Austin County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 29°53′N96°17′W / 29.88°N 96.28°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Texas |
Founded | 1837 |
Named for | Stephen F. Austin |
Seat | Bellville |
Largest city | Sealy |
Area | |
• Total | 656 sq mi (1,700 km2) |
• Land | 647 sq mi (1,680 km2) |
• Water | 9.9 sq mi (26 km2) 1.5% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 30,167 |
• Density | 46/sq mi (18/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 10th |
Website | www |
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]
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.
In 1836, the Texas Legislature established Austin County, naming it for Stephen F. Austin, who facilitated Texas' Anglo-American colonization.
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]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1850 | 3,841 | — | |
1860 | 10,139 | 164.0% | |
1870 | 15,087 | 48.8% | |
1880 | 14,429 | −4.4% | |
1890 | 17,859 | 23.8% | |
1900 | 20,676 | 15.8% | |
1910 | 17,699 | −14.4% | |
1920 | 18,874 | 6.6% | |
1930 | 18,860 | −0.1% | |
1940 | 17,384 | −7.8% | |
1950 | 14,663 | −15.7% | |
1960 | 13,777 | −6.0% | |
1970 | 13,831 | 0.4% | |
1980 | 17,726 | 28.2% | |
1990 | 19,832 | 11.9% | |
2000 | 23,590 | 18.9% | |
2010 | 28,417 | 20.5% | |
2020 | 30,167 | 6.2% | |
2023 (est.) | 31,677 | 5.0% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1850–2010 [7] 2010 [8] 2020 [9] |
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010 [8] | Pop 2020 [9] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH) | 18,657 | 18,480 | 65.65% | 61.26% |
Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,622 | 2,352 | 9.23% | 7.80% |
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 79 | 78 | 0.28% | 0.26% |
Asian alone (NH) | 110 | 201 | 0.39% | 0.67% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 8 | 0.00% | 0.03% |
Other Race alone (NH) | 36 | 107 | 0.13% | 0.35% |
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) | 271 | 889 | 0.95% | 2.95% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6,641 | 8,052 | 23.37% | 26.69% |
Total | 28,417 | 30,167 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census [10] 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.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 11,447 | 78.48% | 2,951 | 20.23% | 188 | 1.29% |
2016 | 9,637 | 78.52% | 2,320 | 18.90% | 317 | 2.58% |
2012 | 9,265 | 79.53% | 2,252 | 19.33% | 132 | 1.13% |
2008 | 8,786 | 74.96% | 2,821 | 24.07% | 114 | 0.97% |
2004 | 8,072 | 75.43% | 2,582 | 24.13% | 48 | 0.45% |
2000 | 6,661 | 72.19% | 2,407 | 26.09% | 159 | 1.72% |
1996 | 4,669 | 58.36% | 2,719 | 33.98% | 613 | 7.66% |
1992 | 4,015 | 50.89% | 2,278 | 28.87% | 1,597 | 20.24% |
1988 | 4,524 | 63.18% | 2,593 | 36.22% | 43 | 0.60% |
1984 | 4,872 | 71.29% | 1,941 | 28.40% | 21 | 0.31% |
1980 | 3,734 | 64.91% | 1,893 | 32.90% | 126 | 2.19% |
1976 | 2,686 | 53.37% | 2,313 | 45.96% | 34 | 0.68% |
1972 | 3,084 | 74.24% | 1,043 | 25.11% | 27 | 0.65% |
1968 | 1,971 | 45.27% | 1,299 | 29.83% | 1,084 | 24.90% |
1964 | 1,545 | 39.46% | 2,365 | 60.41% | 5 | 0.13% |
1960 | 1,978 | 52.92% | 1,725 | 46.15% | 35 | 0.94% |
1956 | 2,501 | 67.12% | 1,215 | 32.61% | 10 | 0.27% |
1952 | 2,964 | 67.17% | 1,445 | 32.74% | 4 | 0.09% |
1948 | 1,260 | 43.98% | 1,252 | 43.70% | 353 | 12.32% |
1944 | 619 | 19.44% | 1,316 | 41.33% | 1,249 | 39.23% |
1940 | 1,400 | 49.88% | 1,404 | 50.02% | 3 | 0.11% |
1936 | 290 | 15.03% | 1,635 | 84.76% | 4 | 0.21% |
1932 | 142 | 4.81% | 2,806 | 94.96% | 7 | 0.24% |
1928 | 466 | 17.94% | 2,129 | 81.98% | 2 | 0.08% |
1924 | 457 | 12.60% | 2,601 | 71.71% | 569 | 15.69% |
1920 | 568 | 19.65% | 538 | 18.62% | 1,784 | 61.73% |
1916 | 673 | 40.96% | 960 | 58.43% | 10 | 0.61% |
1912 | 244 | 16.43% | 1,161 | 78.18% | 80 | 5.39% |
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.
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.
District 18: Lois Kolkhorst (R) – first elected in 2014
County Judge: Tim Lapham (R)
Tax Assessor-Collector: Marcus A. Peña (R) – first elected in 2012
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. [12]
The TTC-69 component (recommended preferred) of the once-planned Trans-Texas Corridor went through Austin County. [13]
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county had a population of 620,443. The county seat is Conroe. The county was created by an act of the Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 14, 1837, and is named for the town of Montgomery. Between 2000 and 2010, its population grew by 55%, the 24th-fastest rate of growth of any county in the United States. Between 2010 and 2020, its population grew by 36%. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated population is 711,354 as of July 1, 2023.
Wharton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 41,570. Its county seat is Wharton. The county was named for brothers William Harris Wharton and John Austin Wharton.
Washington County is a county in Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,805. Its county seat is Brenham, which is located along U.S. Highway 290, 72 miles northwest of Houston. The county was created in 1835 as a municipality of Mexico and organized as a county in 1837. It is named for George Washington, the first president of the United States.
Tyler County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is in East Texas and its seat is Woodville.
Robertson County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 16,757. Its county seat is Franklin. The county was created in 1837 and organized the following year. It is named for Sterling C. Robertson, an early settler who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence.
Milam County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 24,754. The county seat is Cameron. The county was created in 1834 as a municipality in Mexico and organized as a county in 1837. Milam County is named for Benjamin Rush Milam, an early settler and a soldier in the Texas Revolution.
Matagorda County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,255. Its county seat is Bay City, not to be confused with the larger Baytown in Harris and Chambers Counties. Matagorda County is named for the canebrakes that once grew along the coast.
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 13,455. Its seat is Madisonville. The county was created in 1853 and organized the next year. It is named for James Madison, the fourth President of the United States. In 1852, Hillary Mercer Crabb was elected to serve the unexpired term of State Representative F. L. Hatch. Among Crabb's accomplishments as a legislator was the introduction of a bill to create Madison County.
Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 17,478. Its county seat is Giddings. The county was founded in 1874 and is named for Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The county has many Confederate memorials and monuments to the Confederate States of America.
Haskell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 5,416. The county seat is Haskell. The county was created in 1858 and later organized in 1885. It is named for Charles Ready Haskell, who was killed in the Goliad massacre.
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,435. Its county seat is La Grange. The county was created in 1837 and organized the next year.
Burleson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,642. Its county seat is Caldwell. The county is named for Edward Burleson, a general and statesman of the Texas Revolution.
Briscoe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,435. Its county seat is Silverton. The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1892. It is named for Andrew Briscoe, a soldier during the Texas Revolution.
Brazos County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 233,849. The county seat is Bryan. Along with Brazoria County, the county is named for the Brazos River, which forms its western border. The county was formed in 1841 and organized in 1843.
Bastrop County is located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is in Central Texas and its county seat is Bastrop.
Bellville is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of Austin County. The city's population was 4,206 at the 2020 census. Bellville is on the eastern edge of the Texas-German belt, and Bellville is known for its German culture and descendants of those Germans still call Bellville home.
Wallis is a city in far southeastern Austin County, Texas, United States. The city is located along State Highway 36 (SH 36) and the BNSF Railway between Rosenberg and Sealy. The city's population was 1,292 at the 2020 census.
New Territory is a master-planned community within the city of Sugar Land, Texas, United States. It was formerly a census-designated place (CDP) and in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Sugar Land, in unincorporated Fort Bend County. It was annexed into Sugar Land on December 12, 2017. The population was 15,186 at the 2010 census, up from 13,861 at the 2000 census.
Orchard is a city in western Fort Bend County, Texas, United States, within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The community is located along State Highway 36 (SH 36) and the BNSF Railway between Rosenberg in Fort Bend County and Wallis in Austin County. The population was 313 at the 2020 census, down from 352 at the 2010 census.
Waller is a city in Harris and Waller counties in Texas, United States, that is within the Houston–Cypress metropolitan area. Its population was 2,682 at the 2020 U.S. census. The Waller area is located along U.S. Route 290 41 miles (66 km) northwest of downtown Houston.