Hardin County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hardin County
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The Hardin County Courthouse in Kountze
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Location within the U.S. state of Texas
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 Texas's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1858 |
| Seat | Kountze |
| Largest city | Lumberton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 898 sq mi (2,330 km2) |
| • Land | 891 sq mi (2,310 km2) |
| • Water | 7.0 sq mi (18 km2) 0.% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 56,231 |
| • Density | 62.62/sq mi (24.177/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 36th |
Hardin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas, United States. In 2020, about 56,231 people lived there. The main town, or county seat, is Kountze. The county is named after the Hardin family, especially William Hardin, who was an early settler.
Hardin County is part of the larger Beaumont-Port Arthur area, which is a big group of cities and towns.
Contents
History of Hardin County
Hardin County was created in 1858. It was named after the Hardin family, including William Hardin (1801-1839). He was an important person in the early days, working as a settler, judge, and postmaster. The family's old cemetery is located north of Liberty.
The building where the county government works, called the Hardin County Courthouse, was built in 1959. It's not the first courthouse the county has had; it's at least the third one!
Geography of Hardin County
Hardin County covers about 898 square miles. Most of this area is land, with only a small part (about 7 square miles) covered by water.
The county is located on the flat coastal plains of Southeast Texas. It's about 30 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico. A large part of Hardin County is covered by the thick forests of the Big Thicket. Many small streams and creeks flow through the county. These streams eventually drain into the Neches River, which forms the eastern border of the county.
Main Roads
Several important roads pass through Hardin County:
U.S. Highway 69/U.S. Highway 287
U.S. Highway 96
State Highway 105
State Highway 326
State Highway 327
Neighboring Counties
Hardin County shares borders with several other counties:
- Tyler County (to the north)
- Jasper County (to the east)
- Orange County (to the southeast)
- Jefferson County (to the south)
- Liberty County (to the southwest)
- Polk County (to the northwest)
The Neches River forms the eastern border with Jasper County and Orange County. The southern border with Jefferson County is formed by Pine Island Bayou.
Protected Natural Areas
A part of the Big Thicket National Preserve is located within Hardin County. This preserve helps protect the unique plants and animals of the Big Thicket forest.
Communities in Hardin County
Hardin County has several towns and communities where people live.
Cities
- Kountze (This is the county seat, where the main county government offices are.)
- Lumberton
- Rose Hill Acres
- Silsbee
- Sour Lake
Census-Designated Places
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities:
- Pinewood Estates
- Wildwood (part of this community is also in Tyler County)
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not part of any city or census-designated place:
Ghost Town
- Bragg (This is a former town that is now mostly abandoned.)
Population of Hardin County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 1,353 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,460 | 7.9% | |
| 1880 | 1,870 | 28.1% | |
| 1890 | 3,956 | 111.6% | |
| 1900 | 5,049 | 27.6% | |
| 1910 | 12,947 | 156.4% | |
| 1920 | 15,983 | 23.4% | |
| 1930 | 13,936 | −12.8% | |
| 1940 | 15,875 | 13.9% | |
| 1950 | 19,535 | 23.1% | |
| 1960 | 24,629 | 26.1% | |
| 1970 | 29,996 | 21.8% | |
| 1980 | 40,721 | 35.8% | |
| 1990 | 41,320 | 1.5% | |
| 2000 | 48,073 | 16.3% | |
| 2010 | 54,635 | 13.7% | |
| 2020 | 56,231 | 2.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
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In 2020, the population of Hardin County was 56,231 people. The population has grown quite a bit over the years.
Most people in Hardin County are White. In 2020, about 83.47% of the population was non-Hispanic White. Other groups living in the county include Black or African American people (5.40%), Native Americans (0.34%), and Asian people (0.71%). About 6.08% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino (who can be of any race).
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Hardin (Texas) para niños
