Starr County, Texas
Encyclopedia
Starr County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Texas
. In 2010, its population was 60,968. Its county seat
is Rio Grande City
. The county is named for James Harper Starr
, who served as Secretary of the Treasury of the Republic of Texas
. It is part of the Rio Grande City-Roma, TX, Micropolitan Statistical Area.
, the county has a total area of 1229 square miles (3,183.1 km²), of which 1223 square miles (3,167.6 km²) is land and 6 square miles (15.5 km²) (0.51%) is water.
.
From 2000 to 2010 the population of Starr County increased from 53,597 to 60,968.
of 2000, there were 53,597 people, 14,410 households, and 12,666 families residing in the county. The population density
was 44 people per square mile (17/km²). There were 17,589 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.92% White
, 0.15% Black
or African American
, 0.25% Native American
, 0.28% Asian
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
, 9.91% from other races
, and 1.46% from two or more races.
97.54% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
According to the Census Bureau, Starr County had the highest percentage of Hispanic residents of any county in the United States.
There were 14,410 households out of which 54.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.50% were married couples
living together, 17.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.10% were non-families. 11.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.69 and the average family size was 4.01.
In the county, the population was spread out with 37.40% under the age of 18, 11.00% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 16.30% from 45 to 64, and 8.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $16,504, and the median income for a family was $17,556. Males had a median income of $17,398 versus $13,533 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $7,069, which is the third-lowest
in the United States. About 47.40% of families and 50.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 59.40% of those under age 18 and 43.30% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2009 the median household income i s $22,418.
On May 1, 2009, the former sheriff of Starr County, Reymundo Guerra, pled guilty in Federal court to a narcotics conspiracy charge.
by the highest percentage in the nation. Starr County is among a handful of counties in Texas
that gave the majority of their votes to Senator John Kerry
of Massachusetts
. John Kerry received 7,199 votes which was 74% of the votes while George W. Bush received 2,552 votes which was 26% of the votes. In 2008, Illinois Senator Barack Obama did a lot better than Kerry in Starr County, receiving 8,233 votes, which was 84% of the vote. Arizona Senator Republican John McCain received 1,488 votes, which was 15% of the vote.
. Immaculate Conception School, located in Rio Grande City and founded in 1884, is the only Catholic school in Starr County and provides a faith-based pre-K through eighth-grade education to approximately 250 students each year.
Residents of western Starr County are zoned to schools in the Roma Independent School District
.
Residents of northeastern Starr County are zoned to schools in the San Isidro Independent School District
.
South Texas College
Founded in 1993, South Texas College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate and associate degrees. More than 29,000 students attend STC and a faculty and staff of more than 1,600 serve STC’s five campuses, including a full-service campus located in Rio Grande City in Starr County. The county holds one seat on the college's seven member Board of Directors. The seat is currently filled by Rose Benavidez.
The college offers more than 100 degree and certificate program options, including associate degrees in a variety of art, science, technology, allied health and advanced manufacturing fields of study. The college also offers eight online associate degrees options.
STC offers a Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) degree in Technology Management, as well as a Bachelor of Applied Technology in Computer and Information Technologies. The college is one of only three Texas community colleges accredited to offer a BAT degree and the only community college in Texas accredited to offer two bachelor’s degrees.
STC has instituted a variety of dual enrollment programs, including early college high schools, drop-out recovery programs and other unique initiatives with high schools throughout Hidalgo and Starr counties. The programs allow eligible students to take college courses while attending high school. Combined, more than 8,000 students are currently enrolled in these programs.
The college has also developed two intensive academic programs for students interested in pursuing degrees in the medical and engineering fields. The Dual Enrollment Medical Science Academy and the Dual Enrollment Engineering Academy consist of concentrated two-year programs of study and internship opportunities for qualified students to pursue an Associate of Science degree during their junior and senior years in high school.
The program provides opportunities for lifelong learners who want to upgrade their skills, change careers, renew licenses and certifications, or seek personal enrichment. There is a wide variety of course offerings including online classes. Additionally the division also offers customized training to area businesses, industries and the community. Training programs are tailored to a client’s specific needs in terms of content, schedule and location.
For more information about STC visit http://www.southtexascollege.edu.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. In 2010, its population was 60,968. Its 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....
is Rio Grande City
Rio Grande City, Texas
Rio Grande City is a city in and the county seat of Starr County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,834 at the 2010 census. The city is 41 miles west of McAllen. It is the hometown of former Commander of U.S. Forces in Iraq, General Ricardo Sanchez. The city also holds the March record...
. The county is named for James Harper Starr
James Harper Starr
James Harper Starr served as a commissioner of the Texas General Land Office and later Secretary of the Treasury of the Republic of Texas and also as director of the postal service of the Trans-Mississippi Department of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War as well as the...
, who served as Secretary of the Treasury of the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
. It is part of the Rio Grande City-Roma, TX, Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
According to the U.S. 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 county has a total area of 1229 square miles (3,183.1 km²), of which 1223 square miles (3,167.6 km²) is land and 6 square miles (15.5 km²) (0.51%) is water.
Adjacent counties and municipalities
- Jim Hogg County (north)
- Brooks County (northeast)
- Hidalgo CountyHidalgo County, TexasHidalgo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. Located in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, Hidalgo County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States, and is the seventh most-populous county in Texas. Its population in 2010 was 774,769, a 35% increase from 2000...
(east) - Zapata County (west)
- Camargo Municipality, Tamaulipas, MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(south) - Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Mexico (southwest)
- Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, TamaulipasGustavo Díaz Ordaz, TamaulipasGustavo Díaz Ordaz is a municipality located in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.-Towns and villages:The largest localities are:-Adjacent municipalities and counties:* Reynosa Municipality - east...
, TamaulipasTamaulipasTamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
, Mexico (south) - Mier MunicipalityMier MunicipalityMier Municipality is one of the municipalitiesof Tamaulipas, Mexico. The seat is at Ciudad Mier. According to the 2010 census, the entire population of the municipality resides in the municipal seat, as both have an official count of 4,762 inhabitants...
, Tamaulipas, Mexico (southwest) - Miguel Alemán Municipality, Tamaulipas, Mexico (southwest)
History
The founder of Starr County was Matias Longoria, who was awarded a land grant from the king of SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
From 2000 to 2010 the population of Starr County increased from 53,597 to 60,968.
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 53,597 people, 14,410 households, and 12,666 families residing in the county. 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 44 people per square mile (17/km²). There were 17,589 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.92% White
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...
, 0.15% Black
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...
or African American
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...
, 0.25% Native American
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...
, 0.28% Asian
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...
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
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...
, 9.91% 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 1.46% from two or more races.
97.54% of the population were Hispanic
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...
or Latino
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...
of any race.
According to the Census Bureau, Starr County had the highest percentage of Hispanic residents of any county in the United States.
There were 14,410 households out of which 54.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.50% 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, 17.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.10% were non-families. 11.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.69 and the average family size was 4.01.
In the county, the population was spread out with 37.40% under the age of 18, 11.00% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 16.30% from 45 to 64, and 8.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $16,504, and the median income for a family was $17,556. Males had a median income of $17,398 versus $13,533 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 county was $7,069, which is the third-lowest
Lowest-income counties in the United States
-100 counties with lowest per capita income:Number of counties by state in the 100 poorest counties: Texas, 17; Kentucky, 16; Mississippi, 14; South Dakota, 10; Louisiana, 5; Alabama, 4; Georgia, 4; Montana, 4; New Mexico, 4; North Dakota, 3; Arizona, 2; Idaho, 2; Nebraska, 2; Tennessee, 2; West...
in the United States. About 47.40% of families and 50.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 59.40% of those under age 18 and 43.30% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2009 the median household income i s $22,418.
Law enforcement
In the 1970s and into the 1980s, federal law enforcement officials concentrated their anti-drug smuggling efforts on Starr County.On May 1, 2009, the former sheriff of Starr County, Reymundo Guerra, pled guilty in Federal court to a narcotics conspiracy charge.
Presidential elections
Starr County has long been a strongly Democratic county but suffers from low voter turnout with only approximately 20% of its 53,000 residents voting. No Republican has won the county in over a century and the county favored Michael DukakisMichael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
by the highest percentage in the nation. Starr County is among a handful of counties in 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...
that gave the majority of their votes to Senator John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. John Kerry received 7,199 votes which was 74% of the votes while George W. Bush received 2,552 votes which was 26% of the votes. In 2008, Illinois Senator Barack Obama did a lot better than Kerry in Starr County, receiving 8,233 votes, which was 84% of the vote. Arizona Senator Republican John McCain received 1,488 votes, which was 15% of the vote.
Communities
As of 2011 Starr County has about 55 colonias. By 2011 many families were moving to the colonias.Cities
- EscobaresEscobares, TexasEscobares is a city in Starr County, Texas, United States. Prior to its 2005 incorporation as a city, it was a census-designated place . The population of the CDP was 1,954 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Escobares is located at ....
- La GrullaLa Grulla, TexasLa Grulla is a city in Starr County, Texas, United States, founded by Juan Santiago Longoria in 1836...
- Rio Grande CityRio Grande City, TexasRio Grande City is a city in and the county seat of Starr County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,834 at the 2010 census. The city is 41 miles west of McAllen. It is the hometown of former Commander of U.S. Forces in Iraq, General Ricardo Sanchez. The city also holds the March record...
- RomaRoma, TexasRoma is a city in Starr County, Texas, United States. The population was 9,765 at the 2010 census. The city is located along the Rio Grande, across from Ciudad Miguel Alemán in Tamaulipas, Mexico....
Census-designated places
|
Garceno, Texas Garceno is a census-designated place in Starr County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,438 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Garceno is located at .... La Casita-Garciasville, Texas La Casita-Garciasville is a census-designated place in Starr County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,177 at the 2000 census.-Geography:La Casita-Garciasville is located at .... La Puerta, Texas La Puerta is a census-designated place in Starr County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,636 at the 2000 census.-Geography:La Puerta is located at .... La Rosita, Texas La Rosita is a census-designated place in Starr County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,729 at the 2000 census.-Geography:La Rosita is located at .... La Victoria, Texas La Victoria is a census-designated place in Starr County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,683 at the 2000 census.-Geography:La Victoria is located at .... |
Las Lomas, Texas Las Lomas is a census-designated place in Starr County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,684 at the 2000 census. Las Lomas is one of several colonias in Starr County, within the Rio Grande Valley region... Los Alvarez, Texas Los Alvarez is a census-designated place in Starr County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,434 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Los Alvarez is located at .... Los Villareales, Texas Los Villareales is a census-designated place in Starr County, Texas, United States. The population was 930 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Los Villareales is located at .... North Escobares, Texas North Escobares is a census-designated place in Starr County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,692 at the 2000 census.-Geography:North Escobares is located at .... |
Roma Creek, Texas Roma Creek is a census-designated place in Starr County, Texas, United States. The population was 610 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Roma Creek is located at .... Salineno, Texas Salineno is a census-designated place in Starr County, Texas, United States. The population was 304 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Salineno is located at .... San Isidro, Texas San Isidro is a census-designated place in Starr County, Texas, United States. The population was 270 at the 2000 census. The town is named for San Isidro , the patron saint of farmers... Santa Cruz, Texas Santa Cruz is a census-designated place in Starr County, Texas, United States. The population was 630 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Santa Cruz is located at .... |
Other communities
- DelmitaDelmita, TexasDelmita is an unincorporated community in Starr County, Texas, United States. Its elevation is 272 feet . Although Delmita is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 78536....
- La GloriaLa Gloria, Starr County, TexasLa Gloria is an unincorporated community in Starr County, Texas, United States. It is situated at the junction of Farm Roads 755 and 1017 in northeastern Starr County, approximately four miles northeast of San Isidro...
- La ReformaLa Reforma, TexasLa Reforma is an unincorporated community in Starr County, Texas, United States. It is situated along FM 1017 in northeastern Starr County. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 45 in 2000....
- Santa CatarinaSanta Catarina, TexasSanta Catarina is an unincorporated community in Starr County, Texas, United States. It is situated along FM 755 in northeastern Starr County, approximately 20 miles northeast of Rio Grande City and six miles southwest of La Gloria...
- Santa ElenaSanta Elena, TexasSanta Elena is an unincorporated community in Starr County, Texas, United States. It is situated along FM 755 in northeastern Starr County, approximately six miles northwest of San Isidro. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 64 in 2000.The community was...
Education
Residents of eastern Starr County are zoned to schools in the Rio Grande City Consolidated Independent School DistrictRio Grande City Consolidated Independent School District
Rio Grande City Consolidated Independent School District is a public school district based in Rio Grande City, Texas .In 2009, the school district was rated "recognized" by the Texas Education Agency.-Catchment area:...
. Immaculate Conception School, located in Rio Grande City and founded in 1884, is the only Catholic school in Starr County and provides a faith-based pre-K through eighth-grade education to approximately 250 students each year.
Residents of western Starr County are zoned to schools in the Roma Independent School District
Roma Independent School District
Roma Independent School District is a public school district based in Roma, Texas . The district currently serves over 6,000 students.In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.-Catchment area:...
.
Residents of northeastern Starr County are zoned to schools in the San Isidro Independent School District
San Isidro Independent School District
The San Isidro Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of San Isidro, Texas, United States.In addition to San Isidro, the district also serves several other unincorporated communities in rural northeastern Starr County, including Delmita, El Centro, La Gloria,...
.
South Texas College
Founded in 1993, South Texas College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate and associate degrees. More than 29,000 students attend STC and a faculty and staff of more than 1,600 serve STC’s five campuses, including a full-service campus located in Rio Grande City in Starr County. The county holds one seat on the college's seven member Board of Directors. The seat is currently filled by Rose Benavidez.
The college offers more than 100 degree and certificate program options, including associate degrees in a variety of art, science, technology, allied health and advanced manufacturing fields of study. The college also offers eight online associate degrees options.
STC offers a Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) degree in Technology Management, as well as a Bachelor of Applied Technology in Computer and Information Technologies. The college is one of only three Texas community colleges accredited to offer a BAT degree and the only community college in Texas accredited to offer two bachelor’s degrees.
STC has instituted a variety of dual enrollment programs, including early college high schools, drop-out recovery programs and other unique initiatives with high schools throughout Hidalgo and Starr counties. The programs allow eligible students to take college courses while attending high school. Combined, more than 8,000 students are currently enrolled in these programs.
The college has also developed two intensive academic programs for students interested in pursuing degrees in the medical and engineering fields. The Dual Enrollment Medical Science Academy and the Dual Enrollment Engineering Academy consist of concentrated two-year programs of study and internship opportunities for qualified students to pursue an Associate of Science degree during their junior and senior years in high school.
The program provides opportunities for lifelong learners who want to upgrade their skills, change careers, renew licenses and certifications, or seek personal enrichment. There is a wide variety of course offerings including online classes. Additionally the division also offers customized training to area businesses, industries and the community. Training programs are tailored to a client’s specific needs in terms of content, schedule and location.
For more information about STC visit http://www.southtexascollege.edu.
External links
- Starr County Government
- Starr County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of TexasUniversity of Texas at AustinThe University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
- Starr County TX Genweb
- Starr County News Blog