[3] It is named for Junius William Mottley, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence.

[5] As of the census[11] of 2000, 1,426 people, 606 households, and 435 families were residing in the county.

The 839 housing units averaged 1 per square mile (0.39/km2).

The racial makeup of the county was 87.38% White, 3.51% African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 6.31% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races.

About 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.30% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.