Imperial, Texas
Encyclopedia
Imperial is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Pecos County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 428 at the 2000 census.
and 1053, four miles south of the Pecos River
and approximately 30 miles northeast of Fort Stockton
in northern Pecos County.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²), all of it land.
's Imperial Valley. A post office and school were opened in 1910 and a townsite was laid out on land owned by Benjamin E. Bush one year later. Water from the Pecos River
was diverted and a small dam was built west of the community. An irrigation canal was constructed through Imperial in an attempt to attract new residents, but the area's water had a high salt content, which made farming unproductive. The population was approximately 25 in the mid-1920s, but had increased tenfold by 1949. Imperial's population approached 1,000 by the late 1960s with twenty-six businesses operating in the community. The number of inhabitants continued to decline during the latter half of the twentieth century.
of 2000, there were 428 people, 156 households, and 126 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 101.1 people per square mile (39.1/km²). There were 245 housing units at an average density of 57.9/sq mi (22.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 79.21% White, 0.23% African American, 0.93% Native American, 1.40% Asian, 14.02% from other races
, and 4.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.92% of the population.
There were 156 households out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.6% were married couples
living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.6% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $24,375, and the median income for a family was $28,333. Males had a median income of $35,938 versus $20,938 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $16,464. About 18.5% of families and 24.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.6% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Pecos County
Pecos County, Texas
Pecos County is a county located in Texas which is named for the Pecos River. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. In 2000, its population was 16,809. The county seat is Fort Stockton....
, 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 428 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Imperial is located at 31°16′19"N 102°41′45"W (31.271968, -102.695799). It is situated at the intersection of Farm Roads 11Farm to Market Road 11
Farm to Market Road 11, Farm Road 11, or FM 11 is a Farm to Market Road maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation located in Ward, Crane, and Pecos counties in west Texas...
and 1053, four miles south of the Pecos River
Pecos River
The headwaters of the Pecos River are located north of Pecos, New Mexico, United States, at an elevation of over 12,000 feet on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in Mora County. The river flows for through the eastern portion of that state and neighboring Texas before it...
and approximately 30 miles northeast of Fort Stockton
Fort Stockton, Texas
Fort Stockton is a city in Pecos County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,846 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pecos County.-Geography:Fort Stockton is located at ....
in northern Pecos County.
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 CDP has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²), all of it land.
History
The community was settled in the early 1900s. The site was originally known as Redlands from 1908 to around 1910, when it was renamed after CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's Imperial Valley. A post office and school were opened in 1910 and a townsite was laid out on land owned by Benjamin E. Bush one year later. Water from the Pecos River
Pecos River
The headwaters of the Pecos River are located north of Pecos, New Mexico, United States, at an elevation of over 12,000 feet on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in Mora County. The river flows for through the eastern portion of that state and neighboring Texas before it...
was diverted and a small dam was built west of the community. An irrigation canal was constructed through Imperial in an attempt to attract new residents, but the area's water had a high salt content, which made farming unproductive. The population was approximately 25 in the mid-1920s, but had increased tenfold by 1949. Imperial's population approached 1,000 by the late 1960s with twenty-six businesses operating in the community. The number of inhabitants continued to decline during the latter half of the twentieth century.
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 428 people, 156 households, and 126 families residing in the CDP. 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 101.1 people per square mile (39.1/km²). There were 245 housing units at an average density of 57.9/sq mi (22.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 79.21% White, 0.23% African American, 0.93% Native American, 1.40% Asian, 14.02% 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 4.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.92% of the population.
There were 156 households out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.6% 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, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.6% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $24,375, and the median income for a family was $28,333. Males had a median income of $35,938 versus $20,938 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 CDP was $16,464. About 18.5% of families and 24.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.6% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.