# Lamar County, Texas

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. Its county seat is Paris. The county was formed by the Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 17, 1840, and organized the next year. It is named for Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second president of the Republic of Texas. Lamar County comprises the Paris, TX micropolitan statistical area.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 933 square miles (2,420 km$^2$), of which 907 square miles (2,350 km$^2$) are land and 26 square miles (67 km$^2$) (2.8%) are covered by water.

### Major highways

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

### Adjacent counties

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

## Communities
### Cities

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

### Census-designated place

* Brookston
* Powderly
* Petty

### Unincorporated communities

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

## Demographics

Lamar 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) | 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% |
As of the census of 2000, 48,499 people, 19,077 households, and 13,468 families resided in the county. At the tabulation of the 2020 United States census, its population increased to 50,088.
Among the population, its racial and ethnic makeup was 70.58% non-Hispanic white, 12.73% Black or African American, 1.50% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.95% Asian alone, 0.05% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 0.24% some other race alone, 5.14% multiracial, and 8.81% Hispanic or Latino American of any race. In 2000, the racial makeup of the county was 82.46% White, 13.47% 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; from 2000 to 2020, the majority if its population remained predominantly non-Hispanic white against nationwide demographic trends of increased diversification.

## Education

These school districts serve Lamar County:
* 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, Roxton ISD included a part of the county. Roxton ISD consolidated into Chisum ISD after the 2018–19 school year.
In addition, Paris Junior College serves the county, as per the Texas Education Code.

## Politics

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