Lavaca County, Texas


Lavaca County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 [United States census|2020 census], its population was 20,337. Its county seat is Hallettsville. The county was created in 1846. It is named for the Lavaca River, which curves its way southeast through Moulton and Hallettsville before reaching the coast at Matagorda Bay.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is covered by water.

Major highways

20px U.S. Highway 77 Alternate
20px U.S. [Route 90 Alternate (Texas)|U.S. Highway 90 Alternate]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 20,337 and a median age of 44.7 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older; for every 100 females there were 96.0 males overall and 93.9 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 77.8% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 5.7% from some other race, and 9.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 19.4% of the population.
17.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 82.4% lived in rural areas.
There were 8,191 households in the county, of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.1% were married-couple households, 17.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 10,456 housing units, of which 21.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.9% were owner-occupied and 23.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.3%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 19,210 people, 7,669 households, and 5,391 families were residing in the county.
The population density was. The 9,657 housing units had an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 86.86% White, 6.79% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 4.86% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. About 11.36% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. Of descent, 27.0% were of Czech, 24.1% German, 9.1% American, and 5.1% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000; 86.3% spoke English, 7.7% Spanish, 4.6% Czech and 1.2% German as their first language.
In terms of ancestry in 2016, 32.8% were of German, 30.7% were of Czech, 10.8% were of Irish, 5.4% were of English, 3.4% were of American, and 2.2% were French.
Of the 7,669 households, 30.0% had children under 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were not families. About 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.44, and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the age distribution was 24.2% under 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 23.50% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 21.80% who were 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.10 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 88.50 males.
The median income for a household was $29,132, and for a family was $36,760. Males had a median income of $26,988 versus $17,537 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,398. About 10.20% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18 and 18.40% of those age 65 or over.

Education

These K-12 school public school districts are located in Lavaca County:
Additionally, Vysehrad Independent School District is an elementary-only school district.
All of the county is in the service area of Victoria College.

Communities

Cities

Town

Unincorporated communities

Politics

For all of its history, Lavaca County has had conservative roots and morals. It last voted for a Democrat in 1976 when Georgian Jimmy Carter was on the Democrat ticket. Each successive election thereafter, Lavaca County has continued to tilt more to the right.
All county level officials are Republicans.