San Patricio County, Texas

History

In 1828, 200 Irish Catholic families, recruited from Ireland and the Irish population of New York City, contracted with the Mexican government to settle on 80 leagues of land in this area. By 1836, about 500 people lived in the colony on 84 Mexican land grants. During the Texas Revolution, most fled from the colony because of fighting in the area. By 1841, a small number of permanent residents had returned. When Texas was admitted by treaty to the United States in 1845, the area was stabilized by the presence of U.S. troops under General Zachary Taylor. In 1845, the county was formed (San Patricio is Spanish for Saint Patrick, the primary patron saint of the colonists' home country of Ireland), and Corpus Christi was designated as the county seat. The following year, the county south of the Nueces River was reorganized as Nueces County, and the town of San Patricio became the county seat of San Patricio County. In 1848, additional counties were formed out of San Patricio, which further reduced its size.

The 1850 U.S. census listed only 200 people in the county, including three slaves. The local economy was based on cattle raising. In the mid-1860s, more settlers moved, drawn by the cheap land. By 1870, 602 people lived in the county, and the agricultural census reported 51 farms and ranches, totaling 52000 acre, in the area, with about 2400 acre described as "improved". Development of the county intensified during the early 20th century, as hundreds of farmers moved in from North Texas and other states. The population reached 7,307 by 1910, and was 11,386 by 1920; 470 farms were counted in 1910, and 757 farms in 1920. Cattle ranching remained important, but vegetables and cotton also became important. The acres planted in the cotton increased from about 15000 acre in 1910 to 155000 acre by 1930.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 708 sqmi, of which 693 sqmi are land and 14 sqmi (2.0%) are covered by water. Elevations range from sea level to 200 ft, primarily in the western territory. San Patricio County is the 52nd-largest county in Texas. The Gulf of Mexico forms the eastern border of the county.

Major highways

• [[Image:I-37 (TX).svg|20px]] Interstate 37
• [[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.
• [[Image:US 181.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 181
• [[Image:Texas 35.svg|20px]] State Highway 35
• [[Image:Texas 188.svg|20px]] State Highway 188
• [[Image:Texas 359.svg|20px]] State Highway 359
• [[Image:Texas 361.svg|20px]] State Highway 361
• [[Image:Texas FM 136.svg|20px]] Farm to Market Road 136

Adjacent counties

• Bee County (north)
• Refugio County (northeast)
• Aransas County (east)
• Nueces County (southeast)
• Jim Wells County (southwest)
• Live Oak County (northwest)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1850–2010 2010–2014

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 68,755. The median age was 37.9 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.0 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 61.4% White, 1.7% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 11.3% from some other race, and 23.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 55.6% of the population.

72.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 27.8% lived in rural areas.

There were 24,796 households and 16,838 families in the county, of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.5% were married-couple households, 19.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 29,424 housing units, of which 15.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 67.4% were owner-occupied and 32.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 17.0%.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census 67,138 people, 22,093 households, and 17,232 families resided in the county. The population density was 97 /mi2. The 24,864 housing units averaged 36 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 76.76% White, 2.81% African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 15.94% from other races, and 3.05% from two or more races. About 49.42% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 22,093 households, 41.6% had children under 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were not families. About 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.97, and the average family size was 3.40.

In the county, the age distribution was 31.1% under 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,836, and for a family was $40,002. Males had a median income of $31,132 versus $20,730 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,425. About 14.60% of families and 18.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.50% of those under age 18 and 16.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities (multiple counties)

• Aransas Pass (partly in Aransas and Nueces Counties)
• Corpus Christi (mostly in Nueces County, with small parts in Kleberg and Aransas Counties)
• Ingleside (small part in Nueces County)
• Portland (small part in Nueces County)
• San Patricio (small part in Nueces County)

Cities

• Gregory
• Ingleside on the Bay
• Mathis
• Odem
• Sinton (county seat)
• Taft

Towns

• Lake City
• Lakeside

Census-designated places

• Del Sol
• Edgewater Estates
• Edroy
• Falman
• La Paloma Addition
• Lakeshore Gardens-Hidden Acres
• Loma Linda
• Morgan Farm
• Paisano Park
• Rancho Chico
• St. Paul
• Taft Southwest
• Tradewinds

Former census-designated places

• Del Sol-Loma Linda
• Doyle
• Country Acres (annexed in 2022 by city of Aransas Pass)
• Edgewater-Paisano
• Falman-County Acres

Unincorporated community

• Sodville

Education

School districts include:

• Aransas Pass Independent School District
• Gregory-Portland Independent School District
• Ingleside Independent School District
• Mathis Independent School District
• Odem-Edroy Independent School District
• Sinton Independent School District
• Skidmore-Tynan Independent School District
• Taft Independent School District

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

Government and politics

Government

San Patricio County, like all counties in Texas, is governed by a commissioners' court. This court consists of the county judge (the chairperson of the court), who is elected county-wide, and four commissioners who are elected by the voters in each of four precincts.

The commissioners' court is the policy-making body for the county; in addition, the county judge is the senior executive and administrative position in the county. The commissioners' court sets the county tax rate, adopts the budget, appoints boards and commissions, approves grants and personnel actions, and oversees the administration of county government. Each commissioner also supervises a road and bridge district.

County commissioners

County officials

Constables

Justices of the peace

County courts

District courts

Politics

Despite being majority-minority, San Patricio county leans overwhelmingly Republican. The GOP does better than average among Latino residents in Texas, particularly South Texas. In 2022, Republicans won 40% of the Latino vote. This has been as high as 48% in 2014. These margins help Republicans win majority-minority districts, while Republicans in other parts of the country struggle - only garnering between 21% and 30% of the vote. Republicans appear to be increasing their Latino support from picking off specific segments: Men, rural Latinos, Rio Grande Valley, devout Catholics, Tejano, and pro-life voters.

References

References

1. Association, Texas State Historical. "San Patricio County: History, Geography, and Economy".
2. "QuickFacts: San Patricio County, Texas".
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. {{Handbook of Texas
5. (1986). "The history of San Patricio County". Eakin Publications.
6. Stewart, Bennie L.. (1960). "History of San Patricio County".
7. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
8. Association, Texas State Historical. "San Patricio County: History, Geography, and Economy".
9. (2025-11-21). "San Patricio County, Texas Population 2025".
10. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". [[US Census Bureau]].
11. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010". Texas Almanac.
12. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
13. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – San Patricio County, Texas".
14. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – San Patricio County, Texas". [[United States Census Bureau]].
15. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – San Patricio County, Texas". [[United States Census Bureau]].
16. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
17. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
18. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
19. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
20. "2022 Geography Changes".
21. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: San Patricio County, TX". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
22. [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.]
23. "Dallas County".
24. "San Patricio County, TX Elections".
25. (November 10, 2022). "Texas Republicans lost Latino voters support in election setback".
26. Krogstad, Jens Manuel. (November 7, 2014). "Hispanic Voters in the 2014 Election".
27. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
28. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".