Goliad County, Texas

History

Pajalat and Siquipil, both Coahuiltecan peoples, were indigenous peoples who lived in what became Goliad County. A 1727 Spanish map records them living in the area.

The first declaration of independence for the Republic of Texas was signed in Goliad on December 20, 1835, although the formal declaration was made by the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos. Goliad County was the site of two battles in the Texas Revolution. The Battle of Goliad was a minor skirmish early in the war, and the subsequent battle of Coleto was an important battle that culminated on March 27, 1836. Col. James Fannin and his Texan soldiers were executed by the Mexican army, under orders from Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna, in what became known as the Goliad Massacre. This event led to the Texas Revolutionary battle cry "Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!" Although many remember the Alamo today, fewer remember Goliad. The site of the massacre is located near Presidio la Bahia, just south of the town of Goliad.

In 1874, Juan Moya, a prominent Tejano landowner and Mexican army captain who fought in the Texas Revolution, was lynched, along with his two sons, by a mob who suspected them of murdering a neighboring family in Goliad County.

Goliad County is also the birthplace of General Ignacio Zaragoza, who led the Mexican army against the invading forces of Napoleon III in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 ("Cinco de Mayo").

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 859 sqmi, of which 7.4 sqmi (0.9%) are covered by water.

Major highways

• [[Image:US 59.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 59
  • [[Image:I-69W (TX).svg|25px]] Interstate 69W is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 59 in most places.
• [[Image:US 183.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 77 Alternate/U.S. Highway 183
• [[Image:Texas 119.svg|20px]] State Highway 119
• [[Image:Texas 239.svg|20px]] State Highway 239
• [[Image:Texas FM 81.svg|20px]] Farm to Market Road 81
• [[Image:Texas FM 622.svg|20px]] Farm to Market Road 622
• [[Image:Texas FM 883.svg|20px]] Farm to Market Road 883

Adjacent counties

• DeWitt County (north)
• Victoria County (northeast)
• Refugio County (southeast)
• Bee County (southwest)
• Karnes County (northwest)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1850–2010 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 7,012. The median age was 46.5 years, 21.6% of residents were under 18, and 23.3% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.1 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 73.1% White, 3.9% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian,

There were 2,815 households in the county, of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 55.0% were married-couple households, 17.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 3,503 housing units, of which 19.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.7% were owner-occupied and 19.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.7%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 6,928 people, 2,644 households, and 1,975 families resided in the county. The population density was 8 /mi2. The 3,426 housing units had an average density of 4 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 82.62% White, 4.82% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 10.06% from other races, and 1.73% from two or more races. About 35.20% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 2,644 households, 33.1% had children under 18 living with them, 62.1% were married couples living together, 8.7 had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were not families. About 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the age distribution was 25.9% under 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,201, and for a family was $40,446. Males had a median income of $30,954 versus $20,028 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,126. About 11.9% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.7% of those under 18 and 11.1% of those 65 or over.

Education

Goliad County is served by the Goliad Independent School District.

Communities

City

• Goliad (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Angel City
• Berclair
• Fannin
• Weesatche

Politics

References

References

1. "Goliad County, Texas".
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". Govt. Print. Off..
4. (May 22, 2015). "Goliad County". Texas State Historical Association.
5. (April 26, 2007). "Indian Groups at Mission Concepcion". National Park Service.
6. Marsh, Gloria Candelaria. (August 6, 2003). "Handbook of Texas Online:Juan Moya".
7. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". [[US Census Bureau]].
9. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010". Texas Almanac.
10. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Goliad County, Texas".
11. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Goliad County, Texas".
12. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Goliad County, Texas".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
15. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
16. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
18. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".