Ben Bolt, Texas

Ben Bolt is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in south central Jim Wells County, Texas, United States, 7 miles (11 km) south of Alice on U.S. Route 281. It was first listed as a CDP in the 2020 census, with a population of 1,662.^[1]

Ben Bolt, Texas
Census-designated place
Water tower in Ben Bolt
Ben Bolt Show map of Texas Ben Bolt Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 27°38′51″N 98°5′0″W
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Jim Wells County
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,662
Time zone	CST
• Summer (DST)	CDT
ZIP code	78342
Area code	361
FIPS code	48-07540

History

Ben Bolt was founded in 1904.^[2] The community took its name from the popular song "Ben Bolt and Sweet Alice".^[3]

Geography

Ben Bolt is located at 27°38′51″N 98°5′0″W (27.6475, -98.08333).

Education

Most of Ben Bolt is served by the Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco ISD. A small portion is within the Alice Independent School District.^[4] The schools of the former district include Palito Blanco Elementary School for grades K-3, Ben Bolt Middle School for grades 4-8, and Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco High School for grades 9-12. Alice High School is of the latter district.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	1,662		—
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1850–1900[6] 1910[7] 1920[8] 1930[9] 1940[10] 1950[11] 1960[12] 1970[13] 1980[14] 1990[15] 2000[16] 2010[17] 2020[18]

Ben Bolt first appeared as a census designated place in the 2020 U.S. Census.^[19][18]

2020 census

Ben Bolt CDP, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2020[18]	% 2020
White alone (NH)	159	9.57%
Black or African American alone (NH)	3	0.18%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	3	0.18%
Asian alone (NH)	1	0.06%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	2	0.12%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	8	0.48%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,486	89.41%
Total	1,662	100.00%

References

1. "Ben Bolt CDP, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
2. Ben Bolt from the Handbook of Texas Online
3. Tarpley, Fred (July 5, 2010). 1001 Texas Place Names. University of Texas Press. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-292-78693-6.
4. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Jim Wells County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
5. "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
6. "1900 Census of Population - Population of Texas By Counties And Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
7. "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
8. "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
9. "1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
10. "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
11. "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
12. "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
13. "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
14. "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
15. "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
16. "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
17. "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
18. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ben Bolt CDP, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
19. "2020 Geography Changes". United States Census Bureau.