Lamar County, Texas

Lamar County (/ləˈmɑːr/) is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas, in the Northeast Texas region. As of the 2020 census, its population was 50,088.^[1] Its county seat is Paris.^[2] The county was formed by the Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 17, 1840, and organized the next year.^[3][4] It is named for Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second president of the Republic of Texas.^[5] Lamar County comprises the Paris, TX micropolitan statistical area.

Lamar County
County
The Lamar County Courthouse in Paris
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°40′N 95°34′W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1841
Named after	Mirabeau B. Lamar
Seat	Paris
Largest city	Paris
Area
• Total	933 sq mi (2,420 km2)
• Land	907 sq mi (2,350 km2)
• Water	26 sq mi (70 km2)  2.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	50,088
• Density	54/sq mi (21/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	www.co.lamar.tx.us

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 933 square miles (2,420 km²), of which 907 square miles (2,350 km²) are land and 26 square miles (67 km²) (2.8%) are covered by water.^[6]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 82
• U.S. Highway 271
• State Highway 19
• State Highway 24
• Loop 286

Adjacent counties

• Choctaw County, Oklahoma (north)
• Red River County (east)
• Delta County (south)
• Fannin County (west)
• Bryan County, Oklahoma (northwest)

Communities

Cities

• Blossom
• Deport (partly in Red River County)
• Paris (county seat and largest municipality)
• Reno
• Roxton
• Sun Valley
• Toco

Census-designated place

• Brookston
• Powderly
• Petty

Unincorporated communities

• Ambia
• Arthur City
• Atlas
• Chicota
• Cunningham
• Glory
• Hopewell
• Midcity
• Milton
• Pattonville
• Sumner

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	3,978		—
1860	10,136		154.8%
1870	15,790		55.8%
1880	27,193		72.2%
1890	37,302		37.2%
1900	48,627		30.4%
1910	46,544		−4.3%
1920	55,742		19.8%
1930	48,529		−12.9%
1940	50,425		3.9%
1950	43,033		−14.7%
1960	34,234		−20.4%
1970	36,062		5.3%
1980	42,156		16.9%
1990	43,949		4.3%
2000	48,499		10.4%
2010	49,793		2.7%
2020	50,088		0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1850–2010[8] 2010–2020[9]

Lamar 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[10]	Pop 2010[11]	Pop 2020[9]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	26,298	37,891	35,354	84.18%	76.10%	70.58%
Black or African American alone (NH)	2,482	6,628	6,378	7.94%	13.31%	12.73%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	234	592	751	0.75%	1.19%	1.50%
Asian alone (NH)	81	304	474	0.26%	0.61%	0.95%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	7	5	25	0.02%	0.01%	0.05%
Other race alone (NH)	14	27	119	0.04%	0.05%	0.24%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	373	1,123	2,575	1.19%	2.26%	5.14%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,753	3,223	4,412	5.61%	6.47%	8.81%
Total	31,242	49,793	50,088	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census of 2000, 48,499 people, 19,077 households, and 13,468 families resided in the county.^[12] At the tabulation of the 2020 United States census, its population increased to 50,088.^[9]

Among the population, its racial and ethnic makeup was 70.58% non-Hispanic white, 12.73% Black or African American, 1.50% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.95% Asian alone, 0.05% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 0.24% some other race alone, 5.14% multiracial, and 8.81% Hispanic or Latino American of any race. In 2000, the racial makeup of the county was 82.46% White, 13.47% African American, 1.08% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 1.19% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. About 3.33% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race; from 2000 to 2020, the majority if its population remained predominantly non-Hispanic white against nationwide demographic trends of increased diversification.

Education

These school districts serve Lamar County:^[13]

• Chisum ISD (small portion in Delta County)
• Fannindel ISD (mostly in Delta and Fannin Counties; small portion in Hunt County)
• Honey Grove ISD (mostly in Fannin County)
• North Lamar ISD
• Paris ISD
• Prairiland ISD (small portion in Red River County)

Until it closed in 2019,^[14] Roxton ISD included a part of the county. Roxton ISD consolidated into Chisum ISD after the 2018–19 school year.^[14]

In addition, Paris Junior College serves the county, as per the Texas Education Code.^[15]

Politics

The majority-white population supported the Democratic Party well into the late 20th century, when it was nearly a one-party state, but in the early 21st century, most have shifted to the Republican Party. Lamar County is now represented in the Texas House of Representatives by Gary VanDeaver of New Boston.^[16]

United States presidential election results for Lamar County, Texas^[17]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	17,044	80.08%	4,079	19.16%	162	0.76%
2020	16,760	78.16%	4,458	20.79%	224	1.04%
2016	14,561	77.81%	3,583	19.15%	570	3.05%
2012	12,826	74.58%	4,181	24.31%	190	1.10%
2008	12,952	70.54%	5,243	28.55%	167	0.91%
2004	12,054	69.00%	5,338	30.56%	78	0.45%
2000	9,775	63.35%	5,553	35.99%	102	0.66%
1996	6,393	46.59%	6,075	44.27%	1,254	9.14%
1992	5,778	35.57%	6,328	38.96%	4,137	25.47%
1988	8,021	51.42%	7,553	48.42%	24	0.15%
1984	9,273	62.57%	5,504	37.14%	43	0.29%
1980	6,094	45.17%	7,178	53.21%	218	1.62%
1976	4,443	33.98%	8,601	65.78%	32	0.24%
1972	7,736	72.62%	2,865	26.90%	51	0.48%
1968	3,395	31.05%	4,635	42.39%	2,903	26.55%
1964	2,594	29.13%	6,303	70.78%	8	0.09%
1960	3,964	43.68%	5,084	56.02%	28	0.31%
1956	4,154	49.56%	4,202	50.14%	25	0.30%
1952	3,929	41.56%	5,524	58.44%	0	0.00%
1948	1,018	12.17%	6,306	75.39%	1,041	12.44%
1944	725	9.36%	6,283	81.10%	739	9.54%
1940	761	8.64%	8,038	91.29%	6	0.07%
1936	308	5.19%	5,621	94.65%	10	0.17%
1932	375	5.95%	5,911	93.72%	21	0.33%
1928	2,887	57.08%	2,163	42.76%	8	0.16%
1924	596	9.97%	5,224	87.37%	159	2.66%
1920	639	12.76%	3,765	75.21%	602	12.03%
1916	309	8.08%	3,412	89.23%	103	2.69%
1912	206	7.47%	2,286	82.89%	266	9.64%

See also

• Texas portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lamar County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Lamar County
• Lamar County Historical Museum