Floresville, Texas
Encyclopedia
Floresville is a city
in Wilson County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 5,868 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Wilson County. The city is also part of the San Antonio
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Floresville was the birthplace of former Texas Governor
, United States Secretary of the Treasury
, and Republican
presidential contender John Bowden Connally, Jr.
(1917–1993), and his seven siblings, including actor
Merrill Connally
(1921–2001) and Wayne Connally
(1923–2000), a former member of both houses of the Texas State Legislature. The Connally Memorial Medical Center in Floresville is named for John, Merrill, and Wayne Connally.
Floresville was also the birthplace of Vicente T. Ximenes
(born 1919), a former member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
and a civil rights
activist.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.3 km²), all of it land.
The land and name for this town would be given to honor the Flores de Abrego family, who were descendants of the former Canary Islanders. Don Francisco Flores de Abrego was early settler of this area, his ranch was six miles (10 km) northwest of the site of present Floresville. Four of his sons, Salvador, Manuel, Nepomuceno, and Jose Maria would serve Texas in the 1835-1836 Revolution. Don Erasmo Seguin also settled in this area in late 1824. His ranch "Casa Blanca" began as a 9000 acres (36.4 km²) tract near present Floresville. His son, Texas military and political figure Juan Seguin, would also reside on the ranch.
of 2000, there were 5,868 people, 1,908 households, and 1,457 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,234.5 people per square mile (477.0/km²). There were 2,114 housing units at an average density of 444.8 per square mile (171.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.32% White, 1.64% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 22.89% from other races
, and 3.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 64.01% of the population.
There were 1,908 households out of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples
living together, 17.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.36.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,093, and the median income for a family was $34,482. Males had a median income of $27,152 versus $19,616 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,340. About 14.0% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.
Sugarland Express directed by Steven Spielberg
were filmed in Floresville. In the film the town is called "Rodrigo". Other scenes were filmed at various locations in Wilson County and at the nearby Lone Oak Community.
Portions of the 1980s movie The Big Brawl with Jackie Chan
were filmed in Floresville's downtown area.
Portions of The Great Waldo Pepper, starring Robert Redford
, were filmed just outside Floresville and the neighboring city of Poth.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Wilson County
Wilson County, Texas
Wilson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 32,408. Its county seat is Floresville. The county is named after James Charles Wilson....
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,868 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Wilson County. The city is also part of the San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Floresville was the birthplace of former Texas Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
, United States Secretary of the Treasury
United States Secretary of the Treasury
The Secretary of the Treasury of the United States is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, which is concerned with financial and monetary matters, and, until 2003, also with some issues of national security and defense. This position in the Federal Government of the United...
, and Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
presidential contender John Bowden Connally, Jr.
John Connally
John Bowden Connally, Jr. , was an influential American politician, serving as the 39th governor of Texas, Secretary of the Navy under President John F. Kennedy, and as Secretary of the Treasury under President Richard M. Nixon. While he was Governor in 1963, Connally was a passenger in the car in...
(1917–1993), and his seven siblings, including actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
Merrill Connally
Merrill Connally
Merrill Lee Connally, Sr. , was an American film actor, a county administrative judge, a rancher, and a brother of both Governor John B. Connally, Jr. , and Texas State Senator Wayne Connally ....
(1921–2001) and Wayne Connally
Wayne Connally
Wayne Wright Connally was a Texas rancher, a Democratic member of both houses of the Texas State Legislature, and a brother of both former Governor and United States Treasury Secretary John Bowden Connally, Jr., and Merrill Lee Connally, Sr., an actor and a former county judge.-Early years,...
(1923–2000), a former member of both houses of the Texas State Legislature. The Connally Memorial Medical Center in Floresville is named for John, Merrill, and Wayne Connally.
Floresville was also the birthplace of Vicente T. Ximenes
Vicente T. Ximenes
Among his many achievements, Vicente T. Ximenes continues today as a Mexican-American civil rights leader. Ximenes was raised in the town of Floresville, Texas, where he, along with the Mexican American community, were subjected to racial segregation. After graduating from high school, Ximenes...
(born 1919), a former member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is an independent federal law enforcement agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. The EEOC investigates discrimination complaints based on an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, perceived intelligence,...
and a civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
activist.
Geography
Floresville is located at 29°8′11"N 98°9′28"W (29.136255, -98.157908).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.3 km²), all of it land.
History
Historic settlers of the area were Native American Indians. After the Spanish discovery of the Americas, western settlement came in the form of Christian missions. Thus, in the mid 18th century Rancho de las Cabras, "the goat ranch," was established near Floresville as a mission ranching operation for Mission Espada. Indian and Spanish vaqueros would live and worship here, while caring for the herds of animals. This would be the precursor of the Texas ranching industry.The land and name for this town would be given to honor the Flores de Abrego family, who were descendants of the former Canary Islanders. Don Francisco Flores de Abrego was early settler of this area, his ranch was six miles (10 km) northwest of the site of present Floresville. Four of his sons, Salvador, Manuel, Nepomuceno, and Jose Maria would serve Texas in the 1835-1836 Revolution. Don Erasmo Seguin also settled in this area in late 1824. His ranch "Casa Blanca" began as a 9000 acres (36.4 km²) tract near present Floresville. His son, Texas military and political figure Juan Seguin, would also reside on the ranch.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,868 people, 1,908 households, and 1,457 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,234.5 people per square mile (477.0/km²). There were 2,114 housing units at an average density of 444.8 per square mile (171.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.32% White, 1.64% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 22.89% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 64.01% of the population.
There were 1,908 households out of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 17.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.36.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,093, and the median income for a family was $34,482. Males had a median income of $27,152 versus $19,616 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $13,340. About 14.0% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.
Film Appearances
Portions of the 1974 feature filmFeature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
Sugarland Express directed by Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
were filmed in Floresville. In the film the town is called "Rodrigo". Other scenes were filmed at various locations in Wilson County and at the nearby Lone Oak Community.
Portions of the 1980s movie The Big Brawl with Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
were filmed in Floresville's downtown area.
Portions of The Great Waldo Pepper, starring Robert Redford
Robert Redford
Charles Robert Redford, Jr. , better known as Robert Redford, is an American actor, film director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. He has received two Oscars: one in 1981 for directing Ordinary People, and one for Lifetime...
, were filmed just outside Floresville and the neighboring city of Poth.
See also
- Wilson County Courthouse and JailWilson County Courthouse and Jail (Floresville, Texas)The Wilson County Courthouse and Jail are located in Floresville, Texas. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas in 1978 and as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1984....