According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 970 square miles (2,500 km2), of which 939 square miles (2,430 km2) are land and 31 square miles (80 km2) (3.2%) are covered by water.[7]
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 can be of any race.
As of the census[12] of 2000, 35,604 people, 13,450 households, and 9,966 families resided in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15 people/km2). The 16,576 housing units averaged 18 units per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 78.24% White, 17.81% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.04% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. About 3.89% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 13,450 households, 33.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 12.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were not families. About 23% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county, the population was distributed as 26.50% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,902, and for a family was $35,709. Males had a median income of $31,739 versus $19,119 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,636. About 15.00% of families and 18.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.40% of those under age 18 and 17.80% of those age 65 or over.
Emergency Management Coordinator - Billy Ted Smith
The County jail is named after former Sheriff, Aubrey E. Cole.[14]
District officials
District Judge - Judicial District 1 - Judge Craig M. Mixson (appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to complete term of Judge Gary Gatlin, who resigned effective December 31, 2011)
District Judge - Judicial District 1A - DeLinda Gibbs-Walker
Areas of Jasper County in Brookeland ISD, Colmesneil ISD, and Jasper ISD are assigned to Angelina College.[15] Legislation does not specify a community college for the remainder of the county.