Victoria County, Texas

Victoria County
County
The Victoria County Courthouse of Romanesque revival design in Victoria
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 28°48′N96°58′W / 28.8°N 96.97°W / 28.8; -96.97
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1836
Named for	Guadalupe Victoria
Seat	Victoria
Largest city	Victoria
Area
• Total	889 sq mi (2,300 km2)
• Land	882 sq mi (2,280 km2)
• Water	6.7 sq mi (17 km2)  0.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	91,319
• Density	100/sq mi (40/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	27th
Website	www.victoriacountytx.org

Victoria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 91,319. ^[1] Its county seat is also named Victoria. ^[2] Victoria County is included in the Victoria metropolitan statistical area, and comprises the entirety of the Victoria media market in Texas.

History

Main article: De León's Colony (Texas)

Through colonial times

Paleo-Indian hunter-gatherers, and later Tonkawa, Aranamas, Tamiques, and Karankawa, inhabited the area before the time of European contact. Tawakoni, Lipan Apache, and Comanche were later inhabitants of modern-day Victoria County. ^[3]

In 1685, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle established Fort St. Louis. ^[4]

In 1689, Alonso de Leon named the Guadalupe River in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. ^[5]

In 1722, Nuestra Señora de Loreto Presidio ^[6] and Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga became the first Spanish settlement in Victoria County. ^[7]

In 1824, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Jesús Victoria (the future city of Victoria) was established by Martín De León, who started his colony with 5,000 branded cattle and established the county's claim as the "Cradle of the Texas Cattle Industry." It was the only primarily Mexican colony in Texas. ^[8]

In 1835, Victoria's settlers supported the revolution against Antonio López de Santa Anna, but were ostracized by new incoming Americans, many of whom were adventurous soldiers or fortune hunters, who wrongly profiled them as Mexican sympathizers and forced them to flee after the revolution in 1836. ^[9] Anglo-Americans resettled the area. ^[10]

In 1836, Victory County was formed by the Republic of Texas. It is named after Guadalupe Victoria, the first President of Mexico. ^[3] About 3000 troops of the Texas Army encamped near Spring Creek, Victoria County, under the command of Gen. Thomas J. Rusk, as the main defense against a threatened attack by Mexican General José de Urrea. ^[11]

In 1842, Rafael Vásquez and Adrián Woll led Mexican forces in an invasion into the county. ^[12]

After the Revolution through the Civil War

In 1850, Coletoville was established by German immigrant Carl Steiner. ^[13] The next year, Victoria County's first toll bridge was erected across the river, built by Richard Owens and Sylvester Sutton. ^[14]

As of 1860, 1,413 slaves were in the county. ^[3] In 1861m county residents voted 318–88 in favor of secession from the Union. Victoria County sent 300 men to fight for the Confederate States Army. ^[3] Confederate General John B. Magruder destroyed the railroad from Port Lavaca to Victoria in 1863 to keep it out of Union hands. He also sank trees and boats into the Guadalupe River. ^[3]

From 1867-1869, the county was occupied by federal troops. Mob violence by those same troops resulted in the axing death and corpse mutilation of local official Benjamin F. Hill, who at the time was incarcerated for an alleged self-defense killing of a discharged Union soldier. ^[15]

The Gulf, Western Texas and Pacific Railway connect Victoria with Cuero and the coast in 1873. ^[3] The New York, Texas and Mexican Railway provided the first cross-country route to Rosenberg Junction in Fort Bend County in 1882. ^[3]

That next year, the Texas Continental Meat Company was erected in the county and was the largest meat packing plant in Texas. ^[3] Bray's Ferry was established in 1886 at the San Antonio River by G. B. Amery and John Bray. ^[3] Twenty years later, the Guadalupe River Navigation Company was established. ^[3]

By 1930, when oil was discovered at the McFaddin Oil Field, Victoria County held more cattle than any other county in Texas. ^[3] Foster Air Force Base was established as Victoria Army Air Field as a training air field in 1941. ^[16] The Victoria Barge Canal was completed in 1967, connecting Victoria County with the Intracoastal Waterway. ^[3]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	2,019		—
1860	4,171		106.6%
1870	4,860		16.5%
1880	6,289		29.4%
1890	8,737		38.9%
1900	13,678		56.6%
1910	14,990		9.6%
1920	18,271		21.9%
1930	20,048		9.7%
1940	23,741		18.4%
1950	31,241		31.6%
1960	46,475		48.8%
1970	53,766		15.7%
1980	68,807		28.0%
1990	74,361		8.1%
2000	84,088		13.1%
2010	86,793		3.2%
2020	91,319		5.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [17] 1850–2010 [18] 2010–2014 [19]

2020 census

Victoria County, 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 [20]	Pop 2010 [21]	Pop 2020 [22]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	44,490	41,564	39,330	52.91%	47.89%	43.07%
Black or African American alone (NH)	5,137	5,190	5,230	6.11%	5.98%	5.73%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	197	199	425	0.23%	0.23%	0.23%
Asian alone (NH)	635	860	2,404	0.76%	0.99%	1.52%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	9	16	46	0.01%	0.02%	0.04%
Other race alone (NH)	39	109	698	0.05%	0.13%	0.25%
Mixed or multiracial alone (NH)	622	742	7,961	0.74%	0.85%	2.14%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	32,959	38,113	42,931	39.20%	43.91%	47.01%
Total	84,088	86,793	91,319	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, 91,319 people, 32,520 households, and 22,172 families resided in the county.

As of the census ^[23] of 2000, 84,088 people, 30,071 households, and 22,192 families lived in the county. The population density was 95 people per square mile (37 people/km²). The 32,945 housing units had an average density of 37 units per square mile (14 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 74.22% White, 6.30% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 15.92% from other races, and 2.22% from two or more races. About 39.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race; 16.2% were of German, 6.2% American, and 5.6% English ancestry according to Census 2000, and 73.3% spoke English and 25.5% Spanish as their first language.

Uf the 30,071 households, 37.2% had children under 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were not families. Around 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the county, the age distribution was 29.1% under 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,732, and for a family was $44,443. Males had a median income of $35,484 versus $21,231 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,379. About 10.50% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.20% of those under 18 and 11.70% of those 65 or over.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 889 square miles (2,300 km²), of which 6.7 square miles (17 km²) (0.8%) are covered by water. ^[24]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 59
  • Interstate 69 is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 59 in most places northeast of Victoria.
  • Interstate 69W is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 59 in most places southwest of Victoria.
• U.S. Highway 77
  • Interstate 69E is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 77 in most places southwest of Victoria.
• U.S. Highway 87
• Farm to Market Road 444
• Farm to Market Road 616
• Farm to Market Road 622

Adjacent counties

• Lavaca County (north)
• Jackson County (northeast)
• Calhoun County (southeast)
• Refugio County (south)
• Goliad County (southwest)
• DeWitt County (northwest)

Politics

County government

Victoria County elected officials

Position		Name	Party
	County Judge	Ben Zeller	Republican
	Commissioner, Precinct 1	Danny Garcia	Democratic
	Commissioner, Precinct 2	Kevin M. Janak	Republican
	Commissioner, Precinct 3	Gary Burns	Republican
	Commissioner, Precinct 4	Clint Ives	Republican

United States presidential election results for Victoria County, Texas ^[25]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	25,010	70.84%	9,998	28.32%	297	0.84%
2020	23,358	68.25%	10,380	30.33%	488	1.43%
2016	21,275	67.92%	8,866	28.30%	1,183	3.78%
2012	19,692	68.25%	8,802	30.51%	359	1.24%
2008	19,878	66.22%	9,832	32.75%	310	1.03%
2004	20,875	70.52%	8,553	28.89%	174	0.59%
2000	18,787	68.55%	8,176	29.83%	445	1.62%
1996	14,457	59.94%	8,238	34.16%	1,424	5.90%
1992	13,086	50.26%	7,604	29.20%	5,347	20.54%
1988	15,056	62.08%	8,923	36.79%	274	1.13%
1984	18,787	72.41%	7,037	27.12%	121	0.47%
1980	13,392	62.96%	7,382	34.71%	495	2.33%
1976	9,594	56.34%	7,326	43.02%	108	0.63%
1972	11,246	72.56%	4,226	27.27%	26	0.17%
1968	6,352	43.12%	6,042	41.02%	2,336	15.86%
1964	4,201	33.97%	8,141	65.83%	25	0.20%
1960	4,591	44.16%	5,779	55.58%	27	0.26%
1956	5,596	62.85%	3,280	36.84%	28	0.31%
1952	4,306	57.89%	3,128	42.05%	4	0.05%
1948	1,262	31.22%	2,435	60.24%	345	8.54%
1944	936	25.41%	2,331	63.27%	417	11.32%
1940	956	27.70%	2,493	72.24%	2	0.06%
1936	352	14.46%	2,081	85.46%	2	0.08%
1932	190	6.39%	2,777	93.44%	5	0.17%
1928	663	27.94%	1,710	72.06%	0	0.00%
1924	459	18.98%	1,653	68.36%	306	12.66%
1920	782	41.62%	686	36.51%	411	21.87%
1916	476	33.66%	897	63.44%	41	2.90%
1912	100	9.90%	687	68.02%	223	22.08%

Communities

City

• Victoria (county seat)

Census-designated places

• Bloomington
• Inez
• Placedo
• Quail Creek

Unincorporated communities

• McFaddin
• Moursund
• Nursery
• Telferner

Education

School districts include: ^[26]

• Bloomington Independent School District
• Industrial Independent School District
• Meyersville Independent School District
• Nursery Independent School District
• Refugio Independent School District
• Victoria Independent School District

All of the county is in the service area of Victoria College. ^[27]

University of Houston-Victoria is in Victoria.

See also

• Kentucky Mutt Creek
• List of museums in the Texas Gulf Coast
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Victoria County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Victoria County

References

1. "QuickFacts: Victoria County, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved March 27, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Roell, Craig H. "Victoria County, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
4. Harrigan, Stephen (January 1979). "In Search of La Salle". Texas Monthly: 88–90, 138, 141–147.
5. Bencke, Arthur C; Cushing, Colbert E (2005). Rivers of North America. Academic Press. pp.  192–194. ISBN   978-0-12-088253-3.
6. Heard, J Norman (1987). Handbook of the American Frontier, Volume I: The Southeastern Woodlands . The Scarecrow Press, Inc. p.  272. ISBN   978-0-8108-1931-3.
7. Walter, Tamra Lynn (2007). Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga: A Frontier Mission in South Texas. University of Texas Press. p. 12. ISBN   978-0-292-71478-6.
8. Craig H. Roell, "DE LEON, MARTIN," Handbook of Texas Online Archived March 17, 2017, at the Wayback Machine , accessed September 11, 2011. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
9. Craig H. Roell, "DE LEON'S COLONY," Handbook of Texas Online Archived August 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine , accessed September 11, 2011. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
10. Room, Adrian (2005). Placenames Of The World: Origins and Meanings of the Names for 6,600 Countries, Cities, Territories, Natural Features and Historic Sites. McFarland & Company. p. 395. ISBN   978-0-7864-2248-7.
11. De La Teja, Jesus F (2010). Tejano Leadership in Mexican and Revolutionary Texas. TAMU Press. p. 116. ISBN   978-1-60344-166-7.
12. Fowler, Will (2007). Santa Anna of Mexico. University of Nebraska Press. p. 226. ISBN   978-0-8032-1120-9.
13. "Coletoville, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
14. Blackburn, Edward A (2005). Wanted: Historic County Jails of Texas. TAMU Press. p. 339. ISBN   978-1-58544-308-6.
15. Roell, Craig H; Harsdoff-Lee, Linda. "Benjamin F Hill". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
16. "Victoria, Texas-Air Forces". Life. June 1942. pp. 56–59 61.
17. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
18. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 26, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
19. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 18, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
20. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Victoria County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
21. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Victoria County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
22. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Victoria County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
23. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
24. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
25. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
26. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Victoria County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved November 29, 2024. - Text list
27. Texas Education Code Sec. 130.208. THE VICTORIA COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.

External links

• Victoria County government's website
• Victoria Economic Development Corporation economic development
• Victoria County from the Handbook of Texas Online
• "Victoria County Profile" from the Texas Association of Counties
• Texas Beyond History, Morhiss Mound

28°48′N96°58′W / 28.80°N 96.97°W / 28.80; -96.97