Freestone County

Freestone County is a Balanced Economic Region

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:

Population

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Population

Population2000201020242029
Freestone County17,87619,81619,80220,000

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-27

Population by Age

Population2024
0-4977
5-91,101
10-141,252
15-191,220
20-24974
25-29853
30-341,147
35-391,268
40-441,300
45-491,273
50-541,335
55-591,307
60-641,372
65-691,410
70-741,130
75-79858
80-84573
85+452
18+15,727
Median Age44

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-27

Population by Race

Freestone County2024
Total19,802.00
White Alone67.93%
Black Alone13.52%
American Indian Alone0.84%
Asian Alone0.42%
Pacific Islander Alone0.07%
Some Other Race10.6%
Two or More Races6.62%
Hispanic Origin17.65%
Diversity Index64.90

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-27

Growth Rate

Freestone County2024 - 2029
Population0.20%
Households0.12%
Families-0.01%
Median Household Income2%
Per Capita Income2%

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-27

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Housing

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Households

Population2000201020242029
Households6,5937,2597,3627,407
Housing Units8,1449,2659,1619,188
Owner Occupied Units5,7275,823
Renter Occupied Units1,6351,584
Vacant Units1,7991,781

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-27

Home Value

Freestone County20242029
Median Home Value$193,252$207,711
Average Home Value$251,750$269,329
<$50,000436401
$50,000 - $99,999828765
$100,000 - $149,999699645
$150,000 - $199,9991,041960
$200,000 - $249,999854911
$250,000 - $299,999585628
$300,000 - $399,999378446
$400,000 - $499,999237280
$500,000 - $749,999446527
$1,000,000 +3540

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-27

Housing Year Built

Year RangeHouses Built
2010 or Later896
2000-20091,512
1990-19991,334
1980-19891,637
1970-19791,468
1960-1969574
1950-1959623
1940-1949312
1939 or Before705

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-27

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Income

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Income

Freestone County20242029
Median Household$59,837$66,920
Average Household$84,275$93,999
Per Capita$31,352$34,832

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-27

Household Income

Freestone County2024
<$15,000845
$15,000 - $24,999630
$25,000 - $34,999774
$35,000 - $49,999835
$50,000 - $74,9991,231
$75,000 - $99,999887
$100,000 - $149,9991,133
$150,000 - $199,999624
$200,000+403

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-27

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Employees

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Commute

CategoryCommuters
Workers 16+7,065
In-County Residents4,214
Out-of-County Residents2,805
Drive Alone6,066
Carpooled513
Public Transport4
Work at Home309
Motorcycle58
Bicycle1
Walked36
Other78
Less than 5 minutes382
5-9 minutes851
10-14 minutes964
15-19 minutes762
20-24 minutes714
25-29 minutes242
30-34 minutes1,024
35-39 minutes127
40-44 minutes284
45-59 minutes761
60-89 minutes387
90+ minutes258
Average Travel Time28

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-27

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-27

Employees by NAICS

CategoryNumber
Total Employees6,011
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt33
Mining56
Utilities105
Construction652
Manufacturing167
Wholesale Trade184
  
Retail Trade705
  
Transportation/Warehouse264
Information43
  
Finance & Insurance164
  
Real Estate/Rent/Leasing70
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv137
Legal Services27
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises4
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt46
Educational Services585
HealthCare/Social Assist717
Arts/Entertainment/Rec39
  
Accommodation/Food Srvcs717
  
Other Srv excl Pub Admin480
Auto Repair/Maintenance108
Public Administration Emp832

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-27

Educational Attainment (25+)

Freestone County2024
<9th Grade608
Some High School1,211
GED1,132
Graduated High School3,937
Some College/No Degree2,902
Associates Degree1,710
Bachelor's Degree1,910
Graduate Degree868

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-27

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Businesses

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Businesses by NAICS

CategoryNumber
Total Businesses698
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt Bus14
Mining Bus8
Utilities Bus11
Construction Bus48
Manufacturing Bus17
Wholesale Trade Bus27
  
Retail Trade Bus101
  
Transportation/Warehouse Bus22
Information Bus9
  
Finance & Insurance Bus33
  
Real Estate/Rent/Leasing Bus27
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv Bus48
Legal Services Bus9
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises Bus1
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt Bus10
Educational Services Bus17
HealthCare/Social Assist Bus44
Arts/Entertainment/Rec Bus10
  
Accommodation/Food Srvcs Bus58
  
Other Srv excl Pub Admin Bus125
Auto Repair/Maintenance Bus25
Public Administration Bus44

Source: ESRI, 2024-09-27

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