# Jackson County, Texas

Jackson County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census its population was 14,988. Its county seat is Edna. The county was created in 1835 as a municipality in Mexico and in 1836 was organized as a county (of the Republic of Texas). It is named for Andrew Jackson, President of the United States from 1829 to 1837.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 857 square miles (2,220 km$^2$), of which 829 square miles (2,150 km$^2$) is land and 27 square miles (70 km$^2$) (3.2%) is water.

### Major highways

* U.S. Highway 59
** Interstate 69 is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 59 in most places.
* State Highway 35
* State Highway 111
* State Highway 172
* Farm to Market Road 234
* Farm to Market Road 616
* Farm to Market Road 1862

### Adjacent counties

* Colorado County (north)
* Wharton County (northeast)
* Matagorda County (southeast)
* Calhoun County (south)
* Victoria County (southwest)
* Lavaca County (northwest)

## Demographics

Jackson 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 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 9,546 | 8,855 | 8,510 | 66.33% | 62.91% | 56.78% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,081 | 942 | 937 | 7.51% | 6.69% | 6.25% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 42 | 35 | 36 | 0.29% | 0.25% | 0.24% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 55 | 50 | 158 | 0.38% | 0.36% | 1.05% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0.04% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 0 | 8 | 102 | 0.04% | 0.06% | 0.68% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 104 | 105 | 411 | 0.72% | 0.75% | 2.74% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3,551 | 4,079 | 4,829 | 24.68% | 28.98% | 32.22% |
| Total | 14,391 | 14,075 | 14,988 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,391 people, 5,336 households, and 3,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile (6.6 people/km$^2$). There were 6,545 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 76.49% White, 7.64% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 12.65% from other races, and 2.39% from two or more races. 24.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.9% were of German, 10.8% American, 9.3% Czech, 6.0% Irish and 5.6% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 81.6% spoke English and 17.4% Spanish as their first language.
There were 5,336 households, out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,254, and the median income for a family was $42,066. Males had a median income of $32,639 versus $19,661 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,693. About 12.20% of families and 14.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.10% of those under age 18 and 15.60% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Cities

* Edna (county seat)
* Ganado
* La Ward

### Census-designated places

* Lolita
* Vanderbilt

### Unincorporated communities

* Francitas
* La Salle

### Ghost town

* Texana

## Politics

Jackson County has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1980, often by landslide margins.
United States presidential election results for Jackson County, Texas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 5,386 | 85.10% | 907 | 14.33% | 36 | 0.57% |
| 2020 | 5,231 | 82.34% | 1,033 | 16.26% | 89 | 1.40% |
| 2016 | 4,266 | 80.46% | 904 | 17.05% | 132 | 2.49% |
| 2012 | 3,906 | 77.73% | 1,070 | 21.29% | 49 | 0.98% |
| 2008 | 3,723 | 73.46% | 1,301 | 25.67% | 44 | 0.87% |
| 2004 | 3,766 | 74.18% | 1,296 | 25.53% | 15 | 0.30% |
| 2000 | 3,365 | 69.30% | 1,446 | 29.78% | 45 | 0.93% |
| 1996 | 2,533 | 54.59% | 1,785 | 38.47% | 322 | 6.94% |
| 1992 | 2,451 | 47.57% | 1,722 | 33.42% | 979 | 19.00% |
| 1988 | 2,954 | 57.75% | 2,141 | 41.86% | 20 | 0.39% |
| 1984 | 3,661 | 66.83% | 1,804 | 32.93% | 13 | 0.24% |
| 1980 | 2,540 | 56.91% | 1,826 | 40.91% | 97 | 2.17% |
| 1976 | 1,884 | 42.50% | 2,524 | 56.94% | 25 | 0.56% |
| 1972 | 2,743 | 69.81% | 1,163 | 29.60% | 23 | 0.59% |
| 1968 | 1,438 | 33.55% | 1,698 | 39.62% | 1,150 | 26.83% |
| 1964 | 1,168 | 29.55% | 2,775 | 70.22% | 9 | 0.23% |
| 1960 | 1,670 | 42.04% | 2,268 | 57.10% | 34 | 0.86% |
| 1956 | 2,259 | 58.64% | 1,571 | 40.78% | 22 | 0.57% |
| 1952 | 2,113 | 57.14% | 1,584 | 42.83% | 1 | 0.03% |
| 1948 | 488 | 24.75% | 1,343 | 68.10% | 141 | 7.15% |
| 1944 | 344 | 14.98% | 1,708 | 74.39% | 244 | 10.63% |
| 1940 | 296 | 16.41% | 1,506 | 83.48% | 2 | 0.11% |
| 1936 | 171 | 15.16% | 952 | 84.40% | 5 | 0.44% |
| 1932 | 182 | 14.99% | 1,030 | 84.84% | 2 | 0.16% |
| 1928 | 572 | 54.68% | 473 | 45.22% | 1 | 0.10% |
| 1924 | 354 | 30.28% | 758 | 64.84% | 57 | 4.88% |
| 1920 | 355 | 33.65% | 562 | 53.27% | 138 | 13.08% |
| 1916 | 123 | 20.71% | 403 | 67.85% | 68 | 11.45% |
| 1912 | 35 | 6.59% | 323 | 60.83% | 173 | 32.58% |

## Education

School districts include:
* Edna Independent School District
* Ganado Independent School District
* Hallettsville Independent School District
* Industrial Independent School District
* Palacios Independent School District
Residents of the county not in Ganado ISD are in the service area of Victoria College. Residents of the Ganado ISD part are in the service area of Wharton County Junior College.