Lamar County, Texas
Lamar County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas, in the Northeast Texas region. As of the 2020 census, its population was 50,088. Its county seat is Paris. The county was formed by the Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 17, 1840, and organized the next year. It is named for Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second president of the Republic of Texas. Lamar County comprises the Paris, TX micropolitan statistical area.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which are land and are covered by water.Major highways
Adjacent counties
Communities
Cities
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 50,088. The median age was 40.8 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.4 males age 18 and over.The racial makeup of the county was 72.8% White, 12.9% Black or African American, 1.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.8% from some other race, and 7.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 8.8% of the population.
52.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 47.5% lived in rural areas.
There were 20,186 households in the county, of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.9% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 22,644 housing units, of which 10.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.9% were owner-occupied and 36.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.4%.
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | % 2000 | % 2010 | ||
| White alone | 26,298 | 37,891 | 35,354 | 84.18% | 76.10% | 70.58% |
| Black or African American alone | 2,482 | 6,628 | 6,378 | 7.94% | 13.31% | 12.73% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone | 234 | 592 | 751 | 0.75% | 1.19% | 1.50% |
| Asian alone | 81 | 304 | 474 | 0.26% | 0.61% | 0.95% |
| Pacific Islander alone | 7 | 5 | 25 | 0.02% | 0.01% | 0.05% |
| Other race alone | 14 | 27 | 119 | 0.04% | 0.05% | 0.24% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial | 373 | 1,123 | 2,575 | 1.19% | 2.26% | 5.14% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,753 | 3,223 | 4,412 | 5.61% | 6.47% | 8.81% |
| Total | 31,242 | 49,793 | 50,088 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, 48,499 people, 19,077 households, and 13,468 families resided in the county. At the tabulation of the 2020 census, its population increased to 50,088.In 2000, the racial makeup of the county was 82.46% White, 13.47% Black or African American, 1.08% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 1.19% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. About 3.33% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
From 2000 to 2020, the majority of its population remained predominantly non-Hispanic white even as nationwide demographics continued to diversify.
Education
These school districts serve Lamar County:Until it closed in 2019, Roxton ISD included a part of the county. Roxton ISD consolidated into Chisum ISD after the 2018–19 school year.
In addition, Paris Junior College serves the county, as per the Texas Education Code.