Willacy County, Texas
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Willacy County is a county located in the state of Texas. As of 2000, the population is 20,082. Its county seat is Raymondville6.
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Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,031 km² (784 mi²). 1,545 km² (597 mi²) of it is land and 486 km² (188 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 23.92% water.
Adjacent counties
- Kenedy County (north)
- Gulf of Mexico (east)
- Cameron County (south)
- Hidalgo County (west)
History
Willacy County was formed in 1911 from parts of Cameron and Hidalgo counties and originally included what is now Kenedy County; it was named for state senator John G. Willacy. Kenedy was split from Willacy in 1921, when the long-settled ranchers of the northern (Kenedy) part of the county sought to separate from the newly arrived farmers of the southern part.
The Bermuda onion was introduced to Willacy County in 1912. It grew well and slowly displaced ranchland in the southern part of the county, becoming the most important crop. For many years the town of Raymondville held an annual Onion Festival, using the tag line, "The Breath of a Nation." In 1940, the first oil wells were sunk in the county's Willamar Oil Field; today oil production is a major part of the local economy. Also in the 1940s, sorghum was introduced to the county, gradually displacing cotton and other crops.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 20,082 people, 5,584 households, and 4,584 families residing in the county. The population density is 13/km² (34/mi²). There are 6,727 housing units at an average density of 4/km² (11/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 70.37% White, 2.19% Black or African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 24.46% from other races, and 2.34% from two or more races. 85.69% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 5,584 households out of which 42.90% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.10% are married couples living together, 16.10% have a female householder with no husband present, and 17.90% are non-families. 16.50% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.70% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.40 and the average family size is 3.85.
In the county, the population is spread out with 31.60% under the age of 18, 11.90% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 18.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.60% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 30 years. For every 100 females there are 105.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 104.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $22,114, and the median income for a family is $25,076. Males have a median income of $19,706 versus $15,514 for females. The per capita income for the county is $9,421. 33.20% of the population and 29.20% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 42.00% of those under the age of 18 and 29.90% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities and towns
External link
- Willacry County in Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/WW/hcw10.html) at the University of Texas
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| See also: List of Texas counties |