Jasper County, Texas

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 970 sqmi, of which 939 sqmi are land and 31 sqmi (3.2%) are covered by water.

Major highways

• [[Image:US 69.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 69
• [[Image:US 96.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 96
• [[Image:US 190.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 190
• [[Image:Texas 62.svg|20px]] State Highway 62
• [[Image:Texas 63.svg|20px]] State Highway 63
• [[Image:Texas Recreational Road 255.svg|20px]] Recreational Road 255

Adjacent counties

• San Augustine County (north)
• Sabine County (northeast)
• Newton County (east)
• Orange County (south)
• Hardin County (southwest)
• Tyler County (west)
• Angelina County (northwest)

National protected areas

• Angelina National Forest (part)
• Big Thicket National Preserve (part)
• Sabine National Forest (part)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1850–2010 2010–2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 32,980. The median age was 43.7 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.2 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 73.8% White, 17.0% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.5% from some other race, and 4.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.7% of the population.

22.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 77.9% lived in rural areas.

There were 13,050 households in the county, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.7% were married-couple households, 18.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 16,172 housing units, of which 19.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.4% were owner-occupied and 21.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.5%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 35,604 people, 13,450 households, and 9,966 families resided in the county. The population density was 38 /mi2. The 16,576 housing units averaged 18 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 78.24% White, 17.81% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.04% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. About 3.89% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 13,450 households, 33.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 12.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were not families. About 23% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was distributed as 26.50% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,902, and for a family was $35,709. Males had a median income of $31,739 versus $19,119 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,636. About 15.00% of families and 18.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.40% of those under age 18 and 17.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

United States Congress

County officials

• County Judge - Judge Mark W. Allen
• Commissioner, Pct. #1 - Seth Martindale
• Commissioner, Pct. #2 - Roy Parker
• Commissioner, Pct. #3 - Willie Stark
• Commissioner, Pct. #4 - Vance Moss
• County Sheriff - Chuck Havard
• Tax Assessor/Collector - Bobby Biscamp
• County Clerk - Debbie Newman
• County Treasurer - René Ellis
• County Auditor - Mellissa Smith
• Tax Appraiser - Lori Barnett
• District Attorney - Ann Pickle
• Emergency Management Coordinator - Billy Ted Smith

The County jail is named after former Sheriff, Aubrey E. Cole.

District officials

• District Judge - Judicial District 1 - Judge Craig M. Mixson (appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to complete term of Judge Gary Gatlin, who resigned effective December 31, 2011)
• District Judge - Judicial District 1A - DeLinda Gibbs-Walker
• District Clerk - Rosa Norsworthy
• District Attorney - Anne Pickle

Courts

• Justice of the Peace, Pct. #1 - John Cooper
• Justice of the Peace, Pct. #2 - Raymond Hopson
• Justice of the Peace, Pct. #3 - Mike Smith
• Justice of the Peace, Pct. #4 - Gina Cleveland
• Justice of the Peace, Pct. #5 - Brett Holloway
• Justice of the Peace, Pct. #6 - Steve Conner
• Constable, Pct. #1 - Jimmy Hensarling
• Constable, Pct. #2 - Niles Nichols
• Constable, Pct. #3 - Ronnie Hutchison
• Constable, Pct. #4 - Gene Hawthorne
• Constable, Pct. #5 - Michael Poindexter
• Constable, Pct. #6 - Chad Ainsworth

Communities

Cities

• Browndell
• Jasper (county seat)
• Kirbyville

Census-designated places

• Buna
• Evadale
• Sam Rayburn

Unincorporated communities

• Beans
• Beech Grove
• Bessmay
• Brookeland (partly in Sabine County)
• Erin
• Gist

Ghost towns

• Zeirath

Education

School districts:

• Brookeland Independent School District
• Buna Independent School District
• Colmesneil Independent School District
• Evadale Independent School District
• Jasper Independent School District
• Kirbyville Consolidated Independent School District
• Vidor Independent School District

Areas of Jasper County in Brookeland ISD, Colmesneil ISD, and Jasper ISD are assigned to Angelina College. Legislation does not specify a community college for the remainder of the county.

References

References

1. "Jasper County, Texas".
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (2008). "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". [[Newberry Library.
4. "Jasper County". Texas bin Historical Association.
5. Glenn Justice. (June 15, 2010). "Jasper County". Texas State Historical Association.
6. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". Govt. Print. Off..
7. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". [[US Census Bureau]].
9. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010". Texas Almanac.
10. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
11. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
12. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
13. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Jasper County, Texas".
14. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Jasper County, Texas".
15. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Jasper County, Texas".
16. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
18. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
19. "AUBREY COLE OBITUARY".
20. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Jasper County, TX". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
21. [https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.165. ANGELINA COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.].