Webb County, Texas
Encyclopedia
Webb County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Texas
. The official 2010 population for the county is 250,304. In 2000, its population was 193,117, and in 2006 its population had been estimated to have reached to 231,470. Its county seat
is Laredo
. Webb County was named after James Webb, who served as secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of State
, and Attorney General of the Republic of Texas, and later United States District Judge in the State of Texas. Webb County is the largest county in South Texas
by area.
, the county has a total area of 3376 square miles (8,743.8 km²), of which 3357 square miles (8,694.6 km²) is land and 19 square miles (49.2 km²) (0.55%) is water.
Complete List of Highways in Webb County, Texas
of 2000, there were 193,117 people, 50,740 households, and 43,433 families residing in the county. The population density
was 58 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 55,206 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.16% White
, 0.37% Black
or African American
, 0.47% Native American
, 0.43% Asian
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
, 14.00% from other races
, and 2.54% from two or more races. 94.28% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 50,740 households out of which 53.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.60% were married couples
living together, 18.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.40% were non-families. 12.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.75 and the average family size was 4.10.
In the county, the population was spread out with 36.20% under the age of 18, 11.40% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 15.60% from 45 to 64, and 7.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 92.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,100, and the median income for a family was $29,394. Males had a median income of $23,618 versus $19,018 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $10,759. About 26.70% of families and 31.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.40% of those under age 18 and 26.90% of those age 65 or over.
John McCain
in the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama
won 33,435 votes (71 percent) of the ballots in Webb County. McCain was a distant second with 13,111 votes (28 percent). Other candidates secured a combined 1 percent of the ballots. Obama fared better than Democrat John Kerry
had done in 2004. Latino
s in Texas gave Obama 63 percent of their ballots, whereas Kerry had polled 50 percent of that group's votes. In Webb County, Kerry received 23,654 (57 percent) to George W. Bush
's 17,753 (42 percent). Nearly 57,000 registered voters in Webb County did not cast ballots in the 2008 presidential election.
Webb County also voted for the Democratic candidate for the United States Senate
, State Representative
Rick Noriega
of Houston
, who failed to unseat Republican incumbent
John Cornyn
.
Prior to 1994 Webb CISD served only Bruni and Oilton. Mirando City Independent School District
served the community of Mirando City from 1923 to 2005. Prior to 1994 all Mirando City children attended Mirando City ISD schools. After spring 1994, Mirando High School closed. Therefore, from Fall 1994 to July 1, 2005, WCISD served high schoolers from Mirando City while Mirando Elementary School in the Mirando City ISD served students from kindergarten
through 8th grade. On May 9, 2005 the Texas Education Agency
ordered the closure of Mirando City ISD. The district closed on July 1, 2005, and all students were rezoned to Webb CISD schools.
The private Holding Institute
is a former United Methodist boarding school
now operating as a downtown Laredo community center.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. The official 2010 population for the county is 250,304. In 2000, its population was 193,117, and in 2006 its population had been estimated to have reached to 231,470. Its county seat
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....
is Laredo
Laredo, Texas
Laredo is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 236,091 making it the 3rd largest on the United States-Mexican border,...
. Webb County was named after James Webb, who served as secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of State
Secretary of State of Texas
The Secretary of State of Texas is one of six state officials designated by the Texas Constitution to form the executive department of that U.S. state...
, and Attorney General of the Republic of Texas, and later United States District Judge in the State of Texas. Webb County is the largest county in South Texas
South Texas
South Texas is a region of the U.S. state of Texas that lies roughly south of and including San Antonio. The southern and western boundary is the Rio Grande River, and to the east it is the Gulf of Mexico. The population of this region is about 3.7 million. The southern portion of this region is...
by area.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited 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 county has a total area of 3376 square miles (8,743.8 km²), of which 3357 square miles (8,694.6 km²) is land and 19 square miles (49.2 km²) (0.55%) is water.
Major highways
Interstate 35
U.S. Highway 59
U.S. Highway 83
State Highway 44
State Highway 255Texas State Highway 255State Highway 255 toll road owned by the state of Texas that has operated since 2000 that allows international traffic to bypass Laredo. The route stretches from the Colombia Solidarity International Bridge to Interstate 35 at exit #24...
State Highway 359Texas State Highway 359State Highway 359 or SH 359 is a state highway that runs from Skidmore in southeastern Texas, near Corpus Christi, southwest and west to Laredo at the international border with Mexico.-History:...
Complete List of Highways in Webb County, Texas
Adjacent counties and municipalities
- Dimmit CountyDimmit County, TexasDimmit County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 10,248. It is named for Philip Dimmitt, a major figure in the Texas Revolution. The reason the county name differs is because the bill creating the county misspelled Dimmitt's name...
(north) - La Salle County (north)
- Duval County (east)
- Jim Hogg County (southeast)
- Zapata County (south)
- Maverick CountyMaverick County, TexasMaverick County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 47,297. Its county seat is Eagle Pass. Maverick County is named for Samuel Maverick, cattleman and state legislator....
(northwest) - Guerrero, Coahuila, Mexico (west)
- Hidalgo, CoahuilaHidalgo, CoahuilaHidalgo or Villa Hidalgo is a community and municipality located in the Mexican state of Coahuila. It is the municipal seat of Hidalgo Municipality. According to the INEGI census of 2010, Hidalgo has a population of 1,638 inhabitants. Its elevation is 150 meters above sea level....
, MexicoMexicoThe 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...
(west) - Anáhuac, Nuevo LeónAnáhuac, Nuevo LeónAnáhuac is a city and municipality in the Mexican state of Nuevo León. The city of Anáhuac was founded on May 5, 1933, inside the municipal jurisdiction of Lampazos de Naranjo, Nuevo León, as the political head of the National System of Irrigation No.04 . On May 29, 1935, this city was declared a...
, Mexico (west) - Nuevo Laredo, TamaulipasTamaulipasTamaulipas 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 (southwest) - Guerrero, Tamaulipas, MexicoNueva Ciudad GuerreroNueva Ciudad Guerrero is a city in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. It lies on the banks of the Rio Grande / Río Bravo, near the U.S.-Mexico border, opposite to Falcon Heights, Texas. The Lake Falcon Dam International Crossing connects Falcon Heights with Nueva Ciudad Guerrero.It is located in...
(southwest)
History
Webb County was split into two counties in 1856. Encinal County was established on February 1, 1856 and was to consist of the eastern portion of Webb County, Texas. The county was never organized and was finally dissolved on March 12, 1899. The Encinal territory was absorbed into Webb County.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 193,117 people, 50,740 households, and 43,433 families residing in the county. 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 58 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 55,206 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.16% White
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...
, 0.37% Black
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...
or African American
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...
, 0.47% Native American
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...
, 0.43% Asian
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...
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
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...
, 14.00% 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 2.54% from two or more races. 94.28% of the population were Hispanic
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...
or Latino
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...
of any race.
There were 50,740 households out of which 53.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.60% 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, 18.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.40% were non-families. 12.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.75 and the average family size was 4.10.
In the county, the population was spread out with 36.20% under the age of 18, 11.40% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 15.60% from 45 to 64, and 7.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 92.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,100, and the median income for a family was $29,394. Males had a median income of $23,618 versus $19,018 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 county was $10,759. About 26.70% of families and 31.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.40% of those under age 18 and 26.90% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Webb County is overwhelmingly Democratic and has voted for that party's electors since 1912. Although Texas as a whole voted for RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
in the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
won 33,435 votes (71 percent) of the ballots in Webb County. McCain was a distant second with 13,111 votes (28 percent). Other candidates secured a combined 1 percent of the ballots. Obama fared better than Democrat John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
had done in 2004. Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
s in Texas gave Obama 63 percent of their ballots, whereas Kerry had polled 50 percent of that group's votes. In Webb County, Kerry received 23,654 (57 percent) to George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's 17,753 (42 percent). Nearly 57,000 registered voters in Webb County did not cast ballots in the 2008 presidential election.
Webb County also voted for the Democratic candidate for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, State Representative
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
Rick Noriega
Rick Noriega
Richard Joel "Rick" Noriega was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 145 in eastern Houston, first elected in 1998. He was the Democratic nominee for the Texas United States Senate election, 2008 against the one-term Republican incumbent John Cornyn...
of Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, who failed to unseat Republican incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
John Cornyn
John Cornyn
John Cornyn, III is the junior United States Senator for Texas, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was elected Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the 111th U.S. Congress....
.
Cities
- El CenizoEl Cenizo, TexasEl Cenizo is a city in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,545 at the 2000 census. El Cenizo is the third largest city in Webb County....
- LaredoLaredo, TexasLaredo is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 236,091 making it the 3rd largest on the United States-Mexican border,...
- Rio BravoRio Bravo, TexasRio Bravo is a city in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,553 at the 2000 census. The city is the second largest in Webb County.-Geography:Rio Bravo is located at ....
Census-designated places
|
Laredo Ranchettes, Texas Laredo Ranchettes is a census-designated place in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,845 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Laredo Ranchettes is located at .... Larga Vista, Texas Larga Vista is a former census-designated place in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 742 at the 2000 census. Larga Vista lost its census-designated place status in 2010 because it became surrounded by Laredo, Texas. A CDP may not be located, either partially or entirely, within... Mirando City, Texas Mirando City is a census-designated place in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 493 at the 2000 census. The town gets its name from Nicolás Mirando, a Spanish land grantee. The population of Mirando City was highest in 1929, at an estimated 1500... |
Oilton, Texas Oilton is a census-designated place in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 310 at the 2000 census. The community is within the boundary of Webb Consolidated Independent School District and it is home to the Oilton Elementary School.... Ranchitos Las Lomas, Texas Ranchitos Las Lomas is a census-designated place in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 334 at the 2000 census. Las Lomas means "the hills" in Spanish... Ranchos Penitas West, Texas Ranchos Penitas West is a census-designated place in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 520 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ranchos Penitas West is located at .... |
Unincorporated areas
|
Las Tiendas, Texas Las Tiendas is a small unincorporated ranching community in northwestern Webb County, Texas, United States. The community's name is Spanish for "the shops."-References:*... Los Ojuelos, Texas Los Ojuelos is a ghost town near Mirando City in the southeastern part of Webb County, Texas, United States. Before its establishment, Indians camped near the only dependable water source in the semiarid area. The local springs attracted Eugenio Gutiérrez in 1810 and attempted to settle in the... Mirando City, Texas Mirando City is a census-designated place in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 493 at the 2000 census. The town gets its name from Nicolás Mirando, a Spanish land grantee. The population of Mirando City was highest in 1929, at an estimated 1500... Nye, Texas Nye was a town two miles north of Laredo in southwestern Webb County, Texas, United States. It was named after Thomas C. Nye, a local planter who introduced Bermuda onions into the community in 1898. The area has been eventually absorbed by neighboring Laredo.... Pescadito, Texas Pescadito was a town near Laredo in southwestern Webb County, Texas, United States. Pescadito was a stop on the Texas Mexican Railway in 1881. In 1930 it had a population of 25. The community's main business was mesquite wood for railroads until coal began to be used in 1946.-References:*... |
Ranchitos Las Lomas, Texas Ranchitos Las Lomas is a census-designated place in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 334 at the 2000 census. Las Lomas means "the hills" in Spanish... Ranchitos Las Lomas, Texas Ranchitos Las Lomas is a census-designated place in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 334 at the 2000 census. Las Lomas means "the hills" in Spanish... Ranchos Penitas West, Texas Ranchos Penitas West is a census-designated place in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 520 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ranchos Penitas West is located at .... Rio Bravo, Texas Rio Bravo is a city in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,553 at the 2000 census. The city is the second largest in Webb County.-Geography:Rio Bravo is located at .... Rio Bravo, Texas Rio Bravo is a city in Webb County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,553 at the 2000 census. The city is the second largest in Webb County.-Geography:Rio Bravo is located at .... Santo Tomás, Texas Santo Tomás was a coal-mining town near Laredo in west central Webb County, Texas, United States. The town was founded in 1801 by Antonio Gonzales and was named in honor of Saint Thomas. During the colonial era the land was used primarily for ranching. Pure quality cannel coal was found and... Webb, Texas Webb is a rural unincorporated community in Webb County, Texas, United States, located 20 miles north of Laredo. According to the 1990 census it had a population of 40.-History:... |
Education
Three school districts serve Webb County:- Laredo Independent School DistrictLaredo Independent School DistrictLaredo Independent School District is a public school district based in Laredo, Texas . The district serves the south central portion of Laredo.In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency....
- United Independent School DistrictUnited Independent School DistrictUnited Independent School District is a school district headquartered in Laredo, Texas, United States.UISD serves portions of the city of Laredo, the cities of El Cenizo and Rio Bravo, and several unincorporated areas in Webb County...
- Webb Consolidated Independent School DistrictWebb Consolidated Independent School DistrictWebb Consolidated Independent School District is a school district based in unincorporated Webb County, Texas, United States.WCISD serves the unincorporated communities of Bruni, Mirando City, and Oilton....
Prior to 1994 Webb CISD served only Bruni and Oilton. Mirando City Independent School District
Mirando City Independent School District
Mirando City Independent School District was a school district located in unincorporated Webb County, Texas, United States. The district consisted of one school named Mirando Elementary School, located in the Mirando City community....
served the community of Mirando City from 1923 to 2005. Prior to 1994 all Mirando City children attended Mirando City ISD schools. After spring 1994, Mirando High School closed. Therefore, from Fall 1994 to July 1, 2005, WCISD served high schoolers from Mirando City while Mirando Elementary School in the Mirando City ISD served students from kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
through 8th grade. On May 9, 2005 the Texas Education Agency
Texas Education Agency
The Texas Education Agency is a branch of the state government of Texas in the United States responsible for public education. The agency is headquartered in the William B...
ordered the closure of Mirando City ISD. The district closed on July 1, 2005, and all students were rezoned to Webb CISD schools.
The private Holding Institute
Holding Institute
Holding Institute is a United Methodist-affiliated community center in Laredo, Texas, originally founded in 1882 as a kindergarten and primary school. For nearly a century thereafter, Holding was a state-accredited boys’ and girls’ boarding school...
is a former United Methodist boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
now operating as a downtown Laredo community center.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Webb County, Texas
- Webb County CourthouseWebb County Courthouse (Texas)The Webb County Courthouse is located in Laredo in the U.S. state of Texas. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.-Design:...
Further reading
- Lambert, R.B. (2004). Hydrogeology of Webb County, Texas [Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5022]. Reston, VA: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.
External links
- Webb County government's website
- Webb County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of TexasUniversity of Texas at AustinThe University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
- Webb County Heritage Foundation