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Henderson County, Texas facts for kids

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Not to be confused with Henderson, Texas.
Quick facts for kids
Henderson County
U.S. county
The Henderson County Courthouse in Athens
The Henderson County Courthouse in Athens
Map of Texas highlighting Henderson 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 1846
Named for James Pinckney Henderson
Seat Athens
Largest city Athens
Area
 • Total 948 sq mi (2,460 km2)
 • Land 874 sq mi (2,260 km2)
 • Water 75 sq mi (190 km2)  7.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 82,150
 • Density 86.66/sq mi (33.458/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 5th
"Courthouse under the Oaks" historical marker, Athens, TX IMG 0577
"Courts Under the Oaks" in Athens
Henderson County, TX, Peace Officers Assn. monument IMG 0585
Henderson County Peace Officers Association monument


Henderson County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 82,150. The county seat is Athens. The county is named in honor of James Pinckney Henderson, the first attorney general of the Republic of Texas, and secretary of state for the republic. He later served as the first governor of Texas.

Henderson County was established in 1846, the year after Texas gained statehood. Its first town was Buffalo, laid out in 1847. The county boundaries were set in 1850, with some reduction from the previous size. The restructuring resulted in the need for a new county seat. In an election, Athens was chosen as the site for the "courthouse under the oaks."

Henderson County comprises the Athens micropolitan statistical area, which is also included in the Dallas-Fort Worth combined statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 948 square miles (2,460 km2), of which 874 square miles (2,260 km2) is land and 75 square miles (190 km2) (7.9%) is water.

Major highways

  • US 175.svg U.S. Highway 175
  • Texas 19.svg State Highway 19
  • Texas 31.svg State Highway 31
  • Texas 155.svg State Highway 155
  • Texas 198.svg State Highway 198
  • Texas 274.svg State Highway 274
  • Texas 334.svg State Highway 334

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1850 1,237 —
1860 4,595 271.5%
1870 6,786 47.7%
1880 9,735 43.5%
1890 12,285 26.2%
1900 19,970 62.6%
1910 20,131 0.8%
1920 28,327 40.7%
1930 30,583 8.0%
1940 31,822 4.1%
1950 23,405 −26.5%
1960 21,786 −6.9%
1970 26,466 21.5%
1980 42,606 61.0%
1990 58,543 37.4%
2000 73,277 25.2%
2010 78,532 7.2%
2020 82,150 4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850–2010 2010–2020

2020 census

Henderson County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 63,494 61,854 80.85% 75.29%
Black or African American alone (NH) 4,813 4,705 6.13% 5.73%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 349 414 0.44% 0.50%
Asian alone (NH) 318 510 0.40% 0.62%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 27 31 0.03% 0.04%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 76 211 0.10% 0.26%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 965 3,183 1.23% 3.87%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8,490 11,242 10.81% 13.68%
Total 78,532 82,150 100.00% 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.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

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