# Live Oak County, Texas

Live Oak County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. It was named for its native groves of live oak. George West is its county seat. Its population was 11,335 in the 2020 census.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,079 square miles (2,790 km$^2$), of which 1,040 square miles (2,700 km$^2$) is land and 39 square miles (100 km$^2$) (3.6%) is water. It is home to the Choke Canyon Reservoir.

### Major highways

* Interstate 37
* U.S. Highway 59
** Interstate 69W is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 59 in most places.
* U.S. Highway 281
** Interstate 69C is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 281 in most places south of George West.
* SH 72
* FM 99
* FM 624
* FM 799
* FM 833

### Adjacent counties

* Karnes County (northeast)
* Bee County (east)
* San Patricio County (southeast)
* Jim Wells County (south)
* Duval County (southwest)
* McMullen County (west)
* Atascosa County (northwest)

## Demographics

Live Oak 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) | 7,199 | 6,805 | 5,968 | 58.49% | 59.01% | 52.65% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 281 | 453 | 205 | 2.28% | 3.93% | 1.81% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 30 | 62 | 49 | 0.24% | 0.54% | 0.43% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 23 | 56 | 35 | 0.19% | 0.49% | 0.31% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 4 | 9 | 45 | 0.03% | 0.08% | 0.40% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 87 | 83 | 240 | 0.71% | 0.72% | 2.12% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4,683 | 4,060 | 4,790 | 38.05% | 35.21% | 42.26% |
| Total | 12,309 | 11,531 | 11,335 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,309 people, 4,230 households, and 3,070 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (4.6 people/km$^2$). There were 6,196 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 87.28% White, 2.45% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 7.72% from other races, and 1.94% from two or more races. 38.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,230 households, out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.30% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 16.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 122.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 129.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,057, and the median income for a family was $38,235. Males had a median income of $30,061 versus $19,665 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,886. About 14.10% of families and 16.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.20% of those under age 18 and 11.70% of those age 65 or over.

## Government and infrastructure

The Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Institution, Three Rivers is located in unincorporated Live Oak County, near Three Rivers.

### Politics

Live Oak County voted predominantly Democratic at the presidential level during the first half of the 20th century. Native son Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1952 win was an exception. Jimmy Carter in 1976, however, was the last Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county, with Republicans winning since 1980.
United States presidential election results for Live Oak County, Texas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 4,307 | 84.57% | 761 | 14.94% | 25 | 0.49% |
| 2020 | 4,199 | 83.07% | 819 | 16.20% | 37 | 0.73% |
| 2016 | 3,464 | 80.52% | 742 | 17.25% | 96 | 2.23% |
| 2012 | 3,154 | 76.68% | 919 | 22.34% | 40 | 0.97% |
| 2008 | 3,095 | 74.11% | 1,048 | 25.10% | 33 | 0.79% |
| 2004 | 3,147 | 74.91% | 1,036 | 24.66% | 18 | 0.43% |
| 2000 | 2,828 | 70.63% | 1,114 | 27.82% | 62 | 1.55% |
| 1996 | 1,929 | 53.41% | 1,372 | 37.98% | 311 | 8.61% |
| 1992 | 1,805 | 45.52% | 1,345 | 33.92% | 815 | 20.55% |
| 1988 | 2,277 | 58.69% | 1,573 | 40.54% | 30 | 0.77% |
| 1984 | 2,481 | 66.00% | 1,260 | 33.52% | 18 | 0.48% |
| 1980 | 2,193 | 60.61% | 1,380 | 38.14% | 45 | 1.24% |
| 1976 | 1,287 | 43.47% | 1,656 | 55.93% | 18 | 0.61% |
| 1972 | 1,745 | 73.97% | 610 | 25.86% | 4 | 0.17% |
| 1968 | 938 | 40.02% | 922 | 39.33% | 484 | 20.65% |
| 1964 | 795 | 35.71% | 1,423 | 63.93% | 8 | 0.36% |
| 1960 | 1,048 | 57.52% | 770 | 42.26% | 4 | 0.22% |
| 1956 | 1,077 | 65.71% | 521 | 31.79% | 41 | 2.50% |
| 1952 | 1,443 | 71.22% | 573 | 28.28% | 10 | 0.49% |
| 1948 | 479 | 30.57% | 945 | 60.31% | 143 | 9.13% |
| 1944 | 548 | 39.00% | 642 | 45.69% | 215 | 15.30% |
| 1940 | 499 | 35.90% | 888 | 63.88% | 3 | 0.22% |
| 1936 | 231 | 20.17% | 874 | 76.33% | 40 | 3.49% |
| 1932 | 114 | 9.56% | 1,070 | 89.77% | 8 | 0.67% |
| 1928 | 484 | 55.82% | 383 | 44.18% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 323 | 31.92% | 596 | 58.89% | 93 | 9.19% |
| 1920 | 161 | 32.46% | 234 | 47.18% | 101 | 20.36% |
| 1916 | 119 | 20.73% | 397 | 69.16% | 58 | 10.10% |
| 1912 | 26 | 6.52% | 308 | 77.19% | 65 | 16.29% |

## Communities
### Cities

* George West (county seat)
* Three Rivers

### Village

* Pernitas Point (small part in Jim Wells County)

### Unincorporated communities

* Dinero
* Oakville
* Ray Point
* Swinney Switch
* Whitsett

### Ghost town

* Lebanon

## Education

School districts include:
* George West Independent School District
* Mathis Independent School District
* Three Rivers Independent School District
Coastal Bend College (formerly Bee County College) is the county's designated community college.