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Harrison County, Texas
Harrison County, TX, Courthouse IMG 2330
Harrison County Courthouse in Marshall
Map of Texas highlighting Harrison County
Location in the state of Texas
Map of the U.S
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded 1842
Named for Jonas Harrison[1]
Seat Marshall
Largest city Marshall
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

916 sq mi (2,372 km²)
900 sq mi (2,331 km²)
16 sq mi (41 km²), 1.7%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

68,839
auto/sq mi (Expression error: Unrecognized word "auto"./km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website harrisoncountytexas.org

Harrison County is a county on the eastern border of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 68,839.[2] The county seat is Marshall.[3] The county was created in 1839 and organized in 1842.[4][5] It is named for Jonas Harrison, a lawyer and Texas revolutionary.

Harrison County comprises the Marshall micropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the Longview-Marshall combined statistical area. It is located in the Ark-La-Tex region.

The county is represented in the Texas House of Representatives by Republican Chris Paddie, a former mayor of Marshall.

History[]

MarshallCourthouse

Old Harrison County Courthouse in Marshall lit at Christmas, 2005

Early history[]

Settlement by immigrants from the United States (US) began during the 1830s in the territory of present-day Harrison County. In 1835, the Mexican authorities granted a dozen land grants to U.S. immigrants. After the Texas Revolution, the Congress of the Texas Republic established Harrison County in 1839, formed from Shelby County. Harrison County was named for Texas revolutionary Jonas Harrison. The county was organized in 1842.

The county's area was reduced in 1846, as territory was taken to establish Panola and Upshur counties. Marshall was founded in 1841, and was designated as the county seat in 1842.[1]

The area was settled predominately by planters from the Southern United States, who developed this area for cotton plantations and brought enslaved African Americans with them for labor, or purchased them at regional markets. The planters repeated much of their culture and society here. East Texas was the location of most of the cotton plantations in the state and, correspondingly, of most of the enslaved African Americans. Most of the fourteen black-majority, plantation counties were located here. By 1850, landowners in Harrison County held more slaves than in any other county in Texas until the end of the Civil War. The census of 1860 counted 8,746 slaves in Harrison County, 59% of the county's total population.[1]

In 1861, the county's voters (who were exclusively white males and mostly upper class) overwhelmingly supported secession from the United States.

Reconstruction era to present[]

Following defeat at the end of the American Civil War, the county was part of an area occupied by Federal troops under Reconstruction. The white minority in the county bitterly resented federal authority and the constitutional amendment granting the franchise to freedmen. A majority in the county, they elected a bi-racial county government dominated by Republican Party officeholders. Republican dominance in local offices continued in the county until 1880, but the conservative whites of the Democratic Party regained control of the state government before the official end of Reconstruction. In 1880, the Citizen's Party of Harrison County, amid charges of fraud and coercion, gained control of elected positions in the county government after winning on a technicality, which involved hiding a key ballot box.[1] They retained such control of the county into the 1950s, aided by the state's disenfranchisement of blacks at the turn of the century by a variety of laws, including those to permit white primaries.[6]

In the 1870s the county's non-agricultural sector increased when the Texas and Pacific Railway located its headquarters and shops in Marshall. It stimulated other industry and manufacturing in the county, and also aided the transportation to market of the important cotton commodity crop.[1]

But from 1880 to 1930, Harrison County remained primarily agricultural and rural. It had a 60 percent black majority through 1930. During this period, most of the African Americans worked as tenant farmers and sharecroppers. White violence against blacks rose during this period, as the minority struggled to maintain social dominance and white supremacy.

in 1870, this was the period of the most lynchings of African Americans throughout the South. Harrison County had a total of 14 such lynchings.[7] Most were committed in the early 20th century, particularly in the 1910s when the county suffered economic hard times. Whites "did not lynch in lieu of ineffective courts, but instead demonstrated to the black majority that legal protection and rights were inaccessible to blacks".[8] Blacks accused of violence against law enforcement or who were from outside the county were particularly at risk.

The Texas legislature disenfranchised most blacks in 1901 by requiring poll taxes and authorizing white primaries (after various iterations, the latter were overturned by a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1944). This disenfranchisement extended into the late 1960s, until after national civil rights legislation was passed to enforce these citizens' civil rights.[9]

In 1928, oil was discovered in the county. Its exploitation and processing made a significant contribution to the economy.[1]

The Great Depression of the 1930s hit the county hard, decimating the agricultural sector. World War II brought an end to the depression. As the defense industry built up in major cities and on the West Coast, from 1940 to 1970, a total of more than 4.5 million blacks migrated from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and other southern states. They moved to the West Coast in the second wave of the Great Migration, attracted to new jobs in the expanding defense industry.

The population of the county declined until 1980, when the trend reversed. White migration from other areas has resulted in a majority-white population. In the realignment of parties in the South since the late 20th century, white conservative voters in Texas have become overwhelmingly affiliated with the Republican Party.[1]

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 916 square miles (2,370 km2), of which 900 square miles (2,300 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (1.7%) is water.[10] The northern and eastern parts of the county are drained to the Red River in Louisiana by Little Cypress Creek, Cypress Bayou, and Caddo Lake. The other third of the county is drained by the Sabine River, which forms a part of its southern boundary.[11] These waterways were critical to early transportation in the county.

Texas entry from LA

Entry into Texas (Harrison County) from Louisiana on Interstate 20.

Adjacent counties[]

Major highways[]

  • I-20 (TX) Interstate 20
  • US 59 U.S. Highway 59
    • I-369 (TX) Interstate 369 is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 59 in most places.
  • US 80 U.S. Highway 80
  • Texas 43 State Highway 43
  • Texas 49 State Highway 49
  • Texas 154 State Highway 154
  • Texas FM 134 Farm to Market Road 134
  • Texas FM 2208 Farm to Market Road 2208

The TTC-69 component (recommended preferred) of the once-planned Trans-Texas Corridor went through Harrison County.[12][13]

National protected area[]

  • Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1850 11,822
1860 15,001 26.9%
1870 13,241 −11.7%
1880 25,177 90.1%
1890 26,721 6.1%
1900 31,878 19.3%
1910 37,243 16.8%
1920 43,565 17.0%
1930 48,937 12.3%
1940 50,900 4.0%
1950 47,745 −6.2%
1960 45,594 −4.5%
1970 44,841 −1.7%
1980 52,265 16.6%
1990 57,483 10.0%
2000 62,110 8.0%
2010 65,631 5.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1850–2010[15] 2010–2020[16]

2020 census[]

Harrison County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[17] Pop 2020[16] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 42,654 42,039 64.99% 61.07%
Black or African American alone (NH) 14,303 13,448 21.79% 19.54%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 277 294 0.42% 0.43%
Asian alone (NH) 331 483 0.50% 0.70%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 26 28 0.04% 0.04%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 52 267 0.08% 0.39%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 734 2,441 1.12% 3.55%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7,254 9,839 11.05% 14.29%
Total 65,631 68,839 100.00% 100.00%

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 can be of any race.

2000-2010[]

As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 62,110 people, 23,087 households, and 16,945 families residing in the county. The population density was 69 people per square mile (27/km2). There were 26,271 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile (11/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 71.35% White, 24.03% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.86% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. 5.34% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 23,087 households, out of which 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 13.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.80% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,520, and the median income for a family was $41,112. Males had a median income of $32,451 versus $20,913 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,702. 16.70% of the population and 12.90% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 21.80% of those under the age of 18 and 14.60% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

The largest ancestry groups in Harrison County as of 2010 are: English (41%), Black or African American (24%), Irish (8%), German (3%), Scotch-Irish (3%), Scottish (2%), Dutch (1%), Italian (1%), French or French Canadian (except Basque) (1%), Mexican (1%), and Polish (1%).

2018[]

As of July 2018's estimates by the United States Census Bureau, Harrison County had a population of 66,726.[19] There were 28,726 households and 23,217 families residing in the county. The racial makeup of Harrison County was 63.2% non-Hispanic white, 21.1% Black or African American, 1.2% American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latin Americans of any race made up 13.6% of the populace.

25.3% of the county was under the age of 18 and 16.1% were aged 65 and older.[19] 51.1% of the county was female. Approximately 6.5% of Harrison County were foreign-born persons.

The median household income was $51,202 and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line. The median gross rent in the county was $779 from 2014 to 2018, and the median house monthly owner costs without mortgage were $403. The median with a mortgage was $1,266.[19]

84.9% of Harrison County were high school graduates and 19.1% had a bachelor's degree or higher.

Education[]

The following school districts serve Harrison County:

  • Elysian Fields ISD (partly in Panola County)
  • Hallsville ISD
  • Harleton ISD
  • Marshall ISD
  • Longview ISD (mostly in Gregg County)
  • New Diana ISD (mostly in Upshur County)
  • Ore City ISD (mostly in Upshur County, small portion in Marion County)
  • Waskom ISD
  • Karnack ISD

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Hallsville
  • Longview (mostly in Gregg County)
  • Marshall (county seat and largest municipality)
  • Scottsville
  • Uncertain
  • Waskom

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Elysian Fields
  • Gill
  • Harleton
  • Jonesville
  • Karnack
  • Latex
  • Nesbitt
  • Woodlawn

Politics[]

United States presidential election results for Harrison County, Texas[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 21,466 72.23% 7,908 26.61% 343 1.15%
2016 18,749 70.62% 7,151 26.94% 648 2.44%
2012 17,512 66.92% 8,456 32.31% 202 0.77%
2008 17,103 65.38% 8,887 33.97% 168 0.64%
2004 16,473 62.82% 9,642 36.77% 108 0.41%
2000 13,834 60.23% 8,878 38.65% 258 1.12%
1996 9,835 45.42% 10,307 47.60% 1,513 6.99%
1992 8,733 38.50% 9,538 42.05% 4,412 19.45%
1988 11,957 56.18% 8,974 42.16% 354 1.66%
1984 12,618 61.52% 7,773 37.90% 118 0.58%
1980 9,328 53.32% 7,746 44.28% 419 2.40%
1976 7,787 49.79% 7,796 49.85% 56 0.36%
1972 9,600 68.28% 4,333 30.82% 127 0.90%
1968 3,668 26.29% 4,959 35.55% 5,324 38.16%
1964 5,568 46.67% 6,351 53.24% 11 0.09%
1960 4,613 46.39% 5,108 51.36% 224 2.25%
1956 5,048 64.76% 2,668 34.23% 79 1.01%
1952 4,708 51.01% 4,516 48.93% 5 0.05%
1948 946 16.93% 2,504 44.81% 2,138 38.26%
1944 619 12.36% 3,588 71.63% 802 16.01%
1940 681 13.11% 4,515 86.89% 0 0.00%
1936 302 8.14% 3,400 91.69% 6 0.16%
1932 528 11.47% 4,057 88.12% 19 0.41%
1928 1,776 46.69% 2,023 53.18% 5 0.13%
1924 463 14.19% 2,573 78.88% 226 6.93%
1920 377 11.85% 2,134 67.09% 670 21.06%
1916 172 10.64% 1,374 85.02% 70 4.33%
1912 140 9.70% 1,140 79.00% 163 11.30%



See also[]

  • List of museums in East Texas
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Harrison County, Texas
  • Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Harrison County

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Campbell, Randolph B.. "Harrison County - The Handbook of Texas Online". Texas State Historical Association. https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hch08. 
  2. ^ "Harrison County, Texas". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48203. Retrieved January 30, 2022. 
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  4. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/TX_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm. 
  5. ^ "Harrison County". Texas State Historical Association. http://texasalmanac.com/topics/government/harrison-county. 
  6. ^ Williams, Patrick G. “Suffrage Restriction in Post-Reconstruction Texas: Urban Politics and the Specter of the Commune.” The Journal of Southern History, vol. 68, no. 1, 2002, pp. 31–64. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3069690. Accessed 7 Sept. 2020.
  7. ^ Lynching in America, Third Edition: Supplement by County Archived 2017-10-23 at the Wayback Machine, p. 9, Equal Justice Initiative, Mobile, AL, 2017
  8. ^ Brandon T. Jett, THE BLOODY RED RIVER: LYNCHING AND RACIAL VIOLENCE IN NORTHEAST TEXAS, 1890-1930, 2012, M.A. Thesis, p. 63; Texas State University-San Marcos
  9. ^ "5.3 Historical Barriers to Voting", Texas Politics, University of Texas website, 2018
  10. ^ "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. 
  11. ^ Randolph B. Campbell, "Harrison County", (uploaded 2010/updated 2017), Handbook of Texas Online; accessed 16 May 2018
  12. ^ TxDoT, TTC Section E, Detailed Map 1, 2007-12-21 Archived 2009-02-07 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ TxDoT, TTC Section F, Detailed Map 2, 2007-12-28 Archived 2009-02-07 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html. 
  15. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010". Texas Almanac. http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf. 
  16. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Harrison County, Texas". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48203&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  17. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Harrison County, Texas". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48203&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2. 
  18. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  19. ^ a b c "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Harrison County, Texas" (in en). https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/harrisoncountytexas. 
  20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

Further reading[]

  • Randolph B. Campbell, A Southern Community in Crisis: Harrison County, Texas, 1850–1880 (Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 1983).

External links[]

Coordinates: 32°33′N 94°22′W / 32.55, -94.37

This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Harrison County, Texas. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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