# Lavaca County, Texas

Lavaca County (/ləˈvɑːkə/ lə-VAH-kə) is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 20,337. Its county seat is Hallettsville. The county was created in 1846. It is named for the Lavaca River, which curves its way southeast through Moulton and Hallettsville before reaching the coast at Matagorda Bay.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 970 square miles (2,500 km$^2$), of which 0.7 square miles (1.8 km$^2$) (0.08%) is covered by water.

### Major highways

* U.S. Highway 77
* U.S. Highway 77 Alternate
* U.S. Highway 90 Alternate
* State Highway 95
* State Highway 111

### Adjacent counties

* Fayette County (north)
* Colorado County (northeast)
* Jackson County (southeast)
* Victoria County (south)
* DeWitt County (southwest)
* Gonzales County (northwest)

## Demographics

Lavaca 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) | 15,579 | 14,674 | 14,564 | 81.10% | 76.18% | 71.61% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,287 | 1,255 | 1,173 | 6.70% | 6.52% | 5.77% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 28 | 30 | 30 | 0.15% | 0.16% | 0.15% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 26 | 56 | 74 | 0.14% | 0.29% | 0.36% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 3 | 17 | 5 | 0.02% | 0.09% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 18 | 18 | 31 | 0.09% | 0.09% | 0.15% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 86 | 136 | 524 | 0.45% | 0.71% | 2.58% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,183 | 3,077 | 3,936 | 11.36% | 15.97% | 19.35% |
| Total | 19,210 | 19,263 | 20,337 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census of 2000, 19,210 people, 7,669 households, and 5,391 families were residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (7.7 people/km$^2$). The 9,657 housing units had an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 86.86% White, 6.79% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 4.86% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. About 11.36% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. Of descent, 27.0% were of Czech, 24.1% German, 9.1% American, and 5.1% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000; 86.3% spoke English, 7.7% Spanish, 4.6% Czech and 1.2% German as their first language. In terms of ancestry in 2016, 32.8% were of German, 30.7% were of Czech, 10.8% were of Irish, 5.4% were of English, 3.4% were of American, and 2.2% were French.
Of the 7,669 households, 30.0% had children under 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were not families. About 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.44, and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the age distribution was 24.2% under 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 21.80% who were 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.10 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 88.50 males.
The median income for a household was $29,132, and for a family was $36,760. Males had a median income of $26,988 versus $17,537 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,398. About 10.20% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18 and 18.40% of those age 65 or over.

## Education

These K-12 school public school districts are located in Lavaca County:
* Ezzell Independent School District
* Hallettsville Independent School District (includes portions it covers for K-12, and portions in Vysehrad ISD that it covers only for secondary school)
* Moulton Independent School District
* Shiner Independent School District
* Sweet Home Independent School District
* Weimar Independent School District
* Yoakum Independent School District
Additionally, Vysehrad Independent School District is an elementary-only school district.
All of the county is in the service area of Victoria College.

## Communities
### Cities

* Hallettsville (county seat)
* Shiner
* Yoakum (partly in DeWitt County)

### Town

* Moulton

### Unincorporated communities

* Breslau
* Sweet Home
* Speaks
* Sublime

## Politics

Lavaca County is a very conservative county and has been getting more conservative since 1992. The last Democrat to win the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976. Donald Trump carried it substantially in the 2020 presidential election. His margin was over 70% against Joe Biden.
United States presidential election results for Lavaca County, Texas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 9,215 | 87.79% | 1,235 | 11.77% | 47 | 0.45% |
| 2020 | 8,804 | 86.27% | 1,333 | 13.06% | 68 | 0.67% |
| 2016 | 7,347 | 84.79% | 1,170 | 13.50% | 148 | 1.71% |
| 2012 | 6,796 | 81.74% | 1,428 | 17.18% | 90 | 1.08% |
| 2008 | 6,293 | 76.30% | 1,869 | 22.66% | 86 | 1.04% |
| 2004 | 5,974 | 73.06% | 2,152 | 26.32% | 51 | 0.62% |
| 2000 | 5,288 | 70.08% | 2,171 | 28.77% | 87 | 1.15% |
| 1996 | 3,697 | 53.93% | 2,575 | 37.56% | 583 | 8.50% |
| 1992 | 3,362 | 43.24% | 2,700 | 34.72% | 1,714 | 22.04% |
| 1988 | 4,377 | 54.97% | 3,531 | 44.35% | 54 | 0.68% |
| 1984 | 5,058 | 67.15% | 2,464 | 32.71% | 10 | 0.13% |
| 1980 | 3,254 | 54.24% | 2,678 | 44.64% | 67 | 1.12% |
| 1976 | 2,466 | 41.35% | 3,458 | 57.98% | 40 | 0.67% |
| 1972 | 3,288 | 69.65% | 1,429 | 30.27% | 4 | 0.08% |
| 1968 | 1,698 | 31.95% | 2,165 | 40.74% | 1,451 | 27.31% |
| 1964 | 1,480 | 26.83% | 4,031 | 73.07% | 6 | 0.11% |
| 1960 | 1,507 | 27.29% | 4,002 | 72.47% | 13 | 0.24% |
| 1956 | 2,509 | 50.78% | 2,412 | 48.82% | 20 | 0.40% |
| 1952 | 3,599 | 56.58% | 2,750 | 43.23% | 12 | 0.19% |
| 1948 | 1,165 | 25.83% | 3,046 | 67.52% | 300 | 6.65% |
| 1944 | 960 | 19.37% | 3,406 | 68.74% | 589 | 11.89% |
| 1940 | 1,412 | 36.81% | 2,419 | 63.06% | 5 | 0.13% |
| 1936 | 403 | 15.38% | 2,204 | 84.12% | 13 | 0.50% |
| 1932 | 224 | 4.86% | 4,378 | 94.91% | 11 | 0.24% |
| 1928 | 911 | 24.27% | 2,842 | 75.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 746 | 14.15% | 3,290 | 62.42% | 1,235 | 23.43% |
| 1920 | 100 | 3.13% | 1,249 | 39.10% | 1,845 | 57.76% |
| 1916 | 936 | 31.55% | 1,784 | 60.13% | 247 | 8.32% |
| 1912 | 265 | 12.30% | 1,455 | 67.52% | 435 | 20.19% |