Harrison County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harrison County
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Harrison County Courthouse in Marshall
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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 | 1842 |
| Named for | Jonas Harrison |
| Seat | Marshall |
| Largest city | Marshall |
| Area | |
| • Total | 916 sq mi (2,370 km2) |
| • Land | 900 sq mi (2,000 km2) |
| • Water | 16 sq mi (40 km2) 1.7%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 68,839  |
| • Density | 75/sq mi (29/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Harrison County is a county located on the eastern side of Texas. In 2020, about 68,839 people lived there. The main city and county seat is Marshall. The county was formed in 1839 and officially started in 1842. It is named after Jonas Harrison, a lawyer who helped with the Texas Revolution.
Before the American Civil War, Harrison County had many large cotton farms. These farms relied on the labor of enslaved African Americans. In fact, Harrison County had the most enslaved people in Texas. They made up 59% of the population. Even after the Civil War, from 1870 to 1930, Black people were still about 60% of the county's population.
After the Reconstruction era, white people used violence to control Black communities. They also passed laws to stop Black people from voting. This was part of a system called Jim Crow laws.
From the 1940s to the 1970s, many Black people moved away. This was part of the Great Migration. They left to find better jobs and escape unfair laws in the South. Since the late 1900s, more white people have moved to Harrison County. The county's economy has also grown beyond just farming.
Harrison County is part of the Marshall micropolitan area. This means it's a small city area with close ties to nearby towns. It's also part of the larger Longview-Marshall combined area. The county is located in the Ark-La-Tex region, where Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas meet.
Contents
History of Harrison County
Early Settlement and Formation
People from the United States started settling in what is now Harrison County in the 1830s. In 1835, the Mexican government gave land grants to about a dozen US settlers. After the Texas Revolution, the Texas Republic created Harrison County in 1839. It was formed from parts of Shelby County. The county was named after Jonas Harrison, a hero of the Texas Revolution. It officially began operating in 1842.
In 1846, Harrison County became smaller. Some of its land was used to create Panola and Upshur counties. The city of Marshall was founded in 1841. It became the county seat in 1842.
Many settlers came from the Southern United States. They built large cotton farms and brought enslaved African Americans to work on them. This area became a major cotton-growing region. By 1850, Harrison County had more enslaved people than any other county in Texas. In 1860, there were 8,746 enslaved people in Harrison County. This was 59% of everyone living there.
In 1861, the county's voters, who were only white men, strongly supported leaving the United States. This led to the American Civil War.
From Reconstruction to Today
After the Civil War, federal troops occupied Harrison County during Reconstruction. Many white residents did not like the federal government's control. They also opposed the new rights given to freedmen (formerly enslaved people). For a while, Black and white Republicans held many local government jobs.
However, by 1880, conservative white Democrats regained control of the county government. They used unfair methods, like hiding ballot boxes, to win elections. They kept control until the 1950s. State laws also made it hard for Black people to vote. This included poll taxes and "white primaries," which only allowed white people to vote in primary elections.
During this time, white violence was used to keep Black people from having equal rights. Harrison County had many lynchings, which were violent acts meant to terrorize Black communities. These acts showed that Black people often could not get fair treatment or protection under the law.
In the 1870s, the county's economy grew beyond farming. The Texas and Pacific Railway built its main offices and repair shops in Marshall. This brought new jobs and helped transport cotton to markets.
From 1880 to 1930, Harrison County was mostly rural and agricultural. Black people made up about 60% of the population. Most African Americans worked as tenant farmers or sharecroppers on farms.
In 1901, the Texas legislature passed laws that stopped most Black people from voting. This lasted until the late 1960s, when new national laws were passed to protect voting rights.
Oil was discovered in Harrison County in 1928. This new industry greatly helped the county's economy.
The Great Depression in the 1930s hurt the farming industry badly. But World War II helped end the depression. From 1940 to 1970, many Black people moved from the South to the West Coast. They found new jobs in defense factories and escaped unfair Jim Crow laws. This was a big part of the Great Migration.
The county's population went down until 1980, then it started to grow again. More white people have moved into the county. In recent years, many white voters in Texas have switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.
Geography of Harrison County
Harrison County covers about 916 square miles. About 900 square miles are land, and 16 square miles (1.7%) are water. The northern and eastern parts of the county drain into the Red River in Louisiana. This water flows through Little Cypress Creek, Cypress Bayou, and Caddo Lake. The southern part of the county drains into the Sabine River. This river forms part of the county's southern border. These waterways were very important for transportation in early times.
Neighboring Counties
- Marion County (north)
- Caddo Parish, Louisiana (east)
- Panola County (south)
- Rusk County (southwest)
- Gregg County (west)
- Upshur County (northwest)
Main Roads
Interstate 20
U.S. Highway 59
Interstate 369 is being built along U.S. 59.
U.S. Highway 80
State Highway 43
State Highway 49
State Highway 154
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Farm to Market Road 134
Farm to Market Road 2208
Protected Areas
- Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a special area that protects nature.
Communities in Harrison County
Cities
- Hallsville
- Longview (mostly in Gregg County)
- Marshall (county seat and largest city)
- Scottsville
- Uncertain
- Waskom
Unincorporated Communities
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 11,822 | — | |
| 1860 | 15,001 | 26.9% | |
| 1870 | 13,241 | −11.7% | |
| 1880 | 25,177 | 90.1% | |
| 1890 | 26,721 | 6.1% | |
| 1900 | 31,878 | 19.3% | |
| 1910 | 37,243 | 16.8% | |
| 1920 | 43,565 | 17.0% | |
| 1930 | 48,937 | 12.3% | |
| 1940 | 50,900 | 4.0% | |
| 1950 | 47,745 | −6.2% | |
| 1960 | 45,594 | −4.5% | |
| 1970 | 44,841 | −1.7% | |
| 1980 | 52,265 | 16.6% | |
| 1990 | 57,483 | 10.0% | |
| 2000 | 62,110 | 8.0% | |
| 2010 | 65,631 | 5.7% | |
| 2020 | 68,839 | 4.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010–2020 |
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| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 43,044 | 42,654 | 42,039 | 69.30% | 64.99% | 61.07% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 14,861 | 14,303 | 13,448 | 23.93% | 21.79% | 19.54% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 165 | 277 | 294 | 0.27% | 0.42% | 0.43% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 186 | 331 | 483 | 0.30% | 0.50% | 0.70% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 21 | 26 | 28 | 0.03% | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 28 | 52 | 267 | 0.05% | 0.08% | 0.39% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 489 | 734 | 2,441 | 0.79% | 1.12% | 3.55% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3,316 | 7,254 | 9,839 | 5.34% | 11.05% | 14.29% |
| Total | 62,110 | 65,631 | 68,839 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
In 2000, the U.S. census counted 62,110 people living in Harrison County. There were 23,087 households and 16,945 families. The population density was about 69 people per square mile. By 2020, the population grew to 68,839 people.
The census also looks at the different groups of people living in an area. In 2020, the population of Harrison County was made up of:
- 61.07% non-Hispanic White people
- 19.54% Black or African American people
- 0.43% Native American people
- 0.70% Asian people
- 0.04% Pacific Islander people
- 0.39% people of some other race
- 3.55% people of two or more races
- 14.29% Hispanic or Latino people (who can be of any race)
The largest ancestry groups in Harrison County in 2010 included: English (41%), Black or African American (24%), and Irish (8%).
In 2018, the average household income was $51,202. About 14.7% of the people lived below the poverty line.
Education in Harrison County
Several school districts serve the students of Harrison County:
- Elysian Fields ISD (also in Panola County)
- Hallsville ISD
- Harleton ISD
- Karnack ISD
- Marshall ISD
- New Diana ISD (mostly in Upshur County)
- Ore City ISD (mostly in Upshur County, some in Marion County)
- Waskom ISD
Most of Harrison County is part of the area served by Panola College. However, the part of the county in Hallsville ISD is served by Kilgore Junior College.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Harrison (Texas) para niños
