Jackson County, Texas

Not to be confused with Jack County, Texas.

Jackson County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census its population was 14,988.^[1] Its county seat is Edna.^[2] The county was created in 1835 as a municipality in Mexico and in 1836 was organized as a county (of the Republic of Texas).^[3][4] It is named for Andrew Jackson, President of the United States from 1829 to 1837.^[5]

Jackson County
County
The Jackson County Courthouse in Edna
Flag
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 28°56′N 96°35′W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1836
Named after	Andrew Jackson
Seat	Edna
Largest city	Edna
Area
• Total	857 sq mi (2,220 km2)
• Land	829 sq mi (2,150 km2)
• Water	27 sq mi (70 km2)  3.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	14,988
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	27th
Website	www.co.jackson.tx.us

Historical carriage inside the Jackson County, Texas, Courthouse

Edna Theatre -- Edna, TX

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 857 square miles (2,220 km²), of which 829 square miles (2,150 km²) is land and 27 square miles (70 km²) (3.2%) is water.^[6]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 59
  • Interstate 69 is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 59 in most places.
• State Highway 35
• State Highway 111
• State Highway 172
• Farm to Market Road 234
• Farm to Market Road 616
• Farm to Market Road 1862

Adjacent counties

• Colorado County (north)
• Wharton County (northeast)
• Matagorda County (southeast)
• Calhoun County (south)
• Victoria County (southwest)
• Lavaca County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	996		—
1860	2,612		162.2%
1870	2,278		−12.8%
1880	2,723		19.5%
1890	3,281		20.5%
1900	6,094		85.7%
1910	6,471		6.2%
1920	11,244		73.8%
1930	10,980		−2.3%
1940	11,720		6.7%
1950	12,916		10.2%
1960	14,040		8.7%
1970	12,975		−7.6%
1980	13,352		2.9%
1990	13,039		−2.3%
2000	14,391		10.4%
2010	14,075		−2.2%
2020	14,988		6.5%
2024 (est.)	15,284	[7]	2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1850–2010[9] 2020[10]

Jackson County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
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 may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000[11]	Pop 2010[12]	Pop 2020[10]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	9,546	8,855	8,510	66.33%	62.91%	56.78%
Black or African American alone (NH)	1,081	942	937	7.51%	6.69%	6.25%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	42	35	36	0.29%	0.25%	0.24%
Asian alone (NH)	55	50	158	0.38%	0.36%	1.05%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	6	1	5	0.04%	0.01%	0.03%
Other race alone (NH)	0	8	102	0.04%	0.06%	0.68%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	104	105	411	0.72%	0.75%	2.74%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3,551	4,079	4,829	24.68%	28.98%	32.22%
Total	14,391	14,075	14,988	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census^[13] of 2000, there were 14,391 people, 5,336 households, and 3,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (6.6 people/km²). There were 6,545 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.49% White, 7.64% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 12.65% from other races, and 2.39% from two or more races. 24.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.9% were of German, 10.8% American, 9.3% Czech, 6.0% Irish and 5.6% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 81.6% spoke English and 17.4% Spanish as their first language.

There were 5,336 households, out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,254, and the median income for a family was $42,066. Males had a median income of $32,639 versus $19,661 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,693. About 12.20% of families and 14.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.10% of those under age 18 and 15.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Edna (county seat)
• Ganado
• La Ward

Census-designated places

• Lolita
• Vanderbilt

Unincorporated communities

• Francitas
• La Salle

Ghost town

• Texana

Politics

Jackson County has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1980, often by landslide margins.

United States presidential election results for Jackson County, Texas^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	5,386	85.10%	907	14.33%	36	0.57%
2020	5,231	82.34%	1,033	16.26%	89	1.40%
2016	4,266	80.46%	904	17.05%	132	2.49%
2012	3,906	77.73%	1,070	21.29%	49	0.98%
2008	3,723	73.46%	1,301	25.67%	44	0.87%
2004	3,766	74.18%	1,296	25.53%	15	0.30%
2000	3,365	69.30%	1,446	29.78%	45	0.93%
1996	2,533	54.59%	1,785	38.47%	322	6.94%
1992	2,451	47.57%	1,722	33.42%	979	19.00%
1988	2,954	57.75%	2,141	41.86%	20	0.39%
1984	3,661	66.83%	1,804	32.93%	13	0.24%
1980	2,540	56.91%	1,826	40.91%	97	2.17%
1976	1,884	42.50%	2,524	56.94%	25	0.56%
1972	2,743	69.81%	1,163	29.60%	23	0.59%
1968	1,438	33.55%	1,698	39.62%	1,150	26.83%
1964	1,168	29.55%	2,775	70.22%	9	0.23%
1960	1,670	42.04%	2,268	57.10%	34	0.86%
1956	2,259	58.64%	1,571	40.78%	22	0.57%
1952	2,113	57.14%	1,584	42.83%	1	0.03%
1948	488	24.75%	1,343	68.10%	141	7.15%
1944	344	14.98%	1,708	74.39%	244	10.63%
1940	296	16.41%	1,506	83.48%	2	0.11%
1936	171	15.16%	952	84.40%	5	0.44%
1932	182	14.99%	1,030	84.84%	2	0.16%
1928	572	54.68%	473	45.22%	1	0.10%
1924	354	30.28%	758	64.84%	57	4.88%
1920	355	33.65%	562	53.27%	138	13.08%
1916	123	20.71%	403	67.85%	68	11.45%
1912	35	6.59%	323	60.83%	173	32.58%

United States Senate election results for Jackson County, Texas1^[15]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	5,222	82.89%	998	15.84%	80	1.27%

Education

School districts include:^[16]

• Edna Independent School District
• Ganado Independent School District
• Hallettsville Independent School District
• Industrial Independent School District
• Palacios Independent School District

Residents of the county not in Ganado ISD are in the service area of Victoria College. Residents of the Ganado ISD part are in the service area of Wharton County Junior College.^[17]

See also

• Texas portal

• List of museums in the Texas Gulf Coast
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Jackson County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Jackson County