Bee County, Texas

Bee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 31,861.[1] Its county seat is Beeville.[2] 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.

Bee County
U.S. 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
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1858
Named forBarnard E. Bee, Sr.
SeatBeeville
Largest cityBeeville
Area
 • Total880 sq mi (2,300 km2)
 • Land880 sq mi (2,300 km2)
 • Water0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)  0.01%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total31,861
 • Density36/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district34th
Websiteco.bee.tx.us

The Beeville, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Bee County.

History

Bee County was officially formed on December 8, 1857, from sections of Refugio, Live Oak, San Patricio, Goliad, and Karnes Counties. It was created and named in honor of Colonel Barnard Elliot Bee, a political leader who had served as secretary of war under Sam Houston and later, as secretary of state under Mirabeau B. Lamar during the governmental period of the Republic of Texas.[4] The early European settlers of this area were mainly Irish immigrants, but towards the end of the 1840s and early 1850s, more settlers from the Southern states began to move in and build settlements. The migration patterns suggest that many of these southern settlers came from the North and South Carolina, Louisiana, and Mississippi.[5]

The Roman Catholic faith was the state religion until the creation of the Republic of Texas in 1836. Other religions came to Bee County as settlers from the Southern states gained the population majority in the 1840s. Among the earliest Protestant religions to appear were the Methodists and the Baptists. These churches, particularly the Baptists, sent numerous missionaries to the area to help the small congregations survive. Many pastors traveled several miles each week to visit members of the various congregations throughout the county. By 1850 the Baptist and Methodists comprised 75 percent of all Texas congregations.[6]

Courthouse

The Bee County Courthouse was designed by the architect William Charles Stephenson, originally from Buffalo, New York. The original courthouse, completed in 1912, cost $72,000. He also sculpted the "Justice Is Blind" monument (In his own words, an "Enlightened Justice") that tops the courthouse; he intentionally chose the "unblindfolded" concept. The structure uses the Chicago window style of a glass pane flanked by two narrow ones. It is classical with the grand portico having Corinthian columns at the entry.[7]

Stephenson also designed the Rialto Theater in Beeville, now used for special occasion, not the running of films, which is located close to the Joe Barnhart Library. He helped construct the death mask of U.S. President William McKinley, who was assassinated in Buffalo in 1901. Stephenson also designed the courthouse in McMullen County, Texas and many other buildings, grand homes, schools, churches, and commercial buildings in and around Beeville.[7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 880 square miles (2,300 km2), of which 880 square miles (2,300 km2) are land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.01%) is covered by water.[8] The Aransas River forms in Bee County, southwest of Beeville and north of Skidmore.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1860910—
18701,08218.9%
18802,298112.4%
18903,72061.9%
19007,720107.5%
191012,09056.6%
192012,1370.4%
193015,72129.5%
194016,4814.8%
195018,17410.3%
196023,75530.7%
197022,737−4.3%
198026,03014.5%
199025,135−3.4%
200032,35928.7%
201031,861−1.5%
2019 (est.)32,565[9]2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1850–2010[11] 2010–2014[1]

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 Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 32,359 people, 9,061 households, and 6,578 families living in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14/km2). There were 10,939 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 67.85% White, 9.90% Black or 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. 53.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 9,061 households, 37.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.90% were married couples living together, 14.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were not families. About 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age 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 23.40% under the age of 18, 13.30% from 18 to 24, 35.40% from 25 to 44, 17.80% from 45 to 64, and 10.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 148.40 males. For every 100 females age 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

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.[13] In addition, Garza East Unit and Garza West Unit, transfer facilities, are co-located on the grounds of the naval air station,[14][15] and the McConnell Unit is also in an unincorporated area in Bee County.[16] The Beeville Distribution Center is on the grounds of the air station.[17]

Politics

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.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 63.8% 5,999 34.9% 3,280 1.3% 126
2016 55.9% 4,744 40.6% 3,444 3.5% 297
2012 55.3% 4,356 43.8% 3,452 0.9% 71
2008 54.8% 4,471 44.7% 3,645 0.5% 41
2004 57.0% 5,428 42.5% 4,045 0.5% 45
2000 53.2% 4,429 45.6% 3,795 1.3% 106
1996 41.2% 3,611 52.0% 4,561 6.8% 594
1992 39.9% 3,633 44.8% 4,083 15.3% 1,392
1988 49.8% 4,620 49.7% 4,616 0.5% 45
1984 59.3% 5,377 40.4% 3,659 0.3% 28
1980 52.6% 4,171 45.5% 3,606 2.0% 154
1976 43.9% 2,953 54.9% 3,690 1.2% 79
1972 64.4% 3,779 35.2% 2,067 0.3% 20
1968 36.0% 1,995 53.3% 2,957 10.7% 592
1964 31.2% 1,509 68.6% 3,314 0.2% 9
1960 46.4% 2,220 53.4% 2,557 0.2% 10
1956 55.3% 2,401 44.4% 1,929 0.4% 15
1952 61.5% 2,536 38.4% 1,583 0.2% 7
1948 33.7% 801 60.7% 1,441 5.6% 132
1944 35.2% 848 54.2% 1,306 10.7% 257
1940 35.0% 948 65.0% 1,759
1936 29.0% 603 70.2% 1,462 0.8% 17
1932 19.6% 534 80.0% 2,180 0.4% 10
1928 53.2% 1,189 46.7% 1,043 0.2% 4
1924 45.5% 944 47.5% 987 7.0% 146
1920 30.7% 283 59.1% 545 10.3% 95
1916 19.8% 152 76.1% 584 4.0% 31
1912 5.9% 35 80.4% 476 13.7% 81

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

These school districts serve Bee County:

Coastal Bend College, a postsecondary institution, serves Bee County (and the surrounding area).


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

City

Census-designated places

Unincorporated community

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 13, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. 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. (Jan 1969). "The Origin of Anglo-American Cattle Ranching in Texas: A Documentation of Diffusion from the Lower South". Economic Geography (45).
  6. Pritchard, Linda K. (1988). "A Comparative Approach to Western Religious History: Texas as a Case Study, 1845-1890". The Western Historical Quarterly.
  7. Historical Marker, Bee County Courthouse, Beeville, Texas
  8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  9. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  11. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. "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.
  14. "Garza East Unit Archived 2008-01-18 at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
  15. "Garza West Unit Archived 2010-07-25 at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
  16. "McConnell Unit Archived 2010-07-25 at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
  17. "Beeville Distribution Center Archived 2010-07-12 at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 22, 2010.
  18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-07-19.

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