Lamar County, Texas

Lamar County
County
The Lamar County Courthouse in Paris
The Lamar County Courthouse in Paris
Map of Texas highlighting Lamar County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°40′N 95°34′W / 33.67°N 95.57°W / 33.67; -95.57
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1841
Named forMirabeau B. Lamar
SeatParis
Largest cityParis
Area
 • Total
933 sq mi (2,420 km2)
 • Land907 sq mi (2,350 km2)
 • Water26 sq mi (70 km2)  2.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
50,088
 • Density54/sq mi (21/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.co.lamar.tx.us

Lamar County (/ləˈmɑːr/) is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas, in the Northeast Texas region. As of the 2020 census, its population was 50,088.[1] Its county seat is Paris.[2] The county was formed by the Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 17, 1840, and organized the next year.[3][4] It is named for Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second president of the Republic of Texas.[5] Lamar County comprises the Paris, TX micropolitan statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 933 square miles (2,420 km2), of which 907 square miles (2,350 km2) are land and 26 square miles (67 km2) (2.8%) are covered by water.[6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18503,978—
186010,136154.8%
187015,79055.8%
188027,19372.2%
189037,30237.2%
190048,62730.4%
191046,544−4.3%
192055,74219.8%
193048,529−12.9%
194050,4253.9%
195043,033−14.7%
196034,234−20.4%
197036,0625.3%
198042,15616.9%
199043,9494.3%
200048,49910.4%
201049,7932.7%
202050,0880.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1850–2010[8] 2010–2020[9]
Lamar 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.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[10] Pop 2010[11] Pop 2020[9] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 26,298 37,891 35,354 84.18% 76.10% 70.58%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,482 6,628 6,378 7.94% 13.31% 12.73%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 234 592 751 0.75% 1.19% 1.50%
Asian alone (NH) 81 304 474 0.26% 0.61% 0.95%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 7 5 25 0.02% 0.01% 0.05%
Other race alone (NH) 14 27 119 0.04% 0.05% 0.24%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 373 1,123 2,575 1.19% 2.26% 5.14%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,753 3,223 4,412 5.61% 6.47% 8.81%
Total 31,242 49,793 50,088 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census of 2000, 48,499 people, 19,077 households, and 13,468 families resided in the county.[12] At the tabulation of the 2020 United States census, its population increased to 50,088.[9]

Among the population, its racial and ethnic makeup was 70.58% non-Hispanic white, 12.73% Black or African American, 1.50% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.95% Asian alone, 0.05% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 0.24% some other race alone, 5.14% multiracial, and 8.81% Hispanic or Latino American of any race. In 2000, the racial makeup of the county was 82.46% White, 13.47% African American, 1.08% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 1.19% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. About 3.33% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race; from 2000 to 2020, the majority if its population remained predominantly non-Hispanic white against nationwide demographic trends of increased diversification.

Education

These school districts serve Lamar County:

Until it closed in 2019, Roxton ISD. Roxton ISD consolidated into Chisum ISD after the 2018–19 school year.

In addition, Paris Junior College serves the county.

Politics

The majority-white population supported the Democratic Party well into the late 20th century, when it was nearly a one-party state, but in the early 21st century, most have shifted to the Republican Party. Lamar County is now represented in the Texas House of Representatives by Gary VanDeaver of New Boston.[13]

United States presidential election results for Lamar County, Texas[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 16,760 78.16% 4,458 20.79% 224 1.04%
2016 14,561 77.81% 3,583 19.15% 570 3.05%
2012 12,826 74.58% 4,181 24.31% 190 1.10%
2008 12,952 70.54% 5,243 28.55% 167 0.91%
2004 12,054 69.00% 5,338 30.56% 78 0.45%
2000 9,775 63.35% 5,553 35.99% 102 0.66%
1996 6,393 46.59% 6,075 44.27% 1,254 9.14%
1992 5,778 35.57% 6,328 38.96% 4,137 25.47%
1988 8,021 51.42% 7,553 48.42% 24 0.15%
1984 9,273 62.57% 5,504 37.14% 43 0.29%
1980 6,094 45.17% 7,178 53.21% 218 1.62%
1976 4,443 33.98% 8,601 65.78% 32 0.24%
1972 7,736 72.62% 2,865 26.90% 51 0.48%
1968 3,395 31.05% 4,635 42.39% 2,903 26.55%
1964 2,594 29.13% 6,303 70.78% 8 0.09%
1960 3,964 43.68% 5,084 56.02% 28 0.31%
1956 4,154 49.56% 4,202 50.14% 25 0.30%
1952 3,929 41.56% 5,524 58.44% 0 0.00%
1948 1,018 12.17% 6,306 75.39% 1,041 12.44%
1944 725 9.36% 6,283 81.10% 739 9.54%
1940 761 8.64% 8,038 91.29% 6 0.07%
1936 308 5.19% 5,621 94.65% 10 0.17%
1932 375 5.95% 5,911 93.72% 21 0.33%
1928 2,887 57.08% 2,163 42.76% 8 0.16%
1924 596 9.97% 5,224 87.37% 159 2.66%
1920 639 12.76% 3,765 75.21% 602 12.03%
1916 309 8.08% 3,412 89.23% 103 2.69%
1912 206 7.47% 2,286 82.89% 266 9.64%

See also

References

  1. ^ "Lamar County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  4. ^ "Lamar County". Texas Almanac. Texas State Historical Association. May 22, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. pp. 180.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  7. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  8. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  9. ^ a b c "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lamar County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  10. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lamar County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lamar County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. ^ "Texas House of Representatives".
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 26, 2018.

Media related to Lamar County, Texas at Wikimedia Commons

33°40′N 95°34′W / 33.67°N 95.57°W / 33.67; -95.57