San Augustine County
County
The San Augustine County Courthouse
The San Augustine County Courthouse
Map of Texas highlighting San Augustine County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°24′N 94°11′W / 31.4°N 94.18°W / 31.4; -94.18
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1837
Named forPresidio de San Agustín de Ahumada, named for Agustín de Ahumada, 2nd Marquess of Amarillas
SeatSan Augustine
Largest citySan Augustine
Area
 • Total592 sq mi (1,530 km2)
 • Land531 sq mi (1,380 km2)
 • Water62 sq mi (160 km2)  10%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total7,918
 • Density13/sq mi (5.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.san-augustine.tx.us

San Augustine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 7,918.[1] Its county seat is San Augustine.[2]

History

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 Spanish presidio (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]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18503,648—
18604,09412.2%
18704,1962.5%
18805,08421.2%
18906,68831.5%
19008,43426.1%
191011,26433.6%
192013,73722.0%
193012,471−9.2%
194012,4710.0%
19508,837−29.1%
19607,722−12.6%
19707,8581.8%
19808,78511.8%
19907,999−8.9%
20008,94611.8%
20108,865−0.9%
20207,918−10.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1850–2010[6] 2010–2020[7]
San Augustine County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[8] Pop 2020[7] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 6,183 5,270 69.75% 66.56%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,013 1,768 22.71% 22.33%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 16 19 0.18% 0.24%
Asian alone (NH) 22 36 0.25% 0.45%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 0 0.00% 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 10 0 0.11% 0.00%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 89 186 1.00% 2.35%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 532 639 6.00% 8.07%
Total 8,865 7,918 100.00% 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.

As of the census[9] 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[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,007 75.14% 980 24.49% 15 0.37%
2016 2,622 73.47% 910 25.50% 37 1.04%
2012 2,469 66.91% 1,193 32.33% 28 0.76%
2008 2,342 63.04% 1,328 35.75% 45 1.21%
2004 2,235 59.49% 1,506 40.09% 16 0.43%
2000 2,116 55.61% 1,636 43.00% 53 1.39%
1996 1,296 36.39% 1,924 54.03% 341 9.58%
1992 1,243 34.06% 1,737 47.60% 669 18.33%
1988 1,946 47.65% 2,118 51.86% 20 0.49%
1984 1,937 54.89% 1,583 44.86% 9 0.26%
1980 1,397 45.20% 1,674 54.16% 20 0.65%
1976 1,047 36.48% 1,817 63.31% 6 0.21%
1972 1,508 66.49% 753 33.20% 7 0.31%
1968 506 20.57% 817 33.21% 1,137 46.22%
1964 760 39.18% 1,173 60.46% 7 0.36%
1960 638 32.52% 1,269 64.68% 55 2.80%
1956 900 45.07% 1,086 54.38% 11 0.55%
1952 730 34.94% 1,359 65.06% 0 0.00%
1948 137 10.83% 858 67.83% 270 21.34%
1944 102 7.98% 1,176 92.02% 0 0.00%
1940 119 8.24% 1,325 91.76% 0 0.00%
1936 64 5.72% 1,054 94.28% 0 0.00%
1932 19 1.04% 1,802 98.96% 0 0.00%
1928 467 36.26% 821 63.74% 0 0.00%
1924 78 5.02% 1,475 94.98% 0 0.00%
1920 121 7.84% 658 42.62% 765 49.55%
1916 18 2.39% 682 90.69% 52 6.91%
1912 12 2.44% 375 76.22% 105 21.34%

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.[11]

Elected officials

At the Federal level, San Augustine County is part of the 1st Congressional District, which is currently represented by Louie Gohmert, a Republican from Tyler.

In the Texas Legislature, the county is represented by State Representative Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin), and by State Senator Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville).

Communities

Education

School districts:

The county is in the service area of Angelina College.[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.

CORRECTION:

Russell Lee with the Farm Securities Administration (United States Federal Government) photographer in the late 1930s visited San Augustine and took hundreds of photographs of our rural community at that time.

Russell Lee's friend John Vachon, with the Office of War Information during World War II took many, many photographs during the war years (circa 1943) relating to the war effort in rural America.

Information is from the Library of Congress, and is available for use without copyright. 

Edit by Betty Oglesbee

See also

References

  1. ^ "San Augustine County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Handbook of Texas Online – SAN AUGUSTINE COUNTY
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  5. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  6. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  7. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - San Augustine County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  8. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - San Augustine County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  10. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  11. ^ "Election Results". www.sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  12. ^ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.165. ANGELINA COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA..

External links

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31°24′N 94°11′W / 31.40°N 94.18°W / 31.40; -94.18

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