Robertson County, Texas

County in Texas, United States

County in Texas

Robertson County

County

The Robertson County Courthouse in Franklin

Location within the U.S. state of Texas

Texas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 31°02′N 96°31′W﻿ / ﻿31.03°N 96.51°W﻿ / 31.03; -96.51
Country|  United States
State|  Texas
Founded| 1838
Named after| Sterling C. Robertson
Seat| Franklin
Largest city| Hearne
Area

• Total

| 865 sq mi (2,240 km2)
• Land| 856 sq mi (2,220 km2)
• Water| 9.7 sq mi (25 km2)  1.1%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 16,757
• Density| 19/sq mi (7.5/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 17th
Website| www.co.robertson.tx.us

Robertson County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 16,757.[1] Its county seat is Franklin.[2] The county was created in 1837 and organized the following year.[3][4] It is named for Sterling C. Robertson,[5] an early settler who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence.

Robertson County is in east-central Texas and is part of the College Station-Bryan, TX metropolitan statistical area.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 865 sq mi (2,240 km2), of which 856 square miles (2,220 km2) are land and 9.7 sq mi (25 km2) (1.1%) are covered by water.[6]

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 79
* U.S. Highway 190
* State Highway 6
* State Highway 7
* State Highway 14

Additionally, State Highway OSR forms Robertson County's southeastern border, but does not fully enter the county.

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Limestone County (north)
* Leon County (northeast)
* Brazos County (southeast)
* Burleson County (south)
* Milam County (southwest)
* Falls County (northwest)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1850| 934| | —
1860| 4,997| | 435.0%
1870| 9,990| | 99.9%
1880| 22,383| | 124.1%
1890| 26,506| | 18.4%
1900| 31,480| | 18.8%
1910| 27,454| | −12.8%
1920| 27,933| | 1.7%
1930| 27,240| | −2.5%
1940| 25,710| | −5.6%
1950| 19,908| | −22.6%
1960| 16,157| | −18.8%
1970| 14,389| | −10.9%
1980| 14,653| | 1.8%
1990| 15,511| | 5.9%
2000| 16,000| | 3.2%
2010| 16,622| | 3.9%
2020| 16,757| | 0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1850–2010[8] 2010[9] 2020[10]
Robertson 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[11] | Pop 2010[9] | Pop 2020[10] | % 2000  | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 9,580  | 9,821  | 9,505  | 59.88%  | 59.08%  | 56.72%
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 3,830  | 3,509  | 3,095  | 23.94%  | 21.11%  | 18.47%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 43  | 47  | 29  | 0.27%  | 0.28%  | 0.17%
Asian alone (NH)  | 26  | 96  | 104  | 0.16%  | 0.58%  | 0.62%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | 4  | 0  | 21  | 0.03%  | 0.00%  | 0.13%
Other Race alone (NH)  | 8  | 9  | 37  | 0.05%  | 0.05%  | 0.22%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH)  | 150  | 150  | 438  | 0.94%  | 0.90%  | 2.61%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 2,359  | 2,990  | 3,528  | 14.74%  | 17.99%  | 21.05%
Total | 16,000 | 16,622 | 16,757 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00%

As of the census[12] of 2000, 16,000 people, 6,179 households, and 4,356 families were residing in the county. The population density was 19 people/sq mi (7.3 people/km2). The 7,874 housing units averaged 9 units per square mile (3.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 66.20% White, 24.19% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 7.22% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. About 14.74% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 6,179 households, 32.00% had children under 18 living with them, 51.10% were married couples living together, 15.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were not families. About 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.50% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.55, and the average family size was 3.09.

In the county, the age distribution was 28.20% under 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,886, and for a family was $35,590. Males had a median income of $30,795 versus $21,529 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,714. About 17.30% of families and 20.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.70% of those under age 18 and 21.60% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Bremond
* Calvert
* Franklin (county seat)
* Hearne

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Bald Prairie
* Benchley (partly in Brazos County)
* Easterly
* Elliott
* Hammond
* Mumford
* New Baden
* Ridge
* Tidwell Prairie
* Valley Junction
* Wheelock

### Ghost towns

[edit]

* Owensville

## Politics

[edit]

Robertson County was a longtime Democratic stronghold, as were many rural Southern counties during the Jim Crow and immediate post-Jim Crow eras (It had only voted for a Republican in the national Republican landslide of 1972, and even then, only by a single vote). In 2000, the last time the county went to a Democrat (Al Gore), it was one of only three majority-white rural counties in Texas (with Newton and Morris) to vote for Bill Clinton's former vice president. None of the three have gone to a Democrat since.

United States presidential election results for Robertson County, Texas[13] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 6,177  | 75.59% | 1,926  | 23.57%  | 69  | 0.84%
2020 | 5,646  | 69.62% | 2,374  | 29.27%  | 90  | 1.11%
2016 | 4,668  | 66.35% | 2,203  | 31.31%  | 164  | 2.33%
2012 | 4,419  | 60.64% | 2,798  | 38.40%  | 70  | 0.96%
2008 | 3,980  | 59.31% | 2,675  | 39.87%  | 55  | 0.82%
2004 | 3,792  | 55.81% | 2,979  | 43.84%  | 24  | 0.35%
2000 | 3,007  | 47.21%  | 3,283  | 51.55% | 79  | 1.24%
1996 | 1,944  | 37.57%  | 2,912  | 56.27% | 319  | 6.16%
1992 | 1,707  | 30.46%  | 2,927  | 52.23% | 970  | 17.31%
1988 | 2,184  | 37.45%  | 3,630  | 62.24% | 18  | 0.31%
1984 | 2,663  | 44.27%  | 3,339  | 55.50% | 14  | 0.23%
1980 | 1,661  | 31.28%  | 3,572  | 67.27% | 77  | 1.45%
1976 | 1,244  | 24.90%  | 3,741  | 74.88% | 11  | 0.22%
1972 | 1,977  | 50.01% | 1,976  | 49.99%  | 0  | 0.00%
1968 | 965  | 20.35%  | 2,833  | 59.74% | 944  | 19.91%
1964 | 895  | 21.07%  | 3,350  | 78.88% | 2  | 0.05%
1960 | 935  | 25.86%  | 2,669  | 73.81% | 12  | 0.33%
1956 | 1,285  | 36.63%  | 2,212  | 63.06% | 11  | 0.31%
1952 | 1,378  | 34.39%  | 2,626  | 65.54% | 3  | 0.07%
1948 | 246  | 8.49%  | 2,147  | 74.11% | 504  | 17.40%
1944 | 126  | 4.14%  | 2,681  | 88.13% | 235  | 7.73%
1940 | 175  | 5.20%  | 3,191  | 94.80% | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 86  | 3.16%  | 2,633  | 96.77% | 2  | 0.07%
1932 | 148  | 5.82%  | 2,396  | 94.18% | 0  | 0.00%
1928 | 751  | 33.54%  | 1,487  | 66.41% | 1  | 0.04%
1924 | 226  | 10.00%  | 1,971  | 87.17% | 64  | 2.83%
1920 | 225  | 8.95%  | 1,634  | 64.97% | 656  | 26.08%
1916 | 218  | 13.82%  | 1,313  | 83.26% | 46  | 2.92%
1912 | 153  | 11.57%  | 1,051  | 79.50% | 118  | 8.93%
United States Senate election results for Robertson County, Texas1[14] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 5,982  | 73.62% | 2,006  | 24.69%  | 137  | 1.69%

## Education

[edit]

School districts:

* Bremond Independent School District
* Bryan Independent School District
* Calvert Independent School District
* Franklin Independent School District
* Groesbeck Independent School District
* Hearne Independent School District
* Leon Independent School District
* Mumford Independent School District

Blinn College is the designated community college for portions of the county in Bryan, Franklin, Hearne, and Mumford ISDs. Portions in Bremond ISD and Calvert ISD are zoned to the McLennan Community College District.[15]

## See also

[edit]

* Texas portal

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Robertson County, Texas
* Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Robertson County

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Robertson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
4. ^ "Roberston County". Texas Almanac. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
5. ^ Hailey, James L; Long, Christopher. "Robertson County". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
7. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
8. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
9. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Robertson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
10. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Robertson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
11. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Robertson County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
14. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
15. ^ Texas Education Code Sec. 130.168. BLINN JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. Sec. 130.187. MCLENNAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robertson County, Texas.

* Robertson County government's website
* Robertson County from the Handbook of Texas Online
* Sketch of Sterling Robertson from A pictorial history of Texas, from the earliest visits of European adventurers, to A.D. 1879, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Robertson County, Texas

| Falls County | Limestone County | Leon County

|
|

|  |

Robertson County, Texas

|  |
Milam County | Burleson County | Brazos County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Robertson County, Texas, United States

County seat: Franklin

Cities|

* Bremond
* Calvert
* Franklin
* Hearne

Robertson County map

Unincorporated
communities|

* Bald Prairie
* Benchley‡
* Easterly
* Elliott
* Hammond
* Mumford
* New Baden
* Ridge
* Tidwell Prairie
* Valley Junction
* Wheelock

Ghost town|

* Owensville

Footnotes|

‡This populated place has portions in adjacent county or counties

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31°02′N 96°31′W﻿ / ﻿31.03°N 96.51°W﻿ / 31.03; -96.51
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