Austin County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,417. Its seat is Bellville. The county is named for Stephen F. Austin, who facilitated the Anglo-American colonization of Texas and is known as the "Father of Texas". Austin County is included in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Austin County is not to be confused with the city of Austin, the state capital city that lies in Travis County, about 110 miles to the northwest.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is covered by water.
As of the census of 2000, 23,590 people, 8,747 households, and 6,481 families resided in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile. The 10,205 housing units averaged 16 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 80.22% White, 10.64% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 6.99% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. About 16.13% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race, and 26.9% were of German, 8.0% Czech, 6.4% English, and 5.0% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. Of the 8,747 households, 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.60% were married couplesliving together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were not families; 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.14. In the county, the population was distributed as 27.00% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males. The median income for a household in the county was $38,615, and for a family was $46,342. Males had a median income of $32,455 versus $22,142 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,140. About 8.80% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.70% of those under age 18 and 14.40% of those age 65 or over.
