Carrizo Springs, Texas

Carrizo Springs, Texas
City
Carrizo Springs water tower
Location in the state of Texas
Coordinates: 28°31′36″N99°51′45″W / 28.52667°N 99.86250°W / 28.52667; -99.86250
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Dimmit
Government
•  Mayor	Dina Ojeda-Balderas
Area [1]
• Total	3.10 sq mi (8.03 km2)
• Land	3.09 sq mi (8.00 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation [2]	604 ft (184 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,892
• Density	1,600/sq mi (610/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	78834
Area code	830
FIPS code	48-12988 [3]
GNIS feature ID	1372953 [2]
Website	cityofcarrizo.org

Carrizo Springs is the largest city in and the county seat of Dimmit County, Texas, United States. ^[4] The population was 4,892 at the 2020 census, ^[5] down from 5,368 at the 2010 census. ^[6]

The name of the town is derived from the local springs, which were named by the Spanish for the cane grass that once grew around them. It is the oldest town in Dimmit County. Artesian wells in the area are known for their pure, clean water. This water is often exported from Carrizo Springs for use as holy water.

History

Carrizo Springs lies along U.S. Route 83, approximately 82 miles northwest of Laredo and 45 miles north of the Mexican border. Route 83 intersects U.S. Route 277 there. The name "Carrizo Springs" derives from similarly named springs in the area; the name is Spanish for a type of grass once common in the area. Founded in 1865 by settlers from Atascosa County, Carrizo Springs is the oldest community in the county. ^[7]

Carrizo Springs, along with San Antonio, Uvalde, Crystal City, and Corpus Christi, was a major stop on the defunct San Antonio, Uvalde and Gulf Railroad, a Class I line, which operated from 1909 until it was merged into the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1956. ^[8]

More recently, Carrizo Springs has become the home of the only olive orchard and oil press in Texas. ^[9]

Geography

Carrizo Springs is located at 28°31′36″N99°51′45″W / 28.52667°N 99.86250°W / 28.52667; -99.86250 (28.526699, –99.862423). ^[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.0 km²), of which 3.1 sq mi (8.0 km²) are land and less than 0.01 mi² is covered by water.

Climate

Carrizo Springs experiences a hot semi-arid climate with mild winters and hot summers. During the spring season, as well occasionally during the fall season, severe thunderstorms often build on the Serranias Del Burro to the distant west of Carrizo Springs. This is believed to occur due to the uplift of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico which is channeled along the Rio Grande River. ^[11]

Climate data for Carrizo Springs, Texas (1991–2020 normals, [lower-alpha 1] extremes 1912–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	96 (36)	101 (38)	107 (42)	111 (44)	109 (43)	114 (46)	112 (44)	109 (43)	111 (44)	104 (40)	97 (36)	98 (37)	114 (46)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	84 (29)	89 (32)	93 (34)	99 (37)	102 (39)	104 (40)	104 (40)	105 (41)	101 (38)	97 (36)	89 (32)	82 (28)	107 (42)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	66.2 (19.0)	71.0 (21.7)	78.4 (25.8)	85.8 (29.9)	91.5 (33.1)	97.0 (36.1)	99.2 (37.3)	99.4 (37.4)	92.8 (33.8)	85.2 (29.6)	74.5 (23.6)	67.2 (19.6)	83.8 (28.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	39.0 (3.9)	44.0 (6.7)	52.3 (11.3)	58.6 (14.8)	67.2 (19.6)	72.9 (22.7)	74.3 (23.5)	74.3 (23.5)	69.2 (20.7)	59.9 (15.5)	49.1 (9.5)	40.0 (4.4)	58.3 (14.6)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	26 (−3)	29 (−2)	34 (1)	42 (6)	53 (12)	66 (19)	70 (21)	69 (21)	57 (14)	41 (5)	32 (0)	26 (−3)	23 (−5)
Record low °F (°C)	12 (−11)	12 (−11)	21 (−6)	31 (−1)	41 (5)	56 (13)	55 (13)	61 (16)	43 (6)	31 (−1)	22 (−6)	10 (−12)	10 (−12)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	1.01 (26)	0.77 (20)	1.42 (36)	1.26 (32)	2.95 (75)	1.90 (48)	1.67 (42)	1.45 (37)	3.37 (86)	2.00 (51)	1.19 (30)	0.94 (24)	19.93 (507)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	trace	trace	trace	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	trace	0.1 (0.25)	0.1 (0.25)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	5	4	5	3	5	4	4	3	6	4	4	4	55
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Source: NOAA [12] [13]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	289		—
1920	954		—
1930	2,171		127.6%
1940	2,494		14.9%
1950	4,316		73.1%
1960	5,699		32.0%
1970	5,374		−5.7%
1980	6,886		28.1%
1990	5,745		−16.6%
2000	5,655		−1.6%
2010	5,368		−5.1%
2020	4,892		−8.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [14]

City Hall in Carrizo Springs on U.S. Highway 277

2020 census

Carrizo Springs racial composition ^[5]
(NH = Non-Hispanic) ^{[lower-alpha 2]}

Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	349	7.13%
Black or African American (NH)	63	1.29%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	8	0.16%
Asian (NH)	46	0.94%
Pacific Islander (NH)	5	0.1%
Some Other Race (NH)	12	0.25%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	33	0.67%
Hispanic or Latino	4,376	89.45%
Total	4,892

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,892 people, 1,709 households, and 1,243 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, 5,655 people, 1,816 households, and 1,450 families were residing in the city. The population density was 1,812.9 people per mi² (699.8/km²). The 2,109 housing units averaged 676.1 per mi² (261.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.3% White, 1.3% African American, 0.7% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 19.0% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 87.2% of the population.

Of the 1,816 households, 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 20.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were not families. About 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.06, and the average family size was 3.47.

In the city, the age distribution was 33.3% under 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,306, and for a family was $22,375. Males had a median income of $24,536 versus $15,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $8,642. About 30.8% of families and 33.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.9% of those under age 18 and 29.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Carrizo Springs is served by the Carrizo Springs Consolidated Independent School District and home to the Carrizo Springs High School Wildcats.

These schools serve students in the city:

• Carrizo Springs High School
• Carrizo Springs Junior High School
• Carrizo Springs Intermediate School
• Carrizo Springs Elementary School

Migrant child detention center

Facilities that previously housed Stratton Oilfield Systems were chosen for a new unaccompanied minor detention site, with an estimated capacity of 1,000 to 1,600 children. Operations are contracted with BCFS Health and Human Services. ^{[17] [18]} When the site was previously considered under Stratton Security management, owner and president Dan Stratton assured the area's residents that potential residents would not be refugees of the Syrian Civil War or speak Arabic. He emphasized that refugees would be securely kept within the facility and would not interact with or murder area residents. ^[19] The site opened for one month in 2019 and later reopened in February 2021. ^[20]

In March 2022, Border Patrol agents declared "no vacancy" and plans to release migrants who cleared background and criminal checks in the city of Carrizo Springs.

Gallery

• 
  Like the state of Kansas, Carrizo Springs identifies itself with the sunflower, Dimmit County-style
• 
  Along U.S. Route 83 in Carrizo Springs
• 
  Along U.S. Route 277 in Carrizo Springs
• 
  Intersection of Highways 277 (west) and 83 (north) in Carrizo Springs
• 
  First Baptist Church on Main Street in Carrizo Springs
• 
  With its display of a large red Justin boot, the Circle V Ranch Center in Carrizo Springs reflects the western culture of the community
• 
  Lee's Steak House off U.S. 83 in Carrizo Springs

Notes

1. Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
2. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. ^{[15] [16]}

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Carrizo Springs, Texas
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
5. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
6. https://www.census.gov/ ^{[ not specific enough to verify ]}
7. Handbook of Texas Online.
8. "Nancy Beck Young, "San Antonio, Uvalde and Gulf Railroad Company"". Texas State Historical Association on-line. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
9. Texas Olive Ranch
10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
11. Edwards, Roger. "Supercells of the Serranias del Burro (Mexico)" (PDF).
12. "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved August 11, 2021.
13. "Station Name: TX CARRIZO SPRINGS 3S". National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
14. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
15. http://www.census.gov ^{[ not specific enough to verify ]}
16. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
17. "Trump Prepares to Open New 'Captured Children' Facility in Texas as Hundreds of Rights Groups Call for Decriminalizing Migration". Common Dreams. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
18. Priscilla Alvarez (June 6, 2019). "HHS to open new housing for unaccompanied minors". CNN. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
19. Dwyer, Mimi (June 7, 2019). "The Trump Administration is Converting a Former "Man Camp" in Texas into a Shelter for Migrant Kids". Vice News. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
20. Foster-Frau, Silvia (February 23, 2021). "First migrant facility for children opens under Biden". Washington Post . ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved May 21, 2021.

External links

• Handbook of Texas Online article about Carrizo Springs
• Carrizo Springs CISD Website