# Jones County, Texas

Jones County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 19,663. Its county seat is Anson. The county was created in 1858 and organized in 1881. Both the county and its county seat are named for Anson Jones, the fourth and final president of the Republic of Texas.
Jones County is included in the Abilene, Texas, metropolitan statistical area.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 937 square miles (2,430 km$^2$), of which 8.6 square miles (22 km$^2$) (0.9%) are covered by water.

### Major highways

* U.S. Highway 83
* U.S. Highway 180
* U.S. Highway 277
* State Highway 6
* State Highway 92

### Adjacent counties

* Haskell County (north)
* Shackelford County (east)
* Callahan County (southeast)
* Taylor County (south)
* Fisher County (west)
* Stonewall County (northwest)

## Demographics

Jones 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) | 13,752 | 12,549 | 11,485 | 66.16% | 62.12% | 58.41% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,368 | 2,292 | 1,978 | 11.39% | 11.35% | 10.06% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 62 | 62 | 66 | 0.30% | 0.31% | 0.34% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 91 | 76 | 111 | 0.44% | 0.38% | 0.56% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 19 | 27 | 41 | 0.09% | 0.13% | 0.21% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 145 | 186 | 474 | 0.70% | 0.92% | 2.41% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4,346 | 5,009 | 5,504 | 20.91% | 24.79% | 27.99% |
| Total | 20,785 | 20,202 | 19,663 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census of 2000, 20,785 people, 6,140 households, and 4,525 families resided in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8.5 people/km$^2$). The 7,236 housing units averaged 8 units per square mile (3.1/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 78.80% White, 11.51% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 7.47% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. About 20.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 6,140 households, 33.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.30% were not families. About 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the county, theage distribution was 22.50% under 18, 11.10% from 18 to 24, 31.50% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 150.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 159.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,572, and for a family was $35,391. Males had a median income of $26,892 versus $17,829 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,656. About 13.10% of families and 16.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.70% of those under age 18 and 16.60% of those age 65 or over.

## Government and infrastructure

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Robertson Unit, located 10 miles from downtown. The state Middleton transfer unit is located partially in Abilene and also in Jones County.
From 2007 to 2017 Republican Susan King represented Jones, Nolan, and Taylor Counties in the state house.

### Politics

"From their first presidential election in 1884 through 1992, the voters in Jones County have generally chosen Democratic candidates. They supported Republican candidates in 1928, 1952, 1972, 1984, and 1988."
Since 2000, the majority of voters selected Republican presidential candidates, with the margin of victory for the party's candidates increasing in each election.
Jones County is part of the 71st district for elections to the Texas House of Representatives.
United States presidential election results for Jones County, Texas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 5,988 | 86.20% | 907 | 13.06% | 52 | 0.75% |
| 2020 | 5,660 | 83.89% | 999 | 14.81% | 88 | 1.30% |
| 2016 | 4,819 | 80.86% | 936 | 15.70% | 205 | 3.44% |
| 2012 | 4,262 | 76.56% | 1,226 | 22.02% | 79 | 1.42% |
| 2008 | 4,203 | 72.37% | 1,528 | 26.31% | 77 | 1.33% |
| 2004 | 4,254 | 71.72% | 1,658 | 27.95% | 19 | 0.32% |
| 2000 | 4,080 | 67.46% | 1,899 | 31.40% | 69 | 1.14% |
| 1996 | 2,351 | 43.46% | 2,422 | 44.77% | 637 | 11.77% |
| 1992 | 2,088 | 35.20% | 2,400 | 40.46% | 1,444 | 24.34% |
| 1988 | 3,000 | 50.71% | 2,898 | 48.99% | 18 | 0.30% |
| 1984 | 4,017 | 62.93% | 2,343 | 36.71% | 23 | 0.36% |
| 1980 | 2,765 | 47.07% | 3,043 | 51.80% | 66 | 1.12% |
| 1976 | 2,072 | 38.26% | 3,318 | 61.26% | 26 | 0.48% |
| 1972 | 3,202 | 75.11% | 1,050 | 24.63% | 11 | 0.26% |
| 1968 | 1,676 | 33.66% | 2,372 | 47.64% | 931 | 18.70% |
| 1964 | 1,295 | 26.32% | 3,622 | 73.62% | 3 | 0.06% |
| 1960 | 2,196 | 44.04% | 2,772 | 55.60% | 18 | 0.36% |
| 1956 | 2,073 | 44.32% | 2,594 | 55.46% | 10 | 0.21% |
| 1952 | 2,941 | 52.21% | 2,680 | 47.58% | 12 | 0.21% |
| 1948 | 432 | 10.34% | 3,599 | 86.16% | 146 | 3.50% |
| 1944 | 361 | 8.77% | 3,417 | 83.00% | 339 | 8.23% |
| 1940 | 401 | 9.79% | 3,688 | 90.08% | 5 | 0.12% |
| 1936 | 305 | 8.24% | 3,396 | 91.71% | 2 | 0.05% |
| 1932 | 224 | 7.03% | 2,934 | 92.03% | 30 | 0.94% |
| 1928 | 1,995 | 55.95% | 1,563 | 43.83% | 8 | 0.22% |
| 1924 | 566 | 15.39% | 3,010 | 81.86% | 101 | 2.75% |
| 1920 | 270 | 11.83% | 1,792 | 78.53% | 220 | 9.64% |
| 1916 | 114 | 5.34% | 1,798 | 84.18% | 224 | 10.49% |
| 1912 | 63 | 3.89% | 1,301 | 80.36% | 255 | 15.75% |

## Communities
### Cities

* Abilene (mostly in Taylor County)
* Anson (county seat)
* Hamlin (small part in Fisher County)
* Hawley
* Lueders (small part in Shackelford County)
* Stamford (small part in Haskell County)

### Unincorporated communities

* Avoca
* Corinth
* Noodle
* Nugent
* Radium
* Tuxedo

## Education

School districts include:
* Abilene Independent School District
* Anson Independent School District
* Clyde Consolidated Independent School District
* Hamlin Independent School District
* Hawley Independent School District
* Lueders-Avoca Independent School District
* Merkel Independent School District
* Paint Creek Independent School District
* Roby Consolidated Independent School District
* Stamford Independent School District
* Trent Independent School District
The Texas Legislature designated the county as being in the Western Texas College District.

## Notable person

* Charles Stenholm, former member of the United States House of Representatives