Sabine County is a county located on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 9,894. The county was organized on December 14, 1837, and named for the Sabine River, which forms its eastern border.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (15%) is water.
Major highways U.S. Highway 96 State Highway 21 State Highway 87 State Highway 103 State Highway 184 Loop 149 Spur 35 Spur 165 Spur 414
National Protected Areas Sabine National Forest (part)
Adjacent counties and parish Shelby County (north) Sabine Parish, Louisiana (east) Newton County (south) Jasper County (southwest) San Augustine County (west)
History Like other eastern Texas counties, Sabine was originally developed as cotton plantations, which depended on the labor of numerous enslaved African Americans. After the Civil War and emancipation, many freedmen remained in the rural area, working as tenant farmers and sharecroppers. There was considerable violence by whites against blacks during and after Reconstruction. After 1877 and through the early 20th century, Sabine County had 10 lynchings of blacks by whites in acts of racial terrorism. This was when the county was heavily Democrat. This was the fourth-highest total in the state, where lynchings took place in nearly all counties through this period.Lynching in America, Third Edition: Supplement by County , pp. 9-10, Equal Justice Initiative, Mobile, Alabama, 2017.
From 1930 to 1970, the population declined as many African Americans left this rural county and other parts of the South in the Great Migration to escape Jim Crow oppression and seek better jobs, especially in Northern industrial cities and on the West Coast, where the defense industry built up during World War II.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 9,894. The median age was 53.8 years, 18.5% of residents were under the age of 18, and 30.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.5 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county in 2020 was 85.2% White, 7.5% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.4% from some other race, and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.0% of the population.
Less than 0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 4,387 households in the county, of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.9% were married-couple households, 21.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 7,563 housing units, of which 42.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 84.7% were owner-occupied and 15.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.9%.
Racial and ethnic composition +Sabine County, Texas – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980 Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)7,1968,3399,1159,4848,30782.69%86.99%87.07%87.54%83.96%Black or African American alone (NH)1,3711,1091,03977873415.75%11.57%9.92%7.18%7.42%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)19102954510.22%0.10%0.28%0.50%0.52%Asian alone (NH)211933520.02%0.11%0.09%0.30%0.53%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census300xx0.03%0.00%0.00%Other race alone (NH)3626350.03%0.06%0.02%0.06%0.35%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census83135322xx0.79%1.25%3.25%Hispanic or Latino (any race)1111111893443931.28%1.16%1.81%3.18%3.97%Total8,7029,58610,46910,8349,894 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%
2000 Census As of the census of 2000, there were 10,469 people, 4,485 households, and 3,157 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 7,659 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 87.85% White, 9.92% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 1.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,485 households, out of which 23.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.10% under the age of 18, 5.60% from 18 to 24, 21.10% from 25 to 44, 27.20% from 45 to 64, and 24.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 93.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,198, and the median income for a family was $32,554. Males had a median income of $28,695 versus $21,141 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,821. About 11.80% of families and 15.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.90% of those under age 18 and 12.70% of those age 65 or over. Education The following school districts serve Sabine County: Brookeland Independent School District (partial) Hemphill Independent School District Shelbyville Independent School District (partial) West Sabine Independent School District
The county is in the service area of Angelina College.Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.165. ANGELINA COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA, Statutes.capitol.texas.gov
Communities Cities Hemphill (county seat) Pineland
Unincorporated areas Census-designated places Milam
Unincorporated communities Bronson Brookeland (partly in Jasper County) Fairmount Geneva Isla Pendleton Harbor Rosevine Sexton Yellowpine
Historical communities
Bayou East Mayfield Fairdale Gravehill Pendleton Plainview Sabinetown Tebo Time Vesta
COVID-19 pandemic In July 2021, Sabine County ranked the highest in the United States for cases of Coronavirus per 100,000 people.
Politics Sabine County has become a solidly Republican county since the beginning of the 21st century but previously leaned Democratic, voting for Bill Clinton in both 1992 and 1996 and also against Texan George H. W. Bush in 1988 and 1992.
Sabine County is represented in the Texas House of Representatives by Republican Travis Clardy.
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Sabine County, Texas Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Sabine County
References
External links
Sabine County Chamber of Commerce