San Augustine County was formed in 1837. It was supposedly named after the Saint, Augustine of Hippo.[3] However, it seems more plausible that the county was named for the town of San Augustine, which had been established five years earlier and whose name was based upon an 18th-century Spanishpresidio (fortress), the Presidio de San Agustín de Ahumada, named for Agustín de Ahumada, 2nd Marquess of Amarillas.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 592 square miles (1,530 km2), of which 531 square miles (1,380 km2) is land and 62 square miles (160 km2) (10%) is water.[4]
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1850–2010[6] 2010–2020[7]
San Augustine 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[10] of 2000, there were 8,946 people, 3,575 households, and 2,520 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (6.6 people/km2). There were 5,356 housing units at an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 69.26% White, 27.95% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 1.64% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 3.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,575 households, out of which 26.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.50% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 23.00% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 21.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,025, and the median income for a family was $32,772. Males had a median income of $28,395 versus $18,925 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,548. About 15.60% of families and 21.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.70% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
United States presidential election results for San Augustine County, Texas[11]
At the presidential level, San Augustine County has voted for the Republican candidate in every election since 2000, having usually been carried by Democratic candidates up until that point.
Like many areas of the South, while Republicans generally win federal and state elections, Democrats tend to perform better in down-ballot races for local offices. Identification with the Democratic Party is strong in San Augustine County. In 2012, roughly 24 percent of eligible voters participated in the Democratic primary, while less than 6 percent participated in the Republican primary, despite there being a competitive presidential primary on the Republican ballot.[12]
Rural school children, San Augustine County, Texas. Photograph by John Vachon.
In popular culture
American photographer John Vachon took a series of photographs of rural schoolchildren in San Augustine County, Texas, for the Farm Security Administration in 1943.
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