Livingston, Texas



Livingston is a town in and the county seat of Polk County, Texas, United States. With a population of 5,335 at the 2010 census, it is the largest city in Polk County. It is located approximately seventy-five miles north of Houston and was originally settled in 1835 as Springfield. Its name was changed to Livingston and became the county seat of Polk County in 1846.

The Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation is just to the east of Livingston. The 2000 census reported a resident population of 480 persons within the reservation.

Geography
Livingston is located at 30.70944°N, -94.93444°W (30.709518, -94.934443).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 8.4 sqmi, of which, 8.4 sqmi of it is land and 0.12% is covered by water. However, the town of Livingston is about 10 mi east of Lake Livingston, which is the largest drinking-water reservoir in the state of Texas.

Elevation: 148 ft

The zip code 77351 for the general area of Livingston.

Demographics
The population in the 2010 census was 5,335, the population was estimated to be 5,128 in 2018. As of the census of 2000, the population density was 649.9 inhabitants per square mile (250.9/km²). There were 2,358 housing units at an average density of 282.1 per square mile (108.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 70.38% White, 18.50% African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 8.08% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. About 13.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 2,048 households, 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were not families. About 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the town, the population was distributed as 27.7% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,424, and for a family was $37,868. Males had a median income of $30,318 versus $21,774 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,214. About 18.2% of families and 22.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.7% of those under age 18 and 17.4% of those age 65 or over. In the 2010 Census, Livingston lost 1.8 percent of its population.2010 Census for Livingston, Texas

Government and infrastructure
The United States Postal Service operates the Livingston Post Office.

The Livingston Municipal Airport, operated by the City of Livingston, is located in West Livingston.

Nearby West Livingston has the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Allan B. Polunsky Unit, the location of the State of Texas death row since 1999.

A few miles outside of Livingston is the IAH Polk County Secure Adult Detention Center, which houses around 700 immigrant men daily who have been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Run by private-prison company Community Education Centers, the facility has frequently been criticized for its sub-par treatment of migrants and is currently under fire in a nationwide campaign calling for the closure of ten of the worst detention centers in the nation.

Livingston uses a manager-council system of government. The current mayor is Judy Cochran.

Economy
The most common employers in Livingston are lumber operations and the Allan B. Polunsky Unit state prison in West Livingston.

Livingston is the headquarters to two regional bank systems, the First National Bank and the First State Bank.

First State Bank has its main office in downtown Livingston and branches in Livingston (west side of town on Highway 190), Onalaska and Shepherd.

First National Bank has its main office on Highway 190 and branches in downtown Livingston and Onalaska.

Transportation
The city's airport, Livingston Municipal Airport (LMA) is located to the southwest of the city. It is classified as a general aviation facility serving private aircraft.

Major highways:
 * US 59.svg U.S. Highway 59
 * U.S. 59 is scheduled to be upgraded to I-69 (TX).svg Interstate 69.
 * US 190.svg U.S. Highway 190
 * Texas 146.svg State Highway 146

Education
The City of Livingston is served by the Livingston independent school District.

A branch of Angelina College, Polk County Community College, opened in Fall 2014. The college offers various classes and two-year associate degrees.

Recreation
Lake Evelyn is within the borders of Camp Cho-Yeh, which began operation in the 1940s continues to function as a summer camp and retreat center to this day. Cho-Yeh means, 'land of tall pines' and was labeled that because of the large pine trees on the property. Cho-Yeh is also used by Texas A&M Galveston for their yearly Fish Camp to introduce TAMUG students to the traditions of the university system. .

Notable people
Notable people from Livingston include:
 * Paul Carr: NFL and University of Houston DB and LB. Moved to Livingston as the elementary school physical education coach.
 * Colita: principal chief of the Coushatta Indians after Long King in the early 19th century; Colita's Village preceded the development of Livingston.
 * Billy Eli: Musician, songwriter
 * Senator Clem Fain, Jr: Texas state senator, Honorary Chief of and Texas agent for the Alabama-Coushatta Indians
 * Percy Foreman: notable criminal defense attorney
 * Annette Gordon-Reed, law and history professor, winner of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for History and 2010 MacArthur Fellow
 * Lyda Green, Alaskan State Senator for 14 years
 * Margo Jones: American stage director who launched the careers of Tennessee Williams and Ray Walston, and directed Williams' The Glass Menagerie on Broadway
 * Long King: principal chief of the Coushatta Indians; preceded Colita
 * Sally Mayes: Award-winning Broadway actress and singer. Livingston named a street in her honor.
 * Mark Moseley: Super Bowl XVII and the 1982 National Football League Most Valuable Player Award as a placekicker
 * Lt. James N. Parker, Jr.: Co-pilot of Crew No. 9 in the Doolittle Raid (aka Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo), awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
 * Gene Phillips: professional basketball player
 * Captain (Ike) Isaac Newton Turner: Captain in the Civil War with Hood's Brigade
 * Capt. (later Brig. Gen.) Samuel M. Whitside: commanded Camp Livingston in the late 1860s during the reconstruction period.
 * Brad Womack: star of ABC's The Bachelor "Season 11 and Season 15"
 * Laci Kaye Booth: American Idol Contestant 2019, Top 5 Finalist American Idol 2019

Media

 * KCTL Television
 * KETX Television
 * STRYK TV - Video Country Locally owned & operated by Mouser Media
 * KETX Radio (1440 KETX (AM)
 * KEHH
 * PolkCountyToday.com (news website)
 * Polk County Enterprise (newspaper), East Texas News (online version of the "Polk County Enterprise")

Sports championships
High School Football:
 * Livingston Dunbar (1A-PVIL) state champions 1953
 * Livingston Dunbar (1A-PVIL) state champions 1954
 * Livingston Dunbar (1A-PVIL) state champions 1958
 * Livingston Dunbar (1A-PVIL) state runner-up 1959

High School Basketball:
 * Livingston High (All schools in one division) 1939
 * Livingston Dunbar (1A-PVIL) Runner Up 1952

Destinations

 * Camp Cho-Yeh (Camp & Conference Center)
 * Lake Livingston
 * Lake Livingston State Park
 * Pedigo Park
 * Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation
 * Annual Pow-Wow
 * Naskila Gaming

Entertainment

 * Fain Theatre (closed)
 * Triple J Lanes Bowling
 * GameQuest

Attractions

 * Light of Saratoga at Bragg Road
 * 391 Historical Markers
 * Polk County Museum
 * Swartout: Former River Ferry Town, now a ghost town

Events

 * Livingston Trade Days
 * Trinity Neches Livestock show and Rodeo (founded in 1945)
 * Polk County Fireworks on Lake Livingston
 * Annual Jingle Bell Fun Run and Walk
 * Hometown Christmas
 * 5k Dam Run

Entertainment references
Lake Livingston was featured on the third episode of the first season of the television show, River Monsters, which airs on Animal Planet. The host, Jeremy Wade, was searching for alligator gar.