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Livingston, Texas
Livingston City Hall at 220 West Church Street
Livingston City Hall at 220 West Church Street
Location of Livingston, Texas
Location of Livingston, Texas
Country  United States
State  Texas
County Polk
Government
 • Type Council / Manager
Area
 • Total 8.74 sq mi (22.64 km2)
 • Land 8.73 sq mi (22.61 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation
167 ft (51 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 5,335
 • Estimate 
(2019)
5,242
 • Density 600.46/sq mi (231.85/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
77351, 77399
Area code(s) 936 Exchanges: 327,328,329,425
FIPS code 48-43132
GNIS feature ID 1361573
Website Livingston City website
Locomotive No 5 -- Livingston, Texas
Locomotive No 5 – Livingston, Texas
The Fain Theater -- Livingston, Texas
The Fain Theater In Livingston, Texas
Courthouse Polk County Texas
Courthouse Polk County Texas – In Livingston
Courthouse Whistle Stop Cafe, Livingston, TX IMG 8283
The Courthouse Whistle Stop Cafe is located across from the courthouse in downtown Livingston.
Livinstotex
Historic downtown Livingston
Livingston, TX, water tower IMG 8288
Livingston water tower
Central Baptist Church, Livingston, TX IMG 8300
Central Baptist Church in Livingston

Livingston is a town in and the county seat of Polk County, Texas. With a population of 5,335 at the 2010 census, it is the largest city in Polk County. It is located about 90 miles north of Houston and was originally settled in 1835 as Springfield. Its name was changed to Livingston and became the county seat of Polk County in 1846.

The Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation is just to the east of Livingston. The 2000 census reported a resident population of 480 persons within the reservation.

Geography

Livingston is located at 30°42′34″N 94°56′4″W / 30.70944°N 94.93444°W / 30.70944; -94.93444 (30.709518, -94.934443).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 8.4 square miles (22 km2), of which, 8.4 sq mi (22 km2) of it is land and 0.12% is covered by water. However, the town of Livingston is about 10 mi (16 km) east of Lake Livingston, which is the largest drinking-water reservoir in the state of Texas.

Elevation: 148 ft

The zip code 77399 is used exclusively by a mail service called Escapees for those who are signed up with the service.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 135
1920 928
1930 1,165 25.5%
1940 1,851 58.9%
1950 2,865 54.8%
1960 3,398 18.6%
1970 3,965 16.7%
1980 4,928 24.3%
1990 5,019 1.8%
2000 5,433 8.2%
2010 5,335 −1.8%
2019 (est.) 5,242 −1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

The population in the 2010 census was 5,335, and was estimated to be 5,128 in 2018. As of the census of 2000, the population density was 649.9 inhabitants per square mile (250.9/km2). The 2,358 housing units averaged 282.1 per square mile (108.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 70.38% White, 18.50% African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 8.08% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. About 13.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 2,048 households, 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were not families. About 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the town, the population was distributed as 27.7% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,424, and for a family was $37,868. Males had a median income of $30,318 versus $21,774 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,214. About 18.2% of families and 22.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 17.4% of those age 65 or over.

In the 2010 Census, Livingston lost 1.8% of its population.2010 Census for Livingston, Texas

Transportation

The city's airport, Livingston Municipal Airport (LMA) is located to the southwest of the city. It is classified as a general-aviation facility serving private aircraft.

Major highways:

  • US 59.svg U.S. Highway 59
    • U.S. 59 is scheduled to be upgraded to I-69 (TX).svg Interstate 69.
  • US 190.svg U.S. Highway 190
  • Texas 146.svg State Highway 146

Recreation

Lake Evelyn is within the borders of Camp Cho-Yeh, which began operation in the 1940s continues to function as a summer camp and retreat center to this day. Cho-Yeh means, 'land of tall pines' and was labeled that because of the large pine trees on the property.

Tourism & Recreation

Destinations

Entertainment

  • Fain Theatre
  • Triple J Lanes Bowling

Attractions

  • Light of Saratoga at Bragg Road
  • 391 Historical Markers
  • Polk County Museum[3]
  • Swartout: Former River Ferry Town, now a ghost town

Events

  • Trinity Neches Livestock show and Rodeo (founded in 1945)
  • Polk County Fireworks on Lake Livingston
  • Annual Jingle Bell Fun Run and Walk
  • Hometown Christmas
  • 5k Dam Run

Economy

The most common employers in Livingston are lumber operations and the Polunsky Unit state prison in West Livingston.

Livingston is the headquarters to two regional bank systems, the First National Bank and the First State Bank.

First State Bank has its main office in downtown Livingston and branches in Livingston (west side of town on Highway 190), Onalaska, and Shepherd.

First National Bank has its main office on Highway 190 and branches in downtown Livingston and Onalaska.

Education

The City of Livingston is served by the Livingston Independent School District.

The Texas Legislature designated Polk County as being in the boundary of Angelina College's district. A branch, Polk County Community College, opened in the fall of 2014. The college offers various classes and two-year associate degrees.

Notable people

  • Laci Kaye Booth, American Idol contestant 2019, top-five finalist
  • Paul Carr, NFL and University of Houston football player, he moved to Livingston as the elementary-school physical-education coach
  • Billy Eli, Musician, songwriter
  • Clem Fain, Jr., Texas state senator, honorary chief of and Texas agent for the Alabama-Coushatta Indians
  • Annette Gordon-Reed, historian and law professor, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for History and the National Book Award for Nonfiction
  • Lyda Green, Alaskan state senator for 14 years
  • Margo Jones, stage director who launched the careers of Tennessee Williams and Ray Walston, and directed Williams' The Glass Menagerie on Broadway
  • Long King, Principal chief of the Coushatta Indians
  • Sally Mayes, Award-winning Broadway actress and singer, Livingston named a street in her honor
  • Mark Moseley, Super Bowl XVII and the 1982 National Football League Most Valuable Player Award as a placekicker
  • Lt. James N. Parker, Jr., Co-pilot of crew number 9 in the Doolittle Raid (Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo), awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
  • Gene Phillips, Professional basketball player
  • Isaac Newton Turner, Captain in the Civil War with Hood's Brigade
  • Samuel M. Whitside, Commanded Camp Livingston in the late 1860s during the reconstruction period
  • Brad Womack, Star of ABC's The Bachelor seasons 11 and 15

Images for kids

See also

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