Roma, Texas
Encyclopedia
Roma is a city in Starr County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 9,765 at the 2010 census. The city is located along the Rio Grande
, across from Ciudad Miguel Alemán
in Tamaulipas
, Mexico
.
The city is also popularly known as Roma-Los Saenz, since the incorporated city also took the area known as Los Saenz.
into the U.S. via the Roma-Ciudad Miguel Alemán International Bridge
. Prior to Texas's independence from Mexico in 1836, the town was listed as under the jurisdiction of the town of Mier
, Mexico and served under Spanish
rule. http://www.cityofroma.net/History.htm
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²), of which, 2.8 square miles (7.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (4.50%) is water.
The City of Roma is located along the Rio Grande
, which is the dividing line between the United States
and Mexico
.
of 2000, there were 9,617 people, 2,678 households, and 2,351 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,490.2 people per square mile (1,345.3/km²). There were 3,141 housing units at an average density of 1,139.9 per square mile (439.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.30% White, 0.15% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 7.76% from other races
, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 98.54% of the population.
There were 2,678 households out of which 50.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples
living together, 19.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.2% were non-families. 11.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.59 and the average family size was 3.91.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.9% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $15,563, and the median income for a family was $16,883. Males had a median income of $16,020 versus $12,656 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $7,539. About 48.9% of families and 54.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 64.2% of those under age 18 and 46.3% of those age 65 or over.
provided a $540,000 block grant to help build the station.
The United States Postal Service
operates the Roma Post Office.
. Zoned campuses include Anna S. Canavan Elementary School for pre-kindergarten, in grades K-5, the western portion of the city is zoned to Florence J. Scott Elementary and the eastern portion is zoned to Roel and Celia Saenz Elementary School. A small area located near the eastern city limit line lies within the boundaries of Ynes B. Elementary School. Roma is served by both of the district's middle schools – Roma and Ramiro Barrera (grades 6-8), with a majority zoned to Roma Middle. Roma High School http://rhs.romaisd.com/ serves students in grades 9-12.
's novel Treasure.
Filming for the 1952 film Viva Zapata!
, scripted by John Steinbeck
and directed by Elia Kazan
, took place in Roma. The film and the city are recurring motifs in Larry McMurtry
's 1972 novel All My Friends Are Going To Be Strangers, and the book's conclusion takes place in and around Roma.
Starr County, Texas
Starr County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 60,968. Its county seat is Rio Grande City. The county is named for James Harper Starr, who served as Secretary of the Treasury of the Republic of Texas. It is part of the Rio Grande City-Roma, TX,...
, 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 9,765 at the 2010 census. The city is located along 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...
, across from Ciudad Miguel Alemán
Ciudad Miguel Alemán, Tamaulipas
Ciudad Miguel Alemán, known prior to 1950 as San Pedro de Roma, is a city in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, located across the Rio Grande from the U.S. city of Roma, Texas. The two are linked by the Roma – Ciudad Miguel Alemán International Bridge, a suspension bridge. As of 2010, the population...
in Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
The city is also popularly known as Roma-Los Saenz, since the incorporated city also took the area known as Los Saenz.
History
Roma was founded in 1765 and incorporated in 1936. It serves as a port of entry from MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
into the U.S. via the Roma-Ciudad Miguel Alemán International Bridge
Roma-Ciudad Miguel Alemán International Bridge
The Roma-Ciudad Miguel Alemán International Bridge ordinarily serves a port of entry between Mexico and the United States. It is open 24 hours a day, all year long....
. Prior to Texas's independence from Mexico in 1836, the town was listed as under the jurisdiction of the town of Mier
Ciudad Mier
Mier , also known as El Paso del Cántaro, is a city in Mier Municipality in Tamaulipas, located in northern Mexico near the Rio Grande, just south of Falcon Dam. It is north east of Monterrey on Mexico Highway 2. In 1990 the population was recorded at 6,190. By the 2010 census, it had dropped...
, Mexico and served under Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
rule. http://www.cityofroma.net/History.htm
Geography
Roma is located at 26°24′22"N 99°0′20"W (26.406101, -99.005644).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 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²), of which, 2.8 square miles (7.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (4.50%) is water.
The City of Roma is located along 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...
, which is the dividing line between the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Notable people
- DueloDueloDuelo is a Tejano band from Roma, Texas with a norteño style. The band is also known as Grupo Duelo and Duelo Norteño. The group rose to prominence in late 1990s and continues to record as of 2009, when their album Necesito Más de Tí debuted in the top slot on the Billboard Top Latin Albums...
- Mexican/Norteño Band - Jovita González de Mireles (1904–1983) - TejanaTejanoTejano or Texano is a term used to identify a Texan of Mexican heritage.Historically, the Spanish term Tejano has been used to identify different groups of people...
folklorist, schoolteacher, and feminist writer. Born in Roma in 1904 and moved to San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, TexasSan 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,...
in 1910. Most famous for her novel Caballero: A Historical NovelCaballero: A Historical NovelCaballero: A Historical Novel, often known only as Caballero, is a historical romance coauthored by Jovita González and Margaret Eimer...
, which she cowrote with Eve Raleigh in the later 1930s.
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 9,617 people, 2,678 households, and 2,351 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 3,490.2 people per square mile (1,345.3/km²). There were 3,141 housing units at an average density of 1,139.9 per square mile (439.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.30% White, 0.15% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 7.76% 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 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 98.54% of the population.
There were 2,678 households out of which 50.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% 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, 19.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.2% were non-families. 11.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.59 and the average family size was 3.91.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.9% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $15,563, and the median income for a family was $16,883. Males had a median income of $16,020 versus $12,656 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 $7,539. About 48.9% of families and 54.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 64.2% of those under age 18 and 46.3% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The city opened its first fire station, a $788,000 facility, on August 1, 2011. The Texas Department of Rural AffairsTexas Department of Rural Affairs
The Texas Department of Rural Affairs is a state agency of Texas. Its headquarters are in Suite 220 in the Stephen F. Austin State Office Building in Austin.-External links:*...
provided a $540,000 block grant to help build the station.
The United States Postal Service
United 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 Roma Post Office.
Education
Public education in the city of Roma is provided by the Roma Independent School DistrictRoma Independent School District
Roma Independent School District is a public school district based in Roma, Texas . The district currently serves over 6,000 students.In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.-Catchment area:...
. Zoned campuses include Anna S. Canavan Elementary School for pre-kindergarten, in grades K-5, the western portion of the city is zoned to Florence J. Scott Elementary and the eastern portion is zoned to Roel and Celia Saenz Elementary School. A small area located near the eastern city limit line lies within the boundaries of Ynes B. Elementary School. Roma is served by both of the district's middle schools – Roma and Ramiro Barrera (grades 6-8), with a majority zoned to Roma Middle. Roma High School http://rhs.romaisd.com/ serves students in grades 9-12.
Roma in popular culture
The town is the scene identified as the burial site of artifacts from the Library at Alexandria in Clive CusslerClive Cussler
Clive Eric Cussler is an American adventure novelist and marine archaeologist. His thriller novels, many featuring the character Dirk Pitt, have reached The New York Times fiction best-seller list more than seventeen times...
's novel Treasure.
Filming for the 1952 film Viva Zapata!
Viva Zapata!
Viva Zapata! is a 1952 fictional-biographical film directed by Elia Kazan. The screenplay was written by John Steinbeck, using as a guide Edgcomb Pinchon's book, 'Zapata the Unconquerable', a fact that is not credited in the titles of the film...
, scripted by John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck
John Ernst Steinbeck, Jr. was an American writer. He is widely known for the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden and the novella Of Mice and Men...
and directed by Elia Kazan
Elia Kazan
Elia Kazan was an American director and actor, described by the New York Times as "one of the most honored and influential directors in Broadway and Hollywood history". Born in Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, to Greek parents originally from Kayseri in Anatolia, the family emigrated...
, took place in Roma. The film and the city are recurring motifs in Larry McMurtry
Larry McMurtry
Larry Jeff McMurtry is an American novelist, essayist, bookseller and screenwriter whose work is predominantly set in either the old West or in contemporary Texas...
's 1972 novel All My Friends Are Going To Be Strangers, and the book's conclusion takes place in and around Roma.