Los Fresnos, Texas
Encyclopedia
Los Fresnos is a city in Cameron County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 4,512 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville and the Matamoros–Brownsville
metropolitan areas.
Located in south central Cameron County, the City was named for the fresnos (Fraxinus berlandieriana) scattered in the woods and along streams. In 1912, Lon Hill, an early land owner, formed a company to develop a canal system which would use the Rio Grande
to irrigate
land for farming. Railroad construction in the early 1900s began to bring settlers to the area, and by 1915 a post office was established. Because of the fertile, irrigated land, farm products increased and with the long growing season in the Rio Grande Valley
, farming flourished. Today the city is still surrounded by fertile farm/ranch land. Major crops are cotton
, sugarcane
, grain
s, orange
, and red grapefruit
orchards.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) Port Isabel Detention Center
http://www.ice.gov/pi/dro/facilities/harlingen.htm is located in Los Fresnos.
The Los Fresnos Motocross Park has camp sites available at the track to accommodate RV's & Tents. Quads are also welcomed to race. There are categories for every age and bike sizes, such as Mini 50cc, 250cc, Quads, etc.
Little Graceland: West Highway 100. Contains large collection of Elvis Presley
memorabilia, including photos, posters, watches, and playing cards. It is operated by Simon Vega
, who served with Presley in the Army
in Germany from 1958 to 1960.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), of which, 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (3.97%) is water.
of 2000, there were 4,512 people, 1,296 households, and 1,092 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,868.9 people per square mile (722.9/km²). There were 1,480 housing units at an average density of 613.0 per square mile (237.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.96% White, 0.42% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.02% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 14.38% from other races
, and 2.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 84.62% of the population.
There were 1,296 households out of which 53.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.7% were married couples
living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.7% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.48 and the average family size was 3.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 36.4% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,793, and the median income for a family was $27,670. Males had a median income of $20,459 versus $17,904 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $9,507. About 28.5% of families and 34.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.8% of those under age 18 and 22.4% of those age 65 or over.
operates the Los Fresnos Post Office.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
operates the Port Isabel Service Processing Center, which is located in an unincorporated area
adjacent to Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport, near Los Fresnos.
.
The Ethel L. Whipple Memorial Library serves Los Fresnos.
Cameron County, Texas
Cameron County is the southernmost county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 406,220. Its county seat is Brownsville. Cameron was founded in 1848...
, Texas
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 4,512 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville and the Matamoros–Brownsville
Matamoros–Brownsville Metropolitan Area
Matamoros–Brownsville, also known as Brownsville–Matamoros, or simply as the Borderplex, is one of the six bi-national metropolitan areas along the Mexico–U.S border...
metropolitan areas.
Located in south central Cameron County, the City was named for the fresnos (Fraxinus berlandieriana) scattered in the woods and along streams. In 1912, Lon Hill, an early land owner, formed a company to develop a canal system which would use the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
to irrigate
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
land for farming. Railroad construction in the early 1900s began to bring settlers to the area, and by 1915 a post office was established. Because of the fertile, irrigated land, farm products increased and with the long growing season in the Rio Grande Valley
Rio Grande Valley
The Rio Grande Valley or the Lower Rio Grande Valley, informally called The Valley, is an area located in the southernmost tip of South Texas...
, farming flourished. Today the city is still surrounded by fertile farm/ranch land. Major crops are cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
, sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
, grain
GRAIN
GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and...
s, orange
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
, and red grapefruit
Grapefruit
The grapefruit , is a subtropical citrus tree known for its sour fruit, an 18th-century hybrid first bred in Barbados. When found, it was named the "forbidden fruit"; it has also been misidentified with the pomelo or shaddock , one of the parents of this hybrid, the other being sweet orange The...
orchards.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security , responsible for identifying, investigating, and dismantling vulnerabilities regarding the nation's border, economic, transportation, and infrastructure security...
(ICE) Port Isabel Detention Center
Port Isabel Detention Center
The Port Isabel Service Processing Center in Los Fresnos, Texas holds detainees of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement , whose immigration status or citizenship has not been officially determined or who are awaiting repatriation...
http://www.ice.gov/pi/dro/facilities/harlingen.htm is located in Los Fresnos.
Events
The Los Fresnos PRCA Rodeo & Livestock Show held every year the first week in February.The Los Fresnos Motocross Park has camp sites available at the track to accommodate RV's & Tents. Quads are also welcomed to race. There are categories for every age and bike sizes, such as Mini 50cc, 250cc, Quads, etc.
Little Graceland: West Highway 100. Contains large collection of Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
memorabilia, including photos, posters, watches, and playing cards. It is operated by Simon Vega
Simon Vega
Simon H. Vega is a retired high school teacher who became a personal friend of singer Elvis Presley while the two served together in the United States Army in Germany from 1958—1960. In 1993, Vega turned his house into a museum called "Little Graceland" located in his native Los Fresnos in...
, who served with Presley in the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in Germany from 1958 to 1960.
Geography
Los Fresnos is located at 26°4′24"N 97°28′41"W (26.073216, -97.478164).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, 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (3.97%) 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 4,512 people, 1,296 households, and 1,092 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 1,868.9 people per square mile (722.9/km²). There were 1,480 housing units at an average density of 613.0 per square mile (237.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.96% White, 0.42% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.02% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 14.38% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 84.62% of the population.
There were 1,296 households out of which 53.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.7% 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, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.7% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.48 and the average family size was 3.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 36.4% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,793, and the median income for a family was $27,670. Males had a median income of $20,459 versus $17,904 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 $9,507. About 28.5% of families and 34.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.8% of those under age 18 and 22.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Los Fresnos Post Office.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security , responsible for identifying, investigating, and dismantling vulnerabilities regarding the nation's border, economic, transportation, and infrastructure security...
operates the Port Isabel Service Processing Center, which is located in an unincorporated area
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
adjacent to Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport, near Los Fresnos.
Education
Los Fresnos is served by the Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School DistrictLos Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District
Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District is a public school district based in Los Fresnos, Texas .In addition to Los Fresnos, the district serves the towns of Bayview and Indian Lake as well as the communities of Arroyo Gardens-La Tina Ranch, Chula Vista-Orason, Del Mar Heights, Green...
.
The Ethel L. Whipple Memorial Library serves Los Fresnos.
Radio stations
- KFRQ 94.5FM - Official Site
- KKPS 99.5FM - Official Site
- KNVO 101.1FM - Official Site
- KBFM 104.1FM - Official Site
- KVLY 107.9FM - Official Site