Cass County, Texas
County in Texas, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cass County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 28,454.[1] The county seat is Linden.[2] The county was named for Lewis Cass, a United States Senator representing Michigan who favored the U.S. annexation of Texas in the mid-19th century.
Cass County, Texas | |
|---|---|
| |
 Location within the U.S. state of Texas | |
| Coordinates: 33°04′N 94°21′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1846 |
| Named after | Lewis Cass |
| Seat | Linden |
| Largest city | Atlanta |
| Area | |
• Total | 960 sq mi (2,500 km2) |
| • Land | 937 sq mi (2,430 km2) |
| • Water | 23 sq mi (60 km2) 2.4% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 28,454 |
• Estimate (2025) | 28,651  |
| • Density | 30.4/sq mi (11.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
History
Cass County was formed in 1846 from sections of Bowie County and houses some outskirts of Texarkana.[3] It was named for Lewis Cass,[4] a U.S. Senator from Michigan who had favored the annexation of Texas to the United States and became the first presidential candidate to win the state.
The county was originally developed by planters for cotton plantations. By 1860, the majority of the population were enslaved African Americans. After the war, freedmen worked largely as tenant farmers and sharecroppers into the early 20th century. Black residents faced violence and discrimination in Cass County, which was the location of nine lynchings, the fifth-highest total among Texas' 254 counties.[5][6]
From 1861 to 1871, this county was known as Davis County, after Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America, as opposed to Jeff Davis County in West Texas.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 960 square miles (2,500 km2), of which 937 square miles (2,430 km2) is land and 23 square miles (60 km2) (2.4%) is water.[7]
Cass County, Texas is one of only three counties in Texas to border two other U.S. states (the others are Bowie and Dallam counties). Cass County forms part of the tripoint of Texas-Arkansas-Louisiana.
Adjacent counties and parish
- Bowie County (north)
- Miller County, Arkansas (northeast)
- Caddo Parish, Louisiana (southeast)
- Marion County (south)
- Morris County (west)
Major highways
U.S. Highway 59
Interstate 369 is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 59 in most places.
State Highway 8
State Highway 11
State Highway 77
State Highway 155
Farm to Market Road 248
Farm to Market Road 250
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State protected area
Communities
Cities
- Atlanta
- Hughes Springs (small part in Morris County)
- Linden (county seat)
- Queen City
Towns
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 4,991 | — | |
| 1860 | 8,411 | 68.5% | |
| 1870 | 8,875 | 5.5% | |
| 1880 | 16,724 | 88.4% | |
| 1890 | 22,554 | 34.9% | |
| 1900 | 22,841 | 1.3% | |
| 1910 | 27,587 | 20.8% | |
| 1920 | 30,041 | 8.9% | |
| 1930 | 30,030 | 0.0% | |
| 1940 | 33,496 | 11.5% | |
| 1950 | 26,732 | −20.2% | |
| 1960 | 23,496 | −12.1% | |
| 1970 | 24,133 | 2.7% | |
| 1980 | 29,430 | 21.9% | |
| 1990 | 29,982 | 1.9% | |
| 2000 | 30,438 | 1.5% | |
| 2010 | 30,464 | 0.1% | |
| 2020 | 28,454 | −6.6% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 28,651 | [8] | 0.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1850–2010[10] 2010–2020[11] | |||
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[12] | Pop 1990[13] | Pop 2000[14] | Pop 2010[15] | Pop 2020[11] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 22,661 | 23,464 | 23,542 | 23,522 | 21,028 | 77.00% | 78.26% | 77.34% | 77.21% | 73.90% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 6,358 | 6,020 | 5,915 | 5,299 | 4,518 | 21.60% | 20.08% | 19.43% | 17.39% | 15.88% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 51 | 101 | 130 | 133 | 155 | 0.17% | 0.34% | 0.43% | 0.44% | 0.54% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 15 | 23 | 44 | 89 | 119 | 0.05% | 0.08% | 0.14% | 0.29% | 0.42% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [16] | x [17] | 4 | 4 | 10 | x | x | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.04% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 9 | 1 | 11 | 15 | 86 | 0.03% | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.05% | 0.30% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [18] | x [19] | 266 | 349 | 1,202 | x | x | 0.87% | 1.15% | 4.22% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 336 | 373 | 526 | 1,053 | 1,336 | 1.14% | 1.24% | 1.73% | 3.46% | 4.70% |
| Total | 29,430 | 29,982 | 30,438 | 30,464 | 28,454 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 28,454. The median age was 45.9 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.9 males age 18 and over.[20]
The racial makeup of the county was 75.5% White, 16.0% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.0% from some other race, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.7% of the population.[21]
19.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 80.6% lived in rural areas.[22]
There were 11,738 households in the county, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.9% were married-couple households, 18.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[20]
There were 13,870 housing units, of which 15.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.6% were owner-occupied and 24.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.7%.[20]
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, the county had 30,464 residents and 12,190 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families; 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[23]
The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95. The median income for a household in the county was $28,441, and the median income for a family was $35,623. Males had a median income of $30,906 versus $19,726 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,777. About 14.70% of families and 17.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.20% of those under age 18 and 17.90% of those age 65 or over.
Education
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The following school districts serve Cass County:[24]
- Atlanta ISD
- Avinger ISD (small portion in Marion County)
- Bloomburg ISD
- Hughes Springs ISD (small portion in Morris County)
- Linden-Kildare CISD
- McLeod ISD
- Pewitt CISD (mostly in Morris County, small portion in Titus County)
- Queen City ISD
Marietta Independent School District was formerly in operation. It consolidated into Pewitt ISD in 2008.[25]
The majority of Cass County is in the service area of Texarkana College. Areas in Avinger ISD, Hughes Springs ISD, and Pewitt CISD within Cass County are instead assigned to Northeast Texas Community College.[26]
Politics
Cass County is located within District 1 of the Texas House of Representatives. Cass County is located within District 1 of the Texas Senate.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 402 | 20.62% | 1,284 | 65.85% | 264 | 13.54% |
| 1916 | 707 | 30.27% | 1,505 | 64.43% | 124 | 5.31% |
| 1920 | 1,446 | 42.57% | 1,563 | 46.01% | 388 | 11.42% |
| 1924 | 997 | 31.05% | 2,125 | 66.18% | 89 | 2.77% |
| 1928 | 1,323 | 43.79% | 1,698 | 56.21% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 224 | 6.67% | 3,135 | 93.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 169 | 6.43% | 2,461 | 93.57% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 454 | 12.68% | 3,126 | 87.32% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 541 | 14.46% | 2,866 | 76.59% | 335 | 8.95% |
| 1948 | 457 | 11.72% | 2,540 | 65.14% | 902 | 23.13% |
| 1952 | 2,502 | 44.17% | 3,160 | 55.78% | 3 | 0.05% |
| 1956 | 2,970 | 54.91% | 2,395 | 44.28% | 44 | 0.81% |
| 1960 | 2,322 | 43.89% | 2,934 | 55.46% | 34 | 0.64% |
| 1964 | 2,681 | 42.61% | 3,603 | 57.26% | 8 | 0.13% |
| 1968 | 1,930 | 26.26% | 2,536 | 34.50% | 2,884 | 39.24% |
| 1972 | 5,303 | 72.76% | 1,981 | 27.18% | 4 | 0.05% |
| 1976 | 3,712 | 41.83% | 5,134 | 57.85% | 29 | 0.33% |
| 1980 | 4,993 | 46.79% | 5,578 | 52.27% | 101 | 0.95% |
| 1984 | 6,677 | 56.78% | 5,053 | 42.97% | 30 | 0.26% |
| 1988 | 5,305 | 47.11% | 5,941 | 52.75% | 16 | 0.14% |
| 1992 | 3,999 | 34.30% | 5,476 | 46.96% | 2,185 | 18.74% |
| 1996 | 4,066 | 37.51% | 5,691 | 52.50% | 1,082 | 9.98% |
| 2000 | 6,295 | 57.13% | 4,618 | 41.91% | 106 | 0.96% |
| 2004 | 7,383 | 61.27% | 4,630 | 38.43% | 36 | 0.30% |
| 2008 | 8,279 | 69.89% | 3,490 | 29.46% | 77 | 0.65% |
| 2012 | 8,763 | 74.34% | 2,924 | 24.80% | 101 | 0.86% |
| 2016 | 9,726 | 78.79% | 2,391 | 19.37% | 227 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | 11,033 | 79.22% | 2,795 | 20.07% | 99 | 0.71% |
| 2024 | 11,693 | 82.68% | 2,406 | 17.01% | 44 | 0.31% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 11,477 | 81.30% | 2,457 | 17.40% | 183 | 1.30% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 10,796 | 78.16% | 2,672 | 19.34% | 345 | 2.50% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2022 | 8,415 | 84.41% | 1,460 | 14.65% | 94 | 0.94% |
In popular culture
Don Henley named his 2015 album Cass County, as he had grown up here.[30]
