Jim Wells County, Texas
Encyclopedia
At the 2000 census
, there were 39,326 people, 12,961 households and 10,096 families residing in the county. The population density
was 46 per square mile (18/km²). There were 14,819 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 77.90% White
, 0.60% Black
or African American
, 0.62% Native American
, 0.43% Asian
, 0.09% Pacific Islander
, 17.93% from other races
, and 2.43% from two or more races. 75.71% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 12,961 households of which 40.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples
living together, 15.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.10% were non-families. 19.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.45.
Age distribution was 31.40% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.
The median household income
was $28,843, and the median family income was $32,616. Males had a median income of $30,266 versus $17,190 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $12,252. About 20.10% of families and 24.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.80% of those under age 18 and 21.30% of those age 65 or over.
where George W. Bush
was defeated by Senator John Kerry
. Kerry received 6,824 votes to 5,808 for Bush.
which gave
Lyndon Baines Johnson a 200-vote edge over popular former governor Coke Stevenson in the Democratic primary election. It was later demonstrated that these 200 votes were "stuffed" into the ballot box after the polls had closed. Johnson went on to win the election.
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, there were 39,326 people, 12,961 households and 10,096 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 46 per square mile (18/km²). There were 14,819 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 77.90% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.60% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.62% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.43% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.09% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 17.93% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.43% from two or more races. 75.71% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 12,961 households of which 40.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 15.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.10% were non-families. 19.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.45.
Age distribution was 31.40% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.
The median household income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
was $28,843, and the median family income was $32,616. Males had a median income of $30,266 versus $17,190 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $12,252. About 20.10% of families and 24.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.80% of those under age 18 and 21.30% of those age 65 or over.
Government and politics
During the 2004 presidential election, Jim Wells County was one of the few counties in TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
where George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
was defeated by Senator John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
. Kerry received 6,824 votes to 5,808 for Bush.
1948 U.S. Senate election
Jim Wells County is known as the home of "Box 13", the infamous ballot boxBallot box
A ballot box is a temporarily sealed container, usually square box though sometimes a tamper resistant bag, with a narrow slot in the top sufficient to accept a ballot paper in an election but which prevents anyone from accessing the votes cast until the close of the voting period...
which gave
Lyndon Baines Johnson a 200-vote edge over popular former governor Coke Stevenson in the Democratic primary election. It was later demonstrated that these 200 votes were "stuffed" into the ballot box after the polls had closed. Johnson went on to win the election.
Cities
- AliceAlice, TexasAt the 2000 census, there were 19,010 people, 6,400 households and 4,915 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,597.4 per square mile . There were 6,998 housing units at an average density of 588.0 per square mile...
- Orange GroveOrange Grove, TexasOrange Grove is a city in Jim Wells County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,288 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Orange Grove is located at ....
- Ben BoltBen Bolt, TexasBen Bolt is an unincorporated community in south central Jim Wells County, Texas, United States, seven miles south of Alice on U.S. Route 281.-History:...
- SandiaSandia, TexasSandia is a census-designated place in Jim Wells County, Texas, United States. The population was 431 at the 2000 census.-History:Sandia was in the Casa Blanca land grant, issued to Juan José de la Garza Montemayor by Spain on April 2, 1807. The Montemayor family occupied the land until 1852. In...
- PremontPremont, TexasAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,772 people, 926 households, and 695 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,622.6 people per square mile . There were 1,072 housing units at an average density of 627.5 per square mile...
- San DiegoSan Diego, TexasAs of the census of 2000, there were 4,753 people, 1,548 households, and 1,187 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,917.1 people per square mile . There were 1,793 housing units at an average density of 1,100.4 per square mile...
(mostly in Duval County)
Unincorporated areas
|
K-Bar Ranch, Texas K-Bar Ranch is a census-designated place in Jim Wells County, Texas, United States. The population was 350 at the 2000 census.-Geography:K-Bar Ranch is located at .... Loma Linda East, Texas Loma Linda East is a census-designated place in Jim Wells County, Texas, United States. The population was 214 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Loma Linda East is located at .... Owl Ranch-Amargosa, Texas Owl Ranch-Amargosa is a census-designated place in Jim Wells County, Texas, United States. The population was 527 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Owl Ranch-Amargosa is located at... Palito Blanco, Texas Palito Blanco is an unincorporated community off Farm Road 735, situated fifteen miles southwest of Alice in west central Jim Wells County, Texas, United States.-History:... Rancho Alegre, Texas Rancho Alegre is a census-designated place in Jim Wells County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,775 at the 2000 census. Rancho Alegre is commonly known as R.A..-Geography:Rancho Alegre is located at .... Rancho de la Parita, Texas Rancho de la Parita is a small unincorporated community in northwestern Jim Wells County, Texas, United States west of Owl Ranch-Amargosa. It lies at , at an elevation of 351 feet . Rancho de la Parita appears on the Anna Rose U.S. Geological Survey Map.... |
Sandia, Texas Sandia is a census-designated place in Jim Wells County, Texas, United States. The population was 431 at the 2000 census.-History:Sandia was in the Casa Blanca land grant, issued to Juan José de la Garza Montemayor by Spain on April 2, 1807. The Montemayor family occupied the land until 1852. In... Springfield, Texas Springfield is an unincorporated area in west Jim Wells County in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located between the cities of San Diego and Alice south of Highway 44.-History:... Westdale, Texas Westdale is a census-designated place in Jim Wells County, Texas, United States. The population was 295 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Westdale is located at .... |
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Jim Wells County, Texas
External links
- Jim Wells County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of TexasUniversity of Texas at AustinThe University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...