Johnson County, Texas

History

The first settler of Johnson County was Henry Briden, who built a log cabin on the Nolan River in 1849. His log cabin still exists, and can be seen along State Highway 174 in Rio Vista, Texas. The first county seat was Wardville, now located under the waters of Lake Pat Cleburne. In 1856, Buchanan became the county seat. Johnson County was divided in 1866, with the western half becoming Hood County. Camp Henderson became the new county seat and was renamed Cleburne in honor of Confederate General Patrick Cleburne.

In 2025, the sheriff in Johnson County utilized a national database generated by automatic license-plate readers to track down a Texas woman who possibly sought to have an out-of-state abortion.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 734 sqmi, of which 725 sqmi are land and 9.8 sqmi (1.3%) are covered by water.

Major highways

• [[Image:US 67.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 67
• [[Image:US 287.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 287
• [[Image:US 377.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 377
• [[Image:Texas 81.svg|20px]] State Highway 81
• [[Image:Texas 171.svg|20px]] State Highway 171
• [[Image:Texas 174.svg|20px]] State Highway 174

Adjacent counties

• Tarrant County (north)
• Ellis County (east)
• Hill County (south)
• Bosque County (southwest)
• Somervell County (southwest)
• Hood County (west)
• Parker County (northwest)

Communities

Cities (multiple counties)

• Burleson (small part in Tarrant County)
• Cresson (partly in Hood and Parker counties)
• Crowley (mostly in Tarrant County)
• Fort Worth (mostly in Tarrant County, with small parts in Denton, Parker, Wise, and Johnson counties)
• Grand Prairie (mostly in Dallas County with small parts in Ellis County ,Tarrant County, and Johnson County.
• Mansfield (mostly in Tarrant County and a small part in Ellis County)
• Venus (small part in Ellis County)

Cities

• Alvarado
• Briaroaks
• Burleson
• Cleburne (county seat)
• Coyote Flats
• Godley
• Grandview
• Joshua
• Keene
• Rio Vista

Towns

• Cross Timber

Census-designated place

• The Homesteads

Unincorporated communities

• Beulah
• Bono
• Egan
• Lillian
• Parker
• Sand Flat

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1850–2010 2020

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 179,927, reflecting the increase of the Metroplex's population and suburbanization. The median age was 37.4 years, with 25.5% of residents under the age of 18 and 14.9% of residents 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.5 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 72.2% White, 3.8% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, 0.5% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 9.2% from some other race, and 12.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 23.7% of the population.

53.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 46.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 61,654 households in the county, of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 57.3% were married-couple households, 14.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 65,625 housing units, of which 6.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.2% were owner-occupied and 25.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.8%.

2023 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates

The United States Census Bureau estimated that in 2023, Johnson County’s population was 202,906. It was also estimated that the county was 25.9% Hispanic or Latino, 64.4% NH White, 5.8% NH Black, 1.3% NH Asian, 0.5% NH Native, 0.4% NH Pacific Islander, and 1.9% NH Multiracial.

2010 census

In 2010, its racial makeup was 76.55% non-Hispanic white, 2.52% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.63% Asian American, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 0.11% some other race, 1.29% multiracial, and 18.10% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

In 2000 there were 126,811 people, 43,636 households, and 34,428 families residing in the county. The population density was 174 /mi2. The 46,269 housing units averaged 63 /mi2.

At the 2000 census, the racial makeup of the county was 90.01% White, 2.50% African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 4.52% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. About 12.12% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $44,621, and for a family was $49,963. Males had a median income of $36,718 versus $25,149 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,400. About 6.90% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.60% of those under age 18 and 10.90% of those age 65 or over.

Education

School districts include:

• Alvarado Independent School District
• Burleson Independent School District
• Cleburne Independent School District
• Crowley Independent School District
• Godley Independent School District
• Granbury Independent School District
• Grandview Independent School District
• Joshua Independent School District
• Keene Independent School District
• Mansfield Independent School District
• Rio Vista Independent School District
• Venus Independent School District

Hill College a college in Hillsboro, a town in neighboring Hill County also provides tertiary education, with a campus in Cleburne since 1971. Johnson County is defined by the Texas Education Code as being in the Hill College service area.

Southwestern Adventist University, a private liberal arts university in Keene, is currently the only four-year institution of higher learning in Johnson County. Southwestern is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church and has existed since 1893.

Media

Johnson County is part of the Dallas/Fort Worth television media market in north-central Texas. Local news media outlets are: KDFW-TV, KXAS-TV, WFAA-TV, KTVT-TV, KERA-TV, KTXA-TV, KDFI-TV, KDAF-TV, KFWD-TV, and KDTX-TV. KCLE is the local radio station, which offers local news in addition to its country-music format. The local newspapers are the Cleburne Times-Review, Burleson Star, and Joshua Star.

Government and politics

Government

Johnson County, like all counties in Texas, is governed by a commissioners' court. This court consists of the county judge (the chairperson of the court), who is elected county-wide, and four commissioners who are elected by the voters in each of four precincts.

The Commissioners' Court is the policy-making body for the county; in addition, the county judge is the senior executive and administrative position in the county. The Commissioners' Court sets the county tax rate, adopts the budget, appoints boards and commissions, approves grants and personnel actions, and oversees the administration of county government. Each commissioner supervises a Road and Bridge District. The Commissioners' Court approves the budget and sets the tax rate for the hospital district, which is charged with the responsibility for providing acute medical care for citizens who otherwise would not receive adequate medical services.

Johnson County is represented in the United States Congress as part of two congressional districts: Texas's 6th congressional district, represented by Republican Jake Ellzey of Midlothian, and Texas's 25th congressional district, represented by Republican Roger Williams of Weatherford. Its two senators are Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, both Republicans. At the state level, Johnson County is represented in the Texas State Legislature as part of Texas's 58th House of Representatives district, represented by Republican Helen Kerwin of Cleburne, and Texas Senate, District 10, represented by Republican Phil King of Weatherford.

County Commissioners

Justices of the Peace

Constables

County Officials

Courts

County Criminal Court

District Courts

Like much of the South, Johnson County was once a Democratic Party stronghold, consistently giving Democrats 70-80% of the vote aside from national Republican landslides. During its early history, Johnson County was crucial in the establishment of the Greenback Party, with many of the movement's major figures hailing from the area (although the county itself never offered significant support to the party). Since 1976, Johnson County has joined much of the South in becoming a stronghold of the Republican Party. The county has given over 70% of its votes to the party in each presidential election since 2004, even as the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, of which it is a part, has shifted to the left.

References

References

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2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
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6. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". [[US Census Bureau]].
8. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010". Texas Almanac.
9. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Johnson County, Texas". [[United States Census Bureau]].
10. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Johnson County, Texas".
11. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Johnson County, Texas".
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
14. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
15. "County Population by Characteristics: 2020-2023". United States Census Bureau.
16. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
17. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Johnson County, TX". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
18. [https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.181. HILL COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]
19. "County Judge".
20. "Commissioners {{!}} Johnson County, TX".
21. "Justice of the Peace {{!}} Johnson County, TX".
22. "". link
23. "County Attorney {{!}} Johnson County, TX".
24. "County Clerk {{!}} Johnson County, TX".
25. "District Attorney {{!}} Johnson County, TX".
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27. "Johnson County".
28. "County Treasurer {{!}} Johnson County, TX".
29. "County Courts {{!}} Johnson County, TX".
30. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
31. "History of Johnson County {{!}} Johnson County, TX".
32. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".