County in Texas
| Henderson County | |
|---|---|
| County | |
 The Henderson County Courthouse in Athens | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Texas | |
 Texas's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 32°13′N 95°51′W / 32.21°N 95.85°W / 32.21; -95.85 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1846 |
| Named for | James Pinckney Henderson |
| Seat | Athens |
| Largest city | Athens |
| Area | |
| • Total | 948 sq mi (2,460 km) |
| • Land | 874 sq mi (2,260 km) |
| • Water | 75 sq mi (190 km) 7.9% |
| Population | |
| • Total | 82,150  |
| • Density | 87/sq mi (34/km) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Website | www |
Henderson County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 82,150. The county seat is Athens. The county is named in honor of James Pinckney Henderson, the first attorney general of the Republic of Texas, and secretary of state for the republic. He later served as the first governor of Texas. Henderson County was established in 1846, the year after Texas gained statehood. Its first town was Buffalo, laid out in 1847. Henderson County comprises the Athens micropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the Dallas-Fort Worth combined statistical area.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 948 sq mi (2,460 km), of which 75 sq mi (190 km) (7.9%) are covered by water.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 175
State Highway 19
State Highway 31
State Highway 155
State Highway 198
State Highway 274
State Highway 334
Adjacent counties
- Kaufman County (north)
- Van Zandt County (north)
- Smith County (east)
- Cherokee County (southeast)
- Anderson County (south)
- Freestone County (southwest)
- Navarro County (west)
- Ellis County (northwest)
Communities
Cities
- Athens (county seat)
- Brownsboro
- Chandler
- Eustace
- Gun Barrel City
- Log Cabin
- Malakoff
- Moore Station
- Murchison
- Seven Points (small part in Kaufman County)
- Star Harbor
- Tool
- Trinidad
Towns
- Berryville
- Caney City
- Coffee City
- Enchanted Oaks
- Mabank (mostly in Kaufman County)
- Payne Springs
- Poynor
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
- Aley
- Antioch
- Baxter
- Bethel
- Big Rock
- Buffalo
- Crescent Heights
- Cross Roads
- Dauphin
- Evelyn
- Fincastle
- Harmony
- LaRue
- Leagueville
- Mankin
- New Hope
- New York
- Opelika
- Pauline
- Pickens
- Pine Grove
- Ruth Springs
- Shady Oaks
- Stockard
- Summer Hill
- Union Hill
- Virginia Hill
Ghost towns
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 1,237 | — | |
| 1860 | 4,595 | 271.5% | |
| 1870 | 6,786 | 47.7% | |
| 1880 | 9,735 | 43.5% | |
| 1890 | 12,285 | 26.2% | |
| 1900 | 19,970 | 62.6% | |
| 1910 | 20,131 | 0.8% | |
| 1920 | 28,327 | 40.7% | |
| 1930 | 30,583 | 8.0% | |
| 1940 | 31,822 | 4.1% | |
| 1950 | 23,405 | −26.5% | |
| 1960 | 21,786 | −6.9% | |
| 1970 | 26,466 | 21.5% | |
| 1980 | 42,606 | 61.0% | |
| 1990 | 58,543 | 37.4% | |
| 2000 | 73,277 | 25.2% | |
| 2010 | 78,532 | 7.2% | |
| 2020 | 82,150 | 4.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010–2020 | |||
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 62,214 | 63,494 | 61,854 | 84.78% | 80.85% | 75.29% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 4,811 | 4,813 | 4,705 | 6.57% | 6.13% | 5.73% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 334 | 349 | 414 | 0.46% | 0.44% | 0.50% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 220 | 318 | 510 | 0.30% | 0.40% | 0.62% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 19 | 27 | 31 | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.04% |
| Other Race alone (NH) | 24 | 76 | 211 | 0.03% | 0.10% | 0.26% |
| Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) | 674 | 965 | 3,183 | 0.92% | 1.23% | 3.87% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5,071 | 8,490 | 11,242 | 6.92% | 10.81% | 13.68% |
| Total | 73,277 | 78,532 | 82,150 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census of 2000, 73,277 people, 28,804 households, and 20,969 families were residing in the county. Its population density was 84 people/sq mi (32 people/km). The 35,935 housing units averaged 41 units per square mile (16/km). The racial makeup of the county was 88.50% White, 6.61% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 2.75% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. About 6.92% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. At the 2020 census, its population increased to 82,150 with a predominantly non-Hispanic white population; the Hispanic or Latino population of any race increased to 13.68% reflecting nationwide demographic trends.
Government
- County Judge: Wade McKinney
- Commissioner Pct. 1: Wendy Spivey
- Commissioner Pct. 2: Scott Tuley
- Commissioner Pct. 3: Charles "Chuck" McHam
- Commissioner Pct. 4: Mark Richardson
- County Clerk: Mary Margret Wright
- District Clerk: Betty Herriage
- County Attorney: Clint Davis
- District Attorney: Jenny Palmer
- County Auditor: Ann Marie Lee
- County Treasurer: Michael Bynum
- County Court at Law #1 Judge: Scott Williams
- County Court at Law #2 Judge: Nancy Perryman
- 3rd District Court Judge: Mark Calhoon
- 173rd District Court Judge: Dan Moore
- 392nd District Court Judge: R. Scott McKee
- Justice of the Peace Pct. 1: Randy Daniel
- Constable Pct. 1: Thomas Goodell
- Justice of the Peace Pct. 2: Kevin Pollock
- Constable Pct. 2: Jason Ramsey
- Justice of the Peace Pct. 3: James "Tony" Duncan
- Constable Pct. 3: David Grubbs
- Justice of the Peace Pct. 4: Milton Adams
- Constable Pct. 4: John Floyd
- Justice of the Peace Pct. 5: Tanya Norris
- Constable Pct. 5: Brad Miers
- Sheriff: Botie Hillhouse
- Tax Assessor/Collector: Peggy Goodall
- Elections Administrator: Paula Ludtke
- Fire Marshal/Emergency Management Coordinator: Shane Renburg
Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 31,379 | 81.29% | 6,919 | 17.92% | 305 | 0.79% |
| 2020 | 28,911 | 79.50% | 7,060 | 19.41% | 397 | 1.09% |
| 2016 | 23,650 | 78.72% | 5,669 | 18.87% | 726 | 2.42% |
| 2012 | 21,231 | 76.85% | 6,106 | 22.10% | 290 | 1.05% |
| 2008 | 20,857 | 71.94% | 7,913 | 27.29% | 223 | 0.77% |
| 2004 | 20,210 | 70.05% | 8,505 | 29.48% | 134 | 0.46% |
| 2000 | 16,607 | 64.80% | 8,704 | 33.96% | 316 | 1.23% |
| 1996 | 10,345 | 45.43% | 10,085 | 44.29% | 2,342 | 10.28% |
| 1992 | 8,368 | 34.49% | 9,105 | 37.53% | 6,788 | 27.98% |
| 1988 | 11,005 | 52.61% | 9,819 | 46.94% | 94 | 0.45% |
| 1984 | 12,725 | 63.38% | 7,302 | 36.37% | 49 | 0.24% |
| 1980 | 7,903 | 48.47% | 8,199 | 50.29% | 203 | 1.25% |
| 1976 | 4,658 | 36.01% | 8,245 | 63.73% | 34 | 0.26% |
| 1972 | 6,263 | 69.49% | 2,741 | 30.41% | 9 | 0.10% |
| 1968 | 2,315 | 29.19% | 3,119 | 39.32% | 2,498 | 31.49% |
| 1964 | 1,988 | 29.61% | 4,697 | 69.96% | 29 | 0.43% |
| 1960 | 2,521 | 42.23% | 3,411 | 57.14% | 38 | 0.64% |
| 1956 | 2,479 | 44.51% | 3,065 | 55.04% | 25 | 0.45% |
| 1952 | 2,534 | 36.33% | 4,439 | 63.65% | 1 | 0.01% |
| 1948 | 540 | 12.24% | 3,669 | 83.14% | 204 | 4.62% |
| 1944 | 427 | 10.12% | 3,219 | 76.28% | 574 | 13.60% |
| 1940 | 803 | 16.34% | 4,111 | 83.66% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 260 | 7.38% | 3,259 | 92.45% | 6 | 0.17% |
| 1932 | 219 | 5.82% | 3,522 | 93.67% | 19 | 0.51% |
| 1928 | 1,128 | 39.52% | 1,726 | 60.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 405 | 9.41% | 3,819 | 88.73% | 80 | 1.86% |
| 1920 | 538 | 18.62% | 1,684 | 58.29% | 667 | 23.09% |
| 1916 | 268 | 11.11% | 1,790 | 74.18% | 355 | 14.71% |
| 1912 | 137 | 6.84% | 1,370 | 68.36% | 497 | 24.80% |
Media
Henderson County is part of the Dallas/Fort Worth DMA. Local media outlets are: KDFW-TV, KXAS-TV, WFAA-TV, KTVT-TV, KERA-TV, KTXA-TV, KDFI-TV, KDAF-TV, and KFWD-TV. Other nearby stations that provide coverage for Henderson County come from the Tyler/Longview/Jacksonville market and they include: KLTV, KTRE-TV, KYTX-TV, KFXK-TV, KCEB-TV, and KETK-TV.
Newspaper coverage of the area can be found in the Athens Daily Review, based in Athens; The Monitor is published in Mabank, which is primarily in Kaufman County, but also covers news in parts of Henderson County, as well.
Crime
Paul Knight of the Houston Press said in a 2009 article that some people blamed the development of the artificial Cedar Creek Lake, which opened in 1965, and development of the area surrounding the lake for the initial influx of crime and recreational drugs into the county and the East Texas region. Carroll Dyson, a retired pilot and Henderson County resident interviewed by the Houston Press, said in 2009 that the lake attracted "white flight" from metropolitan areas. Dyson added, "When all your rich people from Dallas and Houston move out here, the thieves are just drawn to them." Ray Nutt, the sheriff of Henderson County, said that the area around the lake has "a lot of good people," yet it was also where "a lot of criminals tend to flow."
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Henderson County, Texas
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Henderson County
- Clay Smothers
References
- "Henderson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
- "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 154.
- A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company. 1893. p. 199. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
- "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
- "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
- ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Henderson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Henderson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Henderson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- Passel, Jeffrey S.; Lopez, Mark Hugo; Cohn, D'Vera. "U.S. Hispanic population continued its geographic spread in the 2010s". Pew Research Center. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
- Knight, Paul. "Superthief." September 22, 2009. 1. Retrieved on September 28, 2009.
- Knight, Paul. "Superthief." September 22, 2009. 2. Retrieved on September 28, 2009.
External links
- Henderson County Archived October 1, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- Henderson County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of Texas
- TXGenWeb Project for Henderson County
| Places adjacent to Henderson County, Texas | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Henderson County, Texas
| Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex | |
|---|---|
| Topics | |
| Counties | |
| Major cities | |
| Cities and towns 100k–300k | |
| Cities and towns 25k–99k |
|
| Cities and towns 10k–25k | |
| Municipalities and communities of Henderson County, Texas, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| County seat: Athens | ||
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDP | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
32°13′N 95°51′W / 32.21°N 95.85°W / 32.21; -95.85
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