Sabine County, Texas

Last updated

Sabine County
Sabine county tx courthouse 2015.jpg
The Sabine County Courthouse
Map of Texas highlighting Sabine County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas in United States.svg
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°20′N93°51′W / 31.34°N 93.85°W / 31.34; -93.85
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Texas.svg Texas
Founded1837
Named after Sabine River
Seat Hemphill
Largest city Milam
Area
  Total
577 sq mi (1,490 km2)
  Land491 sq mi (1,270 km2)
  Water85 sq mi (220 km2)  15%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
9,894
  Estimate 
(2024)
10,058 Increase2.svg
  Density17/sq mi (6.6/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 1st
Website www.co.sabine.tx.us

Sabine County is a county located on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 9,894. [1] The county was organized on December 14, 1837, and named for the Sabine River, which forms its eastern border.

Contents

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 577 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 491 square miles (1,270 km2) is land and 85 square miles (220 km2) (15%) is water. [2]

Major highways

National Protected Areas

Adjacent counties and parish

History

Like other eastern Texas counties, Sabine was originally developed as cotton plantations, which depended on the labor of numerous enslaved African Americans. After the Civil War and emancipation, many freedmen remained in the rural area, working as tenant farmers and sharecroppers. There was considerable violence by whites against blacks during and after Reconstruction. After 1877 and through the early 20th century, Sabine County had 10 lynchings of blacks by whites in acts of racial terrorism. This was the fourth-highest total in the state, where lynchings took place in nearly all counties through this period. [3]

From 1930 to 1970, the population declined as many African Americans left this rural county and other parts of the South in the Great Migration to escape Jim Crow oppression and seek better jobs, especially in Northern industrial cities and on the West Coast, where the defense industry built up during World War II.[ citation needed ]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1850 2,498
1860 2,75010.1%
1870 3,25618.4%
1880 4,16127.8%
1890 4,96919.4%
1900 6,39428.7%
1910 8,58234.2%
1920 12,29943.3%
1930 11,998−2.4%
1940 10,896−9.2%
1950 8,568−21.4%
1960 7,302−14.8%
1970 7,187−1.6%
1980 8,70221.1%
1990 9,58610.2%
2000 10,4699.2%
2010 10,8343.5%
2020 9,894−8.7%
2024 (est.)10,058 [4] 1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [5]
1850–2010 [6] 2010-2020 [1]

2020 census

Sabine 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 2010 [7] Pop 2020 [8] % 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)9,4849,89487.54%83.96%
Black or African American alone (NH)7787347.18%7.42%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)54510.50%0.52%
Asian alone (NH)33520.30%0.53%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)000.00%0.00%
Other Race alone (NH)6350.06%0.35%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH)1353221.25%3.25%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)3443933.18%3.97%
Total10,8349,894100.00%100.00%

2000 Census

As of the census [9] of 2000, there were 10,469 people, 4,485 households, and 3,157 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile (8.1 people/km2). There were 7,659 housing units at an average density of 16 units per square mile (6.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.85% White, 9.92% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 1.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,485 households, out of which 23.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.10% under the age of 18, 5.60% from 18 to 24, 21.10% from 25 to 44, 27.20% from 45 to 64, and 24.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 93.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,198, and the median income for a family was $32,554. Males had a median income of $28,695 versus $21,141 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,821. About 11.80% of families and 15.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.90% of those under age 18 and 12.70% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The following school districts serve Sabine County:

The county is in the service area of Angelina College. [10]

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated areas

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Historical communities

COVID-19 pandemic

In July 2021, Sabine County ranked the highest in the United States for cases of Coronavirus per 100,000 people. [12]

Politics

Sabine County has become a solidly Republican county since the beginning of the 21st century but previously leaned Democratic, voting for Bill Clinton in both 1992 and 1996 and also against Texan George H. W. Bush in 1988 and 1992.

Sabine County is represented in the Texas House of Representatives by Republican Travis Clardy.

United States presidential election results for Sabine County, Texas [13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
1912 193.70%42582.85%6913.45%
1916 222.90%68189.72%567.38%
1920 616.19%63764.67%28729.14%
1924 615.01%1,15094.42%70.57%
1928 41934.18%80765.82%00.00%
1932 573.08%1,78996.76%30.16%
1936 1088.14%1,21691.70%20.15%
1940 1578.80%1,62691.09%20.11%
1944 20314.01%1,16980.68%775.31%
1948 1047.26%1,07875.28%25017.46%
1952 72931.67%1,57368.33%00.00%
1956 80146.71%91353.24%10.06%
1960 61933.59%1,20865.55%160.87%
1964 42819.19%1,80180.76%10.04%
1968 45518.44%1,07843.68%93537.88%
1972 1,33358.64%93641.18%40.18%
1976 90427.43%2,39172.54%10.03%
1980 1,38740.82%1,98358.36%280.82%
1984 2,04551.21%1,94048.59%80.20%
1988 1,92548.28%2,05351.49%90.23%
1992 1,49031.85%2,28848.91%90019.24%
1996 1,66042.29%1,91348.74%3528.97%
2000 2,76460.20%1,75338.18%741.61%
2004 3,13867.64%1,47631.82%250.54%
2008 3,74976.92%1,07722.10%480.98%
2012 3,72781.41%80717.63%440.96%
2016 3,99885.96%61413.20%390.84%
2020 4,78487.12%66912.18%380.69%
2024 4,97289.09%59010.57%190.34%
United States Senate election results for Sabine County, Texas1 [14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2024 4,86487.80%61211.05%641.16%

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  2. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  3. Lynching in America, Third Edition: Supplement by County Archived October 23, 2017, at the Wayback Machine , pp. 9-10, Equal Justice Initiative, Mobile, Alabama, 2017.
  4. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  6. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  7. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Sabine County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  8. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Sabine County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
  9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  10. Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.165. ANGELINA COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA, Statutes.capitol.texas.gov
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. Times, The New York (March 3, 2020). "Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count". The New York Times . Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  14. "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.

31°20′N93°51′W / 31.34°N 93.85°W / 31.34; -93.85