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Kaufman County, Texas

Coordinates: 32°35′56″N 96°17′18″W / 32.5989°N 96.2884°W / 32.5989; -96.2884
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kaufman County, Texas
County
The Kaufman County Courthouse in Kaufman
The Kaufman County Courthouse in Kaufman
Map of Texas highlighting Kaufman County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Coordinates: 32°35′56″N 96°17′18″W / 32.5989°N 96.2884°W / 32.5989; -96.2884
Country United States
State Texas
FoundedFebruary 26, 1848 (created)
August 7, 1848 (organized)
Named afterDavid Spangler Kaufman
SeatKaufman
Largest cityForney
Area
 • Total
807.514 sq mi (2,091.45 km2)
 • Land780.714 sq mi (2,022.04 km2)
 • Water26.800 sq mi (69.41 km2)  3.32%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
145,310
 • Estimate 
(2025)
209,235 Increase
 • Density186.12/sq mi (71.863/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code214, 469, 972, and 945
Congressional district5th
Websitekaufmancounty.net

Kaufman County is a county in the northeastern area of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 145,310,[1] and was estimated to be 209,235 in 2025.[2] The county seat is Kaufman and the largest city is Forney.[3]

History

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Kaufman County was created on February 26, 1848 and was organized on August 7, 1848,[4] and the city were named for David S. Kaufman, a U.S. Representative and diplomat from Texas. Kaufman County is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Western artist Frank Reaugh moved from Illinois to Kaufman County in 1876, where he was directly inspired for such paintings as The Approaching Herd (1902).[5]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 807.514 square miles (2,091.45 km2), of which 780.714 square miles (2,022.04 km2) is land and 26.800 square miles (69.41 km2) (3.32%) is water.[6] It is the 203rd-largest county in Texas by total area.[7] Located in the northeast portion of Texas, it is bounded on the southwest by the Trinity River, and drained by its east fork.[8]

Major highways

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Lakes

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Adjacent counties

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Communities

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Cities (multiple counties)

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Cities

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Map showing cities and towns in Kaufman County

Towns

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Villages

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18501,047—
18603,936275.9%
18706,89575.2%
188015,448124.0%
189021,59839.8%
190033,37654.5%
191035,3235.8%
192041,27616.9%
193040,905−0.9%
194038,308−6.3%
195031,170−18.6%
196029,931−4.0%
197032,3928.2%
198039,01520.4%
199052,22033.8%
200071,31336.6%
2010103,35044.9%
2020145,31040.6%
2025 (est.)209,235[9]44.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010–2020[2]

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 145,310. The median age was 35.2 years. 28.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 12.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.5 males age 18 and over.[14]

The racial makeup of the county was 60.2% White, 15.1% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 9.2% from some other race, and 13.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 24.9% of the population.[15]

58.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 41.9% lived in rural areas.[16]

There were 47,673 households in the county, of which 43.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 58.3% were married-couple households, 13.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]

There were 51,228 housing units, of which 6.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.8% were owner-occupied and 23.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.5%.[14]

Racial and ethnic composition

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Kaufman 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[17] Pop 2010[18] Pop 2020[19] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 54,424 73,328 78,626 76.32% 69.98% 54.11%
Black or African American alone (NH) 7,472 10,571 21,541 10.48% 10.23% 14.82%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 369 551 623 0.52% 0.53% 0.43%
Asian alone (NH) 330 869 2,107 0.46% 0.84% 1.45%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 12 32 70 0.02% 0.03% 0.05%
Other race alone (NH) 54 69 435 0.08% 0.07% 0.30%
Multiracial (NH) 727 1,382 5,743 1.02% 1.34% 3.95%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7,925 17,548 36,168 11.11% 16.98% 24.89%
Total 71,313 103,350 145,310 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2000 census

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As of the 2000 census, there were 71,313 people, 24,367 households, and 19,225 families were residing in the county. The population density was 91 per square mile (35/km2). Its 26,133 housing units averaged 33 per square mile (13/km2). According to the 2000 census, the racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 81.10% White, 10.53% African American, 0.61% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 5.68% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. About 11.11% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

American Community Survey 2023

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The United States Census Bureau estimated that in 2023, Kaufman County’s population was 185,690. It also estimated that the population was 46.6% non-Hispanic White, 28.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.8% non-Hispanic Black, 2.2% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 1.9% multiracial.[20]

Race Total Percentage
Hispanic or Latino 52,087 28.1%
NH White 86,611 46.6%
NH Black 38,535 20.8%
NH Asian 4,061 2.2%
NH Native American 737 0.4%
NH Pacific Islander 135 0.1%
NH Multiracial 3,524 1.9%

Media

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Kaufman County is part of the Dallas/Fort Worth DMA. Local media outlets include KDFW-TV, KXAS-TV, WFAA-TV, KTVT-TV, KERA-TV, KTXA-TV, KDFI-TV, KDAF-TV, KFWD-TV, and KDTX-TV. Other nearby stations that provide coverage for Kaufman County come from the Tyler/Longview/Jacksonville market and they include KLTV, KYTX-TV, KFXK-TV, and KETK-TV.

Kaufman County is served by three newspapers, the Terrell Tribune, the Kaufman Herald, and the Forney Messenger. Forney, Texas, is also served by online news media outlet inForney.com, which covers breaking news for the county. A quarterly magazine called Kaufman County Life is produced by the Terrell Tribune. The Kemp and Mabank areas are included in coverage by The Monitor and Athens Daily Review newspapers.

Law enforcement

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The Kaufman County Sheriff's Office is Kaufman County's main police force. Smaller cities depend on the sheriff's office, along with the Texas Highway Patrol, for law-enforcement duties.

Kaufman County murders

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Main article: Kaufman County murders

In December 2012, Texas officials issued a statewide bulletin warning that the Aryan Brotherhood was "actively planning retaliation against law enforcement officials" who worked to prosecute the gang's leadership.[21]

In January 2013, Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse of Kaufman County was assassinated by gunshot outside the Kaufman County courthouse.[21] On March 30, 2013, District Attorney Mike McLelland, along with his wife, were found shot and killed in their home.[22] On April 13, 2013, ex-justice of the peace Eric Williams was arrested for making terrorist threats to county officials by email. Hasse and McLelland had aggressively prosecuted Williams in a theft case. Williams was convicted, and lost his position and his law license as a result.[23] On April 17, 2013, his wife Kim Williams was arrested on capital murder charges in all three deaths.[24]

Officials did not link these arrests or events to the Aryan Brotherhood. Eric Williams was convicted at trial and sentenced to death on December 16, 2014.[25] Kim Williams pleaded guilty on December 30, 2014, and received a 40-year sentence.[26]

Politics

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Prior to 1952, Kaufman County was a Democratic Party stronghold in presidential elections. From 1952 to 1980, it was still primarily Democratic, though the party's margin of victories were far lower than before. Republican Richard Nixon won the county handily in 1972 as part of his national landslide. Starting with the 1984 election, it has become a Republican stronghold, though neither of Bill Clinton's two Republican opponents managed a majority despite winning the county due to Ross Perot's strong third-party candidacy.

The county's Republican lean has lessened a bit due to population growth in the DFW metroplex in recent years, but it still remains strongly Republican. Republicans have consistently won more than 60% of the vote in the county in the 21st century.

Kaufman County is located within District 4 of the Texas House of Representatives. Kaufman County is located within District 2 of the Texas Senate.

United States presidential election results for Kaufman County, Texas[27]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1912 248 9.31% 2,039 76.51% 378 14.18%
1916 427 12.63% 2,780 82.25% 173 5.12%
1920 573 12.84% 3,070 68.80% 819 18.35%
1924 884 13.54% 5,573 85.33% 74 1.13%
1928 1,718 39.27% 2,657 60.73% 0 0.00%
1932 268 6.11% 4,116 93.78% 5 0.11%
1936 229 5.49% 3,943 94.44% 3 0.07%
1940 516 8.97% 5,232 90.98% 3 0.05%
1944 430 8.37% 4,251 82.77% 455 8.86%
1948 764 15.62% 3,479 71.15% 647 13.23%
1952 2,964 44.05% 3,762 55.91% 3 0.04%
1956 2,816 48.97% 2,902 50.47% 32 0.56%
1960 2,717 47.10% 3,008 52.15% 43 0.75%
1964 1,922 28.71% 4,766 71.20% 6 0.09%
1968 2,431 30.04% 3,311 40.92% 2,350 29.04%
1972 5,100 64.51% 2,795 35.35% 11 0.14%
1976 3,867 37.90% 6,302 61.76% 35 0.34%
1980 5,852 47.63% 6,266 51.00% 169 1.38%
1984 9,343 62.55% 5,554 37.18% 41 0.27%
1988 8,466 53.19% 7,358 46.23% 92 0.58%
1992 6,578 34.51% 6,498 34.09% 5,984 31.40%
1996 8,697 48.34% 7,383 41.03% 1,913 10.63%
2000 15,290 66.30% 7,455 32.32% 318 1.38%
2004 21,304 70.16% 8,947 29.46% 115 0.38%
2008 23,735 67.53% 11,161 31.76% 249 0.71%
2012 24,846 71.66% 9,472 27.32% 352 1.02%
2016 29,587 71.70% 10,278 24.91% 1,400 3.39%
2020 37,624 66.19% 18,405 32.38% 810 1.43%
2024 44,063 63.37% 24,726 35.56% 749 1.08%
United States Senate election results for Kaufman County, Texas1[28]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 41,177 59.83% 26,235 38.12% 1,414 2.05%

Education

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School districts in the county include:[29]

It is in the service area for Trinity Valley Community College.[30]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Kaufman County, Texas". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  4. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  5. ^ Kaufman County Historical Commission, History of Kaufman County (Dallas, Texas: Taylor, 1978)
  6. ^ "2025 County Gazetteer Files – Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  7. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Kaufman County, Texas". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  8. ^ Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Kaufman" . The American Cyclopædia.
  9. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  12. ^ Forstall, Richard L. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  14. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  15. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  16. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  17. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Kaufman County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Kaufman County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Kaufman County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  20. ^ "County Population by Characteristics: 2020-2023". Census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Breaking news: Texas County District Attorney and Wife Found Dead". The New York Times. March 30, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  22. ^ "Breaking news: Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, wife reportedly found dead in home". The Dallas Morning News. March 30, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  23. ^ Eiserer, Tanya and Jana J. Pruet (April 13, 2013). "Ex-justice of peace is prime suspect in Kaufman DA slayings". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  24. ^ Eiserer, Tanya (April 17, 2013). "Wife of jailed ex-Kaufman County justice of the peace is now behind bars, charged with capital murder". Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on April 18, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  25. ^ Eiserer, Tanya. "Ex-judge sentenced to death in Texas revenge plot". USA TODAY.
  26. ^ "Wife of convicted Kaufman County killer sentenced to 40 years in prison". Dallas News. July 29, 2018.
  27. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  28. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  29. ^ Geography Division (December 22, 2020). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Kaufman County, TX (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022. - Text list
  30. ^ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.205. TRINITY VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.

Further reading

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  • Butler, Robert Richard History of Kaufman County, Texas (M.A. thesis, University of Texas, 1940)
  • Keller, Mabel Covington History of Kaufman County, Texas (M.A. thesis, North Texas State College, 1950)
  • Clausen, C. A. ed., The Lady with the Pen: Elise Wærenskjold in Texas (Northfield, Minnesota: Norwegian-American Historical Association, 1961)
[edit]
  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Kaufman County, Texas at Wikimedia Commons
  • Official website Edit this at Wikidata
  • Kaufman County from the Handbook of Texas Online
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