Chambers County, Texas

Last updated

Chambers County
Chambers county tx courthouse 2014.jpg
The Chambers County Courthouse in Anahuac
Map of Texas highlighting Chambers County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas in United States.svg
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°42′N94°41′W / 29.7°N 94.68°W / 29.7; -94.68
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Texas.svg  Texas
Founded1858
Named after Thomas Jefferson Chambers
Seat Anahuac
Largest city Baytown
Area
  Total
871 sq mi (2,260 km2)
  Land597 sq mi (1,550 km2)
  Water274 sq mi (710 km2)  31%
Population
 (2020) [1]
  Total
46,571
  Estimate 
(2024)
56,179 Increase2.svg
  Density53/sq mi (21/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts 14th, 36th
Website www.co.chambers.tx.us

Chambers County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 46,571. [2] [3] The county seat is Anahuac. [4] Chambers County is one of the nine counties that comprise Greater Houston, the HoustonThe WoodlandsSugar Land metropolitan statistical area.

Contents

History

Mission Nuestra Señora de la Luz, a Spanish mission in Texas, was established in 1756 near what is now Wallisville. [5]

Chambers County was founded in 1858. It is named for Thomas Jefferson Chambers, [6] a major general in the Texas Revolution.

In 2019, Atlas Air Flight 3591, a cargo flight operating for Amazon Air, crashed in the Trinity Bay, in Chambers County and near Anahuac, while flying from Miami to Houston. All three people on board were killed. [7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 871 square miles (2,260 km2), of which 597 square miles (1,550 km2) are land and 274 square miles (710 km2) (31%) are covered by water. [8]

The south and southwestern parts of the county lie in the Galveston Bay Area on the shores of Trinity Bay and East Bay. A small portion of the southeastern area lies on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

State and local protected areas

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1860 1,508
1870 1,503−0.3%
1880 2,18745.5%
1890 2,2412.5%
1900 3,04635.9%
1910 4,23439.0%
1920 4,162−1.7%
1930 5,71037.2%
1940 7,51131.5%
1950 7,8714.8%
1960 10,37931.9%
1970 12,18717.4%
1980 18,53852.1%
1990 20,0888.4%
2000 26,03129.6%
2010 35,09634.8%
2020 46,57132.7%
2024 (est.)56,179 [9] 20.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]
1850–2010 [11] 2010 [12] 2020 [13]
Chambers 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 [14] Pop 2010 [12] Pop 2020 [13] % 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)20,21024,76729,85877.64%70.57%64.11%
Black or African American alone (NH)2,5252,8173,1489.70%8.03%6.76%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)841341610.32%0.38%0.35%
Asian alone (NH)1723266220.66%0.93%1.34%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)01300.00%0.04%0.00%
Other Race alone (NH)25252150.10%0.07%0.46%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH)2053791,6150.79%1.08%3.47%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)2,8106,63510,95210.79%18.91%23.52%
Total26,03135,09646,571100.00%100.00%100.00%

As of the census of 2000, [15] 26,031 people, 9,139 households, and 7,219 families were residing in the county. The population density was 43 people/sq mi (17 people/km2). The 10,336 housing units averaged 17 units per square mile (6.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 81.88% White, 9.77% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 6.02% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. About 10.79% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 9,139 households, 40.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.70% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.00% were not families. About 17.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82, and the average family size was 3.20.

In the county, the age distribution was 28.90% under 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 9.00% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,964, and for a family was $52,986. Males had a median income of $43,351 versus $25,478 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,863. About 8.30% of families and 11.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.30% of those under age 18 and 12.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Chambers County is governed by a five-member commissioners' court, consisting of the county judge and four county commissioners. The county judge is elected to four-year terms in a countywide election. Commissioners are elected to four-year terms from single-member districts.

Chambers County Commissioners' Court

OfficeNamePolitical partyFirst electedArea(s) represented
 County JudgeJimmy Sylvia Republican 1996Countywide
 Commissioner, Precinct 1Jimmy E. GoreRepublican2016Anahuac, Double Bayou, Hankamer, Oak Island, Seabreeze, Smith Point, Stowell, Wallisville, Winnie
 Commissioner, Precinct 2Mark TiceRepublican2018Beach City, Cove, Turtle Bayou, Wallisville
 Commissioner, Precinct 3Tommy HammondRepublican2006Mont Belvieu, Old River-Winfree
 Commissioner, Precinct 4Ryan DagleyRepublican2018Baytown, Beach City

Elected Officials

OfficeNamePolitical party
 County AttorneyAshley Cain LandRepublican
 County ClerkHeather H. HawthorneRepublican
County Court JudgeCindy S. PriceRepublican
 District AttorneyCheryl Swope LieckRepublican
 District ClerkPatti HenryRepublican
 SheriffBrian HawthorneRepublican
 Tax Assessor-CollectorLaurie G. PaytonRepublican
 TreasurerNicole WhittingtonRepublican
County SurveyorMichael W. Chandler

Constables

OfficeNamePolitical partyArea(s) represented
 Constable, Precinct 1Dennis DugatRepublicanStowell, Winnie
 Constable, Precinct 2John MulryanRepublicanAnahuac, Turtle Bayou, Wallisville
 Constable, Precinct 3Donnie StandleyRepublicanDouble Bayou, Oak Island, Smith Point
 Constable, Precinct 4Ben L. "Butch" BeanRepublicanMont Belvieu, Old River-Winfree
 Constable, Precinct 5Bradley W. MoonRepublicanHankamer, Wallisville
 Constable, Precinct 6Kirk W. RitchRepublicanBaytown, Beach City, Cove

United States Congress

SenatorsNamePolitical partyFirst electedLevel
 Senate Class 2 John Cornyn Republican2002Senior Senator
 Senate Class 1 Ted Cruz Republican2012Junior Senator
RepresentativesNamePolitical PartyFirst ElectedArea(s) Represented
  Texas's 14th District Randy Weber Republican2012A small, unpopulated portion of the county that extends to the Gulf of Mexico, across the Intracoastal Waterway.
  Texas's 36th District Brian Babin Republican2014All populated areas of the county

Texas Legislature

Texas Senate

DistrictSenatorPolitical partyFirst electedArea(s) represented
  4 Brandon Creighton Republican2014Countywide, district also covers portions of Galveston, Harris, Jefferson, and Montgomery Counties

Texas House of Representatives

DistrictRepresentativePolitical partyFirst electedArea(s) represented
 23Terri Leo-WilsonRepublican2022Chambers County, Galveston County (part)

State Board of Education

DistrictMemberPolitical partyFirst electedArea(s) represented
 7Julie PickrenRepublican2022Countywide, district also covers all of Brazoria, Galveston, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange, and Tyler Counties and most of Fort Bend County

Courts

Justices of the Peace

OfficeNamePolitical party
 Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1Celia DevillierRepublican
 Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2Michael W. WheatRepublican
 Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4Blake D. SylviaRepublican
 Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5David HatfieldRepublican
 Justice of the Peace, Precinct 6Larry Ray CryerRepublican

District Courts

OfficeNamePolitical partyArea(s) represented
 253rd District CourtChap B. Cain, IIIRepublicanCountywide, district also covers Liberty County
 344th District CourtRandy McDonaldRepublicanCountywide

1st Court of Appeals

NamePolitical partyFirst elected
 Chief JusticeTerry AdamsRepublican2022
 Place 2Jennifer CaugheyRepublican2024
 Place 3Veronica Rivas-MolloyDemocrat2020
 Place 4David GunnRepublican2024 (appointed)
 Place 5Amparo GuerraDemocrat2020
 Place 6Andrew JohnsonRepublican2024
 Place 7Clint MorganRepublican2024
 Place 8Kristin GuineyRepublican2024
 Place 9Susanna DokupilRepublican2024

14th Court of Appeals

NamePolitical partyFirst elected
 Chief JusticeTracy E. ChristopherRepublican2020
 Place 2Kevin JewellRepublican2016
 Place 3Chad BridgesRepublican2024
 Place 4Tonya McLaughlinRepublican2024
 Place 5Maritza AntuRepublican2024
 Place 6Katy BoatmanRepublican2024
 Place 7Ken WiseRepublican2014, Appointed in 2013
 Place 8Brad HartRepublican2024
 Place 9Randy WilsonRepublican2020 (appointed)

Politics

As with much of the Southern United States, Democrats won locally up into the 21st century, with many local politicians switching party allegiances in the mid-2000s

United States presidential election results for Chambers County, Texas [16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2024 20,56782.36%4,19216.79%2140.86%
2020 17,35380.15%3,99718.46%3021.39%
2016 13,33979.23%2,94817.51%5493.26%
2012 11,78779.99%2,79018.93%1581.07%
2008 9,98875.14%3,18823.98%1160.87%
2004 8,61873.98%2,95325.35%780.67%
2000 6,76969.03%2,88829.45%1491.52%
1996 4,10152.37%2,87636.73%85410.91%
1992 3,39840.62%2,83233.85%2,13625.53%
1988 3,69454.48%3,03544.76%520.77%
1984 4,32261.84%2,63237.66%350.50%
1980 3,14054.08%2,51743.35%1492.57%
1976 1,83537.82%2,92760.33%901.85%
1972 2,39066.35%1,20633.48%60.17%
1968 1,06129.42%1,21733.74%1,32936.85%
1964 1,02334.61%1,92164.99%120.41%
1960 1,26044.74%1,52454.12%321.14%
1956 1,52063.52%86035.94%130.54%
1952 1,49757.20%1,11642.64%40.15%
1948 30221.70%78756.54%30321.77%
1944 17913.47%1,03878.10%1128.43%
1940 21914.60%1,27985.27%20.13%
1936 13411.95%98487.78%30.27%
1932 919.69%84389.78%50.53%
1928 25651.41%24248.59%00.00%
1924 23942.30%31555.75%111.95%
1920 27849.38%24042.63%457.99%
1916 10126.17%23961.92%4611.92%
1912 41.59%21786.45%3011.95%
United States Senate election results for Chambers County, Texas1 [17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2024 19,74679.37%4,61718.56%5142.07%

Education

Public School Districts [18]

Local Primary and Secondary School Jurisdictions. Each are governed by their own respective school board.

Higher Education

Community Colleges

Public libraries

The Chambers County Library System operates three libraries in the county. [21]

Transportation

Major highways

Airports

The county operates two airports in unincorporated areas:

In addition, RWJ Airpark, a privately owned airport for public use, is located in Beach City.

In the 1970s there had been a proposal to establish another airport in the county, but the Baytown city council objected to the proposal, arguing it was too close to another airport under private ownership. [24]

The Houston Airport System stated that Chambers County is within the primary service area of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, an international airport in Houston in Harris County. [25]

See also

References

  1. "US Census 2020 Population Dataset Tables for all Texas counties".
  2. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Chambers County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  3. "Chambers County, Texas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. Alvarez, Elizabeth Cruce (November 8, 2011). Texas Almanac 2012–2013. Texas A&M University Press. pp. Contents. ISBN   9780876112571 . Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  6. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  74.
  7. "Human remains found after Atlas Air cargo plane crashes in Chambers Co". KTRK-TV. February 23, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  9. "QuickFacts: Chambers County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  10. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  11. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  12. 1 2 "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Chambers County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  13. 1 2 "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Chambers County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  14. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Chambers County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  17. "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  18. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Chambers County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022. - Text list
  19. Texas Education Code, Section 130.186, "Lee College District Service Area". Its service area includes Goose Creek, Barbers Hill, Anahuac, and East Chambers school districts.
  20. Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.197. SAN JACINTO COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA..
  21. "Locations & Hours". Chambers County Library System. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  22. Hankamer, Delia (October 30, 1947). "Chambers County News". The Liberty Vindicator . Liberty, Texas. p.  8 via Newspapers.com.
  23. Hankamer, Delia (August 14, 1947). "Chambers County News". The Liberty Vindicator . Liberty, Texas. p.  3 via Newspapers.com.
  24. "No Decision Made Yet on Chambers Airport". The Baytown Sun . Baytown, Texas. November 21, 1973. p.  15 via Newspapers.com.
  25. "Master Plan Executive Summary Archived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine ." George Bush Intercontinental Airport Master Plan. Houston Airport System. December 2006. 2-1 (23/130). Retrieved on December 14, 2010.

29°42′N94°41′W / 29.70°N 94.68°W / 29.70; -94.68