Refugio (/rɪfˈjʊər.i.oʊ/ rif-YOOR-ee-oh)[5] is a town in Refugio County, of which it is the county seat, in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 2,712 as of the 2020 Census.[6] Refugio is the birthplace of Baseball Hall of Fame member Nolan Ryan.
Refugio, Texas | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Refugio City Hall | |
 Location of Refugio, Texas | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 28°18′21″N 97°16′29″W / 28.30583°N 97.27472°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Refugio |
| Incorporated | February 1, 1842[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.57 sq mi (4.07 km2) |
| • Land | 1.57 sq mi (4.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 46 ft (14 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 2,712 |
| • Density | 1,700/sq mi (670/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code | 78377 |
| Area code | 361 |
| FIPS code | 48-61436[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1345013[4] |
Geography
editRefugio is located at 28°18′21″N 97°16′29″W / 28.30583°N 97.27472°W (28.305812, −97.274594).[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.0 km2), all land.
Climate
editThe climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Refugio has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[8]
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 455 | — | |
| 1910 | 773 | — | |
| 1920 | 933 | 20.7% | |
| 1930 | 2,019 | 116.4% | |
| 1940 | 4,077 | 101.9% | |
| 1950 | 4,666 | 14.4% | |
| 1960 | 4,944 | 6.0% | |
| 1970 | 4,340 | −12.2% | |
| 1980 | 3,898 | −10.2% | |
| 1990 | 3,158 | −19.0% | |
| 2000 | 2,941 | −6.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,890 | −1.7% | |
| 2020 | 2,712 | −6.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] | |||
2020 census
edit| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 791 | 29.17% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 298 | 10.99% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 9 | 0.33% |
| Asian (NH) | 10 | 0.37% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 3 | 0.11% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 53 | 1.95% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,548 | 57.08% |
| Total | 2,712 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,712 people, 957 households, and 598 families residing in the town.
2000 census
editAs of the census[3] of 2000, 2,941 people, 1,128 households, and 788 families resided in the town. The population density was 1,880.7 inhabitants per square mile (726.1/km2). The 1,312 housing units averaged 839.0 per square mile (324.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 74.53% White, 13.40% African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 9.48% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 44.30% of the population.
Of the 1,128 households, 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were notfamilies; 27.3% of the households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55, and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town, the population was distributed as 26.7% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males. The median income for a household in the town was $26,719, and for a family was $32,237. Males had a median income of $33,021 versus $15,549 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,523. About 16.8% of families and 21.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 20.9% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
edit- Rocky Bridges, Major League Baseball (MLB) infielder
- Dan Firova, MLB catcher, Washington Nationals bullpen coach, and Houston Astros coach (2022 World Series Win)
- Joseph L. Galloway, American newspaper correspondent and columnist
- Kim Henkel, co-writer, with Tobe Hooper, of the original film The Texas Chain Saw massacre
- Kermit Oliver, painter
- Allison Paige, country music singer-songwriter
- Nolan Ryan, MLB pitcher, all-time Major League leader in strikeouts, and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
- Jack Starrett, film actor and director
Education
editThe Town of Refugio is served by the Refugio Independent School District.
Sports
editThe 1938 Refugio Oilers played minor league baseball as members of the Class D level Texas Valley League. The Brownsville Charros, Corpus Christi Spudders, Harlingen Hubs, McAllen Packers and Taft Cardinals joined Refugio in the league, which began play on April 14, 1938.[12][13][14][15]
In 1947, future Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan was born in Refugio, though his family would move to Alvin, Texas, when Ryan was an infant.[16][17]
Hurricane Harvey
editOn August 23, 2017, Governor Greg Abbott published an emergency evacuation for the town of Refugio, following his state of emergency announcement on the state of Texas. On August 25, at peak intensity, Hurricane Harvey hit Refugio, causing significant damage to businesses and homes along US-77. Wind speeds were clocked up to 130 mph when the storm hit the town. Many professional storm trackers were storm chasing in Refugio during the peak of the storm, witnessing and documenting the experience. Several businesses in Refugio closed permanently in the aftermath of Harvey, and the town was without utilities for months.
References
edit
- ^ "An Act to Incorporate the Town of Refugio". Session Laws. Texas. 1842. p. 86.
- ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "A Comprehensive List of How Texans Mispronounce Places with Spanish Names". November 28, 2017.
- ^ a b "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ Climate Summary for Refugio, Texas
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ https://www.census.gov/ [not specific enough to verify]
- ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
- ^ Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
- ^ "1938 Texas Valley League (TVL) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ "1938 Texas Valley League". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ Presswood, Mark (2009). "The Minor League in Texas: Professional Baseball Had an Early Start in Small Towns" (PDF). Texas Almanac 2008–2009: 180–191.
- ^ "Ryan". Texas State History Museum Foundation.
- ^ Baseball, This Day in (January 31, 1947). "Nolan Ryan is born in Refugio, Texas".