San Augustine County, Texas

San Augustine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 7,918.^[1] Its county seat is San Augustine.^[2]

San Augustine County
County
The San Augustine County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°24′N 94°11′W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1837
Named after	Presidio de San Agustín de Ahumada, named for Agustín de Ahumada, 2nd Marquess of Amarillas
Seat	San Augustine
Largest city	San Augustine
Area
• Total	592 sq mi (1,530 km2)
• Land	531 sq mi (1,380 km2)
• Water	62 sq mi (160 km2)  10%
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,918
• Density	13/sq mi (5.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.co.san-augustine.tx.us

History

San Augustine County was formed in 1837. It was supposedly named after Saint Augustine of Hippo,^[3] but more plausibly, the county was named for the town of San Augustine, which had been established five years earlier and whose name was based upon an 18th-century Spanish presidio (fortress), the Presidio de San Agustín de Ahumada, named for Agustín de Ahumada, 2nd Marquess of Amarillas.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 592 square miles (1,530 km²), of which 62 square miles (160 km²) (10%) are covered by water.^[4]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 96
• State Highway 21
• State Highway 103
• State Highway 147

Adjacent counties

• Shelby County (north)
• Sabine County (east)
• Jasper County (south)
• Angelina County (southwest)
• Nacogdoches County (west)

Protected areas

• Angelina National Forest (part)
• Sabine National Forest (part)
• Mission Dolores State Historic Site

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	3,648		—
1860	4,094		12.2%
1870	4,196		2.5%
1880	5,084		21.2%
1890	6,688		31.5%
1900	8,434		26.1%
1910	11,264		33.6%
1920	13,737		22.0%
1930	12,471		−9.2%
1940	12,471		0.0%
1950	8,837		−29.1%
1960	7,722		−12.6%
1970	7,858		1.8%
1980	8,785		11.8%
1990	7,999		−8.9%
2000	8,946		11.8%
2010	8,865		−0.9%
2020	7,918		−10.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1850–2010[6] 2010–2020[7]

San Augustine 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[8]	Pop 2010[9]	Pop 2020[7]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	6,066	6,183	5,270	67.81%	69.75%	66.56%
Black or African American alone (NH)	2,484	2,013	1,768	27.77%	22.71%	22.33%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	11	16	19	0.12%	0.18%	0.24%
Asian alone (NH)	18	22	36	0.20%	0.25%	0.45%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0	0	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	1	10	0	0.01%	0.11%	0.00%
Mixed or multiracial (NH)	46	89	186	0.51%	1.00%	2.35%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	320	532	639	3.58%	6.00%	8.07%
Total	8,946	8,865	7,918	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census^[10] of 2000, there were 8,946 people, 3,575 households, and 2,520 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (6.6 people/km²). The 5,356 housing units had an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 69.26% White, 27.95% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 1.64% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race made up about 3.58% of the population.

Of the 3,575 households, 26.8% had children under 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were not families. About 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the age distribution was 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.10 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 85.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,025, and for a family was $32,772. Males had a median income of $28,395 versus $18,925 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,548. About 15.60% of families and 21.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.70% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

United States presidential election results for San Augustine County, Texas^[11]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	2,917	77.85%	809	21.59%	21	0.56%
2020	3,007	75.14%	980	24.49%	15	0.37%
2016	2,622	73.47%	910	25.50%	37	1.04%
2012	2,469	66.91%	1,193	32.33%	28	0.76%
2008	2,342	63.04%	1,328	35.75%	45	1.21%
2004	2,235	59.49%	1,506	40.09%	16	0.43%
2000	2,116	55.61%	1,636	43.00%	53	1.39%
1996	1,296	36.39%	1,924	54.03%	341	9.58%
1992	1,243	34.06%	1,737	47.60%	669	18.33%
1988	1,946	47.65%	2,118	51.86%	20	0.49%
1984	1,937	54.89%	1,583	44.86%	9	0.26%
1980	1,397	45.20%	1,674	54.16%	20	0.65%
1976	1,047	36.48%	1,817	63.31%	6	0.21%
1972	1,508	66.49%	753	33.20%	7	0.31%
1968	506	20.57%	817	33.21%	1,137	46.22%
1964	760	39.18%	1,173	60.46%	7	0.36%
1960	638	32.52%	1,269	64.68%	55	2.80%
1956	900	45.07%	1,086	54.38%	11	0.55%
1952	730	34.94%	1,359	65.06%	0	0.00%
1948	137	10.83%	858	67.83%	270	21.34%
1944	102	7.98%	1,176	92.02%	0	0.00%
1940	119	8.24%	1,325	91.76%	0	0.00%
1936	64	5.72%	1,054	94.28%	0	0.00%
1932	19	1.04%	1,802	98.96%	0	0.00%
1928	467	36.26%	821	63.74%	0	0.00%
1924	78	5.02%	1,475	94.98%	0	0.00%
1920	121	7.84%	658	42.62%	765	49.55%
1916	18	2.39%	682	90.69%	52	6.91%
1912	12	2.44%	375	76.22%	105	21.34%

At the presidential level, San Augustine County has voted for the Republican candidate in every election since 2000, having usually been carried by Democratic candidates up until that point.

Like many areas of the South, while Republicans generally win federal and state elections, Democrats tend to perform better in down-ballot races for local offices. Identification with the Democratic Party is strong in San Augustine County. In 2012, roughly 24% of eligible voters participated in the Democratic primary, while less than 6% participated in the Republican primary, despite there being a competitive presidential primary on the Republican ballot.^[12]

Elected officials

At the federal level, San Augustine County is part of the 1st Congressional District, which is currently represented by Louie Gohmert, a Republican from Tyler.

In the Texas Legislature, the county is represented by State Representative Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin), and by State Senator Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville).

Communities

• Black Ankle
• Benina
• Broaddus
• San Augustine (county seat)

Education

School districts:

• Broaddus Independent School District
• Brookeland Independent School District
• Chireno Independent School District
• San Augustine Independent School District

The county is in the service area of Angelina College.^[13]

Rural school children, San Augustine County, Texas. Photograph by John Vachon.

In popular culture

American photographer John Vachon took a series of photographs of rural schoolchildren in San Augustine County, Texas, for the Farm Security Administration in 1943.

See also

• Texas portal

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