Livingston is a town in and the county seat of Polk County, Texas, United States. With a population of 5,640 at the 2020 census, it is the largest city in Polk County. It is located approximately south of Lufkin and roughly northeast of Houston. The city was originally settled in 1835 as Springfield. Its name was changed in 1846 to Livingston, when it was designated as the county seat of Polk County.

The Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation is located to the east of Livingston. They traditionally occupied territory in what is now east Texas and Louisiana. The 2000 census reported a resident population of 480 persons within the reservation. The tribe has nearly 1200 enrolled members.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which are land and 0.12% is covered by water. However, the town of Livingston is approximately east of Lake Livingston, which is the largest drinking-water reservoir in Texas.

The zip code is 77351 for the general area of Livingston.

Demographics

{| class="wikitable"

|+Livingston racial composition as of 2020<br /> (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Race

!Number

!Percentage

|-

|White (NH)

|3,103

|55.02%

|-

|Black or African American (NH)

|997

|17.68%

|-

|Native American or Alaska Native (NH)

|28

|0.5%

|-

|Asian (NH)

|96

|1.7%

|-

|Some Other Race (NH)

|20

|0.35%

|-

|Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)

|199

|3.53%

|-

|Hispanic or Latino

|1,197

|21.22%

|-

|Total

|5,640

|

|}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,640 people, 1,951 households, and 1,268 families residing in the town.

The population in the 2010 census was 5,335, and was estimated to be 5,128 in 2018.

As of the census

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 Allan B. Polunsky Unit. Since 1999 this prison has been the location of Texas's death row.

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 federal agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Run by the private-prison company Community Education Centers, the facility has frequently been criticized for its subpar treatment of migrants. It is ranked as one of the 10 worst detention centers in the nation, which are the subject of a nationwide campaign by activists to close them.

Local government

Livingston has a manager-council system of government. It elects a mayor at-large, and has a city council made up of members elected from single-member districts. The city council hires a professional city manager to handle operations. The current mayor is Judy Cochran.

Economy

200px|right|thumb|The Courthouse Whistle Stop Cafe is located across from the courthouse in downtown Livingston.

The major employers in Livingston are lumber operations and the 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:

  • 20px U.S. Highway 59
  • U.S. 59 is scheduled to be upgraded to 20px Interstate 69.
  • 23px U.S. Route 190
  • 20px State Highway 146

Education

The City of Livingston is served by the Livingston Independent School District.

The Texas Legislature designated Polk County as within the boundary of Angelina College's district. Polk County Community College opened in the fall of 2014. The college offers various classes and two-year associate degrees.

Recreation

upright|thumb|Camp Cho Yeh -- Livingston, Texas

Lake Evelyn is within the borders of Camp Cho-Yeh, which began operation in the 1940s; it continues to operate as a summer camp and retreat center. Cho-Yeh means 'land of tall pines', and was so named 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

  • Laci Kaye Booth, American Idol contestant 2019, top-five finalist
  • Paul Carr, NFL and University of Houston football player
  • Billy Eli, musician and songwriter
  • Percy Foreman, criminal defense attorney
  • Annette Gordon-Reed, Harvard historian and law professor
  • Lyda Green, Alaska state senator for 14 years
  • Margo Jones, stage director
  • Sally Mayes, Award-winning Broadway actress and singer
  • Mark Moseley, football player
  • Gene Phillips, Professional basketball player
  • Samuel M. Whitside, Commanded Camp Livingston in the late 1860s during the Reconstruction period
  • Brad Womack, star of ABC's The Bachelor
  • Bobby Wayne Woods, Convicted child rapist and murderer; the last inmate executed in Texas in the 2000s decade

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")
  • 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

Tourism and recreation

Destinations

  • Lake Livingston
  • Lake Livingston State Park Lake Livingston State Park — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
  • Pedigo Park
  • Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation

Attractions

  • Light of Saratoga at Bragg Road
  • 391 Historical Markers
  • Polk County MuseumPOLK COUNTY MUSEUM – Polk County Historical Society
  • Swartout: Former River Ferry Town, now a ghost town

Events

  • 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 aired April 19, 2009, on Animal Planet. The host, Jeremy Wade, was searching for alligator gar.

References

  • Livingston City website
  • Livingston-Polk County Chamber of Commerce
  • Livingston ISD
  • Lake Livingston Recreational Home Page
  • Dentists In Livingston TX