Fannin County, Texas

Fannin County is a county in the far northeast of the U.S. state of Texas, on the border with Oklahoma. As of the 2020 census, its population was 35,662,^[1] making it the 87th-most populous county in Texas.^[2] The entirety of Fannin County is a part of the Bonham micropolitan statistical area and the Dallas-Fort Worth combined statistical area. The county seat is Bonham.^[3]

Fannin County
County
Fannin County Courthouse in Bonham
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°35′N 96°07′W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1838
Named after	James Fannin
Seat	Bonham
Largest city	Bonham
Area
• Total	899 sq mi (2,330 km2)
• Land	891 sq mi (2,310 km2)
• Water	8.0 sq mi (21 km2)  0.9%
Population  (2020)
• Total	35,662
• Density	40/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	www.co.fannin.tx.us

History

Map of Fannin County in 1840 overlayed onto modern Texas counties

The county was named for James Fannin,^[4] who commanded the group of Texans killed in the Goliad Massacre during the Texas Revolution. James Bonham (the county seat's namesake) sought Fannin's assistance for the Battle of the Alamo, but Fannin was unable to provide it.

The county was created in 1837 and organized the next year.^[5][6] Fannin County is a part of the Texoma region.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,330 km²), of which 8.0 square miles (21 km²) (0.9%) are covered by water.^[7] It is drained by Bois D'Arc Creek and Sulphur River.^[8]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 69
• U.S. Highway 82
• State Highway 11
• State Highway 34
• State Highway 50
• State Highway 56
• State Highway 78
• State Highway 121

Adjacent counties

• Bryan County, Oklahoma (north)
• Lamar County (east)
• Delta County (southeast)
• Hunt County (south)
• Collin County (southwest)
• Grayson County (west)

National protected area

• Caddo National Grassland

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	3,788		—
1860	9,217		143.3%
1870	13,207		43.3%
1880	25,501		93.1%
1890	38,709		51.8%
1900	51,793		33.8%
1910	44,801		−13.5%
1920	48,186		7.6%
1930	41,163		−14.6%
1940	41,064		−0.2%
1950	31,253		−23.9%
1960	23,880		−23.6%
1970	22,705		−4.9%
1980	24,285		7.0%
1990	24,804		2.1%
2000	31,242		26.0%
2010	33,915		8.6%
2020	35,662		5.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1850–2010[10] 2010–2014[11] County Information Program[12]

Fannin 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[13]	Pop 2010[14]	Pop 2020[15]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	26,298	27,433	27,042	84.18%	80.89%	75.83%
Black or African American alone (NH)	2,482	2,273	2,199	7.94%	6.70%	6.17%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	234	294	309	0.75%	0.87%	0.87%
Asian alone (NH)	81	122	145	0.26%	0.36%	0.41%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	7	6	20	0.02%	0.02%	0.06%
Other race alone (NH)	14	23	112	0.04%	0.07%	0.31%
Mixed or multiracial (NH)	373	538	1,617	1.19%	1.59%	4.53%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,753	3,226	4,218	5.61%	9.51%	11.83%
Total	31,242	33,915	35,662	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2000 census,^[16] 31,242 people, 11,105 households, and 7,984 families resided in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile (14 people/km²). The 12,887 housing units averaged 14 units per square mile (5.4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.56% White, 7.96% African American, 0.92% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 2.81% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. About 5.61% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of 2015, the largest self-reported ancestry groups were 48.50% English, 16.10% Welsh, 11.00% German, and 7.25% Irish.

Of the 11,105 households, 31.1% had children under 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were not families. About 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.51, and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was distributed as 23.2% under 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 113.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.9 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,501, and for a family was $42,193. Males had a median income of $31,140 versus $23,101 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,066. About 9.90% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.70% of those under age 18 and 16.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Bailey
• Bonham (county seat)
• Ector
• Honey Grove
• Leonard
• Pecan Gap (mostly in Delta County)
• Ravenna
• Savoy
• Trenton (small part in Grayson County)

Towns

• Dodd City
• Ladonia
• Whitewright (mostly in Grayson County)^[17]
• Windom

Unincorporated communities

• Bug Tussle
• Duplex
• Elwood
• Gober
• Hilger
• Ivanhoe
• Mulberry
• Randolph
• Telephone
• Warren

Education

These independent school districts (ISDs) serve Fannin County:^[18]

• Blue Ridge ISD (mostly in Collin County, small portion in Fannin County)
• Bonham ISD
• Dodd City ISD
• Ector ISD
• Fannindel ISD
• Honey Grove ISD
• Leonard ISD
• North Lamar ISD (mostly in Lamar County, small portion in Fannin County)
• Sam Rayburn ISD
• Savoy ISD
• Trenton ISD (mostly in Fannin County, small portion in Grayson County)
• Whitewright ISD (mostly in Grayson County, small portion in Fannin County)
• Wolfe City ISD (mostly in Hunt County, small portion in Fannin County)

Additionally, nearby Grayson College, Paris Junior College, and East Texas A&M University provide postsecondary education in the area.

As per the Texas Education Code, Grayson College's service area includes parts of the county in these ISDs: Bonham, Dodd City, Ector, Leonard, Sam Rayburn, Savoy, Trenton, Whitewright, and Wolfe City. The Fannindel ISD portion and the Honey Grove ISD portion are in the service area of Paris Junior College. The code does not specify a community college for the Blue Ridge ISD and North Lamar ISD areas.^[19]

Politics

Once a Democratic stronghold for decades (in large part as it was the home of longtime United States Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn), Fannin County has shifted heavily toward the Republican Party since the 1990s. As a sign of this trend, Republican candidates for president have won an ever-increasing share of the vote in each of the seven presidential elections, starting in 1996.

United States presidential election results for Fannin County, Texas^[20]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	13,648	83.24%	2,607	15.90%	140	0.85%
2020	12,171	81.10%	2,655	17.69%	181	1.21%
2016	9,548	79.28%	2,132	17.70%	364	3.02%
2012	8,161	75.54%	2,486	23.01%	157	1.45%
2008	8,092	69.20%	3,464	29.62%	138	1.18%
2004	7,893	65.99%	4,001	33.45%	66	0.55%
2000	6,074	58.74%	4,102	39.67%	164	1.59%
1996	3,495	39.73%	4,276	48.61%	1,025	11.65%
1992	2,510	26.11%	4,164	43.31%	2,941	30.59%
1988	4,024	43.67%	5,163	56.03%	27	0.29%
1984	4,692	51.53%	4,399	48.31%	15	0.16%
1980	3,196	37.12%	5,284	61.36%	131	1.52%
1976	2,102	26.32%	5,845	73.20%	38	0.48%
1972	3,826	61.90%	2,295	37.13%	60	0.97%
1968	1,585	22.08%	3,931	54.77%	1,661	23.14%
1964	1,219	16.93%	5,976	83.00%	5	0.07%
1960	1,844	30.04%	4,282	69.76%	12	0.20%
1956	1,910	29.75%	4,504	70.16%	6	0.09%
1952	2,099	28.12%	5,363	71.84%	3	0.04%
1948	553	7.83%	6,132	86.79%	380	5.38%
1944	677	9.45%	5,984	83.54%	502	7.01%
1940	792	9.57%	7,478	90.36%	6	0.07%
1936	368	6.55%	5,242	93.32%	7	0.12%
1932	460	7.91%	5,338	91.80%	17	0.29%
1928	2,122	45.62%	2,525	54.29%	4	0.09%
1924	653	10.11%	5,596	86.60%	213	3.30%
1920	1,103	21.29%	3,461	66.79%	618	11.93%
1916	471	11.19%	3,493	82.99%	245	5.82%
1912	227	7.25%	2,661	85.04%	241	7.70%

United States Senate election results for Fannin County, Texas1^[21]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	13,084	80.08%	2,927	17.92%	327	2.00%

See also

• Texas portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Fannin County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Fannin County