Livingston, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Livingston, Texas
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Livingston City Hall at 220 West Church Street
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Location of Livingston, Texas
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| 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 | 184 ft (56 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,640 |
| • Density | 600.46/sq mi (231.85/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
77351, 77399
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| Area code(s) | 936 |
| FIPS code | 48-43132 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412903 |
| Website | Livingston City website |
Livingston is a town in Texas, United States. It is the main town and county seat of Polk County, Texas. In 2020, about 5,640 people lived there. This makes it the biggest town in Polk County.
Livingston is located about 46 miles (74 km) south of Lufkin. It is also about 74 miles (119 km) northeast of Houston. The town was first settled in 1835 and was called Springfield. Its name changed to Livingston in 1846. This happened when it became the county seat of Polk County.
The Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation is located east of Livingston. These people traditionally lived in what is now east Texas and Louisiana. In 2000, about 480 people lived on the reservation. The tribe has almost 1,200 members.
Contents
Geography of Livingston
Livingston covers a total area of about 8.4 square miles (21.7 km2). Most of this area is land. Only a very small part, about 0.12%, is covered by water.
The town of Livingston is located about 10 miles (16 km) east of Lake Livingston. This lake is very important. It is the largest drinking-water reservoir in Texas. The main zip code for the Livingston area is 77351.
Livingston's Population
Livingston has grown quite a bit over the years. Here's how its population has changed:
| 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% | |
| 2020 | 5,640 | 5.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the 2020 United States census showed that 5,640 people lived in Livingston. There were 1,951 households and 1,268 families.
Who Lives in Livingston?
Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Livingston as of 2020:
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 3,103 | 55.02% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 997 | 17.68% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 28 | 0.5% |
| Asian (NH) | 96 | 1.7% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 20 | 0.35% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 199 | 3.53% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,197 | 21.22% |
| Total | 5,640 |
Livingston's Economy
The main jobs in Livingston are in lumber and at the Polunsky Unit state prison. This prison is located in West Livingston.
Livingston is also home to the main offices of two local banks. These are the First National Bank and the First State Bank.
First State Bank has its main office in downtown Livingston. It also has branches in Livingston, Onalaska, and Shepherd.
First National Bank has its main office on Highway 190. It also has branches in downtown Livingston and Onalaska.
Transportation in Livingston
Livingston has its own airport called Livingston Municipal Airport (LMA). It is located southwest of the city. This airport is used by private aircraft.
Several major highways pass through Livingston:
U.S. Highway 59
- U.S. 59 is planned to be upgraded to
Interstate 69.
- U.S. 59 is planned to be upgraded to
U.S. Route 190
State Highway 146
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Education in Livingston
Students in Livingston attend schools in the Livingston Independent School District.
Angelina College also serves Polk County. Polk County Community College opened in 2014. This college offers various classes and two-year associate degrees.
Recreation and Fun in Livingston
Lake Evelyn is located within Camp Cho-Yeh. This camp started in the 1940s. It is still a popular summer camp and retreat center today. The name "Cho-Yeh" means 'land of tall pines'. It was named this because of the many large pine trees there.
Famous People from Livingston
Many interesting people have come from Livingston, Texas. Here are a few:
- Laci Kaye Booth, a top-five finalist on American Idol in 2019.
- Paul Carr, a football player for the NFL and the University of Houston.
- Billy Eli, a musician and songwriter.
- Percy Foreman, a well-known criminal defense attorney.
- Annette Gordon-Reed, a historian and law professor at Harvard.
- Lyda Green, who served as an Alaska state senator for 14 years.
- Margo Jones, a famous stage director.
- Sally Mayes, an award-winning Broadway actress and singer.
- Mark Moseley, a football player.
- Gene Phillips, a professional basketball player.
- Brad Womack, a star on ABC's The Bachelor TV show.
Media in Livingston
Livingston has several ways to get local news and entertainment:
- KCTL Television
- KETX Television
- STRYK TV – Video Country
- KETX Radio (1440 KETX (AM))
- KEHH
- PolkCountyToday.com (a news website)
- Polk County Enterprise (a newspaper), and its online version, East Texas News.
Things to See and Do in Livingston
Livingston and the surrounding area offer many places to visit and fun activities.
Popular Destinations
- Lake Livingston
- Lake Livingston State Park Lake Livingston State Park — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
- Pedigo Park
- Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation
Local Attractions
- Light of Saratoga at Bragg Road
- There are 391 Historical Markers around the area.
- Polk County MuseumPOLK COUNTY MUSEUM – Polk County Historical Society
- Swartout: This was once a river Ferry town, but now it is a ghost town.
Fun Events
- Trinity Neches Livestock show and Rodeo (started in 1945)
- Polk County Fireworks on Lake Livingston
- Annual Jingle Bell Fun Run and Walk
- Hometown Christmas
- 5k Dam Run
Images for kids
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Locomotive No 5 – Livingston, Texas
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The Fain Theater In Livingston, Texas
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Courthouse Polk County Texas – In Livingston
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The Courthouse Whistle Stop Cafe is located across from the courthouse in downtown Livingston.
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Historic downtown Livingston
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Livingston water tower
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Central Baptist Church in Livingston
See also
In Spanish: Livingston (Texas) para niños
