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| Austin County, Texas | |
 The Austin County Courthouse in Bellville
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 Location in the state of Texas | |
 Texas's location in the U.S. | |
| Founded | 1837 |
|---|---|
| Named for | Stephen F. Austin |
| Seat | Bellville |
| Largest city | Sealy |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
656 sq mi (1,699 km²) 647 sq mi (1,676 km²) 9.9 sq mi (26 km²), 1.5 |
| Population - (2020) - Density |
30,167 |
| Congressional district | 10th |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
| Website | www.austincounty.com |
Austin County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,167.[1][2] Its seat is Bellville.[3]
Austin County is included in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Austin County is not to be confused with the city of Austin, the state capital city that lies in Travis County, about 110 miles to the northwest.
History[]
In 1836, the Texas Legislature established Austin County, naming it for Stephen F. Austin, who facilitated Texas' Anglo-American colonization.
Geography[]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 656 square miles (1,700 km2), of which 647 square miles (1,680 km2) is land and 9.9 square miles (26 km2) (1.5%) is covered by water.[4]
Adjacent counties[]
- Washington County (north)
- Waller County (east)
- Fort Bend County (southeast)
- Wharton County (south)
- Colorado County (west)
- Fayette County (northwest)
Communities[]
Cities[]
- Bellville (county seat)
- Brazos Country
- Sealy
- South Frydek
- Wallis
Town[]
- Industry
- San Felipe
Unincorporated communities[]
- Bleiblerville
- Buckhorn
- Burleigh
- Cat Spring
- Cochran
- Frydek
- Kenney
- Millheim
- Nelsonville
- New Wehdem
- New Ulm
- Peters
- Post Oak Point
- Raccoon Bend
- Rockhouse
- Shelby
- Wehdem
- Welcome
Ghost town[]
- Rexville
Demographics[]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 3,841 | ||
| 1860 | 10,139 | 164.0% | |
| 1870 | 15,087 | 48.8% | |
| 1880 | 14,429 | −4.4% | |
| 1890 | 17,859 | 23.8% | |
| 1900 | 20,676 | 15.8% | |
| 1910 | 17,699 | −14.4% | |
| 1920 | 18,874 | 6.6% | |
| 1930 | 18,860 | −0.1% | |
| 1940 | 17,384 | −7.8% | |
| 1950 | 14,663 | −15.7% | |
| 1960 | 13,777 | −6.0% | |
| 1970 | 13,831 | 0.4% | |
| 1980 | 17,726 | 28.2% | |
| 1990 | 19,832 | 11.9% | |
| 2000 | 23,590 | 18.9% | |
| 2010 | 28,417 | 20.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1850–2010[6] 2010[7] 2020[8] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[7] | Pop 2020[8] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 18,657 | 18,480 | 65.65% | 61.26% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,622 | 2,352 | 9.23% | 7.80% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 79 | 78 | 0.28% | 0.26% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 110 | 201 | 0.39% | 0.67% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 8 | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 36 | 107 | 0.13% | 0.35% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 271 | 889 | 0.95% | 2.95% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6,641 | 8,052 | 23.37% | 26.69% |
| Total | 28,417 | 30,167 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the U.S. Census Bureau treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
As of the census[9] of 2000, 23,590 people, 8,747 households, and 6,481 families resided in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile (14/km2). The 10,205 housing units averaged 16 per square mile (6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.22% White, 10.64% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 6.99% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. About 16.13% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race, and 26.9% were of German, 8.0% Czech, 6.4% English, and 5.0% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.
Of the 8,747 households, 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were not families; 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the county, the population was distributed as 27.00% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,615, and for a family was $46,342. Males had a median income of $32,455 versus $22,142 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,140. About 8.80% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.70% of those under age 18 and 14.40% of those age 65 or over.
Politics[]
United States Congress[]
| Senators | Name | Party | First elected | Level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | John Cornyn | Republican | 2002 | Senior Senator | |
| Senate | Ted Cruz | Republican | 2012 | Junior Senator | |
| Representatives | Name | Party | First elected | Area(s) of Austin County represented | |
| District 10 | Michael McCaul | Republican | 2004 | Entire county | |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 11,447 | 78.48% | 2,951 | 20.23% | 188 | 1.29% |
| 2016 | 9,637 | 78.52% | 2,320 | 18.90% | 317 | 2.58% |
| 2012 | 9,265 | 79.53% | 2,252 | 19.33% | 132 | 1.13% |
| 2008 | 8,786 | 74.96% | 2,821 | 24.07% | 114 | 0.97% |
| 2004 | 8,072 | 75.43% | 2,582 | 24.13% | 48 | 0.45% |
| 2000 | 6,661 | 72.19% | 2,407 | 26.09% | 159 | 1.72% |
| 1996 | 4,669 | 58.36% | 2,719 | 33.98% | 613 | 7.66% |
| 1992 | 4,015 | 50.89% | 2,278 | 28.87% | 1,597 | 20.24% |
| 1988 | 4,524 | 63.18% | 2,593 | 36.22% | 43 | 0.60% |
| 1984 | 4,872 | 71.29% | 1,941 | 28.40% | 21 | 0.31% |
| 1980 | 3,734 | 64.91% | 1,893 | 32.90% | 126 | 2.19% |
| 1976 | 2,686 | 53.37% | 2,313 | 45.96% | 34 | 0.68% |
| 1972 | 3,084 | 74.24% | 1,043 | 25.11% | 27 | 0.65% |
| 1968 | 1,971 | 45.27% | 1,299 | 29.83% | 1,084 | 24.90% |
| 1964 | 1,545 | 39.46% | 2,365 | 60.41% | 5 | 0.13% |
| 1960 | 1,978 | 52.92% | 1,725 | 46.15% | 35 | 0.94% |
| 1956 | 2,501 | 67.12% | 1,215 | 32.61% | 10 | 0.27% |
| 1952 | 2,964 | 67.17% | 1,445 | 32.74% | 4 | 0.09% |
| 1948 | 1,260 | 43.98% | 1,252 | 43.70% | 353 | 12.32% |
| 1944 | 619 | 19.44% | 1,316 | 41.33% | 1,249 | 39.23% |
| 1940 | 1,400 | 49.88% | 1,404 | 50.02% | 3 | 0.11% |
| 1936 | 290 | 15.03% | 1,635 | 84.76% | 4 | 0.21% |
| 1932 | 142 | 4.81% | 2,806 | 94.96% | 7 | 0.24% |
| 1928 | 466 | 17.94% | 2,129 | 81.98% | 2 | 0.08% |
| 1924 | 457 | 12.60% | 2,601 | 71.71% | 569 | 15.69% |
| "text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/American |1920 | 568 | 19.65% | 538 | 18.62% | 1,784 | 61.73% |
| 1916 | 673 | 40.96% | 960 | 58.43% | 10 | 0.61% |
| 1912 | 244 | 16.43% | 1,161 | 78.18% | 80 | 5.39% |
Texas Legislature[]
Texas Senate[]
District 18: Lois Kolkhorst (R) – first elected in 2014
Texas House of Representatives[]
District 13: Ben Leman (R) – first elected in 2018
Austin County Courthouse[]
County Judge: Tim Lapham (R)
Tax Assessor-Collector: Marcus A. Peña (R) – first elected in 2012
Education[]
The following school districts serve Austin County:
- Bellville Independent School District
- Brazos Independent School District (partial) (Formerly Wallis-Orchard ISD)
- Brenham Independent School District (partial)
- Columbus Independent School District (partial)
- Sealy Independent School District
- Burton Independent School District
(partial)
Blinn Junior College District is the designated community college for most of the county. Areas in Brazos ISD are in Wharton County Junior College District.[11]
Transportation[]
Major highways[]
Interstate 10- U.S. Highway 90
- State Highway 36
- State Highway 159
The TTC-69 component (recommended preferred) of the once-planned Trans-Texas Corridor went through Austin County.[12]
See also[]
- Adelsverein
- List of museums in the Texas Gulf Coast
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Austin County, Texas
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Austin County
References[]
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Austin County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/austincountytexas/PST120221.
- ^ "Austin County, Texas". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48015. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html.
- ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010". Texas Almanac. http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf.
- ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Austin County, Texas". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48015&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2.
- ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Austin County, Texas". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48015&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS.
- ^ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.168. BLINN JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. Sec. 130.211. WHARTON COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA..
- ^ TxDoT, TTC Section C & S, Detailed Map 2, 2007-12-17 Archived February 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
External links[]
 |
Wikisource has the text of an 1879 American Cyclopædia article about Austin County, Texas. |
- Austin County website
- [1] from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Austin County from the Texas Almanac
- Austin County from the TXGenWeb Project
- Historic Austin County materials, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
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Fayette County | Washington County |
| |
| Colorado County | 
|
Waller County | ||
   Austin County, Texas | ||||
| ||||
| Wharton County | Fort Bend County |
|
Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown METROPOLITAN AREA |
|---|---|
| Counties | Austin | Brazoria | Chambers | Fort Bend | Galveston | Harris | Liberty | Montgomery | San Jacinto | Waller |
| "Principal" cities |
Houston | Sugar Land | Baytown | Galveston |
| Cities and towns |
Alvin | Angleton | Bellaire | Cleveland | Clute | Conroe | Dayton | Deer Park | Dickinson | Freeport | Friendswood | Galena Park | Hitchcock | Hempstead | Humble | Jacinto City | Jersey Village | Katy | Lake Jackson | La Marque | La Porte | League City | Liberty | Meadows Place | Missouri City | Pasadena | Pearland | Richmond | Rosenberg | Santa Fe | Seabrook | Sealy | South Houston | Stafford | Texas City | Tomball | Webster | West University Place |
| Unincorporated areas | Atascocita | Channelview | Cloverleaf | Cypress | Klein | Spring | The Woodlands |
Template:Austin County, Texas
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