Trinity County, Texas

Trinity County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 13,602.^[1] Its county seat is Groveton.^[2] The county is named for the Trinity River. Trinity County is included in the Huntsville, Texas micropolitan statistical area.

Trinity County, Texas
County
The Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Coordinates: 31°05′N 95°07′W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1850
Named after	Trinity River
Seat	Groveton
Largest city	Trinity
Area
• Total	714 sq mi (1,850 km2)
• Land	694 sq mi (1,800 km2)
• Water	20 sq mi (52 km2)  2.9%
Population  (2020)
• Total	13,602
• Density	19.6/sq mi (7.57/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	17th
Website	www.co.trinity.tx.us

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 714 square miles (1,850 km²), of which 20 sq mi (52 km²) (2.9%) are covered by water.^[3]

Adjacent counties

• Angelina County (northeast)
• Polk County (southeast)
• San Jacinto County (south)
• Walker County (southwest)
• Houston County (northwest)

National protected area

• Davy Crockett National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	4,392		—
1870	4,141		−5.7%
1880	4,915		18.7%
1890	7,648		55.6%
1900	10,976		43.5%
1910	12,768		16.3%
1920	13,623		6.7%
1930	13,637		0.1%
1940	13,705		0.5%
1950	10,040		−26.7%
1960	7,539		−24.9%
1970	7,628		1.2%
1980	9,450		23.9%
1990	11,445		21.1%
2000	13,779		20.4%
2010	14,585		5.8%
2020	13,602		−6.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[4] 1850–2010[5] 2010[6] 2020[7]

Trinity 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[6]	Pop 2020[7]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	11,289	11,819	10,533	81.93%	81.04%	77.44%
Black or African American alone (NH)	1,635	1,377	1,086	11.87%	9.44%	7.98%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	50	57	29	0.36%	0.39%	0.21%
Asian alone (NH)	31	36	30	0.22%	0.25%	0.22%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0	4	0.00%	0.00%	0.03%
Some other race alone (NH)	1	13	33	0.01%	0.09%	0.24%
Multiracial (NH)	105	166	573	0.76%	1.14%	4.21%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	668	1,117	1,314	4.85%	7.66%	9.66%
Total	13,779	14,585	13,602	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2000 census,^[9] 13,779 people, 5,723 households, and 4,000 families resided in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (7.7 people/km²). The 8,141 housing units had an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.75% White, 11.92% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 2.67% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. About 4.85% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 5,723 households, 25.7% had children under 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were not families. About 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the county, the age distribution was 22.9% under 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,070 and for a family was $32,304. Males had a median income of $27,518 versus $21,696 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,472. About 13.20% of families and 17.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.80% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.

Education

These school districts serve Trinity County:

• Apple Springs Independent School District
• Groveton Independent School District
• Trinity Independent School District
• Centerville Independent School District

A small portion of Kennard ISD, located in neighboring Houston County, goes into Trinity County. The county is in the service area of Angelina College.^[10]

Transportation

Southern Pine Lumber Company steam log loader, Trinity County around 1907: The crew is loading logs into a railcar.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 287
• State Highway 19
• State Highway 94

Railroads

Union Pacific operates a freight line running north–south through Trinity County.^[11]

Communities

Cities

• Groveton (county seat)
• Trinity

Census-designated place

• Westwood Shores

Unincorporated communities

• Apple Springs
• Barnes Switch
• Brush Prairie
• Carlisle
• Centerville
• Centralia
• Chita
• Crete
• Friday
• Helmic
• Josserand
• Lacy
• Nigton
• Nogalus Prairie
• Pennington (partly in Houston County)
• Red Branch
• Sebastopol
• South Groveton
• Sulphur
• Thompson
• Trevat
• Vair
• Woodlake

Ghost towns

• Friendship
• Saron
• Sumpter

Politics

United States presidential election results for Trinity County, Texas^[12]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	№	%	№	%	№	%
1912	112	11.85%	657	69.52%	176	18.62%
1916	156	13.51%	906	78.44%	93	8.05%
1920	125	11.08%	643	57.00%	360	31.91%
1924	146	8.63%	1,504	88.89%	42	2.48%
1928	456	39.93%	686	60.07%	0	0.00%
1932	65	4.11%	1,514	95.70%	3	0.19%
1936	151	11.20%	1,196	88.72%	1	0.07%
1940	274	13.24%	1,791	86.56%	4	0.19%
1944	127	8.20%	1,132	73.13%	289	18.67%
1948	150	11.41%	905	68.82%	260	19.77%
1952	958	35.71%	1,725	64.29%	0	0.00%
1956	865	43.98%	1,091	55.47%	11	0.56%
1960	707	31.23%	1,521	67.18%	36	1.59%
1964	763	31.43%	1,654	68.12%	11	0.45%
1968	636	22.89%	1,146	41.24%	997	35.88%
1972	1,467	63.92%	826	35.99%	2	0.09%
1976	1,042	33.04%	2,100	66.58%	12	0.38%
1980	1,503	36.95%	2,510	61.70%	55	1.35%
1984	2,599	54.89%	2,115	44.67%	21	0.44%
1988	2,448	47.65%	2,657	51.72%	32	0.62%
1992	1,988	33.64%	2,784	47.11%	1,137	19.24%
1996	2,058	38.76%	2,774	52.24%	478	9.00%
2000	3,093	58.39%	2,142	40.44%	62	1.17%
2004	3,985	64.14%	2,204	35.47%	24	0.39%
2008	4,095	67.39%	1,925	31.68%	57	0.94%
2012	4,537	72.77%	1,614	25.89%	84	1.35%
2016	4,737	79.15%	1,154	19.28%	94	1.57%
2020	5,579	80.41%	1,323	19.07%	36	0.52%
2024	6,136	83.21%	1,195	16.21%	43	0.58%

United States Senate election results for Trinity County, Texas1^[13]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	№	%	№	%	№	%
2024	5,910	80.56%	1,298	17.69%	128	1.74%

See also

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