Angelina County, Texas
Encyclopedia
Angelina County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Texas
. Angelina County was formed in 1846 from Nacogdoches County
. As of 2000, the population was 80,130. Its county seat
is Lufkin
. Angelina is named for a Hainai
Native American
woman who assisted early Spanish
missionaries
and was named Angelina by them. (See List of Texas county name etymologies.) Angelina County is a wet county as of November 2006 wet/dry election. In November 2007 the small community of Burke was the only city in Angelina county to return to dry status.
The Lufkin Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Angelina County.
, where pioneers, often from similarly hardscrabble areas of Georgia
, Alabama
and Mississippi
, wanted nothing more than to carve homesteads out of the Piney Woods and river thickets, farm a little, maybe raise a scraggly herd of tough cattle to drive to market in New Orleans." Lomax added that "[t]hey also wanted to brew up a little whiskey and subsist on the bass, catfish and perch they hauled from the Neches and Angelina rivers and whatever they could trap and shoot on dry land."
, the county has a total area of 864 square miles (2,237.7 km²), of which 802 square miles (2,077.2 km²) is land and 63 square miles (163.2 km²) (7.28%) is water.
of 2000, there were 80,130 people, 28,685 households, and 21,255 families residing in the county. The population density
was 100 people per square mile (39/km²). There were 32,435 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile (16/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 75.10% White
, 14.72% Black
or African American
, 0.30% Native American
, 0.67% Asian
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
, 7.77% from other races
, and 1.42% from two or more races. 14.35% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 28,685 households out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples
living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the county, the population was spread out with 27.70% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,806, and the median income for a family was $39,505. Males had a median income of $30,373 versus $20,221 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $15,876. About 12.40% of families and 15.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.90% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.
said that the residents of Angelina County "were, and are, a self-sufficient breed, good with their hands, bluntly honest and leery of all central authority." In 1861, Angelina County voted against seceding from the United States
. It was the only East Texas
county to do so. John Nova Lomax of the Houston Press
said "[t]heir electoral peculiarity continued through the 20th Century
." Angelina County was the seat of power of Charlie Wilson, a politician labeled the "liberal from Lufkin."
stands. Around the 1970s some criminals established marijuana farms. As of 2011 the main drug dealing activity is the methamphetamine
trade. Allen Hill of the Angelina County Narcotics Squad said that the local meth trade is doing more damage to the county than drug couriers passing through the county, crack cocaine, and heroin. According to Hill, many Hispanic drug dealers increasingly sold imported "ice"-style meth made by drug cartel
s instead of crack cocaine or powdered cocaine, because they make more money selling crack. Hill said that many of the drug dealers claim to be affiliated with Mexican drug cartels or gangs like MS-13.
serves Angelina County.
Stephen F. Austin State University
is located in nearby Nacogdoches.
The following school districts serve Angelina County:
goes through Angelina County.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Angelina County was formed in 1846 from Nacogdoches County
Nacogdoches County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 59,203 people, 22,006 households, and 14,039 families residing in the county. The population density was 62 people per square mile . There were 25,051 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
. As of 2000, the population was 80,130. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Lufkin
Lufkin, Texas
Lufkin is a city in Angelina County, Texas, United States. Founded in 1882, the population was 35,067 in 2010. It is the county seat of Angelina County, and is situated in Deep East Texas.-History:...
. Angelina is named for a Hainai
Hainai
Hainai is the name of a Native American tribe that lived in what is now east Texas.The Hainai were the leading group in the Hasinai confederacy. They were a part of are Caddo Nation, and traditionally lived on the Neches and Angelina rivers to the west of present day Nacogdoches...
Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
woman who assisted early Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
and was named Angelina by them. (See List of Texas county name etymologies.) Angelina County is a wet county as of November 2006 wet/dry election. In November 2007 the small community of Burke was the only city in Angelina county to return to dry status.
The Lufkin Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Angelina County.
History
The county's first Anglo settlers were what John Nova Lomax described as "Scotch-Irish backwoods folk." Cotton farmers and slaves did not come to Angelina County because it had poor soil. Lomax added that "Culturally, the county was less moonlight-and-magnolias Dixie than a little pocket of AppalachiaAppalachia
Appalachia is a term used to describe a cultural region in the eastern United States that stretches from the Southern Tier of New York state to northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. While the Appalachian Mountains stretch from Belle Isle in Canada to Cheaha Mountain in the U.S...
, where pioneers, often from similarly hardscrabble areas of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
and Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, wanted nothing more than to carve homesteads out of the Piney Woods and river thickets, farm a little, maybe raise a scraggly herd of tough cattle to drive to market in New Orleans." Lomax added that "[t]hey also wanted to brew up a little whiskey and subsist on the bass, catfish and perch they hauled from the Neches and Angelina rivers and whatever they could trap and shoot on dry land."
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 864 square miles (2,237.7 km²), of which 802 square miles (2,077.2 km²) is land and 63 square miles (163.2 km²) (7.28%) is water.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 59
U.S. Highway 69
State Highway 103State Highway 103 (Texas)State Highway 103, or SH 103, is a state highway that runs through east Texas from an intersection with SH 7 near the Neches River through Lufkin to an intersection with SH 21 near the Louisiana state border. The route was originally designated in 1926....
State Highway 94State Highway 94 (Texas)State Highway 94 or SH 94 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Texas that runs between Trinity and Lufkin. This route was designated in 1926 along the previously designated SH 7B, and has changed little since designation.-Counties and junctions:...
Adjacent counties
- Nacogdoches CountyNacogdoches County, TexasAs of the census of 2000, there were 59,203 people, 22,006 households, and 14,039 families residing in the county. The population density was 62 people per square mile . There were 25,051 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
(north) - San Augustine CountySan Augustine County, TexasAs of the census of 2000, there were 8,946 people, 3,575 households, and 2,520 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile . There were 5,356 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
(northeast) - Jasper County (southeast)
- Tyler County (south)
- Polk County (southwest)
- Trinity County (west)
- Houston CountyHouston County, TexasHouston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population was 23,185. Its county seat is Crockett. Houston County is named for Samuel Houston, a president of the Republic of Texas and Governor of Texas...
(west) - Cherokee CountyCherokee County, TexasAs of the census of 2000, there were 46,659 people, 16,651 households, and 12,105 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile . There were 19,173 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
(northwest)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 80,130 people, 28,685 households, and 21,255 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 100 people per square mile (39/km²). There were 32,435 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile (16/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 75.10% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 14.72% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.30% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.67% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 7.77% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.42% from two or more races. 14.35% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 28,685 households out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the county, the population was spread out with 27.70% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,806, and the median income for a family was $39,505. Males had a median income of $30,373 versus $20,221 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $15,876. About 12.40% of families and 15.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.90% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The Angelina County Sheriff's Office is the county law enforcement agency. As of 2011 the Angelina County Narcotics Squad consists of Sergeant Allen Hill and Tom Matthews. The division is funded by goods seized from drug dealers; no tax money funds the division.Politics
John Nova Lomax of the Houston PressHouston Press
The Houston Press is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Houston, Texas, United States. It is headquartered in Downtown Houston....
said that the residents of Angelina County "were, and are, a self-sufficient breed, good with their hands, bluntly honest and leery of all central authority." In 1861, Angelina County voted against seceding from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was the only East Texas
East Texas
East Texas is a distinct geographic and ecological area in the U.S. state of Texas.According to the Handbook of Texas, the East Texas area "may be separated from the rest of Texas roughly by a line extending from the Red River in north central Lamar County southwestward to east central Limestone...
county to do so. John Nova Lomax of the Houston Press
Houston Press
The Houston Press is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Houston, Texas, United States. It is headquartered in Downtown Houston....
said "[t]heir electoral peculiarity continued through the 20th Century
20th century
Many people define the 20th century as running from January 1, 1901 to December 31, 2000, others would rather define it as beginning on January 1, 1900....
." Angelina County was the seat of power of Charlie Wilson, a politician labeled the "liberal from Lufkin."
Cities
- BurkeBurke, TexasBurke is a city in southwestern Angelina County, Texas, United States. The population was 715 at the 2010 census.- History :Burke was founded in 1881 when construction of the Houston, East and West Texas Railway reached the western edge of Bradley Prairie. The town was originally named Rhodes for...
- DibollDiboll, TexasDiboll is a city in Angelina County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,476 at the 2010 census. Diboll is named for J. C. Diboll, a local timber salesman.-Geography:Diboll is located at ....
- HudsonHudson, TexasHudson is a city in Angelina County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,792 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hudson is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
- HuntingtonHuntington, TexasHuntington is a city in Angelina County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,068 at the 2000 census. The site is named for Collis Potter Huntington, the chairman of the board of the Southern Pacific Railroad when the town was formed and one of The Big Four...
- LufkinLufkin, TexasLufkin is a city in Angelina County, Texas, United States. Founded in 1882, the population was 35,067 in 2010. It is the county seat of Angelina County, and is situated in Deep East Texas.-History:...
- ZavallaZavalla, TexasZavalla is a city in Angelina County, Texas, United States. The population was 647 at the 2000 census. The town is named for Lorenzo de Zavala, a Mexican rancher, politician, and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence who served as the first Vice-President of the Republic of...
Unincorporated areas
- Alco
- Bald Hill
- Beulah
- Cedar Grove
- Central
- Clawson
- Davisville
- Dolan (unincorporated)
- Dunagan
- Durant
- Ewing
- HertyHerty, TexasHerty is an unincorporated community in north central Angelina County, Texas, United States. It is located three miles east of Lufkin at the intersection of State Highway 103 and Farm to Market Road 842.- History :...
- HomerHomer, TexasHomer is an unincorporated town in Angelina County, Texas, United States, southeast of Lufkin, in Deep East Texas. It was reported to have a population of about 360 in the early 1990s. Homer once served as the county seat for Angelina County....
- Jonesville
- Marion
- Moffitt
- Oak Flat
- Peavy
- Platt
- PollokPollok, TexasPollok is an unincorporated community in Angelina County, Texas, United States. It is eleven miles northwest of Lufkin near the Angelina River.The area around Pollok was first settled in the 1880s. A post office was established in 1886...
- Prairie Grove
- Redland
- Redtown
- Rocky Springs
- Shady Grove
- Shawnee
- Shawnee Prairie
- Thomas Crossing
- Woodlawn
Crime
In previous eras criminals established moonshineMoonshine
Moonshine is an illegally produced distilled beverage...
stands. Around the 1970s some criminals established marijuana farms. As of 2011 the main drug dealing activity is the methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
trade. Allen Hill of the Angelina County Narcotics Squad said that the local meth trade is doing more damage to the county than drug couriers passing through the county, crack cocaine, and heroin. According to Hill, many Hispanic drug dealers increasingly sold imported "ice"-style meth made by drug cartel
Drug cartel
Drug cartels are criminal organizations developed with the primary purpose of promoting and controlling drug trafficking operations. They range from loosely managed agreements among various drug traffickers to formalized commercial enterprises. The term was applied when the largest trafficking...
s instead of crack cocaine or powdered cocaine, because they make more money selling crack. Hill said that many of the drug dealers claim to be affiliated with Mexican drug cartels or gangs like MS-13.
Education
Angelina CollegeAngelina College
Angelina College is a community college located in Lufkin, Texas, with special-purpose branches in nearby Nacogdoches and Crockett.As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of Angelina College is the following:...
serves Angelina County.
Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University is a public university located in Nacogdoches, Texas, United States. Founded as a teachers' college in 1923, the university was named after one of Texas' founding fathers, Stephen F. Austin. Its campus resides on part of the homestead of another Texas founding...
is located in nearby Nacogdoches.
The following school districts serve Angelina County:
- Central Independent School DistrictCentral Independent School DistrictCentral Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Pollok, Texas .In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.-History:...
- Colmesneil Independent School DistrictColmesneil Independent School DistrictColmesneil Independent School District is a public school district based in Colmesneil, Texas . Located in Tyler County, the district extends into a small portion of southern Angelina and western Jasper counties...
(partly) - Diboll Independent School DistrictDiboll Independent School DistrictDiboll Independent School District is a public school district based in Diboll, Texas .In addition to Diboll, the district also serves the city of Burke.In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency....
- Hudson Independent School DistrictHudson Independent School DistrictHudson Independent School District is a public school district based in Hudson, Texas .In 2009, the school district was rated "recognized" by the Texas Education Agency.-History:...
- Huntington Independent School DistrictHuntington Independent School DistrictHuntington Independent School District is a public school district based in Huntington, Texas .Huntington ISD has five schools - Huntington High , Huntington Middle , Huntington Intermediate , Huntington Elementary , and Huntington PRIDE .In 2009, the school district was rated "recognized" by the...
- Lufkin Independent School DistrictLufkin Independent School DistrictLufkin Independent School District is a public school district based in Lufkin, Texas .In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.-Primary/Elementary Schools:*Anderson Elementary School...
- Wells Independent School DistrictWells Independent School DistrictWells Independent School District is a public school district based in Wells, Texas .Located in southern Cherokee County, the district extends into a small portion of Angelina County....
(partly) - Zavalla Independent School DistrictZavalla Independent School DistrictZavalla Independent School District is a public school district based in Zavalla, Texas . The district covers much of the southeastern corner of Angelina County....
Transportation
The TTC-69 component (recommended preferred) of the planned Trans-Texas CorridorTrans-Texas Corridor
The Trans-Texas Corridor was a transportation network that was discontinued in the planning and early construction stages in the U.S. State of Texas. The network, as originally envisioned, would have been composed of a network of supercorridors up to wide to carry parallel links of tollways,...
goes through Angelina County.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Angelina County, Texas
External links
- Angelina County Government
- Angelina County, TXGenWeb Focuses on genealogical research in Angelina County.
- Angelina County Texas Almanac Page