Placedo, Texas
Encyclopedia
Placedo is an unincorporated community
in Victoria County
, Texas
, United States
. According to the Handbook of Texas
, the community had an estimated population of 760 in 2000. It is part of the Victoria, Texas
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
in southeastern Victoria County, approximately 14 miles southeast of Victoria.
era. The community is named for Plácido Benavides
, a participant and organizer of volunteer troops in the Texas Revolution
, and an early settler who established a ranch in the area during the 1830s. The San Antonio and Mexican Gulf Railroad established a station at Placedo in 1860. In 1906, the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway
crossed the old line and renamed the station Placedo Junction. Placedo was platted in 1910 and infrastructure improvements, including sidewalks and gutters, were added. By 1920, the community had a population of 300 with a bank, school, and several businesses. Much of the community was damaged during a 1925 hurricane and the population didn't begin to recover until the mid-1930s. In the following years, Placedo's population fluctuated from 400 in the 1940s to 220 in 1949, and rose to 480 by the mid-1960s and 515 a decade later. The number of inhabitants remained at that level until 2000, when an estimated 760 people were living in the community.
Although it is unincorporated, Placedo has a post office, with the ZIP code of 77977..
. The district has four schools, one of which is located in Placedo. Placedo Elementary School serves Bloomington ISD students in grades four, five, and six.
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...
in Victoria County
Victoria County, Texas
Victoria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 84,088. Its county seat is Victoria. It is included in the Victoria, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, 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...
. According to the Handbook of Texas
Handbook of Texas
The Handbook of Texas is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas geography, history, and historical persons published by the Texas State Historical Association .-History:...
, the community had an estimated population of 760 in 2000. It is part of the Victoria, Texas
Victoria, Texas
Victoria is a city in and the seat of Victoria County, Texas, United States. The population was 60,603 at the 2000 census. The three counties of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 111,163 at the 2000 census,...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Victoria metropolitan area
The Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties in the Coastal Bend region of Texas, anchored by the city of Victoria. The area is sometimes referred to as the Golden Crescent Region, though this term is sometimes...
.
Geography
Placedo is located at 28°41′29"N 96°49′41"W (28.6913833, -96.8280387). It is situated along U.S. Highway 87U.S. Route 87
U.S. Highway 87 is a north–south United States highway that runs for 1,998 miles from northern Montana to southern Texas. Most of the portion from Billings, Montana, to Raton, New Mexico, is co-signed along Interstates 90 and 25...
in southeastern Victoria County, approximately 14 miles southeast of Victoria.
History
A settlement has existed at the site since the Republic of TexasRepublic 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...
era. The community is named for Plácido Benavides
Plácido Benavides
Plácido Benavides was an early Mexican-born settler in De Leon's Colony, Victoria County, Texas. Benavides earned himself the sobriquet of the Paul Revere of Texas for his 1836 journey from San Patricio to Goliad to Victoria, warning residents of the approaching Mexican army. He was twice elected...
, a participant and organizer of volunteer troops in the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
, and an early settler who established a ranch in the area during the 1830s. The San Antonio and Mexican Gulf Railroad established a station at Placedo in 1860. In 1906, the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway
St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway
The St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico Railway was a 200-mile railroad that operated from Brownsville, Texas to Gulf Coast Junction in Houston. It passed through small southeast Texas communities such as Robstown, Corpus Christi, Bay City, and Harlingen as well as the Rio Grande Valley.-History:Uriah...
crossed the old line and renamed the station Placedo Junction. Placedo was platted in 1910 and infrastructure improvements, including sidewalks and gutters, were added. By 1920, the community had a population of 300 with a bank, school, and several businesses. Much of the community was damaged during a 1925 hurricane and the population didn't begin to recover until the mid-1930s. In the following years, Placedo's population fluctuated from 400 in the 1940s to 220 in 1949, and rose to 480 by the mid-1960s and 515 a decade later. The number of inhabitants remained at that level until 2000, when an estimated 760 people were living in the community.
Although it is unincorporated, Placedo has a post office, with the ZIP code of 77977..
Education
Public education in the community of Placedo is provided by the Bloomington Independent School DistrictBloomington Independent School District
Bloomington Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Bloomington in unincorporated Victoria County, Texas, United States.In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency....
. The district has four schools, one of which is located in Placedo. Placedo Elementary School serves Bloomington ISD students in grades four, five, and six.
Notable residents
- John SharpJohn Sharp (Texas politician)John Sharp is the former Democratic Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, having held the office from 1991 to 1999. He is currently a principal in the Austin office of the Dallas-based Ryan & Company, a tax consulting firm. In 2005, he was appointed to serve as Chair of the Texas Tax Reform...
, former Texas Comptroller of Public AccountsTexas Comptroller of Public AccountsThe Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts is an executive branch position created by the Texas Constitution. As with nearly every other executive branch head, the Comptroller is popularly elected every four years concurrently with the Governor and the other elected executive branch positions...
(1991-1999), is a native of Placedo. - Jesse Bernal, former University of California Regent (2008-2010), is a native of Placedo.