Hondo, Texas
Encyclopedia
Hondo is a city in and the county seat
of Medina County, Texas
, United States
. According to the 2000 Census, the population was 7,897. It is part of the San Antonio
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²), of which, 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.21%) is water.
The area, which is now Medina County, was first explored by Cabeza de Vaca in 1519, 27 years after Columbus arrived in the new world.
The city of Hondo was first settled in 1881 and incorporated in 1942. The U.S. Army built an air field in the town in 1942 to train new pilots; at one time the largest air navigation school in the world, Hondo Army Air Field trained over 14,000 navigators for service during World War II
before closing in 1946.
Hondo was the scene of two bank robberies in the early 1920s. The crooks were the famed Newton Gang
, the most successful outlaws in U.S. history. Both bank hiests occurred the same night.
In 1930, the local Hondo Lions Club erected the now somewhat famous sign reading "This is God's Country, Don't Drive Through It Like Hell," at the city limits with the intention of slowing down those speeding while traveling through town. Later, in the 1940s the sign was changed to "This is God's Country, Please Don't Drive Through It Like Hell" in order to satisfy those in the town who were displeased with the tone of the old sign. http://www.hondochamber.com/City/Hondo_4_copy_small.jpg The sign has been in news and print in many magazines, including on the cover of National Geographic, and in the music video of Little Texas'
song "God Blessed Texas."
of 2000, there were 7,897 people, 2,207 households, and 1,664 families residing in the city. The population density
was 823.8 people per square mile (317.9/km²). There were 2,474 housing units at an average density of 258.1 per square mile (99.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.33% White (includes Hispanic or Latino of any race were 59.92% of the population), 8.33% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 15.23% from other races
, and 2.38% from two or more races.
There were 2,207 households out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples
living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 132.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 145.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,917, and the median income for a family was $34,856. Males had a median income of $21,639 versus $17,868 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,635. About 18.9% of families and 22.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.8% of those under age 18 and 17.1% of those age 65 or over.
.
Hondo High School (principal Jim Angst) is a 3A school in Region IV.
Hondo has a school newspaper named "The Owls' Nest" that features columns such as "Ask the Owl" and "What Owls Give A Hoot About." The high school journalism adviser is Philip Billnitzer.
The school is located at the intersection of 27th street and Ave H.
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 Medina County, 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...
. According to the 2000 Census, the population was 7,897. It is 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.
Geography
Hondo is located at 29°20′49"N 99°8′44"W (29.346838, -99.145543), approximately 40 miles (64.4 km) west of San AntonioSan 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,...
.
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 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²), of which, 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.21%) is water.
History
Original settlers in the area came from Alsace-Lorraine, Germany, Belgium and Mexico. Many family-owned businesses, farms and ranches are still owned by descendants of the original families.The area, which is now Medina County, was first explored by Cabeza de Vaca in 1519, 27 years after Columbus arrived in the new world.
The city of Hondo was first settled in 1881 and incorporated in 1942. The U.S. Army built an air field in the town in 1942 to train new pilots; at one time the largest air navigation school in the world, Hondo Army Air Field trained over 14,000 navigators for service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
before closing in 1946.
Hondo was the scene of two bank robberies in the early 1920s. The crooks were the famed Newton Gang
Newton Gang
The Newton Gang was an outlaw gang of the early 20th century, and the most successful train robbers and bank robbers in history. From 1919 through 1924 the gang robbed dozens of banks, claiming a number of eighty seven banks and six trains...
, the most successful outlaws in U.S. history. Both bank hiests occurred the same night.
In 1930, the local Hondo Lions Club erected the now somewhat famous sign reading "This is God's Country, Don't Drive Through It Like Hell," at the city limits with the intention of slowing down those speeding while traveling through town. Later, in the 1940s the sign was changed to "This is God's Country, Please Don't Drive Through It Like Hell" in order to satisfy those in the town who were displeased with the tone of the old sign. http://www.hondochamber.com/City/Hondo_4_copy_small.jpg The sign has been in news and print in many magazines, including on the cover of National Geographic, and in the music video of Little Texas'
Little Texas
Little Texas is an American country music band founded in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1988 by Tim Rushlow , Brady Seals , Del Gray , Porter Howell , Dwayne O'Brien , and Duane Propes . Signed to Warner Bros...
song "God Blessed Texas."
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 7,897 people, 2,207 households, and 1,664 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 823.8 people per square mile (317.9/km²). There were 2,474 housing units at an average density of 258.1 per square mile (99.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.33% White (includes Hispanic or Latino of any race were 59.92% of the population), 8.33% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 15.23% 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 2.38% from two or more races.
There were 2,207 households out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% 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, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 132.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 145.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,917, and the median income for a family was $34,856. Males had a median income of $21,639 versus $17,868 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 $12,635. About 18.9% of families and 22.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.8% of those under age 18 and 17.1% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The City of Hondo is served by the Hondo Independent School DistrictHondo Independent School District
Hondo Independent School District is a public school district based in Hondo, Texas in the United States.Located in Medina County, a small portion of the district extends into Frio County....
.
Hondo High School (principal Jim Angst) is a 3A school in Region IV.
Hondo has a school newspaper named "The Owls' Nest" that features columns such as "Ask the Owl" and "What Owls Give A Hoot About." The high school journalism adviser is Philip Billnitzer.
The school is located at the intersection of 27th street and Ave H.