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Red River County, Texas facts for kids

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"Red River County" redirects here. For the administrative area in Louisiana, see Red River Parish, Louisiana.
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Red River County
U.S. county
Red River County Courthouse
Red River County Courthouse
Map of Texas highlighting Red River County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Texas
Founded 1837
Named for Red River of the South
Seat Clarksville
Largest city Clarksville
Area
 • Total 1,057 sq mi (2,740 km2)
 • Land 1,037 sq mi (2,690 km2)
 • Water 20 sq mi (50 km2)  1.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 11,587
 • Density 10.962/sq mi (4.2325/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts 1st, 4th

Red River County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 11,587. Its county seat is Clarksville. The county was created in 1835 and organized in 1837. It is named for the Red River, which forms its northern boundary. Red River County was the birthplace of John Nance Garner, 32nd Vice President of the United States.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,057 square miles (2,740 km2), of which 1,037 square miles (2,690 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (1.9%) is water.

Rivers and Lakes

Major highways

  • US 82.svg U.S. Highway 82
  • US 271.svg U.S. Highway 271
  • Texas 37.svg State Highway 37

Adjacent counties

Communities

Cities

Red River Texas
Red River, Texas

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

  • Opah

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1850 3,906 —
1860 8,535 118.5%
1870 10,653 24.8%
1880 17,194 61.4%
1890 21,452 24.8%
1900 29,893 39.3%
1910 28,564 −4.4%
1920 35,829 25.4%
1930 30,923 −13.7%
1940 29,769 −3.7%
1950 21,851 −26.6%
1960 15,682 −28.2%
1970 14,298 −8.8%
1980 16,101 12.6%
1990 14,317 −11.1%
2000 14,314 0.0%
2010 12,860 −10.2%
2020 11,587 −9.9%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850–2010 2010–2020
Red River 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 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 10,868 9,503 8,499 75.93% 73.90% 73.35%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,538 2,211 1,738 17.73% 17.19% 15.00%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 79 92 102 0.55% 0.72% 0.88%
Asian alone (NH) 17 23 51 0.12% 0.18% 0.44%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 1 0 0 0.01% 0.00% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 3 3 13 0.02% 0.02% 0.11%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 139 179 418 0.97% 1.39% 3.61%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 669 849 766 4.67% 6.60% 6.61%
Total 14,314 12,860 11,587 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,314 people, 5,827 households, and 4,067 families residing in the county. In 2020, its population was 11,587. From the 2000 census, the population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). There were 6,916 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 78.04% White, 17.80% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.29% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 4.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,827 households, out of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.50% were married couples living together, 11.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.90% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 19.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,558, and the median income for a family was $33,436. Males had a median income of $24,609 versus $17,566 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,058, making it one of the economically poorest counties in the state of Texas. About 13.10% of families and 17.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.20% of those under age 18 and 17.70% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The following school districts serve Red River County:

  • Avery ISD
  • Clarksville ISD
  • Detroit ISD
  • Prairiland ISD (mostly in Lamar County)
  • Rivercrest ISD (partly in Titus County, small portion in Franklin County)

Areas in Clarksville ISD, Detroit ISD, Prairiland ISD, and Rivercrest ISD (formerly Talco-Bogata CISD) within this county are assigned to Paris Junior College. Areas in Avery ISD are assigned to Texarkana College.

Notable people

Detroit June 2018 21 (John Nance Garner Home)
The John Nance Garner Home in Detroit
  • Jean Baptiste Brevelle (1698-1754), early 18th century explorer, trader and soldier of Fort Saint Jean Baptiste des Natchitoches and Le Poste des Cadodaquious, the first European settlement in the area. Namesake of Brevelle Lake.
  • Edward H. Tarrant (1799–1867), for whom Tarrant County was named, lived in Red River County when he first moved to Texas in the 1830s.
  • John "Cactus Jack" Garner (1868–1967), Vice President of the U.S. who served for eight years under President F. D. Roosevelt, was born in Red River County, in 1868.
  • B.P. Newman (1927–2008), a Texas business entrepreneur, developer, and philanthropist based in Laredo, was born in Red River County.
  • Jim Leavelle (1920–2019), Dallas homicide detective, who became renowned for escorting Lee Harvey Oswald when Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby, was born here in 1920.
  • William Humphrey (1924–1997), author of Home from the Hill and The Ordways and other works was born and raised in Red River County. Home from the Hill was made into a movie starring George Hamilton among other great stars.
  • J. D. Tippit (1924–1963), Dallas policeman, who was shot to death a short time after the John F. Kennedy assassination. A monument to J.D. Tippit is located on Highway 37 South. He was born and raised in Red River County.
  • Tommie Smith (1944–), set the world and Olympic records with a time of 19.83 seconds and became the 200-meter Olympic champion at the 1968 Summer Olympics, which were held in Mexico
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