Liberty County, Texas – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Liberty County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 75,643.[1] The county seat is Liberty.[2] The county was created in 1831 as a municipality in Mexico and organized as a county in 1837.[3][4] It is named for the popular American ideal of liberty.[5]

Liberty County is included in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,176 square miles (3,050km2), of which 1,158 square miles (3,000km2) is land and 18 square miles (47km2) (1.5%) is water.[6]

The Trinity River flows through this county, dividing the county approximately 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.

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 70,154 people, 23,242 households, and 17,756 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile (23/km). There were 26,359 housing units at an average density of 23 per squaremile (9/km). The racial makeup of the county was 78.90% White, 12.82% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 6.03% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 10.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 23,242 households out of which 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 non-families. 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 spread out with 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 the median income 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.

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 (Cleveland, Henley, Hightower, and Plane) 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.[11]

Where "ISD" means "Independent School District".

The Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center, operated by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission is located 3 miles (4.8km) north of Liberty in an unincorporated area. Judge and Mrs. Price Daniel donated 114 114 acres (46ha) 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.[12]

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 (ESD).[13]

The headquarters of the Liberty County Sheriff's Office is within the city of Liberty. Most incorporated areas operate their own police departments, including Cleveland, Daisetta, Dayton, Kenefick, and Liberty.

Liberty County operates the Liberty County Sheriff's Office, which serves unincorporated areas and supplements police forces of incorporated areas.

Liberty County also has a constable for each of its six precincts and deputies assigned to each.

Incorporated cities of Cleveland and Liberty operate their own fire departments staffed by a combination of paid and volunteers. Both departments cover territory outside their respective city limits. Unincorporated areas have fire service through Volunteer Fire Departments.

Fire departments serving unincorporated areas:

EMS services is provided by Liberty County EMS, with the only exception being inside the City of Liberty, which service is provided by the City of Liberty Fire & EMS Department.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates one women's prison and two women's state jails, all co-located with one another, in an unincorporated area. The L.V. Hightower Unit prison and the Dempsie Henley Unit and Lucille G. Plane Unit jails are 4 miles (6.4km) north of Dayton.[14][15][16] The Cleveland Unit, a prison for men privately operated by the GEO Group, Inc. on behalf of the TDCJ, is in Cleveland.[17]

Cleveland opened in September 1989.[17] Hightower opened in March 1990.[14] Henley and Plane opened in May 1995.[15][16] 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.[18]

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.[11]

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.[19]

Coordinates: 3009N 9449W / 30.15N 94.81W / 30.15; -94.81

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Liberty County, Texas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia