Smith County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Smith County
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Smith County Courthouse in Tyler
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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 |
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| State |  Texas |
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| Founded | July 1846 | |
| Seat | Tyler | |
| Largest city | Tyler | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 950 sq mi (2,500 km2) | |
| • Land | 921 sq mi (2,390 km2) | |
| • Water | 28 sq mi (70 km2) 3.0% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 233,479 | |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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237,186 | |
| • Density | 245.8/sq mi (94.9/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | |
| Congressional district | 1st | |
Smith County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 233,479. Its county seat is Tyler. Smith County is named for James Smith, a general during the Texas Revolution.
Smith County is part of the Tyler metropolitan statistical area and the Tyler–Jacksonville combined statistical area.
History
The first known inhabitants of the area now known as Smith County were the Caddo Indians. In July 1846 Smith County separated from the Nacogdoches District and was named for James Smith, a General of the Texas Revolution. It was at this time that Tyler was designated as the county seat.
Camp Ford was the largest Confederate Prisoner of War Camp west of the Mississippi River during the American Civil War and was where Sheriff Jim Reed of Collin County and Judge McReynolds, former chief justice of the district, were seized and lynched by "Regulators." The original site of the Camp stockade is now a public historic park, owned by Smith County, Texas, and managed by the Smith County Historical Society. The park contains a kiosk, paved trail, interpretive signage, a cabin reconstruction, and a picnic area. It is located on Highway 271, 0.8 miles north of Loop 323.
The Smith County Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded in 1959 by individuals and business firms dedicated to discovering, collecting and preserving data, records and other items relating to the history of Smith County, Texas. More information can be found at the Smith County Historical Society Website.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 950 square miles (2,500 km2), of which 921 square miles (2,390 km2) is land and 28 square miles (73 km2) (3.0%) is water.
The county infrastructure includes some 1,180 miles (1,900 km) of two lane county road.
Major highways
Interstate 20
U.S. Highway 69
U.S. Highway 80
U.S. Highway 271
State Highway 31
State Highway 57
State Highway 64
State Highway 110
State Highway 135
State Highway 155
Loop 49
Loop 323
Adjacent counties
- Wood County (north)
- Upshur County (northeast)
- Gregg County (east)
- Rusk County (southeast)
- Cherokee County (south)
- Henderson County (southwest)
- Van Zandt County (northwest)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 4,292 | — | |
| 1860 | 13,392 | 212.0% | |
| 1870 | 16,532 | 23.4% | |
| 1880 | 21,863 | 32.2% | |
| 1890 | 28,324 | 29.6% | |
| 1900 | 37,370 | 31.9% | |
| 1910 | 41,746 | 11.7% | |
| 1920 | 46,769 | 12.0% | |
| 1930 | 53,123 | 13.6% | |
| 1940 | 69,090 | 30.1% | |
| 1950 | 74,701 | 8.1% | |
| 1960 | 86,350 | 15.6% | |
| 1970 | 97,096 | 12.4% | |
| 1980 | 128,366 | 32.2% | |
| 1990 | 151,309 | 17.9% | |
| 2000 | 174,706 | 15.5% | |
| 2010 | 209,714 | 20.0% | |
| 2020 | 233,479 | 11.3% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 241,757 | 15.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
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| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 130,246 | 134,452 | 62.11% | 57.59% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 37,195 | 38,003 | 17.74% | 16.28% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 734 | 746 | 0.35% | 0.32% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 2,550 | 4,129 | 1.22% | 1.77% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 63 | 77 | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 225 | 695 | 0.11% | 0.30% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 2,613 | 8,096 | 1.25% | 3.47% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 36,088 | 47,281 | 17.21% | 20.25% |
| Total | 209,714 | 233,479 | 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.
In the 2010 U.S. census, Smith County had a population of 209,714, up from its 1850 population of 4,292. By the 2020 census, its population increased to 233,479. Among its population in 2010, the racial and ethnic makeup was 62.11% non-Hispanic white, 17.74% Black or African American, 0.35% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1.22% Asian alone, 0.03% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 0.11% some other race, 3.47% multiracial, and 17.21% Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2020, its racial and ethnic makeup was 57.59% non-Hispanic white, 16.28% Black or African American, 0.32% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1.77% Asian alone, 0.03% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 0.30% some other race, 3.47% multiracial and 20.25% Hispanic or Latino of any race; 2020's census statistics reflected state and nationwide demographic trends of greater diversification within the U.S. overall.
At the 2021 American Community Survey, Smith County had a median household income of $63,115; its mean household income was $86,661. Among the owner-occupied housing units of the county, the median value was $169,600, and there was a median real estate tax of $2,634. Owner-occupied housing units without a mortgage had a median value of $173,700 and median real estate tax of $2,203. Throughout the county, an estimated 12.51% of the population lived at or below the poverty line.
Education
These school districts serve school-aged children in Smith County:
- Arp Independent School District
- Bullard Independent School District (also partially in Cherokee County)
- Chapel Hill Independent School District
- Gladewater Independent School District (also partially in Gregg County and Upshur County)
- Lindale Independent School District (also partially in Van Zandt County)
- Troup Independent School District (also partially in Cherokee County)
- Tyler Independent School District
- Van Independent School District (also partially in Van Zandt County)
- Whitehouse Independent School District
- Winona Independent School District
Those wishing to attend institutions of higher learning in the area can attend:
- Tyler Junior College
- Texas College
- University of Texas at Tyler
Media
Smith County is part of the Tyler/Longview/Jacksonville DMA. Local media outlets are: KLTV, KTRE-TV, KYTX-TV, KFXK-TV, KCEB-TV, and KETK-TV.
KTBB, an AM radio station based in Tyler, provides a news-talk format to the area.
The daily Tyler Morning Telegraph is the primary newspaper in the county, based in Tyler. Coverage of the area can also be found in the Longview News-Journal, published in Longview, in Gregg County.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Smith (Texas) para niños
