Liberty County, Texas


Liberty County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 75,653. The county seat is Liberty. The county was created in 1831 as a municipality in Mexico and organized as a county in 1837. It is named for the popular American ideal of liberty.
Liberty County is included in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metropolitan 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.
The Trinity River flows through this county, dividing the county roughly in half. The river begins on the northern border of Liberty County, forming the San Jacinto - Polk County line through the Liberty County line. The east fork of the San Jacinto River flows through far northeast parts of the county, flowing through Cleveland. Tarkington Bayou begins in the Sam Houston National Forest in San Jacinto County, working its way south through northeast and east Liberty County and joining other feeders, before traveling into Harris County and emptying into Galveston Bay. The highest point in Liberty County is "Davis Hill", the roof of a salt dome in the northern part of the county.

Adjacent counties

As of the census of 2000, 70,154 people, 23,242 households, and 17,756 families resided in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile. The 26,359 housing units averaged 23 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 78.90% White, 12.82% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 6.06% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. About 10.92% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 23,242 households, 38.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.60% were not families. About 20.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the county, the population was distributed as 27.60% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 31.60% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 10.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,361, and for a family was $43,744. Males had a median income of $37,957 versus $22,703 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,539. About 11.10% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.30% of those under age 18 and 15.00% of those age 65 or over.
Of Liberty County's residents, 8.8% have a college degree, the lowest percentage of any U.S. county with a population exceeding 50,000.

Government and politics

Liberty County, formerly strongly Democratic like much of the rest of Texas, has trended sharply Republican in recent years.

United States Congress

Texas Legislature

Texas Senate

District 18: Ernest Bailes - first elected in 2016

Liberty County elected officials

PositionOfficialParty
County JudgeJay KnightRepublican
County Commissioner Precinct 1Bruce KarbowskiRepublican
County Commissioner Precinct 2Greg ArthurRepublican
County Commissioner Precinct 3James "Boo" ReavesRepublican
County Commissioner Precinct 4Leon WilsonRepublican
County AttorneyMatthew PostonRepublican
County ClerkPaulette WilliamsRepublican
District AttorneyLogan PickettRepublican
District ClerkDonna BrownRepublican
SheriffBobby RaderRepublican
Assessor-CollectorRicky BrownRepublican
County TreasurerKim HarrisRepublican
Constable Precinct 1Justin JohnstonRepublican
Constable Precinct 2Leslie HulseyDemocrat
Constable Precinct 3Mark "Mad Dog" DavisonRepublican
Constable Precinct 4Robbie ThorntonRepublican
Constable Precinct 5David HunterRepublican
Constable Precinct 6John JoslinRepublican
Justice Of The Peace Precinct 1Stephen HebertRepublican
Justice Of The Peace Precinct 2Ronnie E. DavisDemocrat
Justice Of The Peace Precinct 3Cody ParrishDemocrat
Justice Of The Peace Precinct 4Barry GravesRepublican
Justice Of The Peace Precinct 5Wade BrownRepublican
Justice Of The Peace Precinct 6Ralph FullerRepublican

Economy

Around 1995, the economy of Liberty County was mainly focused on agriculture and oil. As of that year, the economy of Liberty County was struggling. At that time, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice had established four correctional facilities in the county within a six-year span. As of 1995, the facilities employed 1,045 employees and contributed $22 million in the county's annual payroll. Since Cleveland is a privately operated facility, the county receives tax revenue from the prison's operation.

Education

The Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center, operated by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, is located north of Liberty in an unincorporated area. Judge and Mrs. Price Daniel donated of land for the purpose of establishing a library on September 27, 1973. Construction began in the fall of 1975; by then, $700,000 had been raised through private donations. The library opened on May 14, 1977.

Infrastructure

Outside of the city limits, ambulance services are provided by Liberty County EMS and Cleveland EMS. Fire protection is provided mostly through volunteer fire departments, four of which in Liberty County are funded by emergency services districts.

Police services

The headquarters of the Liberty County Sheriff's Office, which serves unincorporated areas and supplements police forces of incorporated areas, is within the city of Liberty.
Most incorporated areas operate their own police departments, including Cleveland, Daisetta, Dayton, Kenefick, and Liberty.
Liberty County also has a constable for each of its six precincts and deputies assigned to each.

Fire services

Incorporated cities of Cleveland and Liberty operate their own fire departments staffed by a combination of paid and volunteer members. Both departments cover territory outside their respective city limits.
Fire departments serving unincorporated areas:
Emergency medical services are provided by Liberty County EMS, with the only exception being inside the City of Liberty, for which service is provided by the City of Liberty Fire and EMS Department.

Corrections

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates one women's prison and two women's state jails, all co-located in an unincorporated area. The L.V. Hightower Unit prison and the Dempsie Henley Unit and Lucille G. Plane Unit jails are north of Dayton. The Cleveland Unit, a prison for men privately operated by the GEO Group, Inc. on behalf of the TDCJ, is in Cleveland.
Cleveland opened in September 1989. Hightower opened in March 1990. Henley and Plane opened in May 1995. Also, in 1992 Community Education Centers opened a private detention center under federal contract with the United States Marshals Service for 372 beds, co-located at the old decommissioned Liberty County Jail.
As of 1995, of all Texas counties, Liberty County had the fourth-largest number of state prisons and jails, after Walker, Brazoria, and Coryell Counties.

Transportation

Major highways

Two general aviation airports are located in unincorporated sections of the county.
The Houston Airport System stated that Liberty County is within the primary service area of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, an international airport in Houston in Harris County.

Toll roads

The Liberty County Toll Road Authority does not operate any toll roads at present. In July, 2007, Liberty County created the Liberty County Toll Road Authority to have a say in any and all future toll-road projects located within the county.

Communities

Cities