Lamar County, Texas - Wikipedia

County in Texas, United States County in Texas

Lamar County, Texas
County
The Lamar County Courthouse in Paris
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Coordinates: 33°40′N 95°34′W / 33.67°N 95.57°W / 33.67; -95.57
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 (67 km2)  2.8%
Population (2020)
• Total	50,088
• Density	55.2/sq mi (21.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	www.co.lamar.tx.us

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.

Geography

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

Adjacent counties

[edit]

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

Communities

[edit]

Cities

[edit]

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

Census-designated place

[edit]

• Brookston
• Petty
• Powderly

Unincorporated communities

[edit]

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

Demographics

[edit] 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%
2024 (est.)	51,249	[7]	2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]1850–2010[9] 2010–2020[10]

2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 50,088. The median age was 40.8 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.4 males age 18 and over.[11]

The racial makeup of the county was 72.8% White, 12.9% Black or African American, 1.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.8% from some other race, and 7.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 8.8% of the population.[12]

52.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 47.5% lived in rural areas.[13]

There were 20,186 households in the county, of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.9% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]

There were 22,644 housing units, of which 10.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.9% were owner-occupied and 36.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.4%.[11]

Racial and ethnic composition

[edit] Lamar County, Texas – Racial and ethnic compositionNote: 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[14]	Pop 2010[15]	Pop 2020[10]	% 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%

2000 census

[edit]

As of the census of 2000, 48,499 people, 19,077 households, and 13,468 families resided in the county.[16] At the tabulation of the 2020 census, its population increased to 50,088.[10]

In 2000, the racial makeup of the county was 82.46% White, 13.47% Black or 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.[14]

From 2000 to 2020, the majority of its population remained predominantly non-Hispanic white even as nationwide demographics continued to diversify.[14][10]

Education

[edit]

These school districts serve Lamar County:[17]

• 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,[18] Roxton ISD included a part of the county. Roxton ISD consolidated into Chisum ISD after the 2018–19 school year.[18]

In addition, Paris Junior College serves the county, as per the Texas Education Code.[19]

Politics

[edit]

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.[20]

United States presidential election results for Lamar County, Texas[21]

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

United States Senate election results for Lamar County, Texas1[22]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	16,454	77.96%	4,344	20.58%	308	1.46%

See also

[edit]

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

References

[edit]

1. ^ "Lamar County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
4. ^ "Lamar County". Texas Almanac. Texas State Historical Association. May 22, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. pp. 180.
6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
7. ^ "QuickFacts: Lamar County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
8. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
9. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
10. ^ a b c d "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lamar County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
11. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
12. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
13. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
14. ^ a b c "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lamar County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
15. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lamar County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
17. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lamar County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 28, 2024. - Text list
18. ^ a b "CONSOLIDATIONS, ANNEXATIONS AND NAME CHANGES FOR TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS Updated January 28, 2020" (PDF). Texas Education Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 26, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
19. ^ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.195. PARIS JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
20. ^ "Texas House of Representatives".
21. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
22. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.

External links

[edit]

Media related to Lamar County, Texas at Wikimedia Commons

• Lamar County government's website
• Lamar County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of Texas
• Historic Lamar County materials, hosted by the Portal to Texas History
• Lamar County Texas information - Lamar County Station

Places adjacent to Lamar County, Texas
Bryan County, Oklahoma Choctaw County, Oklahoma Fannin County Lamar County, Texas Red River County Delta County

v t e Radio stations in Paris, Texas (Lamar County)
By AM frequency	960 1230 1250 1350 1400 1490
By FM frequency	88.9 89.3 90.1 91.9 92.7 93.5 93.9 95.5 95.9 96.5 97.7 98.5 98.9 101.9 104.3 107.7 LPFM 97.3 Translators 88.1 89.7 91.3 96.3 102.7 105.1 105.9
NOAA Weather Radiofrequency	162.550
Digital radioby frequency & subchannel	88.9-1 88.9-2 95.5-1 95.5-2 95.5-3 95.5-4
By call sign	K201FX K209GG K217CP K242BC K274BA K286AV K290AP KALK KBUS KETR KFYN-FM KGVL KHCP KHDY KHDY-FM KIKT KIMP KISY KITX HD2 HD3 HD4 KLOW KMMY KOYN KPLT KPLT-FM KQPA-FM KQSB-LP KSCH KSCN KSST KYBP KZHN WXK20
Radio stations in East Texas Beaumont-Port Arthur Longview-Marshall Lufkin-Nacogdoches Paris Texarkana Tyler Other nearby regions Dallas–Fort Worth Idabel Sherman–Denison See also List of radio stations in Texas

v t e Municipalities and communities of Lamar County, Texas, United States
County seat: Paris
Cities	Blossom Deport‡ Paris Reno Roxton Sun Valley Toco
CDPs	Brookston Petty Powderly
Othercommunities	Adams Ambia Amherst Arthur City Atlas Caviness Chicota Cunningham Glory Hopewell Midcity Milton Pattonville Razor Sumner
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
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33°40′N 95°34′W / 33.67°N 95.57°W / 33.67; -95.57

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