Bee County, Texas

County in Texas, United States

County in Texas

Bee County

County

The Bee County Courthouse in Beeville was built in 1913.

Location within the U.S. state of Texas

Texas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 28°25′N 97°44′W﻿ / ﻿28.42°N 97.74°W﻿ / 28.42; -97.74
Country|  United States
State|  Texas
Founded| 1858
Named after| Barnard E. Bee, Sr.
Seat| Beeville
Largest city| Beeville
Area

• Total

| 880 sq mi (2,300 km2)
• Land| 880 sq mi (2,300 km2)
• Water| 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)  0.01%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 31,047
• Density| 35.3/sq mi (13.6/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 27th
Website| www.co.bee.tx.us

Bee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is in South Texas and its county seat is Beeville.[1] As of the 2020 census, its population was 31,047.[2] The Beeville, TX micropolitan statistical area includes all of Bee County. The county was founded December 8, 1857, and organized the next year.[3] It is named for Barnard E. Bee, Sr., a secretary of state of the Republic of Texas.

## History

[edit]

On December 8, 1857, the Texas Legislature formed Bee County from sections of Refugio, Live Oak, San Patricio, Goliad, and Karnes Counties, naming it for Colonel Barnard Elliot Bee, who served the Republic of Texas as Sam Houston's secretary of war and Mirabeau B. Lamar's secretary of state.[4]

During the Anglo-American land speculation of the 1830s, the area's earliest settlers were mainly Irish immigrants, but by the late 1840s and early 1850s, the rise of Jacksonian expansionism inspired Southern whites from the North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Mississippi to occupy and build settlements in the area.[5]

As the constitution of the Republic of Texas no longer recognized the Catholic Church (or any church) as the state religion and slave-holding settlers came to dominate the area in the 1840s, small Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist congregations began forming with sustained missionary support from these denominations. Research suggests that Baptists and Methodists comprised 65% of all Texas congregations by 1870.[6]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 880 square miles (2,300 km2), of which 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.01%) is covered by water.[7] The Aransas River forms in Bee County, southwest of Beeville and north of Skidmore.

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 59
* Interstate 69W is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 59 in most places.
* U.S. Highway 181
* State Highway 72
* State Highway 202
* State Highway 359
* Farm to Market Road 673
* Farm to Market Road 799
* Farm to Market Road 888

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Karnes County (north)
* Goliad County (northeast)
* Refugio County (east)
* San Patricio County (southeast)
* Live Oak County (west)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1860| 910| | —
1870| 1,082| | 18.9%
1880| 2,298| | 112.4%
1890| 3,720| | 61.9%
1900| 7,720| | 107.5%
1910| 12,090| | 56.6%
1920| 12,137| | 0.4%
1930| 15,721| | 29.5%
1940| 16,481| | 4.8%
1950| 18,174| | 10.3%
1960| 23,755| | 30.7%
1970| 22,737| | −4.3%
1980| 26,030| | 14.5%
1990| 25,135| | −3.4%
2000| 32,359| | 28.7%
2010| 31,861| | −1.5%
2020| 31,047| | −2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1850–2010[9] 2010–2020[2]
Bee 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[10] | Pop 2010[11] | Pop 2020[12] | % 2000  | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 11,352  | 10,967  | 8,600  | 35.08%  | 34.42%  | 27.70%
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 3,145  | 2,525  | 2,316  | 9.72%  | 7.93%  | 7.46%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 62  | 70  | 54  | 0.19%  | 0.22%  | 0.17%
Asian alone (NH)  | 148  | 162  | 211  | 0.46%  | 0.51%  | 0.68%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | 8  | 10  | 2  | 0.02%  | 0.03%  | 0.01%
Other race alone (NH)  | 9  | 38  | 65  | 0.03%  | 0.12%  | 0.21%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)  | 185  | 183  | 407  | 0.57%  | 0.57%  | 1.31%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 17,450  | 17,906  | 19,392  | 53.93%  | 56.2%  | 62.46%
Total | 32,359 | 31,861 | 31,047 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, 31,047 people, 8,499 households, and 5,693 families resided in the county. As of the 2010 United States census, 31,861 people were living in the county; 78.8% were White, 8.1% Black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 9.7% of some other race, and 2.3% of two or more races. About 56.2% were Hispanics or Latinos (of any race).

As of the Census[13] of 2000, 32,359 people, 9,061 households, and 6,578 families lived in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14 people/km2). The 10,939 housing units had an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 67.85% White, 9.90% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 19.15% from other races, and 2.13% from two or more races. About 53.93% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 9,061 households, 37.8% had children under 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were not families. About 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.74, and the average family size was 3.25.

In the county, the population was distributed as 23.4% under 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 35.4% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 148.40 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 164.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,392, and for a family was $32,967. Males had a median income of $26,473 versus $20,666 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,625. About 19.70% of families and 24.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.80% of those under age 18 and 18.30% of those age 65 or over.

## Government and infrastructure

[edit]

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Correctional Institutions Division Region IV Office on the grounds of Chase Field Naval Air Station in unincorporated Bee County.[14] In addition, Garza East Unit and Garza West Unit, transfer facilities, are co-located on the grounds of the naval air station,[15][16] and the McConnell Unit is also in an unincorporated area in Bee County.[17] The Beeville Distribution Center is on the grounds of the air station.[18]

In 1981 the county government provided firefighting services in unincorporated areas, and there was a proposal to move that competency to four rural firefighting districts made largely on school district boundaries, each with taxing powers.[19]

### Politics

[edit]

Bee County is somewhat moderate in comparison to surrounding counties in its support of Republicans in presidential elections. In 2016, Donald Trump won less than 56% of the vote. As recently as 1996, it gave a majority of its votes to the Democratic candidate.

United States presidential election results for Bee County, Texas[20] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 6,111  | 69.44% | 2,606  | 29.61%  | 83  | 0.94%
2020 | 6,006  | 63.72% | 3,288  | 34.88%  | 132  | 1.40%
2016 | 4,744  | 55.91% | 3,444  | 40.59%  | 297  | 3.50%
2012 | 4,356  | 55.29% | 3,452  | 43.81%  | 71  | 0.90%
2008 | 4,471  | 54.81% | 3,645  | 44.69%  | 41  | 0.50%
2004 | 5,428  | 57.03% | 4,045  | 42.50%  | 45  | 0.47%
2000 | 4,429  | 53.17% | 3,795  | 45.56%  | 106  | 1.27%
1996 | 3,611  | 41.19%  | 4,561  | 52.03% | 594  | 6.78%
1992 | 3,633  | 39.89%  | 4,083  | 44.83% | 1,392  | 15.28%
1988 | 4,620  | 49.78% | 4,616  | 49.74%  | 45  | 0.48%
1984 | 5,377  | 59.32% | 3,659  | 40.37%  | 28  | 0.31%
1980 | 4,171  | 52.59% | 3,606  | 45.47%  | 154  | 1.94%
1976 | 2,953  | 43.93%  | 3,690  | 54.89% | 79  | 1.18%
1972 | 3,779  | 64.42% | 2,067  | 35.24%  | 20  | 0.34%
1968 | 1,995  | 35.98%  | 2,957  | 53.34% | 592  | 10.68%
1964 | 1,509  | 31.23%  | 3,314  | 68.58% | 9  | 0.19%
1960 | 2,220  | 46.38%  | 2,557  | 53.42% | 10  | 0.21%
1956 | 2,401  | 55.26% | 1,929  | 44.40%  | 15  | 0.35%
1952 | 2,536  | 61.46% | 1,583  | 38.37%  | 7  | 0.17%
1948 | 801  | 33.74%  | 1,441  | 60.70% | 132  | 5.56%
1944 | 848  | 35.17%  | 1,306  | 54.17% | 257  | 10.66%
1940 | 948  | 35.02%  | 1,759  | 64.98% | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 603  | 28.96%  | 1,462  | 70.22% | 17  | 0.82%
1932 | 534  | 19.60%  | 2,180  | 80.03% | 10  | 0.37%
1928 | 1,189  | 53.18% | 1,043  | 46.65%  | 4  | 0.18%
1924 | 944  | 45.45%  | 987  | 47.52% | 146  | 7.03%
1920 | 283  | 30.66%  | 545  | 59.05% | 95  | 10.29%
1916 | 152  | 19.82%  | 584  | 76.14% | 31  | 4.04%
1912 | 35  | 5.91%  | 476  | 80.41% | 81  | 13.68%
United States Senate election results for Bee County, Texas1[21] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 5,639  | 65.03% | 2,845  | 32.81%  | 188  | 2.17%

## Education

[edit]

The Joe Barnhart Bee County Library is located in downtown Beeville across the street from the courthouse.

These school districts serve Bee County:[22]

* Beeville Independent School District
* Mathis Independent School District (partial)
* Pawnee Independent School District (partial, K-8)
* Pettus Independent School District (partial)
* Refugio Independent School District (partial)
* Skidmore-Tynan Independent School District (partial)
* Three Rivers Independent School District (partial)

Coastal Bend College (formerly Bee County College), a postsecondary institution, serves Bee County among other counties and areas.[23]

## Communities

[edit]

The Bee County Courthouse in Beeville was designed by architect W.C. Stephenson, formerly of Buffalo, New York

### City

[edit]

* Beeville (county seat)

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Blue Berry Hill
* Normanna
* Pawnee
* Pettus
* Skidmore
* Tuleta
* Tulsita
* Tynan

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Blanconia
* Cadiz
* Caesar
* Clareville
* Mineral
* Monteola
* Oaks
* Olmos
* Orangedale
* Papalote
* Yougeen

## See also

[edit]

* Texas portal

* List of museums in South Texas
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Bee County, Texas
* Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Bee County

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
2. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Bee County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
4. ^ Ezell, Camp (1973). The Historical Story of Bee County, Texas. Beeville, Texas: Beeville Publishing Co. p. 25.
5. ^ Jordan, Terry G. (January 1969). "The Origin of Anglo-American Cattle Ranching in Texas: A Documentation of Diffusion from the Lower South". Economic Geography. 45 (45): 63–87\. doi:10.2307/143180. JSTOR 143180.
6. ^ Pritchard, Linda K. (1988). "A Comparative Approach to Western Religious History: Texas as a Case Study, 1845-1890". The Western Historical Quarterly. 19 (4): 413–430\. doi:10.2307/968321. JSTOR 968321.
7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
8. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
9. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
10. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Bee County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
11. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bee County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
12. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bee County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
14. ^ "Correctional Institutions Division Region IV Director's Office Archived 2008-01-21 at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
15. ^ "Garza East Unit Archived 2008-01-18 at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
16. ^ "Garza West Unit Archived 2010-07-25 at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
17. ^ "McConnell Unit Archived 2010-07-25 at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
18. ^ "Beeville Distribution Center Archived 2010-07-12 at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 22, 2010.
19. ^ "Fire Districts Reviews". Victoria Advocate. Victoria, Texas. January 31, 1981. p. 2D. \- Clipping at Newspapers.com.
20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
21. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
22. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Bee County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 15, 2024. \- Text list
23. ^ Texas Education Code Sec. 130.167. BEE COUNTY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. The legislation calls it "Bee County College".

## External links

[edit]

* Bee County government official website
* Bee County, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
* Historic Bee County materials, hosted by the Portal to Texas History
* Beeville History

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Bee County, Texas

|  | Karnes County | Goliad County

|
|

|  |
Live Oak County |

Bee County, Texas

| Refugio County
|  |
|  | San Patricio County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Bee County, Texas, United States

County seat: Beeville

City|

* Beeville

Bee County map

CDPs|

* Blue Berry Hill
* Normanna
* Pawnee
* Pettus
* Skidmore
* Tuleta
* Tulsita
* Tynan

Unincorporated
communities|

* Blanconia
* Cadiz
* Caesar
* Clareville
* Mineral
* Monteola
* Oaks
* Olmos
* Orangedale
* Papalote
* Yougeen

* Texas portal
* United States portal

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28°25′N 97°44′W﻿ / ﻿28.42°N 97.74°W﻿ / 28.42; -97.74
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