As of the 2000 census, there were 8,763 people, 3,047 households, and 2,227 families residing in Jack County. The population density was 10 people per square mile. There were 3,668 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 88.68% White, 5.55% Black or African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.83% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. 7.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 3,047 households out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couplesliving together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.99. As of the 2010 census, there were about 4.1 same-sex couples per 1,000 households in the county. In the county, the population was spread out with 23.40% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 120.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 126.20 males. The median income for a household in the county was $32,500, and the median income for a family was $37,323. Males had a median income of $28,838 versus $20,216 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,210. About 10.10% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.90% of those under age 18 and 13.70% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The county is dominated by agriculture and ranching, which has kept population density low. The extensive mechanization of agriculture has resulted in large farms and few workers. A $200 million 110 MW Keechi Wind Farm project with Enbridge, financed via a 20-year agreement with Microsoft, was announced.
Edith Wilmans, first woman elected to the Texas State Legislature, lived near Vineyard, in Jack County, for some years after leaving office; she raised goats and cattle on her farm, and was a practicing lawyer.
Politics
Prior to 1952, Jack County was solidly Democratic in presidential elections similar to almost all of Texas & Solid South. From 1952 to 1996, the county was a swing county, though became somewhat of a bellwether earlier, voting for the national winner in all presidential elections from 1928 to 2004 except for 1960, 1968, & 1996. From 2000 on, the county has become a Republican Party stronghold similar to almost all white-majority rural counties in the Solid South, with its presidential candidates winning by increasing margins in each passing election. As a testament to how strongly Republican the county has swung, Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton by a margin of 79.4 percent in 2016, compared to an only 6.7 percent margin Bob Dole won the county by 20 years prior at the start of its Republican trend.
