# Johnson County, Texas

Johnson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 179,927. Its county seat is Cleburne. Johnson County is named for Colonel Middleton Tate Johnson Sr., a Texas Ranger, politician and soldier in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War (fighting for the Confederate States Army). Johnson County is included in the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan statistical area.

## History

The first settler of Johnson County was Henry Briden, who built a log cabin on the Nolan River in 1849. His log cabin still exists, and can be seen along State Highway 174 in Rio Vista, Texas. The first county seat was Wardville, now located under the waters of Lake Pat Cleburne. In 1856, Buchanan became the county seat. Johnson County was divided in 1866, with the western half becoming Hood County. Camp Henderson became the new county seat and was renamed Cleburne in honor of Confederate General Patrick Cleburne.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 734 square miles (1,900 km$^2$), of which 725 square miles (1,880 km$^2$) are land and 9.8 square miles (25 km$^2$) (1.3%) are covered by water.

### Major highways

* I-35W
* I-35 BL
* U.S. Highway 67
* U.S. Highway 287
* U.S. Highway 377
* State Highway 81
* State Highway 171
* State Highway 174

### Adjacent counties

* Tarrant County (north)
* Ellis County (east)
* Hill County (south)
* Bosque County (southwest)
* Somervell County (southwest)
* Hood County (west)
* Parker County (northwest)

## Communities
### Cities (multiple counties)

* Burleson (small part in Tarrant County)
* Cresson (partly in Hood and Parker counties)
* Crowley (mostly in Tarrant County)
* Fort Worth (mostly in Tarrant County, with small parts in Denton, Parker, Wise, and Johnson counties)
* Mansfield (mostly in Tarrant County and a small part in Ellis County)
* Venus (small part in Ellis County)

### Cities

* Alvarado
* Briaroaks
* Cleburne (county seat)
* Coyote Flats
* Godley
* Grandview
* Joshua
* Keene
* Rio Vista

### Towns

* Cross Timber

### Census-designated place

* The Homesteads, Texas

### Unincorporated communities

* Beulah
* Bono
* Egan
* Lillian
* Parker
* Sand Flat

## Demographics

Johnson 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) | 105,460 | 115,545 | 119,226 | 83.16% | 76.55% | 66.26% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 3,058 | 3,797 | 6,446 | 2.41% | 2.52% | 3.58% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 694 | 741 | 840 | 0.55% | 0.49% | 0.47% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 654 | 951 | 1,726 | 0.52% | 0.63% | 0.96% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 219 | 475 | 929 | 0.17% | 0.31% | 0.52% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 79 | 164 | 612 | 0.06% | 0.11% | 0.34% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 1,272 | 1,942 | 7,535 | 1.00% | 1.29% | 4.19% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 15,375 | 27,319 | 42,613 | 12.12% | 18.10% | 23.68% |
| Total | 126,811 | 150,934 | 179,927 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |

### 2023 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates

| Total | Population | Percentage |
| Hispanic or Latino | 52,531 | 25.9% |
| NH White | 130,578 | 64.4% |
| NH Black | 11,684 | 5.8% |
| NH Asian | 2,570 | 1.3% |
| NH Native American | 922 | 0.5% |
| NH Pacific Islander | 846 | 0.4% |
| NH Multiracial | 3,775 | 1.9% |
The United States Census Bureau estimated that in 2023, Johnson County’s population was 202,906. It was also estimated that the county was 25.9% Hispanic or Latino, 64.4% NH White, 5.8% NH Black, 1.3% NH Asian, 0.5% NH Native, 0.4% NH Pacific Islander, and 1.9% NH Multiracial.

### 2000 census

In 2000 there were 126,811 people, 43,636 households, and 34,428 families resided in the county. The population density was 174 people per square mile (67 people/km$^2$). The 46,269 housing units averaged 63 units per square mile (24/km$^2$). In 2020, its population was 179,927, reflecting the increase of the Metroplex's population and suburbanization.
At the 2000 census, the racial makeup of the county was 90.01% White, 2.50% African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 4.52% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. About 12.12% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2010, its racial makeup was 76.55% non-Hispanic white, 2.52% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.63% Asian American, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 0.11% some other race, 1.29% multiracial, and 18.10% Hispanic or Latino of any race. By 2020, its racial and ethnic makeup was 66.26% non-Hispanic white, 3.58% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.96% Asian, 0.52% Pacific Islander, 0.34% some other race, 4.19% multiracial, and 23.68% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
As of 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $44,621, and for a family was $49,963. Males had a median income of $36,718 versus $25,149 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,400. About 6.90% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.60% of those under age 18 and 10.90% of those age 65 or over.

## Education

School districts include:
* Alvarado Independent School District
* Burleson Independent School District
* Cleburne Independent School District
* Crowley Independent School District
* Godley Independent School District
* Granbury Independent School District
* Grandview Independent School District
* Joshua Independent School District
* Keene Independent School District
* Mansfield Independent School District
* Rio Vista Independent School District
* Venus Independent School District
Hill College a college in Hillsboro, a town in neighboring Hill County also provides tertiary education, with a campus in Cleburne since 1971. Johnson County is defined by the Texas Education Code as being in the Hill College service area.
Southwestern Adventist University, a private liberal arts university in Keene, is currently the only four-year institution of higher learning in Johnson County. Southwestern is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church and has existed since 1893.

## Media

Johnson County is part of the Dallas/Fort Worth television media market in north-central Texas. Local news media outlets are: KDFW-TV, KXAS-TV, WFAA-TV, KTVT-TV, KERA-TV, KTXA-TV, KDFI-TV, KDAF-TV, KFWD-TV, and KDTX-TV. KCLE is the local radio station, which offers local news in addition to its country-music format. The local newspapers are the Cleburne Times-Review, Burleson Star, and Joshua Star.

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Johnson County, Texas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 60,752 | 75.07% | 19,247 | 23.78% | 931 | 1.15% |
| 2020 | 54,628 | 75.85% | 16,464 | 22.86% | 928 | 1.29% |
| 2016 | 44,382 | 77.04% | 10,988 | 19.07% | 2,236 | 3.88% |
| 2012 | 37,661 | 77.11% | 10,496 | 21.49% | 681 | 1.39% |
| 2008 | 36,685 | 73.30% | 12,912 | 25.80% | 453 | 0.91% |
| 2004 | 34,818 | 73.42% | 12,325 | 25.99% | 279 | 0.59% |
| 2000 | 26,202 | 67.66% | 11,778 | 30.41% | 746 | 1.93% |
| 1996 | 16,246 | 50.03% | 12,817 | 39.47% | 3,410 | 10.50% |
| 1992 | 13,473 | 36.22% | 12,030 | 32.34% | 11,699 | 31.45% |
| 1988 | 17,509 | 58.03% | 12,507 | 41.45% | 155 | 0.51% |
| 1984 | 18,254 | 66.44% | 9,148 | 33.30% | 72 | 0.26% |
| 1980 | 11,411 | 50.82% | 10,542 | 46.95% | 501 | 2.23% |
| 1976 | 7,194 | 39.69% | 10,864 | 59.93% | 69 | 0.38% |
| 1972 | 10,042 | 71.04% | 3,968 | 28.07% | 126 | 0.89% |
| 1968 | 4,372 | 35.23% | 5,330 | 42.95% | 2,709 | 21.83% |
| 1964 | 3,251 | 33.72% | 6,381 | 66.18% | 10 | 0.10% |
| 1960 | 4,510 | 53.49% | 3,844 | 45.59% | 77 | 0.91% |
| 1956 | 3,750 | 51.09% | 3,560 | 48.50% | 30 | 0.41% |
| 1952 | 3,985 | 46.97% | 4,496 | 52.99% | 4 | 0.05% |
| 1948 | 707 | 13.59% | 4,042 | 77.70% | 453 | 8.71% |
| 1944 | 546 | 9.26% | 4,757 | 80.68% | 593 | 10.06% |
| 1940 | 649 | 10.50% | 5,532 | 89.47% | 2 | 0.03% |
| 1936 | 337 | 7.25% | 4,281 | 92.12% | 29 | 0.62% |
| 1932 | 530 | 9.81% | 4,858 | 89.88% | 17 | 0.31% |
| 1928 | 3,181 | 61.58% | 1,981 | 38.35% | 4 | 0.08% |
| 1924 | 851 | 14.77% | 4,600 | 79.85% | 310 | 5.38% |
| 1920 | 661 | 15.65% | 3,041 | 71.99% | 522 | 12.36% |
| 1916 | 275 | 7.86% | 3,040 | 86.93% | 182 | 5.20% |
| 1912 | 109 | 3.56% | 2,473 | 80.84% | 477 | 15.59% |