Lamar County, Texas
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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]- File:US 82.svg U.S. Highway 82
- File:US 271.svg U.S. Highway 271
- File:Texas 19.svg State Highway 19
- File:Texas 24.svg State Highway 24
- File:Texas Loop 286.svg Loop 286
Adjacent counties
[edit | edit source]- Choctaw County, Oklahoma (north)
- Red River County (east)
- Delta County (south)
- Fannin County (west)
- Bryan County, Oklahoma (northwest)
Communities
[edit | edit source]Cities
[edit | edit source]- Blossom
- Deport (partly in Red River County)
- Paris (county seat and largest municipality)
- Reno
- Roxton
- Sun Valley
- Toco
Census-designated place
[edit | edit source]Unincorporated communities
[edit | edit source]Demographics
[edit | edit source]2020 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 50,088. The median age was 40.8 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.4 males age 18 and over.[7]
The racial makeup of the county was 72.8% White, 12.9% Black or African American, 1.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.8% from some other race, and 7.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 8.8% of the population.[8]
52.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 47.5% lived in rural areas.[9]
There were 20,186 households in the county, of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.9% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[7]
There were 22,644 housing units, of which 10.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.9% were owner-occupied and 36.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.4%.[7]
Racial and ethnic composition
[edit | edit source]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[10] | Pop 1990[11] | Pop 2000[12] | Pop 2010[13] | Pop 2020[14] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 35,171 | 36,546 | 39,116 | 37,891 | 35,354 | 83.43% | 83.16% | 80.65% | 76.10% | 70.58% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 6,226 | 6,369 | 6,493 | 6,628 | 6,378 | 14.77% | 14.49% | 13.39% | 13.31% | 12.73% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 215 | 403 | 478 | 592 | 751 | 0.51% | 0.92% | 0.99% | 1.19% | 1.50% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 93 | 147 | 191 | 304 | 474 | 0.22% | 0.33% | 0.39% | 0.61% | 0.95% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [15] | x [16] | 11 | 5 | 25 | x | x | 0.02% | 0.01% | 0.05% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 72 | 9 | 23 | 27 | 119 | 0.17% | 0.02% | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.24% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [17] | x [18] | 573 | 1,123 | 2,575 | x | x | 1.18% | 2.26% | 5.14% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 379 | 475 | 1,614 | 3,223 | 4,412 | 0.90% | 1.08% | 3.33% | 6.47% | 8.81% |
| Total | 42,156 | 43,949 | 48,499 | 49,793 | 50,088 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2000 census
[edit | edit source]As of the census of 2000, 48,499 people, 19,077 households, and 13,468 families resided in the county.[19] At the tabulation of the 2020 census, its population increased to 50,088.[14]
In 2000, the racial makeup of the county was 82.46% White, 13.47% Black or 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.[12]
From 2000 to 2020, the majority of its population remained predominantly non-Hispanic white even as nationwide demographics continued to diversify.[12][14]
Education
[edit | edit source]These school districts serve Lamar County:[20]
- Chisum ISD (small portion in Delta County)
- Fannindel ISD (mostly in Delta and Fannin Counties; small portion in Hunt County)
- Honey Grove ISD (mostly in Fannin County)
- North Lamar ISD
- Paris ISD
- Prairiland ISD (small portion in Red River County)
Until it closed in 2019,[21] Roxton ISD included a part of the county. Roxton ISD consolidated into Chisum ISD after the 2018–19 school year.[21]
In addition, Paris Junior College serves the county, as per the Texas Education Code.[22]
Politics
[edit | edit source]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.[23]
Lamar County is located within District 1 of the Texas House of Representatives. Lamar County is located within District 1 of the Texas Senate.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 206 | 7.47% | 2,286 | 82.89% | 266 | 9.64% |
| 1916 | 309 | 8.08% | 3,412 | 89.23% | 103 | 2.69% |
| 1920 | 639 | 12.76% | 3,765 | 75.21% | 602 | 12.03% |
| 1924 | 596 | 9.97% | 5,224 | 87.37% | 159 | 2.66% |
| 1928 | 2,887 | 57.08% | 2,163 | 42.76% | 8 | 0.16% |
| 1932 | 375 | 5.95% | 5,911 | 93.72% | 21 | 0.33% |
| 1936 | 308 | 5.19% | 5,621 | 94.65% | 10 | 0.17% |
| 1940 | 761 | 8.64% | 8,038 | 91.29% | 6 | 0.07% |
| 1944 | 725 | 9.36% | 6,283 | 81.10% | 739 | 9.54% |
| 1948 | 1,018 | 12.17% | 6,306 | 75.39% | 1,041 | 12.44% |
| 1952 | 3,929 | 41.56% | 5,524 | 58.44% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 4,154 | 49.56% | 4,202 | 50.14% | 25 | 0.30% |
| 1960 | 3,964 | 43.68% | 5,084 | 56.02% | 28 | 0.31% |
| 1964 | 2,594 | 29.13% | 6,303 | 70.78% | 8 | 0.09% |
| 1968 | 3,395 | 31.05% | 4,635 | 42.39% | 2,903 | 26.55% |
| 1972 | 7,736 | 72.62% | 2,865 | 26.90% | 51 | 0.48% |
| 1976 | 4,443 | 33.98% | 8,601 | 65.78% | 32 | 0.24% |
| 1980 | 6,094 | 45.17% | 7,178 | 53.21% | 218 | 1.62% |
| 1984 | 9,273 | 62.57% | 5,504 | 37.14% | 43 | 0.29% |
| 1988 | 8,021 | 51.42% | 7,553 | 48.42% | 24 | 0.15% |
| 1992 | 5,778 | 35.57% | 6,328 | 38.96% | 4,137 | 25.47% |
| 1996 | 6,393 | 46.59% | 6,075 | 44.27% | 1,254 | 9.14% |
| 2000 | 9,775 | 63.35% | 5,553 | 35.99% | 102 | 0.66% |
| 2004 | 12,054 | 69.00% | 5,338 | 30.56% | 78 | 0.45% |
| 2008 | 12,952 | 70.54% | 5,243 | 28.55% | 167 | 0.91% |
| 2012 | 12,826 | 74.58% | 4,181 | 24.31% | 190 | 1.10% |
| 2016 | 14,561 | 77.81% | 3,583 | 19.15% | 570 | 3.05% |
| 2020 | 16,760 | 78.16% | 4,458 | 20.79% | 224 | 1.04% |
| 2024 | 17,044 | 80.08% | 4,079 | 19.16% | 162 | 0.76% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
Template:U.S. SenHead Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenFoot Template:U.S. SenHead Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenFoot Template:T.X. GovHead Template:T.X. GovRow Template:T.X. GovFoot
See also
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- National Register of Historic Places listings in Lamar County, Texas
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Lamar County
- Lamar County Historical Museum
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Lamar County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
- ↑ "Lamar County". Texas Almanac. Texas State Historical Association. May 22, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
- ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. pp. 180.
- ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lamar County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "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.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lamar County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2024. - Text list
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 "CONSOLIDATIONS, ANNEXATIONS AND NAME CHANGES FOR TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS Updated January 28, 2020" (PDF). Texas Education Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 26, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
- ↑ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.195. PARIS JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
- ↑ "Texas House of Representatives".
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
External links
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- Template:Handbook of Texas
- Historic Lamar County materials, hosted by the Portal to Texas History
- Lamar County Texas information - Lamar County Station
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