Jackson County, Texas

Jackson County, Texas
The Jackson County Courthouse in Edna
The Jackson County Courthouse in Edna
Map of Texas highlighting Jackson County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Coordinates: 28°56′N 96°35′W / 28.94°N 96.58°W / 28.94; -96.58
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1836
Named afterAndrew Jackson
SeatEdna
Largest cityEdna
Area
 • Total
857 sq mi (2,220 km2)
 • Land829 sq mi (2,150 km2)
 • Water27 sq mi (70 km2)  3.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
14,988 Increase
 • Density18.1/sq mi (6.98/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district27th
Websitewww.co.jackson.tx.us Edit this at Wikidata
Historical carriage inside the Jackson County, Texas, Courthouse
Edna Theatre -- Edna, TX

Jackson County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census its population was 14,988.[1] Its county seat is Edna.[2] The county was created in 1835 as a municipality in Mexico and in 1836 was organized as a county (of the Republic of Texas).[3][4] It is named for Andrew Jackson, President of the United States from 1829 to 1837.[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 857 square miles (2,220 km2), of which 829 square miles (2,150 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) (3.2%) is water.[6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1850996
18602,612162.2%
18702,278−12.8%
18802,72319.5%
18903,28120.5%
19006,09485.7%
19106,4716.2%
192011,24473.8%
193010,980−2.3%
194011,7206.7%
195012,91610.2%
196014,0408.7%
197012,975−7.6%
198013,3522.9%
199013,039−2.3%
200014,39110.4%
201014,075−2.2%
202014,9886.5%
2024 (est.)15,284[7]2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1850–2010[9] 2020[10]

Racial and ethnic composition

Jackson 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[11] Pop 2010[12] Pop 2020[10] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 9,546 8,855 8,510 66.33% 62.91% 56.78%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,081 942 937 7.51% 6.69% 6.25%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 42 35 36 0.29% 0.25% 0.24%
Asian alone (NH) 55 50 158 0.38% 0.36% 1.05%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 6 1 5 0.04% 0.01% 0.03%
Other race alone (NH) 0 8 102 0.04% 0.06% 0.68%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 104 105 411 0.72% 0.75% 2.74%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3,551 4,079 4,829 24.68% 28.98% 32.22%
Total 14,391 14,075 14,988 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 14,988. The median age was 40.0 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.6 males age 18 and over.[13]

The racial makeup of the county was 65.3% White, 6.7% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 12.4% from some other race, and 14.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 32.2% of the population.[14]

39.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 60.6% lived in rural areas.[15]

There were 5,558 households in the county, of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.2% were married-couple households, 18.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[13]

There were 6,996 housing units, of which 20.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.0% were owner-occupied and 28.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 18.2%.[13]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 14,391 people, 5,336 households, and 3,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (6.6 people/km2). There were 6,545 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.49% White, 7.64% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 12.65% from other races, and 2.39% from two or more races. 24.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.9% were of German, 10.8% American, 9.3% Czech, 6.0% Irish and 5.6% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 81.6% spoke English and 17.4% Spanish as their first language.[16]

There were 5,336 households, out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,254, and the median income for a family was $42,066. Males had a median income of $32,639 versus $19,661 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,693. About 12.20% of families and 14.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.10% of those under age 18 and 15.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Politics

Jackson County has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1980, often by landslide margins.

United States presidential election results for Jackson County, Texas[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1912 35 6.59% 323 60.83% 173 32.58%
1916 123 20.71% 403 67.85% 68 11.45%
1920 355 33.65% 562 53.27% 138 13.08%
1924 354 30.28% 758 64.84% 57 4.88%
1928 572 54.68% 473 45.22% 1 0.10%
1932 182 14.99% 1,030 84.84% 2 0.16%
1936 171 15.16% 952 84.40% 5 0.44%
1940 296 16.41% 1,506 83.48% 2 0.11%
1944 344 14.98% 1,708 74.39% 244 10.63%
1948 488 24.75% 1,343 68.10% 141 7.15%
1952 2,113 57.14% 1,584 42.83% 1 0.03%
1956 2,259 58.64% 1,571 40.78% 22 0.57%
1960 1,670 42.04% 2,268 57.10% 34 0.86%
1964 1,168 29.55% 2,775 70.22% 9 0.23%
1968 1,438 33.55% 1,698 39.62% 1,150 26.83%
1972 2,743 69.81% 1,163 29.60% 23 0.59%
1976 1,884 42.50% 2,524 56.94% 25 0.56%
1980 2,540 56.91% 1,826 40.91% 97 2.17%
1984 3,661 66.83% 1,804 32.93% 13 0.24%
1988 2,954 57.75% 2,141 41.86% 20 0.39%
1992 2,451 47.57% 1,722 33.42% 979 19.00%
1996 2,533 54.59% 1,785 38.47% 322 6.94%
2000 3,365 69.30% 1,446 29.78% 45 0.93%
2004 3,766 74.18% 1,296 25.53% 15 0.30%
2008 3,723 73.46% 1,301 25.67% 44 0.87%
2012 3,906 77.73% 1,070 21.29% 49 0.98%
2016 4,266 80.46% 904 17.05% 132 2.49%
2020 5,231 82.34% 1,033 16.26% 89 1.40%
2024 5,386 85.10% 907 14.33% 36 0.57%
United States Senate election results for Jackson County, Texas1[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 5,222 82.89% 998 15.84% 80 1.27%

Education

School districts include:[19]

Residents of the county not in Ganado ISD are in the service area of Victoria College. Residents of the Ganado ISD part are in the service area of Wharton County Junior College.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Jackson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  4. ^ "Jackson County". Texas Almanac. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 167.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  7. ^ {{cite web Increase |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/jacksoncountytexas/PST045224 |title=QuickFacts: Jackson County, Texas |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=June 15, 2025}}
  8. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  9. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  10. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Jackson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Jackson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Jackson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  14. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  15. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  18. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  19. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Jackson County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 2024. - Text list
  20. ^ Texas Education Code Sec. 130.208. THE VICTORIA COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. Sec. 130.211. WHARTON COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.

28°56′N 96°35′W / 28.94°N 96.58°W / 28.94; -96.58