Raymondville, Texas
Encyclopedia
Raymondville is a city in and the county seat
of Willacy County, Texas
, United States
. The population was 9,733 at the 2000 census. It may be included as part of the Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville and the Matamoros–Brownsville
metropolitan areas.
Raymondville was formed in 1904 by Edward Burleson Raymond
, a foreman of the El Sauz Ranch portion of the King Ranch
and owner of the Las Majadas Ranch.
, the city has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²), all of it land.
Soils are mostly clay or sandy clay loams which are well drained or moderately well drained. Some fine sandy loams underlie the eastern part of town. These have near neutral pH
. Other parts of town have moderately alkaline, somewhat saline soils. Around the southern edge of town is an area of strong salinity which imposes limitations on farmers and gardeners.
of 2000, there were 9,733 people, 2,514 households, and 2,016 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,564.4 people per square mile (988.9/km²). There were 2,842 housing units at an average density of 748.8 per square mile (288.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.91% White, 3.91% African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 23.29% from other races
, and 2.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 86.63% of the population.
There were 2,514 households out of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples
living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.8% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.45 and the average family size was 3.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 117.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,729, and the median income for a family was $23,799. Males had a median income of $20,034 versus $14,502 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $8,910. About 32.7% of families and 36.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.0% of those under age 18 and 30.7% of those age 65 or over.
In 2010, Raymondville was 77% Catholic
, 10.5% Southern Baptist, and 4% United Methodist.
operates the Willacy Detention Center
. The center is a large federal holding center for illegal immigrants.
The United States Postal Service
operates the Raymondville Post Office.
serves the city.
The Reber Memorial Library is located in Raymondville.
, a category 5 hurricane at peak intensity. Beulah made landfall in southern Texas
as a category 3 storm.
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 Willacy 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...
. The population was 9,733 at the 2000 census. It may be included as part of the Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville and the Matamoros–Brownsville
Matamoros–Brownsville Metropolitan Area
Matamoros–Brownsville, also known as Brownsville–Matamoros, or simply as the Borderplex, is one of the six bi-national metropolitan areas along the Mexico–U.S border...
metropolitan areas.
Raymondville was formed in 1904 by Edward Burleson Raymond
Edward Burleson Raymond
Edward Burleson "E. B." Raymond was a rancher, politician, banker, and founder of Raymondville, Texas. Raymond, who was named after his father's friend Edward Burleson, was born in a log cabin on Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas to Nathaniel C. Raymond and Lucinda Riggs Raymond...
, a foreman of the El Sauz Ranch portion of the King Ranch
King Ranch
King Ranch, located in south Texas between Corpus Christi and Brownsville, is one of the world's largest ranches. The ranch, founded in 1853 by Captain Richard King and Gideon K. Lewis, includes portions of six Texas counties, including most of Kleberg County and much of Kenedy County, with...
and owner of the Las Majadas Ranch.
Geography
Raymondville is located at 26°28′53"N 97°46′59"W (26.481464, -97.783013) and is known as the "Gateway to the Rio Grande Valley." According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²), all of it land.
Soils are mostly clay or sandy clay loams which are well drained or moderately well drained. Some fine sandy loams underlie the eastern part of town. These have near neutral pH
Soil pH
The soil pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity in soils. pH is defined as the negative logarithm of the activity of hydrogen ions in solution. It ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. A pH below 7 is acidic and above 7 is basic. Soil pH is considered a master variable in soils as it...
. Other parts of town have moderately alkaline, somewhat saline soils. Around the southern edge of town is an area of strong salinity which imposes limitations on farmers and gardeners.
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 9,733 people, 2,514 households, and 2,016 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 2,564.4 people per square mile (988.9/km²). There were 2,842 housing units at an average density of 748.8 per square mile (288.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.91% White, 3.91% African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 23.29% 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 2.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 86.63% of the population.
There were 2,514 households out of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% 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, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.8% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.45 and the average family size was 3.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 117.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,729, and the median income for a family was $23,799. Males had a median income of $20,034 versus $14,502 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 $8,910. About 32.7% of families and 36.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.0% of those under age 18 and 30.7% of those age 65 or over.
In 2010, Raymondville was 77% Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, 10.5% Southern Baptist, and 4% United Methodist.
Government and infrastructure
The U.S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security , responsible for identifying, investigating, and dismantling vulnerabilities regarding the nation's border, economic, transportation, and infrastructure security...
operates the Willacy Detention Center
Willacy Detention Center
Willacy Detention Center is a detention center located at the edge of Raymondville City, Willacy County, Texas.The facility is within the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Prisons, and is managed by the contractor Management & Training Corporation....
. The center is a large federal holding center for illegal immigrants.
The United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Raymondville Post Office.
Education
The Raymondville Independent School DistrictRaymondville Independent School District
Raymondville Independent School District is a public school district based in Raymondville, Texas .In addition to Raymondville, the district serves the unincorporated areas of Ranchette Estates and Los Angeles Subdivision....
serves the city.
The Reber Memorial Library is located in Raymondville.
Famous residents
- Singer Angela ViaAngela ViaAngela Vía is an American singer/songwriter from Texas. Initially marketed as a pop artist, Angela's catalog contains music of a variety of genres in both English and Spanish...
(1981-) was born and raised in Raymondville. - Musician Noe J. Falcon (March 25, 1942- ) was born in Raymondville and was raised in Corpus Christi.
- World War II soldier Joseph R. Campbell (1921–2000) was born and graduated from high school in Raymondville.
Weather disasters
The most memorable natural disaster to occur in Raymondville was 1967's Hurricane BeulahHurricane Beulah
Hurricane Beulah was the second tropical storm, second hurricane, and only major hurricane during the 1967 Atlantic hurricane season. It tracked through the Caribbean, struck the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico as a major hurricane, and moved west-northwest into the Gulf of Mexico, briefly gaining...
, a category 5 hurricane at peak intensity. Beulah made landfall in southern 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...
as a category 3 storm.