Morris County is acounty located near the eastern border of theU.S. state ofTexas. As of the2020 census, its population was 11,973.[1] Itscounty seat isDaingerfield.[2] Morris County is probably named for William Wright Morris, an early judge and planter fromHenderson, also in northeast Texas. As of 2016, Morris County is no longer one of six entirelydry, prohibition counties in the state of Texas. Morris County is "partially wet."[3]
In the nineteenth century, this area was settled primarily by European-American planters and farmers, many of whom brought African American slaves with them or purchased others to work as laborers on the cotton plantations they developed. Cotton was most important, but farmers also cultivated other commodity crops before theAmerican Civil War. Eastern Texas was the region of the state with the highest number and proportion of slaves.
The area has continued to be mostly rural and agricultural. In the 21st century, African Americans comprise a significant minority in the county.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 259 square miles (670 km2), of which 252 square miles (650 km2) is land and 6.7 square miles (17 km2) (2.6%) is water.[4] It is the fifth-smallest county in Texas by land area and fourth-smallest by total area.
A single room was first used as a courthouse. In 1882 a new courthouse was built, for $5,500. On July 19, 1971, a groundbreaking occurred for a replacement courthouse, scheduled to open in 1972.[5]
U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1850–2010[7] 2010–2020[8]
Morris County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition 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 may be of any race.
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 11,973. The median age was 44.7 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.5 males age 18 and over.[11]
Less than 0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[13]
There were 4,963 households in the county, of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.0% were married-couple households, 18.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]
There were 5,789 housing units, of which 14.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.4% were owner-occupied and 28.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.3%.[11]
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 13,048 people, 5,215 households, and 3,749 families residing in the county.[14] Thepopulation density was 51 people per square mile (20 people/km2). There were 6,017 housing units at an average density of 24 units per square mile (9.3/km2). In 2000, the racial makeup of the county was 71.71%White, 24.13%Black orAfrican American, 0.53%Native American, 0.18%Asian, 0.06%Pacific Islander, 2.28% fromother races, and 1.12% from two or more races; 3.66% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 5,215 households, out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% weremarried couples living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 18.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,011, and the median income for a family was $35,326. Males had a median income of $30,917 versus $20,270 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $15,612. About 14.90% of families and 18.30% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 25.40% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.
Morris County was a longtime Democratic stronghold, like many rural Southern counties were in theJim Crow and immediate post-Jim Crow eras. (It only voted for a Republican in1972.) The 2000 election was the last time the county voted in favor of a Democratic presidential nominee.
United States presidential election results for Morris County, Texas[15]
