Total Population
19,523
Population
Growth Rate
-0.06%
Median Age
42
Diversity Index
65.000
Freestone County is a balanced economic region in terms of industrial sectors. U.S. Census survey data indicated the top three industry sectors in 2018 in Freestone County were healthcare, government and oil, gas and mining. However, Agriculture in Freestone County, at 3.81% of the total county industry, was the highest percentage of any county in Texas. The 2017 Census of Agriculture listed Freestone as the 20th-largest county in Texas in sales of Poultry & Eggs, at $40,363,000 in sales and an inventory of 2,200,784 broilers and other meat-type chickens. Energy generation is also a significant segment of Freestone’s industrial base. The Jewett Mine is located in both Freestone and Limestone County and supplies lignite to the Limestone Electric Generating Station owned by NRG Texas. The Freestone Energy Center generates electricity as a natural gas-fired facility located on approximately 500 acres near Fairfield, Texas.
Freestone County also has a very successful industrial base centered in Fairfield at the Fairfield Industrial Park North. The park is 45 acres and includes industry leading companies such as Norwesco, Archrock, Custom Hose, Baker Hughes, Windstream Communications and Chris Christensen Systems. In addition, the area is expanding with the Fairfield Industrial Park South, which will include 125 acres of shovel ready sites for business development.
Fairfield is the county seat and had an estimated population of in 2019, while Teague is the county's largest city, with a 2019 estimated population of 3,527. Total county population is 19,717. Like regions across the country, employment in Freestone County has declined slightly in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Texas Workforce Commission reported that Freestone County had a total Civilian Labor Force of 6,270 in November 2020, with an unemployment rate of 9.5%, slightly higher than the Texas total of 8% unemployed. In comparison, Freestone County unemployment was 4.9% in November 2019. The area is fortunate to include some government and other non-market-driven employers that maintain fairly steady employment levels despite recession pressures. One example is the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Boyd Unit, a state prison that employs nearly 300 people.
Freestone County has several recreation opportunities. Fairfield Lake offers numerous recreation opportunities amidst its 2,400 surface-acres, with Fairfield Lake State Park providing numerous activities within its 1,460 acres. The Richland-Chambers Reservoir sits at the northern edge of the county and is the third-largest inland reservoir in Texas, offering 330 miles of shoreline known for lakeshore homes. Additionally, the county is in the Texas Post Oak Savannah, an area offering habitat for hunting and other outdoor activities.
Click on the cities within Freestone County for more information:
Households
7,337
Total Housing Units
9,101
Owner Occupied
5,615
Renter Occupied
1,722
Vacant
1,764
Median Home Value
$182,095
Average Home Value
$208,704
Income
Growth Rate
Median
Household Income
0.00%
Per Capita Income
2.53%
Median Household
$58,371 $68,180
Average Household
$88,818 $99,730
Per Capita
$33,498 $37,954
Total Businesses
681
Total Employed
6,042
Workers 16+
6,988
2023 Public Administration
Businesses
43
Employed
869
2023 Retail Trade Businesses
Businesses
106
Employed
726
2023 HealthCare/Social Assist
Businesses
44
Employed
709
2023 Accommodation/Food Service
Businesses
53
Employed
669
2023 Construction Businesses
Businesses
50
Employed
662
2023 Educational Services - Businesses
Businesses
18
Employed
614
Some
High School
1,403
Graduated
High School
3,968
Associates
Degree
1,289
Bachelor's
Degree
1,802
Graduate
Degree
732
Average Commute Time
28 min.
Resident Commuters
3,992
Non-Resident Commuters
2,962
Drive Alone
6,158
Carpooled
356
Public
2
Work At Home
325