Are you new to Angelina County? Angelina County is a captivating treasure nestled in East Texas, celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant community spirit. With its sprawling forests and tranquil lakes, it serves as an idyllic haven for outdoor lovers and families seeking adventure. Rich in history and brimming with warmth, Angelina County is a wonderful place to call home. From lively local festivals to charming boutiques, this county is teeming with unique experiences just waiting to be explored. Discover the diverse neighborhoods and find the perfect place that aligns with your lifestyle and aspirations.

In 2022,  Angelina County, TX had a population of 87,101 people with a median age of 39.6 and a median household income of $58,180.

Location and Geography

Northeast of Houston in the East Texas Timberlands area of northeast Texas. It is on U.S. Highways 59 and 69.

Angelina County Map:

Nearby Counties include: Cherokee, Nacogdoches, Houston, Trinity, Polk, Tyler, Jasper, San Augustine
The Angelina River lies to the north of the county and the Neches River borders the south. The Sam Rayburn Reservoir, on the Angelina River, is the largest body of water in the county, covering 114,500 acre. It is a major recreational area for the county.

The land is densely forested with pine and hardwoods. The terrain is gently rolling hills. The Piney Woods area features longleaf, shortleaf, loblolly and slash pines which are very good for lumber production. Hardwoods generally available in the county are gum, magnolia, elm, hickory and oak. Farming is done on only about 20-30 percent of the land in the county. In the northern portion of the county, the soil is made up of clay/sand.

Size: 802 square miles Elevation: 200-380 feet above sea level

Weather and Climate:

• Summer average high: 94 degrees F.
• Winter average low: 39 degrees F.
• Average Rainfall: 42.99
• Growing Season: 244 days

History

The Spanish Franciscan priests, who established the early Indian missions, found a strong ally in the young Indian girl that they named Angelina or “Little Angel.” Eventually her village became known as Angelina’s village and the stream where it was located became Angelina’s river. In 1693 she traveled to Mexico with the Spanish priests and then returned to East Texas where she kept the spark of Christianity alive for her Spanish Fathers. Angelina also served as an interpreter for early French explorers. The Marquis de Aquayo noted in his journal of 1721 that Angelina stood with the other village tribal chieftains and wielded considerable influence as well as directing much of the tribal functions. Spain’s “Little Angel” probably died several years later and is thought to be buried in the vicinity of Mission Conception near the Angelina River. Angelina stitched her life into the whole fabric of East Texas. Her name is given to a river, a village, a National Forest, and to our county.

(Excerpted from They Left No Monuments by Bob Bowman)

HISTORY:

The original inhabitants of the area were the agricultural Indians of Caddoan and Atakapan stock. The name of the county came from a Hainai Indian girl who helped the Spanish missionaries in the late 1600’s. The tribe had plenty of food, a large population and an organized social organization.

The white man came here at the beginning of the 1800’s when Vincente Micheli exchanged a number of small items for a large portion of land. The Burris family came in 1820 to what is now Lufkin and to what was then known as Burris Prairie. The county was organized on 22 April 1846 when Nacogdoches County was divided. The area prospered due to good farming land and also because of the rivers which allowed water transportation.

By 1850 there were 1,165 residents in the county. There have been various county seats beginning with Marion. After Marion, there were Jonesville in 1854, Homer in 1858 and finally Lufkin in 1892. The Houston, East and West Texas Railway (Southern Pacific) was a major factor in the growth of Lufkin. Since mostly southerners settled in this area, there were many large plantations owned by a small group of families. In addition to wealthy landowners, there was an equally large group of poorer farmers who lived in the county.

Men from the county participated in the Civil War, but only 19 lost their lives in the fray. Once the Civil War was over, the major emphasis in the economy changed from livestock to the lumber industry. Other railroad lines came through the area, further bolstering the timber industry of the county. Lufkin quickly became the hub for these railroads. By 1900 there were over 17 sawmills operating in the county.

The World’s Fair of 1893 helped establish Southern Pine as a building material. Since Angelina County abounded in this commodity, it helped form a huge new economic base. Many towns in the county flourished during the lumber boom or until their timber was gone, but gradually shrunk until they no longer existed or were barely were there. Some of these were: Homer, Baker, Clawson, Emporia, Hamlet, Lay, Popher, Yuno, Baber, Davisville, Renova, and Retrieve. Even though lumber remained a major part of the economy for many years, it finally peaked around 1913.

The great Depression of the 1930’s hit these lumber towns quite hard. Housing and building booms abruptly stopped and with that halt came a sharp decrease in demand for lumber and wood products. Many of the mills were forced to close with former owners and employees returning to their agricultural roots.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) for east Texas was headquartered in Lufkin during the 1930’s. By the mid-1940’s, the principal industries in the county were foundries, a creosoting plant, sawmills and a newsprint mill, Southland Paper Mills.

Angelina County, Texas was formed in 1846 from Nacogdoches County, Texas.

The county seat is Lufkin, TX.

Source: The Angelina County Official Website