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Smith County, Texas facts for kids

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Not to be confused with Deaf Smith County, Texas.
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Smith County
U.S. county
Smith County Courthouse in Tyler
Smith County Courthouse in Tyler
Official seal of Smith County
Seal
Map of Texas highlighting Smith County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Texas
Founded July 1846
Seat Tyler
Largest city Tyler
Area
 • Total 950 sq mi (2,500 km2)
 • Land 921 sq mi (2,390 km2)
 • Water 28 sq mi (70 km2)  3.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 233,479
 • Estimate 
(2021)
 237,186
 • Density 245.8/sq mi (94.9/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 1st

Smith County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 233,479. Its county seat is Tyler. Smith County is named for James Smith, a general during the Texas Revolution.

Smith County is part of the Tyler metropolitan statistical area and the Tyler–Jacksonville combined statistical area.

History

Wall of Memories, Tyler, TX IMG 0472
Smith County veterans display, the Wall of Memories, in the Tyler plaza
Confederate memorial, Smith County, TX IMG 0477
Confederate States of America memorial in Tyler plaza
Korean War Veterans Memorial, Tyler, TX IMG 0491
Korean War Memorial in Tyler plaza

The first known inhabitants of the area now known as Smith County were the Caddo Indians. In July 1846 Smith County separated from the Nacogdoches District and was named for James Smith, a General of the Texas Revolution. It was at this time that Tyler was designated as the county seat.

Camp Ford was the largest Confederate Prisoner of War Camp west of the Mississippi River during the American Civil War and was where Sheriff Jim Reed of Collin County and Judge McReynolds, former chief justice of the district, were seized and lynched by "Regulators." The original site of the Camp stockade is now a public historic park, owned by Smith County, Texas, and managed by the Smith County Historical Society. The park contains a kiosk, paved trail, interpretive signage, a cabin reconstruction, and a picnic area. It is located on Highway 271, 0.8 miles north of Loop 323.

The Smith County Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded in 1959 by individuals and business firms dedicated to discovering, collecting and preserving data, records and other items relating to the history of Smith County, Texas. More information can be found at the Smith County Historical Society Website.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 950 square miles (2,500 km2), of which 921 square miles (2,390 km2) is land and 28 square miles (73 km2) (3.0%) is water.

The county infrastructure includes some 1,180 miles (1,900 km) of two lane county road.

Major highways

  • I-20.svg Interstate 20
  • US 69.svg U.S. Highway 69
  • US 80.svg U.S. Highway 80
  • US 271.svg U.S. Highway 271
  • Texas 31.svg State Highway 31
  • Texas 57.svg State Highway 57
  • Texas 64.svg State Highway 64
  • Texas 110.svg State Highway 110
  • Texas 135.svg State Highway 135
  • Texas 155.svg State Highway 155
  • Texas Loop 49.svgToll Texas 49 new.svg Loop 49
  • Texas Loop 323.svg Loop 323

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1850 4,292 —
1860 13,392 212.0%
1870 16,532 23.4%
1880 21,863 32.2%
1890 28,324 29.6%
1900 37,370 31.9%
1910 41,746 11.7%
1920 46,769 12.0%
1930 53,123 13.6%
1940 69,090 30.1%
1950 74,701 8.1%
1960 86,350 15.6%
1970 97,096 12.4%
1980 128,366 32.2%
1990 151,309 17.9%
2000 174,706 15.5%
2010 209,714 20.0%
2020 233,479 11.3%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850–2010 2010 2020

2020 census

Smith County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 130,246 134,452 62.11% 57.59%
Black or African American alone (NH) 37,195 38,003 17.74% 16.28%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 734 746 0.35% 0.32%
Asian alone (NH) 2,550 4,129 1.22% 1.77%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 63 77 0.03% 0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 225 695 0.11% 0.30%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 2,613 8,096 1.25% 3.47%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 36,088 47,281 17.21% 20.25%
Total 209,714 233,479 100.00% 100.00%

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 can be of any race.

2010 Census

As of the census of 2010, 209,714 people and 76,427 households resided in the county. The population density was 227.6 people per square mile (73/km2), in 87,309 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 70.1% White, 17.9% African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian, and 2.0% persons of two or more races. About 17.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of 76,427 households, 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were not families; 25.3% of all households were made up of a householder living alone. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.13.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,139. The per capita income for the county was $25,374. About 15.4% of families and 13.80% of the population were below the poverty line.

In the county, the population was distributed as 26.60% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.90 males.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Education

These school districts serve school-aged children in Smith County:

  • Arp Independent School District
  • Bullard Independent School District (also partially in Cherokee County)
  • Chapel Hill Independent School District
  • Gladewater Independent School District (also partially in Gregg County and Upshur County)
  • Lindale Independent School District (also partially in Van Zandt County)
  • Troup Independent School District (also partially in Cherokee County)
  • Tyler Independent School District
  • Van Independent School District (also partially in Van Zandt County)
  • Whitehouse Independent School District
  • Winona Independent School District

Those wishing to attend institutions of higher learning in the area can attend:

  • Tyler Junior College
  • Texas College
  • University of Texas at Tyler

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Smith (Texas) para niños

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