Castroville, Texas
Encyclopedia
Castroville is a city in Medina County, Texas
, United States
. The population was 2,664 at the 2000 census. Prior to 1893, Castroville was the first county seat of Medina County.
Castroville is part of the San Antonio
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
, an empresario
of the Republic of Texas
, who brought several dozen European families to the area from Alsace
and adjoining Baden to populate his land grant along the Medina River
20 miles west of San Antonio
. After a few hard years, the town and surrounding farms flourished, although for generations, the residents remained insular. In Castroville's first century, a visitor would be more likely to hear Alsatian
— a soft, French-flecked dialect of German — than English spoken in the town's homes, stores and taverns.
Today, though, native speakers of Alsatian
are dying out, and fewer of town's residents can trace their ancestry back to the original Castro colonists. The suburbs of nearby San Antonio are encroaching, and much of the town has been made a national historic district to preserve the unique, sloped-roof architecture of dozens of original Alsatian homes and shops.
Castroville is a sister city of Ensisheim
(Alsace) in France.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of it is land and 0.39% is water.
of 2000, there were 2,664 people, 941 households, and 719 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,045.4 people per square mile (403.4/km²). There were 1,025 housing units at an average density of 402.2 per square mile (155.2/km²).
The gov. census page is at http://censtats.census.gov/data/TX/1604813312.pdf, for verification.
There were 941 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were married couples
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,308, and the median income for a family was $51,007. Males had a median income of $35,625 versus $27,228 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,615. About 5.4% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
and by the Saint Louis Catholic School (grades Pre K through 5th).
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,664 at the 2000 census. Prior to 1893, Castroville was the first county seat of Medina County.
Castroville is part of the San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Castroville was established in 1844 by Henri CastroHenri Castro
Henri Castro , a Jewish Texan, was one of the most important empresarios of the Republic of Texas.-Early life:...
, an empresario
Empresario
An empresario was a person who, in the early years of the settlement of Texas, had been granted the right to settle on Mexican land in exchange for recruiting and taking responsibility for new settlers. The word is Spanish for entrepreneur.- Background :...
of the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
, who brought several dozen European families to the area from Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
and adjoining Baden to populate his land grant along the Medina River
Medina River
The Medina River is located in south central Texas, USA, in the Medina Valley. Named after Pedro Medina, a Spanish engineer, by Alonso de León, Spanish governor of Coahuila, New Spain in 1689. It was also known as the Rio Mariano, Rio San Jose, or Rio de Bagres...
20 miles west of San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. After a few hard years, the town and surrounding farms flourished, although for generations, the residents remained insular. In Castroville's first century, a visitor would be more likely to hear Alsatian
Alsatian language
Alsatian is a Low Alemannic German dialect spoken in most of Alsace, a region in eastern France which has passed between French and German control many times.-Language family:...
— a soft, French-flecked dialect of German — than English spoken in the town's homes, stores and taverns.
Today, though, native speakers of Alsatian
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
are dying out, and fewer of town's residents can trace their ancestry back to the original Castro colonists. The suburbs of nearby San Antonio are encroaching, and much of the town has been made a national historic district to preserve the unique, sloped-roof architecture of dozens of original Alsatian homes and shops.
Castroville is a sister city of Ensisheim
Ensisheim
Ensisheim is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.On 7 November 1492, a 250 pound meteorite fell there, and since then it has attracted many meteorite enthusiasts. It was described in detail by the contemporary poet Sebastian Brant.Ensisheim is also the birthplace...
(Alsace) in France.
Geography
Castroville is located at 29°21′18"N 98°52′50"W (29.354954, -98.880656).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of it is land and 0.39% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,664 people, 941 households, and 719 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,045.4 people per square mile (403.4/km²). There were 1,025 housing units at an average density of 402.2 per square mile (155.2/km²).
The gov. census page is at http://censtats.census.gov/data/TX/1604813312.pdf, for verification.
There were 941 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,308, and the median income for a family was $51,007. Males had a median income of $35,625 versus $27,228 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $20,615. About 5.4% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The City of Castroville is served by the Medina Valley Independent School DistrictMedina Valley Independent School District
Medina Valley Independent School District is a public school district based in Castroville, Texas .In addition to Castroville, the district also serves the city of LaCoste...
and by the Saint Louis Catholic School (grades Pre K through 5th).
External links
- Castroville, Texas official Page
- http://www.preservecastroville.com
- http://www.castrovilletx.com/castroville-texas-history.htm Castroville Texas City History
- Handbook of Texas Online: Castroville, Texas
- The American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
Battle of Semen Creek was fought just outside of Castroville. The movie "Mad Max" is loosely based on the life of Duke Schneider.