Sabine County, Texas

"Sabine County" redirects here. For the administrative area in Louisiana, see Sabine Parish, Louisiana.

Sabine County
County
The Sabine County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°20′N93°51′W / 31.34°N 93.85°W / 31.34; -93.85
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1837
Named for	Sabine River
Seat	Hemphill
Largest city	Milam
Area
• Total	577 sq mi (1,490 km2)
• Land	491 sq mi (1,270 km2)
• Water	85 sq mi (220 km2)  15%
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,894
• Estimate  (2022)	10,048
• Density	17/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.

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

• U.S. Highway 96
• State Highway 21
• State Highway 87
• State Highway 103
• State Highway 184

National Protected Areas

• Sabine National Forest (part)

Adjacent counties and parish

• Shelby County (north)
• Sabine Parish, Louisiana (east)
• Newton County (south)
• Jasper County (southwest)
• San Augustine County (west)

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

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	2,498		—
1860	2,750		10.1%
1870	3,256		18.4%
1880	4,161		27.8%
1890	4,969		19.4%
1900	6,394		28.7%
1910	8,582		34.2%
1920	12,299		43.3%
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	8,702		21.1%
1990	9,586		10.2%
2000	10,469		9.2%
2010	10,834		3.5%
2020	9,894		−8.7%
2022 (est.)	10,048	[4]	1.6%
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)	9,484	9,894	87.54%	83.96%
Black or African American alone (NH)	778	734	7.18%	7.42%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	54	51	0.50%	0.52%
Asian alone (NH)	33	52	0.30%	0.53%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0	0.00%	0.00%
Other Race alone (NH)	6	35	0.06%	0.35%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH)	135	322	1.25%	3.25%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	344	393	3.18%	3.97%
Total	10,834	9,894	100.00%	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:

• Brookeland Independent School District (partial)
• Hemphill Independent School District
• Shelbyville Independent School District (partial)
• West Sabine Independent School District

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

Communities

Cities

• Hemphill (county seat)
• Pineland

Unincorporated areas

Census-designated places

• Milam

Unincorporated communities

• Bronson
• Brookeland (partly in Jasper County)
• Fairmount
• Geneva
• Isla
• Pendleton Harbor ^[11]
• Rosevine
• Sexton
• Yellowpine

Historical communities

• Bayou
• East Mayfield
• Fairdale
• Gravehill
• Pendleton
• Plainview
• Sabinetown
• Tebo
• Time
• Vesta

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.	%
2024	4,972	89.09%	590	10.57%	19	0.34%
2020	4,784	87.12%	669	12.18%	38	0.69%
2016	3,998	85.96%	614	13.20%	39	0.84%
2012	3,727	81.41%	807	17.63%	44	0.96%
2008	3,749	76.92%	1,077	22.10%	48	0.98%
2004	3,138	67.64%	1,476	31.82%	25	0.54%
2000	2,764	60.20%	1,753	38.18%	74	1.61%
1996	1,660	42.29%	1,913	48.74%	352	8.97%
1992	1,490	31.85%	2,288	48.91%	900	19.24%
1988	1,925	48.28%	2,053	51.49%	9	0.23%
1984	2,045	51.21%	1,940	48.59%	8	0.20%
1980	1,387	40.82%	1,983	58.36%	28	0.82%
1976	904	27.43%	2,391	72.54%	1	0.03%
1972	1,333	58.64%	936	41.18%	4	0.18%
1968	455	18.44%	1,078	43.68%	935	37.88%
1964	428	19.19%	1,801	80.76%	1	0.04%
1960	619	33.59%	1,208	65.55%	16	0.87%
1956	801	46.71%	913	53.24%	1	0.06%
1952	729	31.67%	1,573	68.33%	0	0.00%
1948	104	7.26%	1,078	75.28%	250	17.46%
1944	203	14.01%	1,169	80.68%	77	5.31%
1940	157	8.80%	1,626	91.09%	2	0.11%
1936	108	8.14%	1,216	91.70%	2	0.15%
1932	57	3.08%	1,789	96.76%	3	0.16%
1928	419	34.18%	807	65.82%	0	0.00%
1924	61	5.01%	1,150	94.42%	7	0.57%
1920	61	6.19%	637	64.67%	287	29.14%
1916	22	2.90%	681	89.72%	56	7.38%
1912	19	3.70%	425	82.85%	69	13.45%

See also

• Texas portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Sabine County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Sabine County

References

1. "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, pp. 9-10, Equal Justice Initiative, Mobile, Alabama, 2017.
4. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022" . Retrieved December 17, 2023.
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.
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.

External links

• Sabine County website
• Sabine County Chamber of Commerce
• Sabine County from the Handbook of Texas Online

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