Jones County, Texas

Jones County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 19,663.^[1] Its county seat is Anson.^[2] The county was created in 1858 and organized in 1881.^[3] Both the county and its county seat are named for Anson Jones, the fourth and final president of the Republic of Texas.^[4]

Jones County
County
Jones County Courthouse in Anson, Texas
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°44′N 99°53′W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1881
Named after	Anson Jones
Seat	Anson
Largest city	Abilene
Area
• Total	937.1 sq mi (2,427 km2)
• Land	928.6 sq mi (2,405 km2)
• Water	8.6 sq mi (22 km2)  0.9%
Population  (2020)
• Total	19,663
• Density	21/sq mi (8.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	19th
Website	www.co.jones.tx.us

Jones County is included in the Abilene, Texas, metropolitan statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 937 square miles (2,430 km²), of which 8.6 square miles (22 km²) (0.9%) are covered by water.^[5]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 83
• U.S. Highway 180
• U.S. Highway 277
• State Highway 6
• State Highway 92

Adjacent counties

• Haskell County (north)
• Shackelford County (east)
• Callahan County (southeast)
• Taylor County (south)
• Fisher County (west)
• Stonewall County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	546		—
1890	3,797		595.4%
1900	7,053		85.8%
1910	24,299		244.5%
1920	22,323		−8.1%
1930	24,233		8.6%
1940	23,378		−3.5%
1950	22,147		−5.3%
1960	19,299		−12.9%
1970	16,106		−16.5%
1980	17,268		7.2%
1990	16,490		−4.5%
2000	20,785		26.0%
2010	20,202		−2.8%
2020	19,663		−2.7%
2024 (est.)	20,850	[6]	6.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1850–2010[8] 2010[9] 2020[10]

Jones 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[9]	Pop 2020[10]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	13,752	12,549	11,485	66.16%	62.12%	58.41%
Black or African American alone (NH)	2,368	2,292	1,978	11.39%	11.35%	10.06%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	62	62	66	0.30%	0.31%	0.34%
Asian alone (NH)	91	76	111	0.44%	0.38%	0.56%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	2	1	4	0.01%	0.00%	0.02%
Other race alone (NH)	19	27	41	0.09%	0.13%	0.21%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	145	186	474	0.70%	0.92%	2.41%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	4,346	5,009	5,504	20.91%	24.79%	27.99%
Total	20,785	20,202	19,663	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census^[12] of 2000, 20,785 people, 6,140 households, and 4,525 families resided in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8.5 people/km²). The 7,236 housing units averaged 8 units per square mile (3.1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 78.80% White, 11.51% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 7.47% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. About 20.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 6,140 households, 33.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.30% were not families. About 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, theage distribution was 22.50% under 18, 11.10% from 18 to 24, 31.50% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 150.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 159.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,572, and for a family was $35,391. Males had a median income of $26,892 versus $17,829 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,656. About 13.10% of families and 16.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.70% of those under age 18 and 16.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Robertson Unit, located 10 miles from downtown.^[13] The state Middleton transfer unit is located partially in Abilene and also in Jones County.^[14][15]

From 2007 to 2017 Republican Susan King represented Jones, Nolan, and Taylor Counties in the state house.^[16]

Politics

"From their first presidential election in 1884 through 1992, the voters in Jones County have generally chosen Democratic candidates. They supported Republican candidates in 1928, 1952, 1972, 1984, and 1988."^[17]

Since 2000, the majority of voters selected Republican presidential candidates, with the margin of victory for the party's candidates increasing in each election.

Jones County is part of the 71st district for elections to the Texas House of Representatives.

United States presidential election results for Jones County, Texas^[18]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	5,988	86.20%	907	13.06%	52	0.75%
2020	5,660	83.89%	999	14.81%	88	1.30%
2016	4,819	80.86%	936	15.70%	205	3.44%
2012	4,262	76.56%	1,226	22.02%	79	1.42%
2008	4,203	72.37%	1,528	26.31%	77	1.33%
2004	4,254	71.72%	1,658	27.95%	19	0.32%
2000	4,080	67.46%	1,899	31.40%	69	1.14%
1996	2,351	43.46%	2,422	44.77%	637	11.77%
1992	2,088	35.20%	2,400	40.46%	1,444	24.34%
1988	3,000	50.71%	2,898	48.99%	18	0.30%
1984	4,017	62.93%	2,343	36.71%	23	0.36%
1980	2,765	47.07%	3,043	51.80%	66	1.12%
1976	2,072	38.26%	3,318	61.26%	26	0.48%
1972	3,202	75.11%	1,050	24.63%	11	0.26%
1968	1,676	33.66%	2,372	47.64%	931	18.70%
1964	1,295	26.32%	3,622	73.62%	3	0.06%
1960	2,196	44.04%	2,772	55.60%	18	0.36%
1956	2,073	44.32%	2,594	55.46%	10	0.21%
1952	2,941	52.21%	2,680	47.58%	12	0.21%
1948	432	10.34%	3,599	86.16%	146	3.50%
1944	361	8.77%	3,417	83.00%	339	8.23%
1940	401	9.79%	3,688	90.08%	5	0.12%
1936	305	8.24%	3,396	91.71%	2	0.05%
1932	224	7.03%	2,934	92.03%	30	0.94%
1928	1,995	55.95%	1,563	43.83%	8	0.22%
1924	566	15.39%	3,010	81.86%	101	2.75%
1920	270	11.83%	1,792	78.53%	220	9.64%
1916	114	5.34%	1,798	84.18%	224	10.49%
1912	63	3.89%	1,301	80.36%	255	15.75%

United States Senate election results for Jones County, Texas1^[19]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	5,729	83.02%	1,039	15.06%	133	1.93%

Communities

Cities

• Abilene (mostly in Taylor County)
• Anson (county seat)
• Hamlin (small part in Fisher County)
• Hawley
• Lueders (small part in Shackelford County)
• Stamford (small part in Haskell County)

Unincorporated communities

• Avoca
• Corinth
• Noodle
• Nugent
• Radium
• Tuxedo

Education

School districts include:^[20]

• Abilene Independent School District
• Anson Independent School District
• Clyde Consolidated Independent School District
• Hamlin Independent School District
• Hawley Independent School District
• Lueders-Avoca Independent School District
• Merkel Independent School District
• Paint Creek Independent School District
• Roby Consolidated Independent School District
• Stamford Independent School District
• Trent Independent School District

The Texas Legislature designated the county as being in the Western Texas College District.^[21]

Notable person

• Charles Stenholm, former member of the United States House of Representatives

See also

• Texas portal

• Dry counties
• List of museums in West Texas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Jones County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Jones County