Newton County, Texas

Newton County is the easternmost county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 12,217.[1] Its county seat is Newton.[2] The county is named for John Newton, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War.

Newton County
County
The Newton County Courthouse
The Newton County Courthouse
Map of Texas highlighting Newton County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°47′N 93°45′W
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1846
Named forJohn Newton
SeatNewton
Largest cityNewton
Area
 • Total940 sq mi (2,400 km2)
 • Land934 sq mi (2,420 km2)
 • Water6.1 sq mi (16 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total12,217
 • Density13/sq mi (5.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district36th
Websitewww.co.newton.tx.us

Newton County is included in the Beaumont-Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area.

As of 2000, it had the second-lowest population density for all counties in East Texas, behind only Red River County, and the lowest population density in Deep East Texas.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 940 square miles (2,400 km2), of which 934 square miles (2,420 km2) is land and 6.1 square miles (16 km2) (0.6%) is covered by water.[3]

Major highways

Adjacent counties and parishes

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18501,689—
18603,11984.7%
18702,187−29.9%
18804,35098.9%
18904,6506.9%
19007,28256.6%
191010,85049.0%
192012,19612.4%
193012,5242.7%
194013,7009.4%
195010,832−20.9%
196010,372−4.2%
197011,65712.4%
198013,25413.7%
199013,5692.4%
200015,07211.1%
201014,445−4.2%
202012,217−15.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1850–2010[5] 2010–2020[6]
Newton County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[7] Pop 2020[6] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 10,825 9,249 74.94% 75.71%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,891 2,075 20.01% 16.98%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 77 59 0.53% 0.48%
Asian alone (NH) 62 24 0.43% 0.20%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 1 0 0.01% 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 0 27 0.00% 0.22%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 186 439 1.29% 3.59%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 403 344 2.79% 2.82%
Total 14,445 12,217 100.00% 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.

As of the census[8] of 2000, 15,072 people, 5,583 households, and 4,092 families resided in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile (6.2 people/km2). The 7,331 housing units averaged 8 units per square mile (3.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 75.84% White, 20.69% Black, 0.63% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.56% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. About 3.79% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 5,583 households, 32.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were not families; 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was distributed as 26.20% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,500, and for a family was $34,345. Males had a median income of $31,294 versus $17,738 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,381. About 15.50% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.40% of those under age 18 and 17.30% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

United States Congress
Senators Name Party First Elected Level
  Senate Class 1 John Cornyn Republican 1993 Senior Senator
  Senate Class 2 Ted Cruz Republican 2012 Junior Senator
Representatives Name Party First Elected Area(s) of Newton County Represented
  District 36 Brian Babin Republican New district created with 2010 census. First elected 2014. Entire county

Political culture

Newton County was once one of the most Democratic-leaning counties in East Texas and the Deep South altogether. The county voted for the Democratic candidate in every election since Texas first participated in 1848 (excluding the 1860, 1864, and 1868 elections when Texas had seceded). Even when Republicans Herbert Hoover and Dwight D. Eisenhower carried Texas in 1928, 1952, and 1956, respectively, Newton County remained firmly Democratic.

The Democratic streak in Newton County was ended in 1968 when American Independent Party candidate George Wallace narrowly won the county with 42.6% of the vote against Democrat Hubert Humphrey's 41.7%. President Richard Nixon in 1972 became the first Republican to ever win the county in an election with 54% of the vote against Democrat George McGovern's 45.4%. After 1972, the county returned to voting Democratic, surviving the landslide elections of Republicans Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush in 1980, 1984, and 1988, respectively. In fact, Newton County was Walter Mondale's strongest county in East Texas in the 1984 election, winning 60.6% of the vote, and one of only four in the region to vote for him. Michael Dukakis in 1988 remains the last Democratic presidential candidate to win over 60% of the vote in the county.[9]

Since 1988, the Democratic percentage in Newton County has decreased in every election, culminating in Al Gore's narrow win in 2000 with 50.16% against Governor George W. Bush's 48.56%. As of 2020, Gore remains the last Democrat to win the county's votes in a presidential election. Since 2004, the Republican candidate has comfortably carried the county in every election, with Bush winning 55.42% in 2004, John McCain winning 65.51% in 2008, Mitt Romney winning 70.06% in 2012 and Donald Trump winning 77.48% and 80.11% in 2016 and 2020 respectively.[9]

United States presidential election results for Newton County, Texas[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 4,882 80.11% 1,173 19.25% 39 0.64%
2016 4,288 77.48% 1,156 20.89% 90 1.63%
2012 4,112 70.06% 1,677 28.57% 80 1.36%
2008 3,446 65.51% 1,751 33.29% 63 1.20%
2004 3,159 55.42% 2,513 44.09% 28 0.49%
2000 2,423 48.56% 2,503 50.16% 64 1.28%
1996 1,409 31.62% 2,554 57.32% 493 11.06%
1992 1,212 22.00% 3,249 58.99% 1,047 19.01%
1988 1,659 31.25% 3,640 68.56% 10 0.19%
1984 2,123 39.03% 3,296 60.60% 20 0.37%
1980 1,379 29.25% 3,284 69.66% 51 1.08%
1976 1,011 22.46% 3,468 77.03% 23 0.51%
1972 1,946 53.98% 1,636 45.38% 23 0.64%
1968 555 15.67% 1,476 41.68% 1,510 42.64%
1964 738 24.97% 2,211 74.82% 6 0.20%
1960 756 29.19% 1,815 70.08% 19 0.73%
1956 1,030 49.61% 1,037 49.95% 9 0.43%
1952 917 35.99% 1,630 63.97% 1 0.04%
1948 110 7.86% 957 68.41% 332 23.73%
1944 187 15.28% 910 74.35% 127 10.38%
1940 174 8.22% 1,940 91.68% 2 0.09%
1936 93 7.71% 1,111 92.12% 2 0.17%
1932 46 2.81% 1,586 97.00% 3 0.18%
1928 397 41.27% 564 58.63% 1 0.10%
1924 145 15.30% 782 82.49% 21 2.22%
1920 58 8.68% 420 62.87% 190 28.44%
1916 34 6.09% 493 88.35% 31 5.56%
1912 11 3.12% 278 78.75% 64 18.13%

Communities

City

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Education

School districts:

Areas of Newton County in Brookeland ISD, Burkeville ISD, and Newton ISD are assigned to Angelina College.[11] Legislation does not specify a community college for the remainder of the county.

See also

References
  1. "Census - Geography Profile: Newton County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  4. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  5. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  6. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Newton County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  7. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Newton County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  9. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
  10. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  11. Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.165. ANGELINA COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA..
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