According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 857 square miles (2,220 km2), of which 829 square miles (2,150 km2) is land and 27 square miles (70 km2) (3.2%) is water.[6]
Jackson 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.
As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 14,391 people, 5,336 households, and 3,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (6.6 people/km2). There were 6,545 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.49% White, 7.64% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 12.65% from other races, and 2.39% from two or more races. 24.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.9% were of German, 10.8% American, 9.3% Czech, 6.0% Irish and 5.6% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 81.6% spoke English and 17.4% Spanish as their first language.
There were 5,336 households, out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,254, and the median income for a family was $42,066. Males had a median income of $32,639 versus $19,661 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,693. About 12.20% of families and 14.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.10% of those under age 18 and 15.60% of those age 65 or over.