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Austin County, Texas

Coordinates: 29°53′N 96°17′W / 29.88°N 96.28°W / 29.88; -96.28
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Not to be confused with Austin, Texas or Travis County, Texas.

Austin County
County
The Austin County Courthouse in Bellville
The Austin County Courthouse in Bellville
Flag of Austin County
Flag
Map of Texas highlighting Austin County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°53′N 96°17′W / 29.88°N 96.28°W / 29.88; -96.28
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1837
Named forStephen F. Austin
SeatBellville
Largest citySealy
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 zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district10th
Websitewww.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]

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

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

Geography

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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

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Communities

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Cities

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Town

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost town

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18503,841—
186010,139164.0%
187015,08748.8%
188014,429−4.4%
189017,85923.8%
190020,67615.8%
191017,699−14.4%
192018,8746.6%
193018,860−0.1%
194017,384−7.8%
195014,663−15.7%
196013,777−6.0%
197013,8310.4%
198017,72628.2%
199019,83211.9%
200023,59018.9%
201028,41720.5%
202030,1676.2%
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) 16,964 18,657 18,480 71.91% 65.65% 61.26%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,475 2,622 2,352 10.49% 9.23% 7.80%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 47 79 78 0.20% 0.28% 0.26%
Asian alone (NH) 68 110 201 0.29% 0.39% 0.67%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 1 1 8 0.00% 0.00% 0.03%
Other race alone (NH) 34 36 107 0.14% 0.13% 0.35%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 196 271 889 0.83% 0.95% 2.95%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3,805 6,641 8,052 16.13% 23.37% 26.69%
Total 23,590 28,417 30,167 100.00% 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

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United States presidential election results for Austin County, Texas[12]
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.

United States Congress

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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

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Texas Senate

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

Texas House of Representatives

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

Austin County Courthouse

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County Judge: Tim Lapham (R)

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

Education

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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

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Major highways

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

See also

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References

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  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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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
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Wikisource has the text of an 1879 American Cyclopædia article about Austin County, Texas.

29°53′N 96°17′W / 29.88°N 96.28°W / 29.88; -96.28

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