San Augustine County, Texas

History

San Augustine County was formed in 1837. It was supposedly named after the Saint, Augustine of Hippo. However, it seems 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).

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.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

Demographics

As of the census 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 (7/km²). There were 5,356 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/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

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.

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).

City

Town

Unincorporated community

Historic town

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.