Community History
African Americans have deep roots in Kaufman County dating to before the Civil War
The 1860 census counted 533 enslaved people in Kaufman County; the Black population grew substantially after the Civil War and made up nearly a third of county residents by 1930.
Kaufman County started as a farming county. Cotton and corn were the main crops. Enslaved labor made those crops possible. The 1860 census recorded 533 enslaved people. That was about 15 percent of the county's population at the time. The county voted three-to-one for secession in 1861.
After the Civil War, the Black population grew. Cotton farming kept expanding, and more workers were needed. By 1930, African Americans made up roughly 29 percent of the county's population. Black communities in and around Terrell and Kaufman were part of that story. After 1930, farm machines replaced hand labor. Many people left for cities. The TSHA Handbook of Texas has more on this history.
Source to confirm: TSHA Handbook of Texas — Kaufman County