Nathan Straus
Jacksonville Progress
RUSK — By Nathan Straus
nstraus@jacksonvilleprogress.com
Cherokee County officials have loosened up in regards to the upcoming census, County Judge Chris Davis said.
The possibility of Cherokee County moving from a county of 48,000 people to a county of 50,000 will not bring with it the massive procedural changes seen in larger cities and counties.
“Everything has got a population number, and it determines what laws are applicable,” Davis said. “Different laws are applied differently to a different population.”
He also said at first he was worried about the possibility of the 2010 Census placing the population of Cherokee County above 50,000 people.
“We thought it would change our way of business, but it’ll just change what laws apply to us,” he said.
Davis added even at above a population of 50,000, the county would be considered a relatively low-population county. He also said it is very likely the Census will put Cherokee County at over 50,000 people.
Texas Association of Counties Director of Media Relations Elna Christopher said most of the changes in the ways counties are run seem to occur at the 125,000 population level. She also said law changes for cities seem to start at 50,000.
“The big one involves justices of the peace,” she said.
According to the Texas State Constitution, Article V Section 18, each county in the state with a population of 18,000 or more but less than 50,000, according to the most recent federal census, from time to time, for the convenience of the people, shall be divided into not less than two and not more than eight precincts.
It also notes, “Each county in the state with a population of 50,000 or more, according to the most recent federal census, from time to time, for the convenience of the people, shall be divided into not less than four and not more than eight precincts.”
Other changes include information regarding hiring a court interpreter, rural health issues, transportation code and record keeping and collections.
