Liberty County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Liberty County
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The Liberty County Courthouse in Liberty
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Location within the U.S. state of Texas
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Texas's location within the U.S. |
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Country | United States |
State | Texas |
Founded | 1837 |
Seat | Liberty |
Largest city | Liberty |
Area | |
• Total | 1,176 sq mi (3,050 km2) |
• Land | 1,158 sq mi (3,000 km2) |
• Water | 18 sq mi (50 km2) 1.5% |
Population
(2020)
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• Total | 91,628 |
• Density | 77.91/sq mi (30.083/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 36th |
Liberty County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 91,628. The county seat is Liberty. The county was created in 1831 as a municipality in Mexico and organized as a county in 1837. It is named for the popular American ideal of liberty.
Liberty County is included in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX metropolitan statistical area.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,176 square miles (3,050 km2), of which 1,158 square miles (3,000 km2) is land and 18 square miles (47 km2) (1.5%) is water.
The Trinity River flows through this county, dividing the county approximately in half. The river begins on the northern border of Liberty County, forming the San Jacinto - Polk County line through the Liberty County line. The east fork of the San Jacinto River flows through far Northeast parts of the county, Flowing through Cleveland. Tarkington Bayou begins in the Sam Houston National Forest in San Jacinto County, working its way south through Northeast and east Liberty County and joining other feeders, before traveling into Harris County and emptying into Galveston Bay. The highest point in Liberty County is "Davis Hill", the roof of a salt dome in the northern part of the county.
Adjacent counties
- Polk County (north)
- Hardin County (east)
- Jefferson County (southeast)
- Chambers County (south)
- Harris County (southwest)
- Montgomery County (west)
- San Jacinto County (northwest)
National protected areas
Demographics
Historical population | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1850 | 2,522 | — | |
1860 | 3,189 | 26.4% | |
1870 | 4,414 | 38.4% | |
1880 | 4,999 | 13.3% | |
1890 | 4,230 | −15.4% | |
1900 | 8,102 | 91.5% | |
1910 | 10,686 | 31.9% | |
1920 | 14,637 | 37.0% | |
1930 | 19,868 | 35.7% | |
1940 | 24,541 | 23.5% | |
1950 | 26,729 | 8.9% | |
1960 | 31,595 | 18.2% | |
1970 | 33,014 | 4.5% | |
1980 | 47,088 | 42.6% | |
1990 | 52,726 | 12.0% | |
2000 | 70,154 | 33.1% | |
2010 | 75,643 | 7.8% | |
2020 | 91,628 | 21.1% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
2020 census
Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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White alone (NH) | 52,321 | 50,044 | 69.17% | 54.62% |
Black or African American alone (NH) | 8,074 | 7,024 | 10.67% | 7.67% |
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 289 | 291 | 0.38% | 0.32% |
Asian alone (NH) | 337 | 466 | 0.45% | 0.51% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 23 | 12 | 0.03% | 0.01% |
Some Other Race alone (NH) | 120 | 329 | 0.16% | 0.36% |
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 877 | 2,665 | 1.16% | 2.91% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 13,602 | 30,797 | 17.98% | 33.61% |
Total | 75,643 | 91,628 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
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 can be of any race.
Transportation
Major highways
Aviation
Two general aviation airports are located in unincorporated sections of the county.
- Liberty Municipal Airport is located east of Liberty.
- Cleveland Municipal Airport is located east of Cleveland.
The Houston Airport System stated that Liberty County is within the primary service area of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, an international airport in Houston in Harris County.
Toll roads
Authority overview | |
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Formed | July 2007 |
Jurisdiction | Liberty County, Texas |
Headquarters | Liberty County Commissioners Court |
The Liberty County Toll Road Authority does not operate any toll roads at present. In July, 2007, Liberty County created the Liberty County Toll Road Authority to have a say in any and all future toll-road projects located within the county.
Communities
Cities
- Ames
- Cleveland
- Daisetta
- Dayton
- Dayton Lakes
- Devers
- Hardin
- Liberty (county seat)
- Mont Belvieu (mostly in Chambers County)
- Jefferson
- North Cleveland
- Old River-Winfree (mostly in Chambers County)
- Plum Grove
Town
Census-designated place
- Big Thicket Lake Estates (partly in Polk County)
- Hull
Unincorporated communities
Economy
Around 1995, the economy of Liberty County was mainly focused on agriculture and oil. As of that year, the economy of Liberty County was struggling. At that time, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice had established four correctional facilities (Cleveland, Henley, Hightower, and Plane) in the county within a six-year span. As of 1995, the facilities employed 1,045 employees and contributed $22 million in the county's annual payroll. Since Cleveland is a privately operated facility, the county receives tax revenue from the prison's operation.
Education
- Dayton Independent School District (ISD) (portions of the district extends into another county)
- Liberty ISD
- Cleveland ISD (portions of the district extends into other counties)
- Tarkington ISD
- Hardin ISD
- Hull-Daisetta ISD
- Devers ISD
The Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center, operated by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, is located 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Liberty in an unincorporated area. Judge and Mrs. Price Daniel donated 114 acres (46 ha) of land for the purpose of establishing a library on September 27, 1973. Construction began in the fall of 1975; by then, $700,000 had been raised through private donations. The library opened on May 14, 1977.
Notable people
- William Fields (1810-1858), American politician
- Bobby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panther Party
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Liberty (Texas) para niños