Cass County, Texas
Cass County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 28,454.[1] The county seat is Linden.[2] The county was named for Lewis Cass, a United States Senator representing Michigan who favored the U.S. annexation of Texas in the mid-19th century.
History
[edit | edit source]Cass County was formed in 1846 from sections of Bowie County and houses some outskirts of Texarkana.[3] It was named for Lewis Cass,[4] a U.S. Senator from Michigan who had favored the annexation of Texas to the United States and became the first presidential candidate to win the state.
The county was originally developed by planters for cotton plantations. By 1860, the majority of the population were enslaved African Americans. After the war, freedmen worked largely as tenant farmers and sharecroppers into the early 20th century. Black residents faced violence and discrimination in Cass County, which was the location of nine lynchings, the fifth-highest total among Texas' 254 counties.[5][6]
From 1861 to 1871, this county was known as Davis County, after Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America, as opposed to Jeff Davis County in West Texas.
Geography
[edit | edit source]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 960 square miles (2,500 km2), of which 937 square miles (2,430 km2) is land and 23 square miles (60 km2) (2.4%) is water.[7]
Cass County, Texas is one of only three counties in Texas to border two other U.S. states (the others are Bowie and Dallam counties). Cass County forms part of the tripoint of Texas-Arkansas-Louisiana.
Adjacent counties and parish
[edit | edit source]- Bowie County (north)
- Miller County, Arkansas (northeast)
- Caddo Parish, Louisiana (southeast)
- Marion County (south)
- Morris County (west)
Major highways
[edit | edit source]- File:US 59.svg U.S. Highway 59
- File:I-369 (TX).svg Interstate 369 is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 59 in most places.
- File:Texas 8.svg State Highway 8
- File:Texas 11.svg State Highway 11
- File:Texas 77.svg State Highway 77
- File:Texas 155.svg State Highway 155
- File:Texas FM 248.svg Farm to Market Road 248
- File:Texas FM 250.svg Farm to Market Road 250
State protected area
[edit | edit source]Communities
[edit | edit source]Cities
[edit | edit source]- Atlanta
- Hughes Springs (small part in Morris County)
- Linden (county seat)
- Queen City
Towns
[edit | edit source]Census-designated places
[edit | edit source]Unincorporated communities
[edit | edit source]Demographics
[edit | edit source]Racial and ethnic composition
[edit | edit source]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[8] | Pop 1990[9] | Pop 2000[10] | Pop 2010[11] | Pop 2020[12] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 22,661 | 23,464 | 23,542 | 23,522 | 21,028 | 77.00% | 78.26% | 77.34% | 77.21% | 73.90% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 6,358 | 6,020 | 5,915 | 5,299 | 4,518 | 21.60% | 20.08% | 19.43% | 17.39% | 15.88% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 51 | 101 | 130 | 133 | 155 | 0.17% | 0.34% | 0.43% | 0.44% | 0.54% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 15 | 23 | 44 | 89 | 119 | 0.05% | 0.08% | 0.14% | 0.29% | 0.42% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [13] | x [14] | 4 | 4 | 10 | x | x | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.04% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 9 | 1 | 11 | 15 | 86 | 0.03% | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.05% | 0.30% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [15] | x [16] | 266 | 349 | 1,202 | x | x | 0.87% | 1.15% | 4.22% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 336 | 373 | 526 | 1,053 | 1,336 | 1.14% | 1.24% | 1.73% | 3.46% | 4.70% |
| Total | 29,430 | 29,982 | 30,438 | 30,464 | 28,454 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 28,454. The median age was 45.9 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.9 males age 18 and over.[17]
The racial makeup of the county was 75.5% White, 16.0% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.0% from some other race, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.7% of the population.[18]
19.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 80.6% lived in rural areas.[19]
There were 11,738 households in the county, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.9% were married-couple households, 18.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[17]
There were 13,870 housing units, of which 15.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.6% were owner-occupied and 24.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.7%.[17]
2010 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2010 census, the county had 30,464 residents and 12,190 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families; 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[20]
The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95. The median income for a household in the county was $28,441, and the median income for a family was $35,623. Males had a median income of $30,906 versus $19,726 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,777. About 14.70% of families and 17.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.20% of those under age 18 and 17.90% of those age 65 or over.
Education
[edit | edit source]The following school districts serve Cass County:[21]
- Atlanta ISD
- Avinger ISD (small portion in Marion County)
- Bloomburg ISD
- Hughes Springs ISD (small portion in Morris County)
- Linden-Kildare CISD
- McLeod ISD
- Pewitt CISD (mostly in Morris County, small portion in Titus County)
- Queen City ISD
Marietta Independent School District was formerly in operation. It consolidated into Pewitt ISD in 2008.[22]
The majority of Cass County is in the service area of Texarkana College. Areas in Avinger ISD, Hughes Springs ISD, and Pewitt CISD within Cass County are instead assigned to Northeast Texas Community College.[23]
Politics
[edit | edit source]Cass County is located within District 1 of the Texas House of Representatives. Cass County is located within District 1 of the Texas Senate.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 402 | 20.62% | 1,284 | 65.85% | 264 | 13.54% |
| 1916 | 707 | 30.27% | 1,505 | 64.43% | 124 | 5.31% |
| 1920 | 1,446 | 42.57% | 1,563 | 46.01% | 388 | 11.42% |
| 1924 | 997 | 31.05% | 2,125 | 66.18% | 89 | 2.77% |
| 1928 | 1,323 | 43.79% | 1,698 | 56.21% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 224 | 6.67% | 3,135 | 93.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 169 | 6.43% | 2,461 | 93.57% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 454 | 12.68% | 3,126 | 87.32% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 541 | 14.46% | 2,866 | 76.59% | 335 | 8.95% |
| 1948 | 457 | 11.72% | 2,540 | 65.14% | 902 | 23.13% |
| 1952 | 2,502 | 44.17% | 3,160 | 55.78% | 3 | 0.05% |
| 1956 | 2,970 | 54.91% | 2,395 | 44.28% | 44 | 0.81% |
| 1960 | 2,322 | 43.89% | 2,934 | 55.46% | 34 | 0.64% |
| 1964 | 2,681 | 42.61% | 3,603 | 57.26% | 8 | 0.13% |
| "text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/American Independent |1968 | 1,930 | 26.26% | 2,536 | 34.50% | 2,884 | 39.24% |
| 1972 | 5,303 | 72.76% | 1,981 | 27.18% | 4 | 0.05% |
| 1976 | 3,712 | 41.83% | 5,134 | 57.85% | 29 | 0.33% |
| 1980 | 4,993 | 46.79% | 5,578 | 52.27% | 101 | 0.95% |
| 1984 | 6,677 | 56.78% | 5,053 | 42.97% | 30 | 0.26% |
| 1988 | 5,305 | 47.11% | 5,941 | 52.75% | 16 | 0.14% |
| 1992 | 3,999 | 34.30% | 5,476 | 46.96% | 2,185 | 18.74% |
| 1996 | 4,066 | 37.51% | 5,691 | 52.50% | 1,082 | 9.98% |
| 2000 | 6,295 | 57.13% | 4,618 | 41.91% | 106 | 0.96% |
| 2004 | 7,383 | 61.27% | 4,630 | 38.43% | 36 | 0.30% |
| 2008 | 8,279 | 69.89% | 3,490 | 29.46% | 77 | 0.65% |
| 2012 | 8,763 | 74.34% | 2,924 | 24.80% | 101 | 0.86% |
| 2016 | 9,726 | 78.79% | 2,391 | 19.37% | 227 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | 11,033 | 79.22% | 2,795 | 20.07% | 99 | 0.71% |
| 2024 | 11,693 | 82.68% | 2,406 | 17.01% | 44 | 0.31% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
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In popular culture
[edit | edit source]Don Henley named his 2015 album Cass County, as he had grown up here.[25]
See also
[edit | edit source]- National Register of Historic Places listings in Cass County, Texas
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Cass County
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Cass County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ JR., HARPER, CECIL (June 12, 2010). "CASS COUNTY". www.tshaonline.org.
- ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 71.
- ↑ "Lynching in America: Confronting the Legacy of Racial Terror" (PDF). Equal Justice Initiative. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ↑ "Entries tagged Cass County". Lynching In Texas. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
- ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics- Texas - Table 15. Persons by Race and Table 16. Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 21-46. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2022.
- ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics- Texas - Table 3. Race and Hispanic Origin: 1990" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 29-138. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 3, 2026.
- ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Cass County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cass County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cass County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
- ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Cass County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 31, 2023. - 2010 map and 2010 list
- ↑ "CONSOLIDATIONS, ANNEXATIONS AND NAME CHANGES FOR TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS Archived September 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine." Texas Education Agency. Updated August 1, 2016. Retrieved on February 23, 2017.
- ↑ Texas Education Code, "Sec. 130.203. TEXARKANA COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA." and "Sec. 130.192. NORTHEAST TEXAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA."
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
- ↑ "Review: Don Henley, 'Cass County'". npr.org. September 17, 2015.
External links
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- Template:Handbook of Texas
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- Cass County Radio Station KPYN am900
- Cass County TV Station KAQC TV 20
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