Sonora, Texas
Encyclopedia
Sonora is the county seat
of Sutton County, Texas
, United States
. The population was 2,924 at the 2000 census
.
Former State Senator and Lieutenant Governor
Bill Ratliff
of Mount Pleasant was reared in Sonora and graduated from high school there.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.1 km²), all of it land.
The area lies in the western portions of the Texas Hill Country, a region of limestone outcrops and rolling terrain dotted with areas of live oaks (Quercus fusiformis) and Juniper (Juniperus ashei
) in the form of a woodland or savanna, alternating with a blend of various grasses and other shrubs and cacti.
Sonora's climate is sub-humid, subtropical, though periods of long drought are not uncommon due to the proximity of deserts and steppes nearby, to the west. The upland location allows some of the periodic Gulf of Mexico moisture to interact with frontal systems and elevated terrain to create more clouds and precipitation than locations in the brush country to the south, or the steppes and deserts to the west and northwest. Thunderstorms with heavy rainfall are most frequent during spring and fall months, though some lighter, steady precipitation and low clouds can occur during the winter, due in large part to frontal systems originating on the plains and prairies to the north.
Summers are long and hot, often with higher humidity, though a good breeze often moderates the heat. Fall through spring months are often pleasant, though winter can experience brief periods of cold or cloudy weather.
of 2000, there were 2,924 people, 1,043 households, and 808 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,488.8 people per square mile (576.0/km²). There were 1,264 housing units at an average density of 643.6 per square mile (249.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.18% White, 0.34% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 23.36% from other races
, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 53.35% of the population.
There were 1,043 households out of which 42.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% were married couples
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.1% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,272, and the median income for a family was $38,106. Males had a median income of $31,728 versus $17,935 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,128. About 13.0% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
.
The Sonora High School
Broncos have the most football state championships in their division (2A) with five.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Sutton County, 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 2,924 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
Former State Senator and Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
Bill Ratliff
Bill Ratliff
William Roark Ratliff, known as Bill Ratliff , is a Texas politician who served as a member of the Texas State Senate from 1988 to 2004. Between 2000 and 2003 he served as Lieutenant Governor of Texas, after former lieutenant governor Rick Perry succeeded to the governorship to replace George W...
of Mount Pleasant was reared in Sonora and graduated from high school there.
Geography and climate
Sonora is located at 30°34′5"N 100°38′39"W (30.568166, -100.644163).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 2.0 square miles (5.1 km²), all of it land.
The area lies in the western portions of the Texas Hill Country, a region of limestone outcrops and rolling terrain dotted with areas of live oaks (Quercus fusiformis) and Juniper (Juniperus ashei
Juniperus ashei
Juniperus ashei is a drought-tolerant evergreen shrub or small tree, native to northeastern Mexico and the south-central United States north to southern Missouri; the largest areas are in central Texas, where extensive stands occur...
) in the form of a woodland or savanna, alternating with a blend of various grasses and other shrubs and cacti.
Sonora's climate is sub-humid, subtropical, though periods of long drought are not uncommon due to the proximity of deserts and steppes nearby, to the west. The upland location allows some of the periodic Gulf of Mexico moisture to interact with frontal systems and elevated terrain to create more clouds and precipitation than locations in the brush country to the south, or the steppes and deserts to the west and northwest. Thunderstorms with heavy rainfall are most frequent during spring and fall months, though some lighter, steady precipitation and low clouds can occur during the winter, due in large part to frontal systems originating on the plains and prairies to the north.
Summers are long and hot, often with higher humidity, though a good breeze often moderates the heat. Fall through spring months are often pleasant, though winter can experience brief periods of cold or cloudy weather.
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 2,924 people, 1,043 households, and 808 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 1,488.8 people per square mile (576.0/km²). There were 1,264 housing units at an average density of 643.6 per square mile (249.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.18% White, 0.34% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 23.36% 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 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 53.35% of the population.
There were 1,043 households out of which 42.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% 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, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.1% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,272, and the median income for a family was $38,106. Males had a median income of $31,728 versus $17,935 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 $16,128. About 13.0% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The City of Sonora is served by the Sonora Independent School DistrictSonora Independent School District
Sonora Independent School District is a public school district based in Sonora, Texas . The district's boundaries parallel that of Sutton County.In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency....
.
The Sonora High School
Sonora High School (Texas)
Sonora High School is a United States secondary school located in Sonora, Texas. It is part of the Sonora Independent School District located in Sutton County.-Athletics:The Sonora Broncos compete in the following sports:...
Broncos have the most football state championships in their division (2A) with five.
Attractions
- Caverns of SonoraCaverns of SonoraThe Caverns of Sonora, a National Natural Landmark, is a unique cave located west of the small city of Sonora, the seat of Sutton County, Texas. It is a world-class cave because of its stunning array of calcite crystal formations, especially helictites. These helictites are found in extreme...
: approximately 8 miles to the west.
- Eaton Hill Wildlife Sanctuary- Contains two GeocachingGeocachingGeocaching is an outdoor sporting activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", anywhere in the world....
sites - Historic Downtown Sonora
- Sonora Golf Course