Lavaca

Lavaca County

Updated on: December 20, 2021
Coordinates
29° 22' 48" N, 96° 56' 24" W (29.38, -96.94)
State
Texas
Region
Central
County Seat:
Hallettsville
Year Organized:
1846
Total Square Miles:
970.436
Population:
20062 (2017)
Persons/Square Mile:
21
Lavaca County Website
http://www.co.lavaca.tx.us/

Contiguous Counties

Fayette (N)
Colorado (NE)
Jackson (SE)
Victoria (S)
DeWitt (SW)
Gonzales (NW)

County structure

Government Type:
County
Authority:
Dillon's Rule
Legislative Body:
Commisioners Court
Size of Legislative Body:
5

Demographics

2018 Population:
20062
25 to 64 Years of Age:
45.71%
65 Years of Age and Older:
23.29%

Economy, 2018

Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
$1.5 B
Labor Force:
8,784
Unemployment Rate:
3.20%

County Contact

PO BOX 283
County Courthouse
Hallettsville, TX, 77964-0283

http://www.co.lavaca.tx.us

Lavaca County came about from the need for a judicial county. In 1842 the Republic of Texas cut portions from Colorado, Victoria, Gonzales, Fayette, and Jackson County to create it. They called it La Blanca County but later changed to Lavaca County in 1846.   

Hallettesville became the county seat after winning the election against Petersburg in 1852. Germans and Czechs founded the city, and you will find that they are the most significant number in the population. 

It is known for its hospitality and is a regional base for business, health care, and amusement. The county was named after Mrs. Hallet. She was the one who offered the land that the city occupied.   

Climate 

It is primarily warm or clear in Lavaca County, with an average of 204 sunny days. It does not snow but receives 40 inches of rain for an average of 85 days per year. Summer gets to a high of 98oC, and winter a low of 41oC. 

Cities and Towns 

Other cities in Lavaca counties include Shiner and Yoakum.  

Shiner city 

It is one of the best places to live with highly ranked public schools, a countryside feel, and many parks that residents can enjoy. It got its name from Henry. B Shiner who gave land for a railway line.  

Yoakum city 

The city was named after the vice president of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway, Benjamin. F Yoakum. It is known for cotton, dairy, tomato farming, food processing, and meat parking. Yoakum is the largest city in Lavaca County.  

Moulton Town 

Moulton is a small town with a population of 903 people. It occupies an area of 2.16 km2.  

County offices 

Lavaca County Offices include the following: 

County Judge: Besides being the judge, Mark Myers heads the county commissioner’s court. He’s a county chief board member.  

You can reach the office at (361) 798-230  

County Attorney: The County Attorney Kyle A. Denny is in charge of taking criminal cases to court. The office is also responsible for managing court and criminal records, picking jury members, and carrying out investigations. In addition, they run programs that assist victims. Fax: 361-798-2816, and Phone number: 361-798-4757 

County Tax Assessor/Collector: The office is responsible for property and personal tax collection, boat, car registration, and title transfer, and beer and liquor county portions collection.  

The tax assessor records property, sales tax, and property tax and payments. Deborah A. Sevcik heads it. Here are their contacts: Fax: 361-798-5229 and phone number: 361-798-3601  

For property tax search or online payments, visit their website; www.lavacacountytax.com. 

Sheriff: You may contact the office for information regarding inmates, the status of an offender, or check for missing children. You will find them at 38 FM 318, or call 361-798-2121. Sheriff Micah Harmon currently heads the office.  

Other offices include Justice of The Peace, County Auditor, County Clerk, and County Treasurer. 

Geography and Population 

Lavaca County consists of 9702 miles of land and 0.72 miles of water. Victoria County borders it to the south, Jackson County to the southeast, DeWit to the southwest.  

You will find Fayette County to the north, Gonzales to the northwest, and Colorado to the northeast.  

As of the 2020 Census, its population is at 20,337 people. Of these people, 23.7% are 65 years and above, 23.3% are under 18 years, and 5.8 % are under five years. 90.8% are white, 0.5% are Asian, 0.7% are Alaska Native and American Indian, while 6.5% are African American or Black.  

Economy  

The county has an unemployment rate of 5.9% compared to the US average of 6.0%. The average income per resident per year is $25,196, and the median household income is $45,780 per year. 

Lavaca County’s sales tax is 6.3%, while the income tax is 0.0%. The cost of living is 18.3% lower than the US average. 

Financial Transparency  

For financial transparency, the financial department in Lacava County makes the following reports available for the public: 

Budget 

It is a report showing the revenue and expenditure of the county.  

Utility 

The utility report summarizes services provided for the county such as; water, sewer system, electricity, garbage collection, and street lights.  

County payroll 

The finance department also provides the payroll for the county officials, showing how much they have been paid.  

Tax rates 

This report gives information on the types of taxes and their rates. They include; personal and property tax rates.  

Treasury  

The treasurer prepares an annual report showing how much the county has earned, spent, and any debts. 

Check register 

This report shows the supplies given to the county and the vendors that provided them. It also shows the costs.   

Site Attractions  

Here are some of the sites you can enjoy in Lavaca county: 

Parks 

There are many parks in Lavaca County for residents and visitors, including; amusement, water, and theme. They include; Welhausen, Brackenridge, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and SeaWorld San Antonio.  

Cameron Zoo Park 

The zoo has more than 1731 animals of different species. Kids would have so much fun seeing real animals. It would also be a great place to plan a school field trip.  

Museums 

You can visit the Edwin Moltres Museum or Lavaca Historical Museum and view the exhibitions.  

Mud Buddy ATV Recreational Mud/ Trail Park 

It is located on the Lavaca River and provides camping, swimming, and rope swinging along the river. You can choose to make a tent or rent an RV to enjoy this site attraction. 

Conclusion 

When looking for where to live, you will have a checklist of what to consider. They may include; the area’s education and health system, crime rate, employment opportunity, and weather.  

Lacava County makes an excellent place to live. It has most of the amenities you need when choosing to relocate. It has highly ranked schools, a sound health system, a low crime rate, and many job opportunities in different industries.  

It is also warm most of the year, and this gives you time to explore and enjoy all the outdoor activities such as walks, jogging, swimming, and camping in the parks.