The 10 Texas Cities With The Largest Black Population For 2023


We used Saturday Night Science to determine the cities in Texas with the largest African American population.

Most African American cities in Texas research summary. We analyzed Texas’s most recent Census data to determine the blackest cities in Texas based on the percentage of Black residents. Here are the results of our analysis:

  • The city with the largest African American population in Texas is Prairie View based on the most recent Census data.

  • Prairie View is 93.21% Black.

  • The least African American city in Texas is Port Isabel.

  • Port Isabel is 0.0% Black.

  • Texas is 11.8% Black.

  • Texas is the 18th blackest state in the United States.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table


The Black community is one of the fastest-growing communities in America this decade.

Roughly 42 million people identifying as Black or African American live in the United States, making up 12% of the total population. According to the most recent American Community Survey, the Black population in Texas is 3,401,742 – at 11.8% of the total population of Texas.

The percentage growth of Blacks in America is the third largest percentage change for any race according to the Census’s race and ethnicity definition. Most scholars and historians agree that increasing diversity in America is a good thing.

We agree.

But how has the increase in the black population impacted Texas? Which cities and towns in Texas have seen the greatest increase in its Black population?

We broke down the most recent census data to determine the cities in Texas with the largest African American population in 2023:

What’s the blackest city in Texas? The city with the largest Black population in Texas for 2023 is Prairie View. See if Prairie View ranked as one of the most african american places in America.

And if you already knew these places were Black, check out the best places to live in Texas or the most diverse places in Texas.

The 10 Blackest Cities In Texas For 2023

1. Prairie View

Prairie View, TX

Source: Wikipedia User Maureen.allen | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 6,464
% African American: 93.21%
# Of African American Residents: 6,025
Percent Change Since 2010: 27.22%
More on Prairie View:  Data | Cost Of Living

2. Lancaster

Lancaster, TX

Source: Wikipedia User Baroness of Ballymote at English Wikipedia | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 41,057
% African American: 67.82%
# Of African American Residents: 27,843
Percent Change Since 2010: 20.99%
More on Lancaster:  Data | Cost Of Living

3. Desoto

Desoto, TX

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 55,761
% African American: 66.76%
# Of African American Residents: 37,227
Percent Change Since 2010: 24.01%
More on Desoto:  Data | Cost Of Living

4. Cedar Hill

Cedar Hill, TX

Source: Wikipedia User nthomas76207 | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 48,968
% African American: 51.23%
# Of African American Residents: 25,084
Percent Change Since 2010: 18.6%
More on Cedar Hill:  Data | Cost Of Living

5. Glenn Heights

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 15,741
% African American: 48.28%
# Of African American Residents: 7,599
Percent Change Since 2010: 33.25%
More on Glenn Heights:  Data | Cost Of Living

6. Hempstead

Hempstead, TX

Source: Wikipedia User Larry D. Moore | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 5,709
% African American: 48.05%
# Of African American Residents: 2,743
Percent Change Since 2010: -0.18%
More on Hempstead:  Data | Cost Of Living

7. Marlin

Marlin, TX

Source: Wikipedia User Swinneas | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 5,512
% African American: 45.94%
# Of African American Residents: 2,532
Percent Change Since 2010: -8.92%
More on Marlin:  Data | Cost Of Living

8. Beaumont

Beaumont, TX

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 115,013
% African American: 45.84%
# Of African American Residents: 52,717
Percent Change Since 2010: -3.19%
More on Beaumont:  Data | Cost Of Living

9. Jasper

Jasper, TX

Source: Wikipedia User Wrbalusek | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 7,070
% African American: 45.66%
# Of African American Residents: 3,228
Percent Change Since 2010: 3.59%
More on Jasper:  Data | Cost Of Living

10. Port Arthur

Port Arthur, TX

Source: Wikipedia User Michael Reed | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

1
/10

Population: 55,757
% African American: 42.57%
# Of African American Residents: 23,734
Percent Change Since 2010: 9.42%
More on Port Arthur:  Data | Cost Of Living

Methodology: How We Determined The Cities In Texas With The Largest Black Population For 2023

We still believe in the accuracy of data — especially from the Census. So that’s where we went to get the race breakdown across Texas.

That leads us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2017-2021 American Community Survey data from the US Census.

Specifically, we looked at table B03002: Hispanic OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:

  • Hispanic or Latino
  • White alone*
  • Black or African American alone*
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
  • Asian alone*
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
  • Some other race alone*
  • Two or more races*
* Not Hispanic or latino

Our particular column of interest was the number of people who identified as Black or African American.

We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people in Texas. That left us with 326 cities.

We then calculated the percentage of residents that are Black or African American. The percentages ranked from 93.2% to 0.0%.

Finally, we ranked each city based on the percentage of the Black population, with a higher score being more Black than a lower score. Prairie View took the distinction of being the most Black, while Port Isabel was the least African American city.

We updated this article for 2023. This is our tenth time ranking the cities in Texas with the largest African American population.

Read on for more information on how the cities in Texas ranked by population of African American residents or, for a more general take on diversity in America, head over to our ranking of the most diverse cities in America.

Summary: Black Populations Across Texas

If you’re looking for a breakdown of African American populations across Texas according to the most recent data, this is an accurate list.

If you’re curious enough, here are the least African American places in Texas:

  1. Port Isabel
  2. Lumberton
  3. Los Fresnos

For more Texas reading, check out:

African American Population By City In Texas

Rank City % African American Population
1 Prairie View 93.21% 6,464
2 Lancaster 67.82% 41,057
3 Desoto 66.76% 55,761
4 Cedar Hill 51.23% 48,968
5 Glenn Heights 48.28% 15,741
6 Hempstead 48.05% 5,709
7 Marlin 45.94% 5,512
8 Beaumont 45.84% 115,013
9 Jasper 45.66% 7,070
10 Port Arthur 42.57% 55,757
11 Forest Hill 42.5% 13,797
12 Crockett 41.66% 6,441
13 Missouri City 40.29% 73,682
14 Texarkana 38.87% 36,256
15 Marshall 37.84% 22,862
16 Killeen 34.94% 150,082
17 Center 33.44% 5,197
18 Red Oak 32.44% 13,956
19 Atlanta 32.42% 5,417
20 Duncanville 31.0% 40,575
21 Mexia 30.49% 6,946
22 Palestine 29.75% 18,532
23 La Marque 29.75% 18,065
24 Navasota 29.2% 7,614
25 Orange 29.18% 19,329
26 Lacy-Lakeview 29.0% 6,968
27 Silsbee 27.73% 6,822
28 Nacogdoches 27.23% 32,347
29 Everman 27.02% 6,148
30 Wharton 26.68% 8,595
31 Texas City 26.52% 52,097
32 Huntsville 26.19% 45,446
33 Harker Heights 25.79% 32,320
34 Balch Springs 25.78% 27,369
35 Stafford 25.61% 17,170
36 Tyler 24.84% 104,945
37 Paris 24.31% 24,447
38 Rusk 24.14% 5,501
39 Dallas 23.72% 1,300,239
40 Elgin 23.57% 9,488
41 Mesquite 23.41% 149,848
42 Lufkin 23.4% 34,264
43 Terrell 23.12% 17,083
44 Henderson 22.89% 13,498
45 Brenham 22.58% 17,385
46 Grand Prairie 22.57% 195,992
47 Commerce 22.48% 8,667
48 Arlington 22.37% 392,304
49 Humble 22.18% 16,603
50 Mansfield 22.17% 71,375
51 Houston 22.13% 2,293,288
52 Richmond 22.05% 11,768
53 Longview 22.05% 81,967
54 Crowley 22.04% 17,977
55 Cleveland 20.73% 7,515
56 Rowlett 20.58% 62,606
57 Converse 20.57% 27,361
58 Waco 20.55% 136,800
59 Hitchcock 20.15% 7,341
60 Little Elm 19.58% 45,124
61 Wake Village 19.47% 5,907
62 Pearland 19.25% 122,609
63 Jacksonville 18.75% 14,029
64 Athens 18.63% 12,719
65 Princeton 18.56% 16,683
66 Fort Worth 18.46% 908,469
67 Bryan 17.47% 85,204
68 Livingston 17.01% 5,597
69 Cibolo 16.95% 31,489
70 Addison 16.3% 16,405
71 Euless 16.27% 60,134
72 Copperas Cove 16.1% 35,452
73 Corsicana 15.88% 24,589
74 Galveston 15.81% 53,092
75 Baytown 15.78% 82,543
76 Pflugerville 15.64% 64,007
77 Forney 15.57% 22,770
78 Hillsboro 15.43% 8,193
79 Gatesville 15.4% 15,997
80 Edna 15.35% 5,890
81 Live Oak 15.19% 15,554
82 Anna 15.02% 16,792
83 Garland 15.0% 245,075
84 Kennedale 14.95% 8,342
85 Bellmead 14.89% 10,487
86 Freeport 14.86% 10,864
87 Webster 14.81% 12,280
88 Liberty 14.61% 8,227
89 Cuero 14.54% 8,200
90 Seagoville 14.25% 18,263
91 Gladewater 14.09% 6,189
92 Temple 13.82% 80,793
93 Fairview 13.71% 10,062
94 Kilgore 13.64% 13,364
95 Mount Pleasant 13.61% 16,067
96 Clute 13.47% 10,722
97 Bay City 13.42% 17,918
98 Lewisville 13.35% 110,077
99 Irving 13.18% 254,184
100 Waxahachie 13.17% 39,815
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

2 thoughts on “The 10 Texas Cities With The Largest Black Population For 2023

  1. Someone REALLY needs to change the title of this page to largest *percentage* of black residents, because with nearly half a million black residents, Houston has *by far* the largest black population.

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