Aransas County, Texas

History

Spanish conquistador and cartographer Alonso Álvarez de Pineda was likely the first European to encounter this land when he sailed along the Texas coast in the summer of 1519 and charted Aransas Bay. This name is derived from an outpost established during the Viceroyalty of New Spain called "Río de Nuestra Señora de Aránzazu", which was itself named for the Sanctuary of Aránzazu, a Franciscan sanctuary in Oñate, Gipuzkoa, Spain, whose name originates from the Basque language.

In 1871, the Texas Legislature established Aransas County from portions of Refugio County, and it organized the following year.

In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey inflicted tremendous damage on the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 528 sqmi, of which 276 sqmi (52%) are covered by water.

Adjacent counties

• Calhoun County (northeast)
• Gulf of Mexico (east)
• Nueces County (south)
• San Patricio County (southwest)
• Refugio County (northwest)

National protected area

• Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1850–1900 1910 1920 1930 1940

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 23,830. The median age was 52.5 years. 16.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 28.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.0 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 75.5% White, 1.1% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 6.5% from some other race, and 13.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 25.8% of the population.

76.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 23.6% lived in rural areas.

There were 10,236 households in the county, of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.2% were married-couple households, 19.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 15,500 housing units, of which 34.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.5% were owner-occupied and 22.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 23.8%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, about 5.9 same-sex couples per 1,000 households lived in the county.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 22,497 people, 9,132 households, and 6,401 families lived in the county. The population density was 89 /mi2. The 12,848 housing units had an average density of 51 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 87.44% White, 1.43% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 2.77% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 5.33% from other races, and 2.39% from two or more races. About 20.32% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 9,132 households, 27.0% had children under 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were not families. About 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the age distribution was 23.8% under 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,702, and for a family was $34,915. Males had a median income of $31,597 versus $20,289 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,560. About 15.5% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.0% of those under 18 and 10.2% of those 65 or over.

Education

Most county residents, including the cities of Rockport and Fulton, are served by the Rockport-Fulton Independent School District. Some residents (including the city of Aransas Pass, which is actually outside of the county) are served by the Aransas Pass Independent School District. Del Mar College is the designated community college for the county.

Transportation

Major highways

• [[Image:Texas 35.svg|20px]] State Highway 35
• [[Image:Texas 188.svg|20px]] State Highway 188

Airport

Aransas County Airport is located in Fulton, north of Rockport.

Communities

Cities

• Aransas Pass (partly in San Patricio and Nueces counties)
• Corpus Christi (mostly in Nueces County with small parts also in Kleberg and San Patricio Counties)
• Rockport (county seat)

Towns

• Fulton

Census-designated places

• Holiday Beach
• Lamar

Unincorporated communities

• Estes
• Palm Harbor

Ghost towns

• Aransas City

Politics

References

References

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21. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
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24. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Aransas County, Texas". [[United States Census Bureau]].
25. (June 26, 2015). "Where Same-Sex Couples Live". The New York Times.
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