Lamar County, Texas

Lamar County, Texas
County
The Lamar County Courthouse in Paris
The Lamar County Courthouse in Paris
Map of Texas highlighting Lamar County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Coordinates: 33°40′N 95°34′W / 33.67°N 95.57°W / 33.67; -95.57
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1841
Named afterMirabeau B. Lamar
SeatParis
Largest cityParis
Area
 • Total
933 sq mi (2,420 km2)
 • Land907 sq mi (2,350 km2)
 • Water26 sq mi (67 km2)  2.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
50,088
 • Density55.2/sq mi (21.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.co.lamar.tx.us

Lamar County (/ləˈmɑːr/) is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas, in the Northeast Texas region. As of the 2020 census, its population was 50,088.[1] Its county seat is Paris.[2] The county was formed by the Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 17, 1840, and organized the next year.[3][4] It is named for Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second president of the Republic of Texas.[5] Lamar County comprises the Paris, TX micropolitan statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 933 square miles (2,420 km2), of which 907 square miles (2,350 km2) are land and 26 square miles (67 km2) (2.8%) are covered by water.[6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18503,978—
186010,136154.8%
187015,79055.8%
188027,19372.2%
189037,30237.2%
190048,62730.4%
191046,544−4.3%
192055,74219.8%
193048,529−12.9%
194050,4253.9%
195043,033−14.7%
196034,234−20.4%
197036,0625.3%
198042,15616.9%
199043,9494.3%
200048,49910.4%
201049,7932.7%
202050,0880.6%
2024 (est.)51,249[7]2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1850–2010[9] 2010–2020[10]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 50,088. The median age was 40.8 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.4 males age 18 and over.[11]

The racial makeup of the county was 72.8% White, 12.9% Black or African American, 1.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.8% from some other race, and 7.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 8.8% of the population.[12]

52.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 47.5% lived in rural areas.[13]

There were 20,186 households in the county, of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.9% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]

There were 22,644 housing units, of which 10.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.9% were owner-occupied and 36.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.4%.[11]

Racial and ethnic composition

Lamar 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[15] Pop 2020[10] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 26,298 37,891 35,354 84.18% 76.10% 70.58%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,482 6,628 6,378 7.94% 13.31% 12.73%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 234 592 751 0.75% 1.19% 1.50%
Asian alone (NH) 81 304 474 0.26% 0.61% 0.95%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 7 5 25 0.02% 0.01% 0.05%
Other race alone (NH) 14 27 119 0.04% 0.05% 0.24%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 373 1,123 2,575 1.19% 2.26% 5.14%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,753 3,223 4,412 5.61% 6.47% 8.81%
Total 31,242 49,793 50,088 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, 48,499 people, 19,077 households, and 13,468 families resided in the county.[16] At the tabulation of the 2020 census, its population increased to 50,088.[10]

In 2000, the racial makeup of the county was 82.46% White, 13.47% Black or African American, 1.08% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 1.19% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. About 3.33% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.[14]

From 2000 to 2020, the majority of its population remained predominantly non-Hispanic white even as nationwide demographics continued to diversify.[14][10]

Education

These school districts serve Lamar County:[17]

Until it closed in 2019,[18] Roxton ISD included a part of the county. Roxton ISD consolidated into Chisum ISD after the 2018–19 school year.[18]

In addition, Paris Junior College serves the county, as per the Texas Education Code.[19]

Politics

The majority-white population supported the Democratic Party well into the late 20th century, when it was nearly a one-party state, but in the early 21st century, most have shifted to the Republican Party. Lamar County is now represented in the Texas House of Representatives by Gary VanDeaver of New Boston.[20]

United States presidential election results for Lamar County, Texas[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№  % №  % №  %
1912 206 7.47% 2,286 82.89% 266 9.64%
1916 309 8.08% 3,412 89.23% 103 2.69%
1920 639 12.76% 3,765 75.21% 602 12.03%
1924 596 9.97% 5,224 87.37% 159 2.66%
1928 2,887 57.08% 2,163 42.76% 8 0.16%
1932 375 5.95% 5,911 93.72% 21 0.33%
1936 308 5.19% 5,621 94.65% 10 0.17%
1940 761 8.64% 8,038 91.29% 6 0.07%
1944 725 9.36% 6,283 81.10% 739 9.54%
1948 1,018 12.17% 6,306 75.39% 1,041 12.44%
1952 3,929 41.56% 5,524 58.44% 0 0.00%
1956 4,154 49.56% 4,202 50.14% 25 0.30%
1960 3,964 43.68% 5,084 56.02% 28 0.31%
1964 2,594 29.13% 6,303 70.78% 8 0.09%
1968 3,395 31.05% 4,635 42.39% 2,903 26.55%
1972 7,736 72.62% 2,865 26.90% 51 0.48%
1976 4,443 33.98% 8,601 65.78% 32 0.24%
1980 6,094 45.17% 7,178 53.21% 218 1.62%
1984 9,273 62.57% 5,504 37.14% 43 0.29%
1988 8,021 51.42% 7,553 48.42% 24 0.15%
1992 5,778 35.57% 6,328 38.96% 4,137 25.47%
1996 6,393 46.59% 6,075 44.27% 1,254 9.14%
2000 9,775 63.35% 5,553 35.99% 102 0.66%
2004 12,054 69.00% 5,338 30.56% 78 0.45%
2008 12,952 70.54% 5,243 28.55% 167 0.91%
2012 12,826 74.58% 4,181 24.31% 190 1.10%
2016 14,561 77.81% 3,583 19.15% 570 3.05%
2020 16,760 78.16% 4,458 20.79% 224 1.04%
2024 17,044 80.08% 4,079 19.16% 162 0.76%
United States Senate election results for Lamar County, Texas1[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№  % №  % №  %
2024 16,454 77.96% 4,344 20.58% 308 1.46%

See also

References

  1. ^ "Lamar County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  4. ^ "Lamar County". Texas Almanac. Texas State Historical Association. May 22, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. pp. 180.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  7. ^ "QuickFacts: Lamar County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 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 3, 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lamar County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  12. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  13. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  14. ^ a b c "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lamar County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lamar County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  17. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lamar County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2024. - Text list
  18. ^ a b "CONSOLIDATIONS, ANNEXATIONS AND NAME CHANGES FOR TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS Updated January 28, 2020" (PDF). Texas Education Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 26, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  19. ^ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.195. PARIS JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
  20. ^ "Texas House of Representatives".
  21. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  22. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.

Media related to Lamar County, Texas at Wikimedia Commons

33°40′N 95°34′W / 33.67°N 95.57°W / 33.67; -95.57

allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris,_TX_Micropolitan_Statistical_Area