Morris County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Morris County
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The Morris County Courthouse in Daingerfield
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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 | 1875 |
| Seat | Daingerfield |
| Largest city | Daingerfield |
| Area | |
| • Total | 259 sq mi (670 km2) |
| • Land | 252 sq mi (650 km2) |
| • Water | 6.7 sq mi (17 km2) 2.6%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 11,973 |
| • Density | 46.23/sq mi (17.85/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Morris County is a place in Texas, a state in the United States. It's located near the eastern edge of Texas. In 2020, about 11,973 people lived there. The main town, or county seat, is Daingerfield. It's likely named after William Wright Morris, who was an early judge and farmer from Henderson, another town in northeast Texas. Until 2016, Morris County was one of the few places in Texas where alcohol sales were very restricted. Now, it's "partially wet," meaning some alcohol sales are allowed.
Contents
History of Morris County
In the 1800s, many European-American farmers settled in this area. They often brought enslaved African Americans with them or bought them to work on cotton farms. Cotton was a very important crop, but farmers also grew other things before the American Civil War. Eastern Texas had a large number of enslaved people.
Even today, the area is mostly rural and has many farms. In the 21st century, African Americans make up a notable part of the county's population.
Geography of Morris County
Morris County covers about 259 square miles. Most of this area, about 252 square miles, is land. The rest, about 6.7 square miles, is water. It is one of the smallest counties in Texas.
Main Roads in Morris County
You can get to and around Morris County using several important roads:
I-30
US 67
US 259
SH 11
SH 49
SH 77
FM 130
FM 144
FM 161
FM 250
SH 338
Neighboring Counties
Morris County shares its borders with these other counties:
- Bowie County (to the north)
- Cass County (to the east)
- Marion County (to the southeast)
- Upshur County (to the south)
- Camp County (to the southwest)
- Titus County (to the west)
- Red River County (to the northwest)
Towns and Communities
Morris County has several towns and smaller communities.
Cities in Morris County
- Daingerfield (This is the main town, or county seat)
- Hughes Springs (Most of this city is actually in Cass County)
- Lone Star
- Omaha
Town in Morris County
Smaller Communities
These are smaller, unincorporated communities:
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 5,032 | — | |
| 1890 | 6,580 | 30.8% | |
| 1900 | 8,220 | 24.9% | |
| 1910 | 10,439 | 27.0% | |
| 1920 | 10,289 | −1.4% | |
| 1930 | 10,028 | −2.5% | |
| 1940 | 9,810 | −2.2% | |
| 1950 | 9,433 | −3.8% | |
| 1960 | 12,576 | 33.3% | |
| 1970 | 12,310 | −2.1% | |
| 1980 | 14,629 | 18.8% | |
| 1990 | 13,200 | −9.8% | |
| 2000 | 13,048 | −1.2% | |
| 2010 | 12,934 | −0.9% | |
| 2020 | 11,973 | −7.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010–2020 |
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Morris County has a diverse population. The table below shows how the different racial and ethnic groups have changed over the years.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 9,217 | 8,636 | 7,716 | 70.64% | 66.77% | 64.45% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 3,137 | 2,952 | 2,448 | 24.04% | 22.82% | 20.45% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 62 | 82 | 70 | 0.48% | 0.63% | 0.58% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 23 | 43 | 35 | 0.18% | 0.33% | 0.29% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 8 | 3 | 9 | 0.06% | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 6 | 7 | 30 | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.25% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 118 | 208 | 483 | 0.90% | 1.61% | 4.03% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 477 | 1,003 | 1,182 | 3.66% | 7.75% | 9.87% |
| Total | 13,048 | 12,934 | 11,973 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
In 2000, there were 13,048 people living in the county. By 2020, this number had changed to 11,973 people. The county had about 51 people per square mile. There were 5,215 households, and 3,749 of them were families.
About 29.5% of households had children under 18 living there. About 53.9% were married couples. Around 14.1% were households led by a woman without a husband. About 28.1% were not families.
The average household had 2.47 people, and the average family had 2.95 people.
The population's age groups in 2000 were:
- 25.2% were under 18 years old.
- 7.8% were from 18 to 24 years old.
- 24.3% were from 25 to 44 years old.
- 24.5% were from 45 to 64 years old.
- 18.3% were 65 years or older.
The average age in the county was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were about 92.7 males.
In 2000, the average income for a household was $29,011. For a family, it was $35,326. About 18.3% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 25.4% of those under 18 and 12.9% of those 65 or older.
Education
Several school districts serve the students in Morris County:
- Daingerfield-Lone Star ISD (a small part is in Titus County)
- Hughes Springs ISD (most of it is in Cass County)
- Pewitt CISD (small parts are in Titus and Cass counties)
Morris County also has a satellite campus of Northeast Texas Community College in Naples. The main campus of this college is in Titus County.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Morris (Texas) para niños
