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Liberty County, Texas facts for kids

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Liberty County
The Liberty County Courthouse in Liberty
The Liberty County Courthouse in Liberty
Map of Texas highlighting Liberty 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 1837
Seat Liberty
Largest city Liberty
Area
 • Total 1,176 sq mi (3,050 km2)
 • Land 1,158 sq mi (3,000 km2)
 • Water 18 sq mi (50 km2)  1.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 91,628
 • Density 77.91/sq mi (30.083/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 36th

Liberty County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 91,628. The county seat is Liberty. The county was created in 1831 as a municipality in Mexico and organized as a county in 1837. It is named for the popular American ideal of liberty.

Liberty County is included in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX metropolitan statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,176 square miles (3,050 km2), of which 1,158 square miles (3,000 km2) is land and 18 square miles (47 km2) (1.5%) is water.

The Trinity River flows through this county, dividing the county approximately in half. The river begins on the northern border of Liberty County, forming the San Jacinto - Polk County line through the Liberty County line. The east fork of the San Jacinto River flows through far Northeast parts of the county, Flowing through Cleveland. Tarkington Bayou begins in the Sam Houston National Forest in San Jacinto County, working its way south through Northeast and east Liberty County and joining other feeders, before traveling into Harris County and emptying into Galveston Bay. The highest point in Liberty County is "Davis Hill", the roof of a salt dome in the northern part of the county.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1850 2,522
1860 3,189 26.4%
1870 4,414 38.4%
1880 4,999 13.3%
1890 4,230 −15.4%
1900 8,102 91.5%
1910 10,686 31.9%
1920 14,637 37.0%
1930 19,868 35.7%
1940 24,541 23.5%
1950 26,729 8.9%
1960 31,595 18.2%
1970 33,014 4.5%
1980 47,088 42.6%
1990 52,726 12.0%
2000 70,154 33.1%
2010 75,643 7.8%
2020 91,628 21.1%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850–2010 2010 2020

2020 census

Liberty County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 52,321 50,044 69.17% 54.62%
Black or African American alone (NH) 8,074 7,024 10.67% 7.67%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 289 291 0.38% 0.32%
Asian alone (NH) 337 466 0.45% 0.51%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 23 12 0.03% 0.01%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 120 329 0.16% 0.36%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 877 2,665 1.16% 2.91%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13,602 30,797 17.98% 33.61%
Total 75,643 91,628 100.00% 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.

Transportation

Major highways

  • US 59.svg U.S. Highway 59
    • I-69 (TX).svg Interstate 69 is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 59 in most places.
  • US 90.svg U.S. Highway 90
  • Texas 61.svg State Highway 61
  • Texas 105.svg State Highway 105
  • Texas 146.svg State Highway 146
  • Texas 321.svg State Highway 321

Aviation

Two general aviation airports are located in unincorporated sections of the county.

  • Liberty Municipal Airport is located east of Liberty.
  • Cleveland Municipal Airport is located east of Cleveland.

The Houston Airport System stated that Liberty County is within the primary service area of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, an international airport in Houston in Harris County.

Toll roads

Liberty County Toll Road Authority
Authority overview
Formed July 2007 (2007-07)
Jurisdiction Liberty County, Texas
Headquarters Liberty County Commissioners Court

The Liberty County Toll Road Authority does not operate any toll roads at present. In July, 2007, Liberty County created the Liberty County Toll Road Authority to have a say in any and all future toll-road projects located within the county.

Communities

Cities

Town

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Economy

Around 1995, the economy of Liberty County was mainly focused on agriculture and oil. As of that year, the economy of Liberty County was struggling. At that time, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice had established four correctional facilities (Cleveland, Henley, Hightower, and Plane) in the county within a six-year span. As of 1995, the facilities employed 1,045 employees and contributed $22 million in the county's annual payroll. Since Cleveland is a privately operated facility, the county receives tax revenue from the prison's operation.

Education

  • Dayton Independent School District (ISD) (portions of the district extends into another county)
  • Liberty ISD
  • Cleveland ISD (portions of the district extends into other counties)
  • Tarkington ISD
  • Hardin ISD
  • Hull-Daisetta ISD
  • Devers ISD

The Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center, operated by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, is located 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Liberty in an unincorporated area. Judge and Mrs. Price Daniel donated 114 acres (46 ha) of land for the purpose of establishing a library on September 27, 1973. Construction began in the fall of 1975; by then, $700,000 had been raised through private donations. The library opened on May 14, 1977.

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Liberty (Texas) para niños

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