Kenedy County, Texas

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1946 sqmi, of which 1458 sqmi is land and 487 sqmi (25%) is water. In total area, Kenedy is the 13th largest county in Texas. In land area only, it is the 25th-largest county in Texas. It borders the Gulf of Mexico. Baffin Bay makes up much of the border with Kleberg County.

Major highways

US 77 is the only highway (federal or state) in Kenedy County.

• [[Image:US 77.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 77
  • [[Image:I-69E (TX).svg|25px]] Interstate 69E is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 77 in most places.

Adjacent counties

• Kleberg County (north)
• Willacy County (south)
• Hidalgo County (southwest)
• Brooks County (west)

National protected area

• Padre Island National Seashore (part)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1850–2010 2010-2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 350. The median age was 41.0 years. 23.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.3 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 39.1% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 2.0% American Indian and Alaska Native,

There were 131 households in the county, of which 43.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 38.2% were married-couple households, 22.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 196 housing units, of which 33.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 55.7% were owner-occupied and 44.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.0%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2000 census

As of the census in 2000, there were 414 people, 138 households, and 110 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.28 /mi2. There were 281 housing units at an average density of 0.19 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 64.49% White, 0.72% Black or African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 31.88% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. 78.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 138 households, out of which 35.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.60% were non-families. 18.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the county, the population had widespread age groups including 29.20% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years old. For every 100 females, there were 110.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,000, and the median income for a family was $26,719. Males had a median income of $18,125 versus $12,188 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,959. 15.30% of the population and 9.90% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 15.60% are under the age of 18 and 18.80% are 65 or older.

Kenedy County, the third least populous county in Texas, had 108 times more cattle than people in 1999.

Education

Almost all of Kenedy County is served by Sarita Elementary School (PreK-6) of the Kenedy County Wide Common School District. As of 2001, of the schools in the nine Texas counties having only one school apiece, the population of Sarita Elementary School was the smallest. A small portion of Kenedy County is served by the Riviera Independent School District for all grades K-12. Students who graduate from Sarita Elementary move on to De La Paz Middle School and Kaufer Early College High School, operated by Riviera ISD, which takes all secondary students from the KCWCSD area.

Del Mar College is the designated community college for all of Kenedy County.

Communities

Census-designated place

• Sarita (county seat)

Unincorporated community

• Armstrong

Politics

Like the rest of South Texas, Kenedy County has historically supported candidates from the Democratic Party. The Republican Party has carried the county only eight times since the 1924 presidential election. Despite its historic Democratic lean, the county has become competitive in recent years, with Republican Mitt Romney's performance in 2012, and Republican Donald Trump's latest two performances in 2020 and 2024.

In 2020, Trump carried the county with over 65% of the vote, making him the strongest Republican margin since 1956, and Kenedy was one of only fifteen counties to flip from supporting Hillary Clinton in 2016 to Trump in 2020. Trump's performance within the county at 2024 would end up even more successful, at nearly 73% of the vote. Kenedy County had the longest losing streak in the nation, being the only county to flip from Barack Obama to Mitt Romney, then to Clinton, and then to Trump in his unsuccessful second bid. However, the county would again support Trump in his more successful 2024 election, putting an end to this long streak, since Trump won the 2024 election. Since 2000, the county has only voted for two winners; Obama in 2008, and Trump in 2024, and since 1980 it has only voted for the winning candidate four times: (Bill Clinton in both his campaigns as well as Obama in 2008, and Trump in 2024). The county has also become Republican-leaning in non-presidential elections, as Republican Senator Ted Cruz won the county in his narrow 2018 victory over Beto O’Rourke and the county voted Republican in every statewide election in 2018. However, despite underperforming Joe Biden by 11 points, Democrat Dan Sanchez won the county in his loss to Republican Mayra Flores in the 2022 Texas's 34th district special election. Flores subsequently carried the county in her unsuccessful bid for a full term that November.

In statewide races for governor and the U.S. Senate, the county has slowly trended Republican. The last Democrat to carry the county in a gubernatorial race was Tony Sanchez in 2002, while Rick Noriega in 2008 is the last Democrat to carry it in a senatorial race.

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. "Kenedy, Mifflin". [[The Handbook of Texas]] On-Line.
4. "Archived copy".
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20010804010259/http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/rural/1defining.html What is Rural?]," ''Rural Texas in Transition.'' ''Window on State Government''.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010". Texas Almanac.
9. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
10. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
11. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
12. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Kenedy County, Texas".
13. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kenedy County, Texas".
14. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kenedy County, Texas".
15. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
16. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Kenedy County, TX". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
17. "Recruitment Plan, Events, and Timeline". [[Kaufer Early College High School]].
18. [https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code Sec. 130.177. DEL MAR COLLEGE-CORPUS CHRISTI JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]
19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
20. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".