San Jacinto County, Texas

San Jacinto County, Texas
The San Jacinto County Courthouse in Coldspring
The San Jacinto County Courthouse in Coldspring
Map of Texas highlighting San Jacinto County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Coordinates: 30°35′N 95°10′W / 30.58°N 95.16°W / 30.58; -95.16
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1870
Named afterBattle of San Jacinto
SeatColdspring
Largest cityShepherd
Area
 • Total
628 sq mi (1,630 km2)
 • Land569 sq mi (1,470 km2)
 • Water59 sq mi (150 km2)  9.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
27,402
 • Density48.2/sq mi (18.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.co.san-jacinto.tx.us

San Jacinto County (/ˌsæn əˈsɪnt/ SAN jə-SIN-toh) is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 27,402.[1] Its county seat is Coldspring.[2] The county's name comes from the Battle of San Jacinto which secured Texas' independence from Mexico and established a republic in 1836.

San Jacinto County Courthouse, located in Coldspring
Old San Jacinto County Jail

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 628 square miles (1,630 km2), of which 569 square miles (1,470 km2) are land and 59 square miles (150 km2) (9.3%) are covered by water.[3]

Major highways

The TTC-69 component (recommended preferred) of the once-planned Trans-Texas Corridor went through San Jacinto County.[4]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18806,186
18907,36019.0%
190010,27739.6%
19109,542−7.2%
19209,8673.4%
19309,711−1.6%
19409,056−6.7%
19507,172−20.8%
19606,153−14.2%
19706,7028.9%
198011,43470.6%
199016,37243.2%
200022,24635.9%
201026,38418.6%
202027,4023.9%
2023 (est.)28,936[5]5.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1850–2010[7] 2010[8] 2020[9]

Racial and ethnic composition

San Jacinto 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) 17,972 20,204 19,170 80.79% 76.58% 69.96%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,796 2,662 2,083 12.57% 10.09% 7.60%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 81 120 123 0.36% 0.45% 0.45%
Asian alone (NH) 63 120 86 0.28% 0.45% 0.31%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 15 9 15 0.07% 0.03% 0.05%
Other Race alone (NH) 11 12 74 0.05% 0.05% 0.27%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) 224 377 1,029 1.01% 1.43% 3.76%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,084 2,880 4,882 4.87% 10.92% 17.60%
Total 22,246 26,384 27,402 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 27,402. The median age was 44.9 years; 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.3 males.[11][12]

The racial makeup of the county was 74.0% White, 7.8% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 8.2% from some other race, and 8.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 17.6% of the population.[12]

Less than 0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[13]

There were 10,546 households in the county, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.4% were married-couple households, 20.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]

There were 13,778 housing units, of which 23.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 84.4% were owner-occupied and 15.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.5%.[11]

2000 census

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 22,246 people, 8,651 households, and 6,401 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 11,520 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 83.64% White, 12.64% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.63% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 4.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,651 households, out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.00% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 24.90% from 25 to 44, 26.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,220, and the median income for a family was $37,781. Males had a median income of $34,614 versus $22,313 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,144. About 15.10% of families and 18.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.80% of those under age 18 and 17.60% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

United States Congress

Senators Name Party First Elected Level
  Senate Class 1 Ted Cruz Republican 2012 Junior Senator
  Senate Class 2 John Cornyn Republican 2002 Senior Senator
Representatives Name Party First Elected Area(s) of San Jacinto County Represented
  District 8 Morgan Luttrell Republican 2023 Entire county
United States presidential election results for San Jacinto County, Texas[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1912 196 30.39% 377 58.45% 72 11.16%
1916 255 36.48% 442 63.23% 2 0.29%
1920 7 1.01% 320 46.31% 364 52.68%
1924 104 14.86% 585 83.57% 11 1.57%
1928 296 37.00% 503 62.88% 1 0.13%
1932 16 1.89% 828 97.64% 4 0.47%
1936 67 10.62% 564 89.38% 0 0.00%
1940 119 13.46% 764 86.43% 1 0.11%
1944 53 7.36% 522 72.50% 145 20.14%
1948 106 13.70% 509 65.76% 159 20.54%
1952 494 32.06% 1,043 67.68% 4 0.26%
1956 565 42.51% 755 56.81% 9 0.68%
1960 448 28.54% 1,115 71.02% 7 0.45%
1964 343 16.93% 1,680 82.92% 3 0.15%
1968 381 16.50% 1,235 53.49% 693 30.01%
1972 1,296 55.81% 1,020 43.93% 6 0.26%
1976 1,094 31.00% 2,406 68.18% 29 0.82%
1980 1,726 41.16% 2,376 56.67% 91 2.17%
1984 3,174 56.09% 2,466 43.58% 19 0.34%
1988 2,691 47.31% 2,972 52.25% 25 0.44%
1992 2,494 35.57% 2,846 40.59% 1,671 23.83%
1996 2,878 44.38% 2,771 42.73% 836 12.89%
2000 4,623 59.93% 2,946 38.19% 145 1.88%
2004 5,394 66.39% 2,688 33.08% 43 0.53%
2008 6,151 68.66% 2,721 30.38% 86 0.96%
2012 7,107 73.91% 2,410 25.06% 99 1.03%
2016 8,059 77.92% 2,038 19.70% 246 2.38%
2020 10,161 80.39% 2,337 18.49% 142 1.12%
2024 10,524 82.18% 2,175 16.98% 107 0.84%
United States Senate election results for San Jacinto County, Texas1[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 10,118 79.61% 2,338 18.39% 254 2.00%

Texas Legislature

Texas Senate

District 3: Robert Nichols (R) – first elected in 2006.

Texas House of Representatives

District 18: Ernest Bailes (R) – first elected in 2016

Education

School districts include

Areas of San Jacinto County in Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD and Shepherd ISD are assigned to Angelina College. Areas in Cleveland ISD and Willis ISD are assigned to Lone Star College.[17]

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

See also

References

  1. ^ "San Jacinto County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  4. ^ TxDoT, TTC Section N, Detailed Map 2, 2008-01-24 Archived February 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ {{cite web|title=2023 Population Estimates (PEP)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2023/pep/charv?get=NAME%2CPOP&for=county%3A407&in=state%3A48&MONTH=7&YEAR=2023&UNIVERSE=R&AGE=0000&SEX=0%7Cwebsite=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 22, 2026|df=mdy}
  6. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – San Jacinto 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) – San Jacinto County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  10. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – San Jacinto County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  12. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  13. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  16. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  17. ^ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.165. ANGELINA COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA..

30°35′N 95°10′W / 30.58°N 95.16°W / 30.58; -95.16