JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS

'Jefferson County' is a county located in the state of Texas, United States. As of 2000, the population was 252,051. Its county seat is Beaumont⁶, and it is named for the former U.S. president, Thomas Jefferson.

Contents

Geography

Major Highways

Adjacent counties and parishes

Demographics

2004 Election

Cities and towns

External links

Geography

Jefferson County is located on the plains of the Texas Gulf Coast in the southeastern part of the state. The county is bounded on the north by Pine Island Bayou, on the northeast by the Neches River, and on the east by Sabine Lake and the mouth of the Sabine River, a natural outlet called Sabine Pass. The southern part of the county is largely marshland, much of which is contained within Sea Rim State Park, reaching to the storm-battered beach at the Gulf of Mexico.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,878 km² (1,111 mi²). 2,340 km² (904 mi²) of it is land and 538 km² (208 mi²) of it (18.69%) is water.

Major Highways

★ Interstate 10

★ U.S. Highway 69/U.S. Highway 96/U.S. Highway 287

★ State Highway 105 (Texas)

★ See List of Highways in Jefferson County for more roadways in Jefferson County.

Adjacent counties and parishes

★ Hardin County (north)

★ Orange County (northeast)

★ Chambers County (southwest)

★ Liberty County (northwest)

★ Cameron Parish, Louisiana (east)

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 252,051 people, 92,880 households, and 63,808 families residing in the county. The population density was 108/km² (279/mi²). There were 102,080 housing units at an average density of 44/km² (113/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 57.24% White, 33.74% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 2.89% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.26% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. 10.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 92,880 households out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.40% were married couples living together, 16.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the county, the population was spread out with 25.90% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 101.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,706, and the median income for a family was $42,290. Males had a median income of $36,719 versus $23,924 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,571. About 14.60% of families and 17.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.60% of those under age 18 and 11.80% of those age 65 or over.

2004 Election

This is one of the few counties in Texas that gave Senator John Kerry a majority of the popular vote. Kerry received 47,050 votes while George W. Bush received 44,412.

Cities and towns

★ Beaumont

★ Bevil Oaks

★ Central Gardens (unincorporated)

★ China

★ Fannett (unincorporated)

★ Groves

★ Hamshire (unincorporated)

★ Nederland

★ Nome

★ Port Arthur

★ Port Neches

★ Taylor Landing

External links

★ Jefferson County government's website

★ Jefferson County in ''Handbook of Texas Online'' at the University of Texas

★ Fun365Days.com -- regional tourism web site

★ Partnership of Southeast Texas -- regional economic development site