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Henderson County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 82,150.[1] The county seat is Athens.[2] The county is named in honor of James Pinckney Henderson, the first attorney general of the Republic of Texas, and secretary of state for the republic.[3] He later served as the first governor of Texas. Henderson County was established in 1846, the year after Texas gained statehood. Its first town was Buffalo, laid out in 1847.[4] Henderson County comprises the Athens micropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the Dallas-Fort Worth combined statistical area.
Henderson County | |
|---|---|
 The Henderson County Courthouse in Athens | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Texas | |
 Texas's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 32°13′N 95°51′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1846 |
| Named for | James Pinckney Henderson |
| Seat | Athens |
| Largest city | Athens |
| Area | |
• Total | 948 sq mi (2,460 km2) |
| • Land | 874 sq mi (2,260 km2) |
| • Water | 75 sq mi (190 km2) 7.9% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 82,150  |
| • Density | 87/sq mi (34/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Website | www |
![Thumb](#/media/File:"Courthouse_under_the_Oaks"_historical_marker,_Athens,_TX_IMG_0577.JPG)
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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 948 sq mi (2,460 km2), of which 75 sq mi (190 km2) (7.9%) are covered by water.[5]
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Kaufman County (north)
- Van Zandt County (north)
- Smith County (east)
- Cherokee County (southeast)
- Anderson County (south)
- Freestone County (southwest)
- Navarro County (west)
- Ellis County (northwest)
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Cities
- Athens (county seat)
- Brownsboro
- Chandler
- Eustace
- Gun Barrel City
- Log Cabin
- Malakoff
- Moore Station
- Murchison
- Seven Points (small part in Kaufman County)
- Star Harbor
- Tool
- Trinidad
Towns
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
Ghost towns
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| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 1,237 | — | |
| 1860 | 4,595 | 271.5% | |
| 1870 | 6,786 | 47.7% | |
| 1880 | 9,735 | 43.5% | |
| 1890 | 12,285 | 26.2% | |
| 1900 | 19,970 | 62.6% | |
| 1910 | 20,131 | 0.8% | |
| 1920 | 28,327 | 40.7% | |
| 1930 | 30,583 | 8.0% | |
| 1940 | 31,822 | 4.1% | |
| 1950 | 23,405 | −26.5% | |
| 1960 | 21,786 | −6.9% | |
| 1970 | 26,466 | 21.5% | |
| 1980 | 42,606 | 61.0% | |
| 1990 | 58,543 | 37.4% | |
| 2000 | 73,277 | 25.2% | |
| 2010 | 78,532 | 7.2% | |
| 2020 | 82,150 | 4.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1850–2010[7] 2010–2020[8] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[9] | Pop 2010[10] | Pop 2020[8] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 62,214 | 63,494 | 61,854 | 84.78% | 80.85% | 75.29% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 4,811 | 4,813 | 4,705 | 6.57% | 6.13% | 5.73% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 334 | 349 | 414 | 0.46% | 0.44% | 0.50% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 220 | 318 | 510 | 0.30% | 0.40% | 0.62% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 19 | 27 | 31 | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.04% |
| Other Race alone (NH) | 24 | 76 | 211 | 0.03% | 0.10% | 0.26% |
| Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) | 674 | 965 | 3,183 | 0.92% | 1.23% | 3.87% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5,071 | 8,490 | 11,242 | 6.92% | 10.81% | 13.68% |
| Total | 73,277 | 78,532 | 82,150 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census[11] of 2000, 73,277 people, 28,804 households, and 20,969 families were residing in the county. Its population density was 84 people/sq mi (32 people/km2). The 35,935 housing units averaged 41 units per square mile (16/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.50% White, 6.61% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 2.75% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. About 6.92% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. At the 2020 census, its population increased to 82,150 with a predominantly non-Hispanic white population; the Hispanic or Latino population of any race increased to 13.68% reflecting nationwide demographic trends.[12]
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- County Judge: Wade McKinney
- Commissioner Pct. 1: Wendy Spivey
- Commissioner Pct. 2: Scott Tuley
- Commissioner Pct. 3: Charles "Chuck" McHam
- Commissioner Pct. 4: Mark Richardson
- County Clerk: Mary Margret Wright
- District Clerk: Betty Herriage
- County Attorney: Clint Davis
- District Attorney: Jenny Palmer
- County Auditor: Ann Marie Lee
- County Treasurer: Michael Bynum
- County Court at Law #1 Judge: Scott Williams
- County Court at Law #2 Judge: Nancy Perryman
- 3rd District Court Judge: Mark Calhoon
- 173rd District Court Judge: Dan Moore
- 392nd District Court Judge: R. Scott McKee
- Justice of the Peace Pct. 1: Randy Daniel
- Constable Pct. 1: Thomas Goodell
- Justice of the Peace Pct. 2: Kevin Pollock
- Constable Pct. 2: Jason Ramsey
- Justice of the Peace Pct. 3: James "Tony" Duncan
- Constable Pct. 3: David Grubbs
- Justice of the Peace Pct. 4: Milton Adams
- Constable Pct. 4: John Floyd
- Justice of the Peace Pct. 5: Tanya Norris
- Constable Pct. 5: Brad Miers
- Sheriff: Botie Hillhouse
- Tax Assessor/Collector: Peggy Goodall
- Elections Administrator: Paula Ludtke
- Fire Marshal/Emergency Management Coordinator: Shane Renburg
Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 31,379 | 81.29% | 6,919 | 17.92% | 305 | 0.79% |
| 2020 | 28,911 | 79.50% | 7,060 | 19.41% | 397 | 1.09% |
| 2016 | 23,650 | 78.72% | 5,669 | 18.87% | 726 | 2.42% |
| 2012 | 21,231 | 76.85% | 6,106 | 22.10% | 290 | 1.05% |
| 2008 | 20,857 | 71.94% | 7,913 | 27.29% | 223 | 0.77% |
| 2004 | 20,210 | 70.05% | 8,505 | 29.48% | 134 | 0.46% |
| 2000 | 16,607 | 64.80% | 8,704 | 33.96% | 316 | 1.23% |
| 1996 | 10,345 | 45.43% | 10,085 | 44.29% | 2,342 | 10.28% |
| 1992 | 8,368 | 34.49% | 9,105 | 37.53% | 6,788 | 27.98% |
| 1988 | 11,005 | 52.61% | 9,819 | 46.94% | 94 | 0.45% |
| 1984 | 12,725 | 63.38% | 7,302 | 36.37% | 49 | 0.24% |
| 1980 | 7,903 | 48.47% | 8,199 | 50.29% | 203 | 1.25% |
| 1976 | 4,658 | 36.01% | 8,245 | 63.73% | 34 | 0.26% |
| 1972 | 6,263 | 69.49% | 2,741 | 30.41% | 9 | 0.10% |
| 1968 | 2,315 | 29.19% | 3,119 | 39.32% | 2,498 | 31.49% |
| 1964 | 1,988 | 29.61% | 4,697 | 69.96% | 29 | 0.43% |
| 1960 | 2,521 | 42.23% | 3,411 | 57.14% | 38 | 0.64% |
| 1956 | 2,479 | 44.51% | 3,065 | 55.04% | 25 | 0.45% |
| 1952 | 2,534 | 36.33% | 4,439 | 63.65% | 1 | 0.01% |
| 1948 | 540 | 12.24% | 3,669 | 83.14% | 204 | 4.62% |
| 1944 | 427 | 10.12% | 3,219 | 76.28% | 574 | 13.60% |
| 1940 | 803 | 16.34% | 4,111 | 83.66% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 260 | 7.38% | 3,259 | 92.45% | 6 | 0.17% |
| 1932 | 219 | 5.82% | 3,522 | 93.67% | 19 | 0.51% |
| 1928 | 1,128 | 39.52% | 1,726 | 60.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 405 | 9.41% | 3,819 | 88.73% | 80 | 1.86% |
| 1920 | 538 | 18.62% | 1,684 | 58.29% | 667 | 23.09% |
| 1916 | 268 | 11.11% | 1,790 | 74.18% | 355 | 14.71% |
| 1912 | 137 | 6.84% | 1,370 | 68.36% | 497 | 24.80% |
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Henderson County is part of the Dallas/Fort Worth DMA. Local media outlets are: KDFW-TV, KXAS-TV, WFAA-TV, KTVT-TV, KERA-TV, KTXA-TV, KDFI-TV, KDAF-TV, and KFWD-TV. Other nearby stations that provide coverage for Henderson County come from the Tyler/Longview/Jacksonville market and they include: KLTV, KTRE-TV, KYTX-TV, KFXK-TV, KCEB-TV, and KETK-TV.
Newspaper coverage of the area can be found in the Athens Daily Review, based in Athens; The Monitor is published in Mabank, which is primarily in Kaufman County, but also covers news in parts of Henderson County, as well.
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Paul Knight of the Houston Press said in a 2009 article that some people blamed the development of the artificial Cedar Creek Lake, which opened in 1965, and development of the area surrounding the lake for the initial influx of crime and recreational drugs into the county and the East Texas region. Carroll Dyson, a retired pilot and Henderson County resident interviewed by the Houston Press, said in 2009 that the lake attracted "white flight" from metropolitan areas.[14] Dyson added, "When all your rich people from Dallas and Houston move out here, the thieves are just drawn to them." Ray Nutt, the sheriff of Henderson County, said that the area around the lake has "a lot of good people," yet it was also where "a lot of criminals tend to flow."[15]
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