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Bee County, Texas facts for kids

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Bee County
U.S. county
The Bee County Courthouse in Beeville was built in 1913.
The Bee County Courthouse in Beeville was built in 1913.
Map of Texas highlighting Bee County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Texas
Founded 1858
Named for Barnard E. Bee, Sr.
Seat Beeville
Largest city Beeville
Area
 • Total 880 sq mi (2,300 km2)
 • Land 880 sq mi (2,300 km2)
 • Water 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)  0.01%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 31,047
 • Density 35.3/sq mi (13.6/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 27th

Bee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is in South Texas and its county seat is Beeville. As of the 2020 census, its population was 31,047. The Beeville, TX micropolitan statistical area includes all of Bee County. The county was founded December 8, 1857, and organized the next year. It is named for Barnard E. Bee, Sr., a secretary of state of the Republic of Texas.

History

On December 8, 1857, the Texas Legislature formed Bee County from sections of Refugio, Live Oak, San Patricio, Goliad, and Karnes Counties, naming it for Colonel Barnard Elliot Bee, who served the Republic of Texas as Sam Houston's secretary of war and Mirabeau B. Lamar's secretary of state.

During the Anglo-American land speculation of the 1830s, the area's earliest settlers were mainly Irish immigrants, but by the late 1840s and early 1850s, the rise of Jacksonian expansionism inspired Southern whites from the North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Mississippi to occupy and build settlements in the area.

As the constitution of the Republic of Texas no longer recognized the Catholic Church (or any church) as the state religion and slave-holding settlers came to dominate the area in the 1840s, small Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist congregations began forming with sustained missionary support from these denominations. Research suggests that Baptists and Methodists comprised 65% of all Texas congregations by 1870.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 880 square miles (2,300 km2), of which 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.01%) is covered by water. The Aransas River forms in Bee County, southwest of Beeville and north of Skidmore.

Major highways

  • US 59.svg U.S. Highway 59
    • I-69W (TX).svg Interstate 69W is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 59 in most places.
  • US 181.svg U.S. Highway 181
  • Texas 72.svg State Highway 72
  • Texas 202.svg State Highway 202
  • Texas 359.svg State Highway 359
  • Texas FM 673.svg Farm to Market Road 673
  • Texas FM 799.svg Farm to Market Road 799
  • Texas FM 888.svg Farm to Market Road 888

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1860 910 —
1870 1,082 18.9%
1880 2,298 112.4%
1890 3,720 61.9%
1900 7,720 107.5%
1910 12,090 56.6%
1920 12,137 0.4%
1930 15,721 29.5%
1940 16,481 4.8%
1950 18,174 10.3%
1960 23,755 30.7%
1970 22,737 −4.3%
1980 26,030 14.5%
1990 25,135 −3.4%
2000 32,359 28.7%
2010 31,861 −1.5%
2020 31,047 −2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850–2010 2010–2020
Bee 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) 11,352 10,967 8,600 35.08% 34.42% 27.70%
Black or African American alone (NH) 3,145 2,525 2,316 9.72% 7.93% 7.46%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 62 70 54 0.19% 0.22% 0.17%
Asian alone (NH) 148 162 211 0.46% 0.51% 0.68%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 8 10 2 0.02% 0.03% 0.01%
Other race alone (NH) 9 38 65 0.03% 0.12% 0.21%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 185 183 407 0.57% 0.57% 1.31%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 17,450 17,906 19,392 53.93% 56.2% 62.46%
Total 32,359 31,861 31,047 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, 31,047 people, 8,499 households, and 5,693 families resided in the county. As of the 2010 United States census, 31,861 people were living in the county; 78.8% were White, 8.1% Black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 9.7% of some other race, and 2.3% of two or more races. About 56.2% were Hispanics or Latinos (of any race).

As of the Census of 2000, 32,359 people, 9,061 households, and 6,578 families lived in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14 people/km2). The 10,939 housing units had an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 67.85% White, 9.90% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 19.15% from other races, and 2.13% from two or more races. About 53.93% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 9,061 households, 37.8% had children under 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were not families. About 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.74, and the average family size was 3.25.

In the county, the population was distributed as 23.4% under 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 35.4% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 148.40 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 164.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,392, and for a family was $32,967. Males had a median income of $26,473 versus $20,666 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,625. About 19.70% of families and 24.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.80% of those under age 18 and 18.30% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Bee County Library in Beeville, TX IMG 0982
The Joe Barnhart Bee County Library is located in downtown Beeville across the street from the courthouse.

These school districts serve Bee County:

  • Beeville Independent School District
  • Mathis Independent School District (partial)
  • Pawnee Independent School District (partial, K-8)
  • Pettus Independent School District (partial)
  • Refugio Independent School District (partial)
  • Skidmore-Tynan Independent School District (partial)
  • Three Rivers Independent School District (partial)

Coastal Bend College (formerly Bee County College), a postsecondary institution, serves Bee County among other counties and areas.

Communities

Bee County Courthouse in Beeville, TX IMG 0981
The Bee County Courthouse in Beeville was designed by architect W.C. Stephenson, formerly of Buffalo, New York

City

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

  • Blanconia
  • Cadiz
  • Caesar
  • Clareville
  • Mineral
  • Monteola
  • Oaks
  • Olmos
  • Orangedale
  • Papalote
  • Yougeen

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Bee para niños

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