Laguna Heights, Texas

Laguna Heights, Texas
Census-designated place
Location of Laguna Heights, Texas
Coordinates: 26°4′48″N97°15′22″W / 26.08000°N 97.25611°W / 26.08000; -97.25611
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Cameron
Area
• Total	0.59 sq mi (1.54 km2)
• Land	0.59 sq mi (1.54 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	10 ft (3 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	962
• Density	1,600/sq mi (620/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	78578
Area code	956
FIPS code	48-40300 [1]
GNIS feature ID	1374433 [2]

Laguna Heights is a census-designated place (CDP) in Cameron County, Texas, United States. The population was 962 at the 2020 census, ^[3] significantly down from 3,488 at the 2010 census. ^[4]

History

Laguna Heights was struck by a high-end EF1 tornado on May 13, 2023, which caused major damage to properties, killed one person, and injured 11 others. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

Geography

Laguna Heights is located in eastern Cameron County at 26°4′48″N97°15′22″W / 26.08000°N 97.25611°W / 26.08000; -97.25611 (26.080060, -97.256172), ^[8] on the south shore of Laguna Madre, a large lagoon connected to the Gulf of Mexico. The CDP is bordered to the south and east by the city of Port Isabel and to the west by the town of Laguna Vista. Texas State Highway 100 passes through Laguna Heights, leading eastward 3 miles (5 km) to the center of Port Isabel and 6 miles (10 km) to South Padre Island, and westward 21 miles (34 km) to Interstate 69E between Harlingen and Brownsville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Laguna Heights CDP has a total area of 0.59 square miles (1.54 km²), all land. ^[9]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1990	1,671		—
2000	1,990		19.1%
2010	3,488		75.3%
2020	962		−72.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [10] 1850–1900 [11] 1910 [12] 1920 [13] 1930 [14] 1940 [15] 1950 [16] 1960 [17] 1970 [18] 1980 [19] 1990 [20] 2000 [21] 2010 [4]

Laguna Heights first appeared as a census designated place in the 1990 U.S. Census. ^[20] It is part of the Brownsville – Harlingen Metropolitan Statistical Area.

2020 census

Laguna Heights CDP, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
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 may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000 [22]	Pop 2010 [23]	Pop 2020 [3]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	127	453	58	6.38%	12.99%	6.03%
Black or African American alone (NH)	3	5	2	0.15%	0.14%	0.21%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	1	5	7	0.05%	0.14%	0.73%
Asian alone (NH)	1	5	2	0.05%	0.14%	0.21%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	7	0	0.00%	0.20%	0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	0	0	7	0.00%	0.00%	0.73%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	1	7	2	0.05%	0.20%	0.21%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,857	3,006	884	93.32%	86.18%	91.89%
Total	1,990	3,488	962	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 962 people, 575 households, and 371 families residing in the CDP.

2010 census

As of the census ^[1] of 2010, there were 3,488 people, 528 households, and 459 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 7,202.3 inhabitants per square mile (2,780.8/km²). There were 572 housing units at an average density of 2,070.2 per square mile (799.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 67.19% White, 0.85% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 29.40% from other races, and 2.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 93.32% of the population.

There were 528 households, out of which 56.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.8% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.9% were non-families. 10.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.77 and the average family size was 4.04.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 37.5% under the age of 18, 12.2% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 14.8% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $18,083, and the median income for a family was $19,491. Males had a median income of $15,677 versus $14,861 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $6,538. About 37.7% of families and 45.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 55.4% of those under age 18 and 25.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Children living in Laguna Heights are zoned to schools in Point Isabel Independent School District. Children go to Garriga Elementary School (Grades K-2), Derry Elementary School, (3-5), Port Isabel Junior High School (6-8), and Port Isabel High School (9-12). All of the schools are in Port Isabel.

In addition, South Texas Independent School District operates magnet schools that serve the community.

References

1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
3. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Laguna Heights CDP, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
4. "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
5. Breen, Kerry (May 13, 2023). "2 dead, 10 hospitalized after tornado touches down in Laguna Heights, Texas". CBS NEWS. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
6. Barber, Katy. "At least 1 dead after EF-1 tornado hits South Texas town, official say". Mysa. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
7. "*Preliminary damage assessment*: EF1 tornado damage with wind speeds around 86-105 mph possibly up to 110 mph occurred this morning between 4:01-4:06 AM in Laguna Heights. #rgvwx #txwx". NWS Brownsville on Twitter.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
9. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Laguna Heights CDP, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
10. "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau .
11. "1900 Census of Population - Population of Texas By Counties And Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
12. "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
13. "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
14. "1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
15. "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
16. "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
17. "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
18. "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
19. "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
20. "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
21. "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
22. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Laguna Heights CDP, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
23. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Laguna Heights CDP, Texas". United States Census Bureau.

Notes