San Augustine County was formed in 1837. It was supposedly named afterSaintAugustine of Hippo,[3] but more plausibly, the county was named for the town of San Augustine, which had been established five years earlier and whose name was based upon an 18th-centurySpanishpresidio (fortress), thePresidio de San Agustín de Ahumada, named forAgustín de Ahumada, 2nd Marquess of Amarillas.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 592 square miles (1,530 km2), of which 62 square miles (160 km2) (10%) are covered by water.[4]
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1850–2010[6] 2010–2020[7]
San Augustine 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 thecensus[10] of 2000, there were 8,946 people, 3,575 households, and 2,520 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 17 people per square mile (6.6 people/km2). The 5,356 housing units had an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 69.26% White, 27.95% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 1.64% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race made up about 3.58% of the population.
Of the 3,575 households, 26.8% had children under 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were not families. About 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the county, the age distribution was 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.10 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 85.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,025, and for a family was $32,772. Males had a median income of $28,395 versus $18,925 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $15,548. About 15.60% of families and 21.20% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 30.70% of those under age 18 and 20.10% of those age 65 or over.
At the presidential level, San Augustine County has voted for theRepublican candidate in every election since2000, having usually been carried by Democratic candidates up until that point.
Like many areas of theSouth, while Republicans generally win federal and state elections, Democrats tend to perform better in down-ballot races for local offices. Identification with theDemocratic Party is strong in San Augustine County. In 2012, roughly 24% of eligible voters participated in theDemocratic primary, while less than 6% participated in theRepublican primary, despite there being a competitive presidential primary on the Republican ballot.[13]
American photographerJohn Vachon took a series of photographs of rural schoolchildren in San Augustine County, Texas, for theFarm Security Administration in 1943.
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