Austin County, Texas Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Austin County

U.S. county

The Austin County Courthouse in Bellville

Flag

Location within the U.S. state of Texas

Texas's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Texas

Founded

1837

Largest city

Area

• Total

656 sq mi (1,700 km²)

• Land

647 sq mi (1,680 km²)

• Water

9.9 sq mi (26 km²) 1.5%

Population

(2020)

• Total

30,167

• Density

45.99/sq mi (17.755/km²)

Time zone

UTC−6 (Central)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−5 (CDT)

Congressional district

10th

Austin County is a rural, agricultural dominated county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,167. Its seat is Bellville. The county and region was settled primarily by German emigrants in the 1800s.

Austin County is included in the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Austin County does not contain the city of Austin, the state capital of Texas, which lies in Travis County, about 110 miles to the northwest.

History
Geography
- Adjacent counties
Communities
Demographics
Education
Transportation
- Major highways
See also

History

In 1836, the Texas Legislature established Austin County, naming it for Stephen F. Austin, who facilitated Texas' Anglo-American colonization.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 656 square miles (1,700 km²), of which 647 square miles (1,680 km²) is land and 9.9 square miles (26 km²) (1.5%) is covered by water.

Adjacent counties

Washington County (north)
Waller County (east)
Fort Bend County (southeast)
Wharton County (south)
Colorado County (southwest)
Fayette County (west)

Communities

Cities

Bellville (county seat)
Brazos Country
Sealy
South Frydek
Wallis

Town

Unincorporated communities

Bleiblerville
Buckhorn
Burleigh
Cat Spring
Cochran
Frydek
Kenney
Millheim
Nelsonville
New Wehdem
New Ulm
Peters
Post Oak Point
Raccoon Bend
Rockhouse
Shelby
Wehdem
Welcome

Ghost town

Rexville

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	3,841	—
1860	10,139	164.0%
1870	15,087	48.8%
1880	14,429	−4.4%
1890	17,859	23.8%
1900	20,676	15.8%
1910	17,699	−14.4%
1920	18,874	6.6%
1930	18,860	−0.1%
1940	17,384	−7.8%
1950	14,663	−15.7%
1960	13,777	−6.0%
1970	13,831	0.4%
1980	17,726	28.2%
1990	19,832	11.9%
2000	23,590	18.9%
2010	28,417	20.5%
2020	30,167	6.2%
2023 (est.)	31,677	11.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020

**Austin County, Texas - Demographic Profile**
(*NH = Non-Hispanic*)
*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	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	18,657	18,480	65.65%	61.26%
Black or African American alone (NH)	2,622	2,352	9.23%	7.80%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	79	78	0.28%	0.26%
Asian alone (NH)	110	201	0.39%	0.67%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	1	8	0.00%	0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	36	107	0.13%	0.35%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	271	889	0.95%	2.95%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	6,641	8,052	23.37%	26.69%
Total	28,417	30,167	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census of 2000, 23,590 people, 8,747 households, and 6,481 families resided in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile (14 people/km²). The 10,205 housing units averaged 16 units per square mile (6.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.22% White, 10.64% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 6.99% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. About 16.13% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race, and 26.9% were of German, 8.0% Czech, 6.4% English, and 5.0% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

Of the 8,747 households, 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were not families; 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county, the population was distributed as 27.00% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,615, and for a family was $46,342. Males had a median income of $32,455 versus $22,142 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,140. About 8.80% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.70% of those under age 18 and 14.40% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The following school districts serve Austin County:

Bellville Independent School District
Brazos Independent School District (partial) (Formerly Wallis-Orchard ISD)
Brenham Independent School District (partial)
Columbus Independent School District (partial)
Sealy Independent School District
Burton Independent School District

(partial)

Blinn Junior College District is the designated community college for most of the county. Areas in Brazos ISD are in Wharton County Junior College District.