Hardin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 56,231.[1] The county seat is Kountze.[2] The county is named for the family of William Hardin from Liberty County, Texas.[3]
Hardin County | |
|---|---|
 The Hardin County Courthouse in Kountze | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Texas | |
 Texas's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 30°20′N 94°23′W / 30.34°N 94.39°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1858 |
| Seat | Kountze |
| Largest city | Lumberton |
| Area | |
• Total | 898 sq mi (2,330 km2) |
| • Land | 891 sq mi (2,310 km2) |
| • Water | 7.0 sq mi (18 km2) 0.% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 56,231 |
| • Density | 63/sq mi (24/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 36th |
| Website | www |
Hardin County is part of the Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX metropolitan statistical area.
History
editThe county is named for the family of William Hardin (1801-1839), a settler, judge, and postmaster. The Hardin family cemetery is located north of Liberty.[4]
The current Hardin County Courthouse was built in 1959. It is at least the third courthouse to serve Hardin County.[5]
Geography
editAccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 898 square miles (2,330 km2), of which 7.0 square miles (18 km2) (0.8%) are covered by water.[6]
Hardin County is located on the flat coastal plains of Southeast Texas, roughly 30 mi (48 km) north of the Gulf of Mexico. The county is largely covered by the dense forest of the Big Thicket. It is crossed by numerous small streams and creeks that drain the county into the Neches River, which forms the eastern boundary of the county.
Major highways
edit
U.S. Highway 69/U.S. Highway 287
U.S. Highway 96
State Highway 105
State Highway 326
State Highway 327
Adjacent counties
edit- Tyler County (northern)
- Jasper County (east)
- Orange County (southeast)
- Jefferson County (south)
- Liberty County (southwest)
- Polk County (northwest)
Its eastern boundaries with Jasper County and Orange County are formed by the Neches River. The southern boundary with Jefferson County is formed by Pine Island Bayou
National protected area
editCommunities
editCities
edit- Kountze (county seat)
- Lumberton
- Rose Hill Acres
- Silsbee
- Sour Lake
Census-designated places
edit- Pinewood Estates
- Wildwood (partly in Tyler County)
Unincorporated communities
editGhost town
editDemographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 1,353 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,460 | 7.9% | |
| 1880 | 1,870 | 28.1% | |
| 1890 | 3,956 | 111.6% | |
| 1900 | 5,049 | 27.6% | |
| 1910 | 12,947 | 156.4% | |
| 1920 | 15,983 | 23.4% | |
| 1930 | 13,936 | −12.8% | |
| 1940 | 15,875 | 13.9% | |
| 1950 | 19,535 | 23.1% | |
| 1960 | 24,629 | 26.1% | |
| 1970 | 29,996 | 21.8% | |
| 1980 | 40,721 | 35.8% | |
| 1990 | 41,320 | 1.5% | |
| 2000 | 48,073 | 16.3% | |
| 2010 | 54,635 | 13.7% | |
| 2020 | 56,231 | 2.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1850–2010[8] 2010[9] 2020[10] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[11] | Pop 2010[9] | Pop 2020[10] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 42,941 | 48,088 | 46,934 | 89.32% | 88.02% | 83.47% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 3,310 | 3,181 | 3,037 | 6.89% | 5.82% | 5.40% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 133 | 182 | 190 | 0.28% | 0.33% | 0.34% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 108 | 269 | 399 | 0.22% | 0.49% | 0.71% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 4 | 6 | 34 | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.06% |
| Other Race alone (NH) | 20 | 19 | 149 | 0.04% | 0.03% | 0.26% |
| Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) | 334 | 506 | 2,071 | 0.69% | 0.93% | 3.68% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,223 | 2,384 | 3,417 | 2.54% | 4.36% | 6.08% |
| Total | 48,073 | 54,635 | 56,231 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2010 census, Hardin County had a population of 54,635. The ethnic and racial composition of the population was 88.0% non-Hispanic white, 5.8% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 1.3% from some other race, and 1.3% from two or more races.[12]
As of the census[13] of 2000, 48,073 people, 17,805 households, and 13,638 families resided in the county. The population density was 54 people/sq mi (21 people/km2). The 19,836 housing units averaged 22 per square mile (8.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.86% White, 6.91% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. About 2.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 17,805 households, 37.2% had children under 18 living with them, 62.6% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were not families; 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the county, the age distribution was 27.8% under 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,612, and for a family was $42,890. Males had a median income of $35,881 versus $22,823 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,962. About 8.8% of families and 11.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
editUnited States Congress
edit| Senators | Name | Party | First Elected | Level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate Class 1 | John Cornyn | Republican | 2002 | Senior Senator | |
| Senate Class 2 | Ted Cruz | Republican | 2012 | Junior Senator | |
| Representatives | Name | Party | First Elected | Area(s) of Hardin County Represented | |
| District 36 | Brian Babin | Republican | New district created with 2010 census. First elected 2014. | Entire county | |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 24,691 | 87.69% | 3,347 | 11.89% | 119 | 0.42% |
| 2020 | 23,858 | 86.33% | 3,474 | 12.57% | 303 | 1.10% |
| 2016 | 19,606 | 86.07% | 2,780 | 12.20% | 394 | 1.73% |
| 2012 | 17,746 | 83.33% | 3,359 | 15.77% | 192 | 0.90% |
| 2008 | 16,603 | 80.20% | 3,939 | 19.03% | 160 | 0.77% |
| 2004 | 15,030 | 72.57% | 5,608 | 27.08% | 72 | 0.35% |
| 2000 | 11,962 | 67.07% | 5,595 | 31.37% | 279 | 1.56% |
| 1996 | 8,529 | 47.65% | 7,179 | 40.11% | 2,192 | 12.25% |
| 1992 | 5,885 | 35.04% | 6,753 | 40.21% | 4,155 | 24.74% |
| 1988 | 6,897 | 45.46% | 8,245 | 54.34% | 31 | 0.20% |
| 1984 | 8,380 | 55.11% | 6,782 | 44.60% | 44 | 0.29% |
| 1980 | 6,087 | 44.33% | 7,358 | 53.58% | 287 | 2.09% |
| 1976 | 4,046 | 37.86% | 6,558 | 61.36% | 84 | 0.79% |
| 1972 | 5,190 | 63.63% | 2,952 | 36.19% | 15 | 0.18% |
| 1968 | 1,986 | 22.41% | 2,894 | 32.66% | 3,982 | 44.93% |
| 1964 | 1,987 | 27.81% | 5,143 | 71.97% | 16 | 0.22% |
| 1960 | 2,115 | 32.79% | 4,315 | 66.89% | 21 | 0.33% |
| 1956 | 2,130 | 47.12% | 2,371 | 52.46% | 19 | 0.42% |
| 1952 | 1,653 | 32.53% | 3,423 | 67.36% | 6 | 0.12% |
| 1948 | 196 | 6.44% | 2,233 | 73.38% | 614 | 20.18% |
| 1944 | 243 | 7.77% | 2,632 | 84.20% | 251 | 8.03% |
| 1940 | 226 | 7.01% | 2,997 | 92.93% | 2 | 0.06% |
| 1936 | 119 | 4.82% | 2,351 | 95.18% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 161 | 5.47% | 2,783 | 94.53% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1928 | 951 | 47.96% | 1,032 | 52.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 645 | 28.31% | 1,516 | 66.55% | 117 | 5.14% |
| 1920 | 202 | 14.68% | 999 | 72.60% | 175 | 12.72% |
| 1916 | 158 | 10.30% | 1,279 | 83.38% | 97 | 6.32% |
| 1912 | 101 | 7.18% | 979 | 69.58% | 327 | 23.24% |
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Hardin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 149.
- ^ Robert L. Schaadt. "Handbook of Texas". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
- ^ Duncan, Patricia L. "Hardin County". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
- ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
- ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 19, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
- ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Hardin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Hardin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Hardin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "2010 census report for Hardin County, Texas". Retrieved April 15, 2016.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".