Atascosa County, Texas

Atascosa County
Atascosa County
County
	The Atascosa County Courthouse in Jourdanton
	Location within the U.S. state of Texas
	Texas's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 28°53′N 98°32′W / 28.89°N 98.53°W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1856
Named for	Atascosa River
Seat	Jourdanton
Largest city	Pleasanton
Area
• Total	1,221 sq mi (3,160 km2)
• Land	1,210 sq mi (3,100 km2)
• Water	1.9 sq mi (5 km2) 0.2%
Population (2020)
• Total	48,981
• Density	40.2/sq mi (15.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	28th
Website	atascosacounty.texas.gov

Atascosa County (/ˌætəsˈkoʊsə/ AT-əs-KOH-sə) is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is in South Texas and its county seat is Jourdanton.^[2]

As of the 2020 United States Census, its population was 48,981.^[3]^[4] Atascosa County is part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan statistical area.

History

In 1856, the Texas Legislature established Atascosa County from portions of Bexar County and named it for the Atascosa River.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,221 square miles (3,160 km²), of which 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) (0.2%) are covered by water.^[5]

The county contains rolling hills and knolls, sloped to the southeast. It is drained by the Atascosa River, which exits the county at its southeastern corner.^[6] The highest point is a localized hill near the northeastern border with Bexar County, between Lytle and Somerset in Bexar, at 810 ft (250 m) above sea level.^[7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Bexar County - north
Wilson County - northeast
Karnes County - east
Live Oak County - southeast
McMullen County - south
La Salle County - southwest
Frio County - west
Medina County - northwest

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	1,578		—
1870	2,915		84.7%
1880	4,217		44.7%
1890	6,459		53.2%
1900	7,143		10.6%
1910	10,004		40.1%
1920	12,702		27.0%
1930	15,654		23.2%
1940	19,275		23.1%
1950	20,048		4.0%
1960	18,828		−6.1%
1970	18,696		−0.7%
1980	25,055		34.0%
1990	30,533		21.9%
2000	38,628		26.5%
2010	44,911		16.3%
2020	48,981		9.1%
2021 (est.)	49,939	^[3]	2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census^[8] 1850–2010^[9] 2010^[10] 2020^[11]

**Atascosa 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.*
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000^[12]	Pop 2010^[10]	Pop 2020^[11]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	15,284	16,295	16,066	39.57%	36.28%	32.80%
Black or African American alone (NH)	179	256	340	0.46%	0.57%	0.69%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	145	143	116	0.38%	0.32%	0.24%
Asian alone (NH)	103	130	170	0.27%	0.29%	0.35%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	16	14	15	0.04%	0.03%	0.03%
Other race alone (NH)	31	43	177	0.08%	0.10%	0.36%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	250	245	919	0.65%	0.55%	1.88%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	22,620	27,785	31,178	58.56%	61.87%	63.65%
Total	38,628	44,911	48,981	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2010 United States census, 44,911 people resided in the county; 84.9% were White, 0.8% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 10.9% of some other race, and 2.3% of two or more races. About 61.9% were Hispanics or Latinos (of any race).

As of the 2000 United States census,^[13] 38,628 people, 12,816 households, and 10,022 families were in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12 people/km²). The 14,883 housing units had an average density of 12 per square mile (4.6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.23% White, 0.60% African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 21.6% from other races, and 3.47% from two or more races. About 58.56% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 12,816 households, 41.7% had children under 18 living with them, 60.3% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.8% were not families. About 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.99, and the average family size was 3.41.

The age distribution was 31.7% under 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,081, and for a family was $37,705. Males had a median income of $27,702 versus $18,810 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,276. About 16.10% of families and 20.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.60% of those under age 18 and 21.70% of those age 65 or over.

Education

These school districts serve Atascosa County:^[14]

Charlotte Independent School District (partial)
Jourdanton Independent School District
Karnes City Independent School District (partial)
Lytle Independent School District (partial)
Pleasanton Independent School District
Poteet Independent School District
Somerset Independent School District (partial)

Most of the county is in the service area of Alamo Community College District. The portion in Pleasanton ISD is zoned to Coastal Bend College (formerly Bee County College).^[15]

Communities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Gallery

Atascosa County has long been cattle country
Replica of the original Atascosa County log courthouse in Jourdanton
The old Atascosa County Jail in Jourdanton was used from 1911 to 1982
The Atascosa County Sheriff's Office and Jail in Jourdanton is located behind the old log courthouse
Gazebo at Veterans Memorial Park in Lytle
Sign at Trinity Baptist Church in Lytle

Politics

United States presidential election results

United States presidential election results for Atascosa County, Texas^[16]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	12,039	66.37%	5,876	32.40%	223	1.23%
2016	8,618	63.03%	4,651	34.02%	404	2.95%
2012	7,461	58.65%	5,133	40.35%	127	1.00%
2008	5,462	54.96%	4,415	44.43%	61	0.61%
2004	7,635	63.02%	4,421	36.49%	60	0.50%
2000	6,231	57.98%	4,322	40.22%	193	1.80%
1996	4,102	44.33%	4,259	46.02%	893	9.65%
1992	3,806	39.41%	3,766	38.99%	2,086	21.60%
1988	4,777	50.26%	4,657	49.00%	70	0.74%
1984	5,279	59.68%	3,547	40.10%	19	0.21%
1980	4,364	51.53%	3,980	46.99%	125	1.48%
1976	2,415	34.15%	4,565	64.55%	92	1.30%
1972	3,400	65.28%	1,804	34.64%	4	0.08%
1968	1,805	35.41%	2,522	49.47%	771	15.12%
1964	1,283	28.41%	3,224	71.39%	9	0.20%
1960	1,812	41.55%	2,544	58.34%	5	0.11%
1956	1,804	54.55%	1,492	45.12%	11	0.33%
1952	2,147	50.15%	2,124	49.61%	10	0.23%
1948	704	25.77%	1,895	69.36%	133	4.87%
1944	685	25.89%	1,757	66.40%	204	7.71%
1940	418	17.83%	1,922	82.00%	4	0.17%
1936	285	12.13%	2,041	86.85%	24	1.02%
1932	192	8.32%	2,101	91.07%	14	0.61%
1928	888	56.56%	682	43.44%	0	0.00%
1924	303	21.81%	869	62.56%	217	15.62%
1920	185	24.12%	531	69.23%	51	6.65%
1916	119	14.69%	635	78.40%	56	6.91%
1912	34	4.92%	593	85.82%	64	9.26%