Jasper County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 32,980. Its county seat is Jasper. The county was created as a municipality in Mexico in 1834, and in 1837 was organized as a county in the Republic of Texas. It is named for William Jasper, an American Revolutionary War hero.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 970 square miles (2,500 km2), of which 939 square miles (2,430 km2) are land and 31 square miles (80 km2) (3.2%) are covered by water.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 69
U.S. Highway 96
U.S. Highway 190
State Highway 62
State Highway 63
Loop 149
Spur 68
Recreational Road 255
Adjacent counties
San Augustine County (north)
Sabine County (northeast)
Newton County (east)
Orange County (south)
Hardin County (southwest)
Tyler County (west)
Angelina County (northwest)
National protected areas
Angelina National Forest (part)
Big Thicket National Preserve (part)
Sabine National Forest (part)
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 32,980. The median age was 43.7 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.2 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 73.8% White, 17.0% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.5% from some other race, and 4.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.7% of the population.
22.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 77.9% lived in rural areas.
There were 13,050 households in the county, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.7% were married-couple households, 18.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 16,172 housing units, of which 19.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.4% were owner-occupied and 21.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.5%.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, 35,604 people, 13,450 households, and 9,966 families resided in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15 people/km2). The 16,576 housing units averaged 18 units per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 78.24% White, 17.81% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.04% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. About 3.89% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 13,450 households, 33.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 12.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were not families. About 23% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% 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 3.03.
In the county, the population was distributed as 26.50% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,902, and for a family was $35,709. Males had a median income of $31,739 versus $19,119 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,636. About 15.00% of families and 18.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.40% of those under age 18 and 17.80% of those age 65 or over.
Government
County officials
County Judge - Judge Mark W. Allen
Commissioner, Pct. #1 - Seth Martindale
Commissioner, Pct. #2 - Roy Parker
Commissioner, Pct. #3 - Willie Stark
Commissioner, Pct. #4 - Vance Moss
County Sheriff - Chuck Havard
Tax Assessor/Collector - Bobby Biscamp
County Clerk - Debbie Newman
County Treasurer - René Ellis
County Auditor - Mellissa Smith
Tax Appraiser - Lori Barnett
District Attorney - Ann Pickle
Emergency Management Coordinator - Billy Ted Smith
The County jail is named after former Sheriff, Aubrey E. Cole.
District officials
District Judge - Judicial District 1 - Judge Craig M. Mixson (appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to complete term of Judge Gary Gatlin, who resigned effective December 31, 2011)
District Judge - Judicial District 1A - DeLinda Gibbs-Walker
District Clerk - Rosa Norsworthy
District Attorney - Anne Pickle
Courts
Justice of the Peace, Pct. #1 - John Cooper
Justice of the Peace, Pct. #2 - Raymond Hopson
Justice of the Peace, Pct. #3 - Mike Smith
Justice of the Peace, Pct. #4 - Gina Cleveland
Justice of the Peace, Pct. #5 - Brett Holloway
Justice of the Peace, Pct. #6 - Steve Conner
Constable, Pct. #1 - Jimmy Hensarling
Constable, Pct. #2 - Niles Nichols
Constable, Pct. #3 - Ronnie Hutchison
Constable, Pct. #4 - Gene Hawthorne
Constable, Pct. #5 - Michael Poindexter
Constable, Pct. #6 - Chad Ainsworth
Communities
Cities
Browndell
Jasper (county seat)
Kirbyville
Census-designated places
Buna
Evadale
Sam Rayburn
Unincorporated communities
Beans
Beech Grove
Bessmay
Brookeland (partly in Sabine County)
Erin
Gist
Ghost towns
Zeirath
Education
School districts:
Brookeland Independent School District
Buna Independent School District
Colmesneil Independent School District
Evadale Independent School District
Jasper Independent School District
Kirbyville Consolidated Independent School District
Vidor Independent School District
Areas of Jasper County in Brookeland ISD, Colmesneil ISD, and Jasper ISD are assigned to Angelina College. Legislation does not specify a community college for the remainder of the county.