700 km2), of which 647 square miles (1,680 km2) is land and 9.9 square miles (26 km2) (1.5%) is covered by water. [5]

Adjacent counties

Communities

Cities

Town

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850 3,841—
1860 10,139164.0%
1870 15,08748.8%
1880 14,429−4.4%
1890 17,85923.8%
1900 20,67615.8%
1910 17,699−14.4%
1920 18,8746.6%
1930 18,860−0.1%
1940 17,384−7.8%
1950 14,663−15.7%
1960 13,777−6.0%
1970 13,8310.4%
1980 17,72628.2%
1990 19,83211.9%
2000 23,59018.9%
2010 28,41720.5%
2020 30,1676.2%
2023 (est.)31,6775.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]
1850–2010 [7] 2010 [8] 2020 [9]
Austin County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000 [10] Pop 2010 [8] Pop 2020 [9] % 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)16,96418,65718,48071.91%65.65%61.26%
Black or African American alone (NH)2,4752,6222,35210.49%9.23%7.80%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)4779780.20%0.28%0.26%
Asian alone (NH)681102010.29%0.39%0.67%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)1180.00%0.00%0.03%
Other race alone (NH)34361070.14%0.13%0.35%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)1962718890.83%0.95%2.95%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)3,8056,6418,05216.13%23.37%26.69%
Total23,59028,41730,167100.00%100.00%100.00%

As of the census [11] of 2000, 23,590 people, 8,747 households, and 6,481 families resided in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile (14 people/km2). The 10,205 housing units averaged 16 units per square mile (6.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.22% White, 10.64% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 6.99% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. About 16.13% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race, and 26.9% were of German, 8.0% Czech, 6.4% English, and 5.0% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

Of the 8,747 households, 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were not families; 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county, the population was distributed as 27.00% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,615, and for a family was $46,342. Males had a median income of $32,455 versus $22,142 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,140. About 8.80% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.70% of those under age 18 and 14.40% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

United States presidential election results for Austin County, Texas [12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2020 11,44778.48%2,95120.23%1881.29%
2016 9,63778.52%2,32018.90%3172.58%
2012 9,26579.53%2,25219.33%1321.13%
2008 8,78674.96%2,82124.07%1140.97%
2004 8,07275.43%2,58224.13%480.45%
2000 6,66172.19%2,40726.09%1591.72%
1996 4,66958.36%2,71933.98%6137.66%
1992 4,01550.89%2,27828.87%1,59720.24%
1988 4,52463.18%2,59336.22%430.60%
1984 4,87271.29%1,94128.40%210.31%
1980 3,73464.91%1,89332.90%1262.19%
1976 2,68653.37%2,31345.96%340.68%
1972 3,08474.24%1,04325.11%270.65%
1968 1,97145.27%1,29929.83%1,08424.90%
1964 1,54539.46%2,36560.41%50.13%
1960 1,97852.92%1,72546.15%350.94%
1956 2,50167.12%1,21532.61%100.27%
1952 2,96467.17%1,44532.74%40.09%
1948 1,26043.98%1,25243.70%35312.32%
1944 61919.44%1,31641.33%1,24939.23%
1940 1,40049.88%1,40450.02%30.11%
1936 29015.03%1,63584.76%40.21%
1932 1424.81%2,80694.96%70.24%
1928 46617.94%2,12981.98%20.08%
1924 45712.60%2,60171.71%56915.69%
1920 56819.65%53818.62%1,78461.73%
1916 67340.96%96058.43%100.61%
1912 24416.43%1,16178.18%805.39%

Austin County was one of the earliest counties in Texas to turn Republican. After 1944, the only time a Democrat has carried this county is in 1964. Every Republican presidential candidate since 2000 has carried more than 70% of the county vote.

United States Congress

Austin County is part of Texas's 10th congressional district, which as of 2019 is represented in the United States House of Representatives by Michael McCaul.

Texas Legislature

Texas Senate

District 18: Lois Kolkhorst (R) – first elected in 2014

Texas House of Representatives

District 13: Ben Leman (R) – first elected in 2018

Austin County Courthouse

County Judge: Tim Lapham (R)

Tax Assessor-Collector: Marcus A. Peña (R) – first elected in 2012

Education

The following school districts serve Austin County:

(partial)

Blinn Junior College District is the designated community college for most of the county. Areas in Brazos ISD are in Wharton County Junior College District. [13]

Transportation

Major highways

The TTC-69 component (recommended preferred) of the once-planned Trans-Texas Corridor went through Austin County. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Austin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Austin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Austin County, Texas".
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau . Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  8. 1 2 "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Austin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  9. 1 2 "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Austin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  10. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Austin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  13. ↑ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.168. BLINN JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. Sec. 130.211. WHARTON COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA..
  14. ↑ TxDoT, TTC Section C & S, Detailed Map 2, 2007-12-17 Archived February 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine

29°53′N96°17′W / 29.88°N 96.28°W / 29.88; -96.28

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