China Grove, Texas

This article is about the San Antonio suburb. For the unincorporated community in Brazoria County, see China Grove, Brazoria County, Texas.

China Grove, Texas
Town
Location of China Grove, Texas
Coordinates: 29°23′35″N98°20′44″W / 29.39306°N 98.34556°W / 29.39306; -98.34556
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Bexar
Area [1]
• Total	4.34 sq mi (11.24 km2)
• Land	4.31 sq mi (11.17 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation [2]	653 ft (199 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,141
• Density	306.28/sq mi (118.26/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	78263
Area code(s)	210, 726 (planned)
FIPS code	48-14716 [3]
GNIS feature ID	1332767 [2]
ANSI Code	2413198 [4]
Website	www.cityofchinagrove.org

China Grove is a town in Bexar County, Texas, United States, located on the far east side of San Antonio. The population was 1,141 at the 2020 census. It is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

China Grove is located approximately 12 miles (19 km) east of downtown San Antonio.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11 km²), all land. ^[4]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1970	329		—
1980	434		31.9%
1990	872		100.9%
2000	1,247		43.0%
2010	1,179		−5.5%
2020	1,141		−3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [5]

China Grove racial composition as of 2020 ^[6]
(NH = Non-Hispanic) ^{[lower-alpha 1]}

Race	Number	Percentage
White or European American (NH)	549	48.12%
Black or African American (NH)	74	6.49%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	6	0.53%
Asian (NH)	6	0.53%
Pacific Islander (NH)	1	0.09%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	39	3.42%
Hispanic or Latino	466	40.84%
Total	1,141

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,141 people, 363 households, and 306 families residing in the town.

At the 2000 census 1,247 people, 404 households, and 355 families were residing in the town. The population density was 303.0 inhabitants per square mile (117.0/km²). There were 417 housing units at an average density of 101.3 per square mile (39.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 86.93% White, 5.93% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 4.81% from other races, and 2.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.53%. ^[3]

Of the 404 households 43.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.0% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.9% were non-families. 9.9% of households were one person and 5.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.30.

The age distribution was 28.1% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.

The median household income was $67,333 and the median family income was $73,125. Males had a median income of $43,482 versus $30,391 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,745. About 2.4% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

Cultural references

The community became famous in 1973 when the Doobie Brothers' "China Grove" became a hit song. It was written and sung by The Doobies' Tom Johnston, who wrote it after passing through the town on his way to a concert in San Antonio, Texas. He later said he did not notice the town name at the time, but later thought it must have been a subconscious memory that led him to include it as the song lyric. ^[8]

It was probably named after a grove of chinaberry trees in town. ^[9]

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, China Grove has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. ^[10]

Education

It is in the East Central Independent School District. ^[11] The public high school is East Central High School.

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: China Grove, Texas
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "US Gazetteer Files 2016-Places-Texas". US Census. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
5. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
6. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
7. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
8. Paulson, Dave (December 30, 2014). "Story Behind the Song: 'China Grove'". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
9. "China Grove Texas (Chinaberry Trees and More)". Texas View. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
10. Climate Summary for China Grove, Texas
11. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Bexar County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved October 29, 2024. - Text list

1. 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. ^[7]

External links

• Texas portal

• China Grove, Texas – Official site.