Trinidad, Texas
City in the United States in Henderson County
About Trinidad
Trinidad is a city in Henderson County, Texas, United States, near the Trinity River from which the town's name was derived. Its population was 860 at the 2020 census, down from 886 at the 2010 census.
Modern Trinidad is not to be confused with Santísima Trinidad de Salcedo, a town in the Spanish Texas period. While both were along the Trinidad river and derived their name from it, the Spanish town was considerably further downstream, near present-day Madisonville, Texas. That town was destroyed and abandoned in 1813. (See Gutiérrez–Magee Expedition.)
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How Trinidad is governed
Form of government not yet listed.
0 of 14 positions listed. Gray dashed boxes are placeholders waiting for a name.
Residents of Trinidad
Registered voters elect the officials below.
-
Mayor
Executive
Not yet listed. Log in to add who holds this
The city's chief elected official. Presides over the executive branch, proposes the budget and represents the city.
-
City Manager / Administrator
Executive
Not yet listed. Log in to add who holds this
The professional administrator who runs day-to-day operations (in some cities appointed by the council instead of the mayor).
-
Police Chief
Administration & departments
Not yet listed. Log in to add who holds this
Leads the police department.
-
Fire Chief
Administration & departments
Not yet listed. Log in to add who holds this
Leads the fire and emergency services department.
-
Public Works Director
Administration & departments
Not yet listed. Log in to add who holds this
Streets, water, sewer, and city buildings.
-
Finance Director
Administration & departments
Not yet listed. Log in to add who holds this
The budget, taxes, and city accounts.
-
Planning & Zoning Director
Administration & departments
Not yet listed. Log in to add who holds this
Land use, zoning, building permits.
-
Parks & Recreation Director
Administration & departments
Not yet listed. Log in to add who holds this
Parks, programs, and public facilities.
-
-
-
City Council
Legislative
Not yet listed. Log in to add who holds this
The elected body that passes ordinances, sets the tax rate and approves the budget.
-
City Clerk
Administration & departments
Not yet listed. Log in to add who holds this
Keeps the official records, runs meeting agendas and, often, local elections.
-
City Attorney
Administration & departments
Not yet listed. Log in to add who holds this
The city's lawyer; advises officials and prosecutes ordinance violations.
-
Boards & Commissions
Legislative
Not yet listed. Log in to add who holds this
Citizen advisory bodies, such as planning, zoning appeals and library boards.
-
-
Municipal Court
Judicial
Not yet listed. Log in to add who holds this
Hears traffic, ordinance and other minor cases.
-
Municipal Judge
Judicial
Not yet listed. Log in to add who holds this
Presides over the municipal court.
-
Looking for your county, state and federal representatives too? See who represents 75163 or everyone in Texas.
Population over time
From 1,091 in 2000 to 860 in 2020 (−21.2%).
Show the numbers
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 860 |
| 2010 | 886 |
| 2000 | 1,091 |
History
Around 1840, O. M. Airhart ran a ferry across the Trinity River (originally called the Trinidad River), and Zach Smith operated a ferry four miles north of the present townsite. A general store and a saloon were located there by 1844, when it became known as Trinity Switch. In 1880, it became a station on the St. Louis Southwestern Rail Road. That same year, the town's name was changed to Trinidad because of a conflict with another post office with the name Trinity Switch; the Trinidad post office, though, did not actually open until the next year. Five businesses and a population of 70 were reported by 1910. Texas Power and Light opened a plant on the Trinity River in the 1920s, and manufacturing of chemical fertilizers began in a plant there. By 1940, the population was 550, with 16 businesses in the community. Trinidad had 1,056 residents in the 1990 census, but the population had grown to 1,091 by 2000.
2026 law enforcement controversy
In May 2026, resident Jennifer Combs posted images to Facebook showing dirty water coming from her faucets in her Trinidad home, and claimed that people had been hospitalized due to the city's water making them ill. According to local news, no hospitalizations due to the water quality were reported. Trinidad police officers arrested Combs and charged her with felony false alarm as a result of the posts. Winston Noles, a YouTube First Amendment auditor, began protesting against Combs' arrest outside of the Trinidad City Hall, and was also arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.
A Henderson County grand jury declined to indict either Noles or Combs, with Combs filing a federal lawsuit against the city of Trinidad. Two former Trinidad city employees also filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming that they were fired in retaliation for "refusing to lie" about Combs' and Noles' arrests on behalf of the Trinidad Police Department. Municipal judge Shellena Bivens later filed a lawsuit against the city as well, claiming that she was fired by the city council in retaliation for dropping the charges against Noles.
Trinidad police chief Charles Gregory resigned in June 2026 due to controversy over the arrests. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement began investigating the arrests and stripped the Trinidad Police Department of its law enforcement license after finding significant deficiencies in the department's procedures. As a result, the Trinidad Police Department disbanded in September 2026.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.