San Patricio County, Texas

San Patricio County
San Patricio County
County
	Built in 1927 (Henry T. Phelps), this is the eighth structure to serve as the San Patricio County Courthouse in Sinton.
	Location within the U.S. state of Texas
	Texas's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 28°01′N 97°31′W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1836
Named for	Saint Patrick
Seat	Sinton
Largest city	Corpus Christi
Area
• Total	708 sq mi (1,830 km2)
• Land	693 sq mi (1,790 km2)
• Water	14 sq mi (40 km2) 2.0%
Population (2020)
• Total	68,755
• Density	97/sq mi (37/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	27th
Website	www.co.san-patricio.tx.us

San Patricio County is located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 68,755.^[1] Its county seat is Sinton.^[2] San Patricio County is part of the Corpus Christi metropolitan statistical area.

Quick Facts Country, State ...

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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 annexed by 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.^[3]

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 52,000 acres (210 km²), in the area, with about 2,400 acres (9.7 km²) 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 15,000 acres (61 km²) in 1910 to 155,000 acres (630 km²) by 1930.^[3]^[4]^[5]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 708 sq mi (1,830 km²), of which 693 sq mi (1,790 km²) are land and 14 sq mi (36 km²) (2.0%) are covered by water.^[6]

The Gulf of Mexico forms the eastern border of the county.

Major highways

Interstate 37
U.S. Highway 77
- Interstate 69E is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 77 in most places.
U.S. Highway 181
State Highway 35
State Highway 188
State Highway 359
State Highway 361
Farm to Market Road 136

Adjacent counties

Bee County (north)
Refugio County (north)
Aransas County (northeast)
Nueces County (south)
Jim Wells County (southwest)
Live Oak County (northwest)

More information Census, Pop. ...

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	200	—
1860	620	210.0%
1870	602	−2.9%
1880	1,010	67.8%
1890	1,312	29.9%
1900	2,372	80.8%
1910	7,307	208.1%
1920	11,386	55.8%
1930	23,836	109.3%
1940	28,871	21.1%
1950	35,842	24.1%
1960	45,021	25.6%
1970	47,288	5.0%
1980	58,013	22.7%
1990	58,749	1.3%
2000	67,138	14.3%
2010	64,804	−3.5%
2020	68,755	6.1%
U.S. Decennial Census^[7] 1850–2010^[8] 2010–2014^[9]

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More information Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic), Pop 2000 ...

**San Patricio County, 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 2000^[10]	Pop 2010^[11]	Pop 2020^[12]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	30,749	27,330	26,613	45.80%	42.17%	38.71%
Black or African American alone (NH)	1,767	902	994	2.63%	1.39%	1.45%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	233	169	198	0.35%	0.26%	0.29%
Asian alone (NH)	389	506	845	0.58%	0.78%	1.23%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	58	46	66	0.09%	0.07%	0.1%
Other race alone (NH)	78	53	227	0.12%	0.08%	0.33%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	683	550	1,592	1.02%	0.85%	2.32%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	33,181	35,248	38,220	49.42%	54.39%	55.59%
Total	67,138	64,804	68,755	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

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As of the 2020 United States census, there were 68,755 people, 23,422 households, and 16,838 families residing in the county.

As of the census^[13] of 2000, 67,138 people, 22,093 households, and 17,232 families resided in the county. The population density was 97 people/sq mi (37 people/km²). The 24,864 housing units averaged 36 units per square mile (14 units/km²). 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 the age of 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 the age of 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.

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

Towns

Census-designated places

Former census-designated places

Del Sol-Loma Linda
Doyle
Country Acres (annexed in 2022 by city of Aransas Pass)^[14]
Edgewater-Paisano
Falman-County Acres

Unincorporated community

Sodville

School districts include:^[15]

Del Mar College is the designated community college for all of San Patricio County.^[16]

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.^[17]