Morris County, Texas

Morris County is a county located near the eastern border of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 11,973.[1] Its county seat is Daingerfield.[2] Morris County is probably named for William Wright Morris, an early judge and planter from Henderson, also in northeast Texas. As of 2016, Morris County is no longer one of six prohibition, or entirely dry, counties in the state of Texas. Morris County is now "partially wet."[3]

Morris County
County
The Morris County Courthouse in Daingerfield
The Morris County Courthouse in Daingerfield
Map of Texas highlighting Morris County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°07′N 94°44′W
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1875
SeatDaingerfield
Largest cityDaingerfield
Area
 • Total259 sq mi (670 km2)
 • Land252 sq mi (650 km2)
 • Water6.7 sq mi (17 km2)  2.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total11,973
 • Density46/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.morris.tx.us

History

In the nineteenth century, this area was settled primarily by European-American planters and farmers, many of whom brought enslaved African Americans with them or purchased others to work as laborers on the cotton plantations they developed. Cotton was most important, but farmers also cultivated other commodity crops before the American Civil War. Eastern Texas was the region of the state with the highest number and proportion of slaves.

The area has continued to be mostly rural and agricultural. In the 21st century, African Americans comprise a significant minority in the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 259 square miles (670 km2), of which 252 square miles (650 km2) is land and 6.7 square miles (17 km2) (2.6%) is water.[4] It is the fifth-smallest county in Texas by land area and fourth-smallest by total area.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Communities

Cities

Town

Unincorporated community

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18805,032—
18906,58030.8%
19008,22024.9%
191010,43927.0%
192010,289−1.4%
193010,028−2.5%
19409,810−2.2%
19509,433−3.8%
196012,57633.3%
197012,310−2.1%
198014,62918.8%
199013,200−9.8%
200013,048−1.2%
201012,934−0.9%
202011,973−7.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1850–2010[6] 2010–2020[7]
Morris County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[8] Pop 2020[7] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 8,636 7,716 66.77% 64.45%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,952 2,448 22.82% 20.45%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 82 70 0.63% 0.58%
Asian alone (NH) 43 35 0.33% 0.29%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 3 9 0.02% 0.08%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 7 30 0.05% 0.25%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 208 483 1.61% 4.03%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,003 1,182 7.75% 9.87%
Total 12,934 11,973 100.00% 100.00%

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 can be of any race.

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,048 people, 5,215 households, and 3,749 families residing in the county.[9] In 2020, its population was 11,973.[7] The population density was 51 people per square mile (20 people/km2). There were 6,017 housing units at an average density of 24 units per square mile (9.3/km2). In 2000, the racial makeup of the county was 71.71% White, 24.13% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.28% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races; 3.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,215 households, out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were married couples living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 18.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,011, and the median income for a family was $35,326. Males had a median income of $30,917 versus $20,270 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,612. About 14.90% of families and 18.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.40% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The following school districts serve Morris County:

Morris County is also served by the Northeast Texas Community College, whose main campus is in southeastern Titus County, but it has a small satellite campus in Naples.

Politics

Morris County was a longtime Democratic stronghold, like many rural Southern counties were in the Jim Crow and immediate post-Jim Crow eras. (It only voted for a Republican in 1972.) The 2000 election was the last time the county voted in favor of a Democratic presidential nominee.

United States presidential election results for Morris County, Texas[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 3,872 69.30% 1,669 29.87% 46 0.82%
2016 3,446 69.29% 1,425 28.65% 102 2.05%
2012 3,232 62.89% 1,858 36.15% 49 0.95%
2008 3,158 60.18% 2,055 39.16% 35 0.67%
2004 2,818 53.39% 2,437 46.17% 23 0.44%
2000 2,381 48.70% 2,455 50.21% 53 1.08%
1996 1,449 30.01% 2,973 61.58% 406 8.41%
1992 1,400 25.14% 3,028 54.37% 1,141 20.49%
1988 2,104 37.37% 3,522 62.56% 4 0.07%
1984 2,778 48.51% 2,925 51.07% 24 0.42%
1980 2,133 40.40% 3,105 58.81% 42 0.80%
1976 1,843 37.38% 3,071 62.28% 17 0.34%
1972 2,699 69.47% 1,162 29.91% 24 0.62%
1968 1,064 26.03% 1,701 41.61% 1,323 32.36%
1964 1,218 33.89% 2,366 65.83% 10 0.28%
1960 1,569 44.27% 1,952 55.08% 23 0.65%
1956 1,463 47.58% 1,592 51.77% 20 0.65%
1952 890 34.06% 1,722 65.90% 1 0.04%
1948 143 9.19% 1,164 74.81% 249 16.00%
1944 122 8.27% 1,269 85.98% 85 5.76%
1940 82 4.47% 1,752 95.53% 0 0.00%
1936 52 4.09% 1,220 95.91% 0 0.00%
1932 38 2.94% 1,253 97.06% 0 0.00%
1928 287 26.90% 780 73.10% 0 0.00%
1920 164 18.06% 669 73.68% 75 8.26%
1916 163 15.28% 689 64.57% 215 20.15%
1912 89 25.72% 191 55.20% 66 19.08%

See also

References
  1. "Morris County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "TABC Home Page". www.tabc.state.tx.us. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  5. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  6. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  7. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Morris County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  8. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Morris County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  10. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 28, 2018.

33.12°N 94.73°W / 33.12; -94.73

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