Jim Wells County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Wells County
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The Jim Wells County Courthouse in Alice
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Location within the U.S. state of Texas
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 Texas's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1911 |
| Named for | James Babbage Wells Jr. |
| Seat | Alice |
| Largest city | Alice |
| Area | |
| • Total | 868 sq mi (2,250 km2) |
| • Land | 865 sq mi (2,240 km2) |
| • Water | 3.4 sq mi (9 km2) 0.4% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 38,891 |
| • Density | 44.805/sq mi (17.299/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 15th |
Jim Wells County is a county located in the state of Texas, USA. In 2020, about 38,891 people lived there. The county was started in 1911. It is named after James B. Wells Jr., who was an important judge and a very influential person in the Democratic Party in South Texas for many years.
Jim Wells County is part of the Alice, Texas, area. This area is also connected to the larger Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice region.
Contents
Exploring Jim Wells County's Geography
This section tells you about the land and roads in Jim Wells County.
Land and Water Area
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Jim Wells County covers a total area of 868 square miles. Only a small part, about 3.4 square miles (0.4%), is covered by water. The rest is land.
Main Roads and Highways
Many important roads run through Jim Wells County. These highways help people travel and connect different towns.
U.S. Highway 281
Interstate 69C is being built and will mostly follow U.S. 281.
State Highway 44
State Highway 141
State Highway 359
Farm to Market Road 624
Farm to Market Road 665
Farm to Market Road 716
Farm to Market Road 2295
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Neighboring Counties
Jim Wells County shares borders with several other counties in Texas:
- Live Oak County (to the north)
- San Patricio County (to the northeast)
- Nueces County (to the east)
- Kleberg County (to the east)
- Brooks County (to the south)
- Duval County (to the west)
People Living in Jim Wells County
This section looks at how the population of Jim Wells County has changed over time.
Population Changes Over Time
The number of people living in Jim Wells County has changed quite a bit since 1920. Here's a quick look at the population every ten years:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 6,587 | — | |
| 1930 | 13,456 | 104.3% | |
| 1940 | 20,239 | 50.4% | |
| 1950 | 27,991 | 38.3% | |
| 1960 | 34,548 | 23.4% | |
| 1970 | 33,032 | −4.4% | |
| 1980 | 36,498 | 10.5% | |
| 1990 | 37,679 | 3.2% | |
| 2000 | 39,326 | 4.4% | |
| 2010 | 40,838 | 3.8% | |
| 2020 | 38,891 | −4.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
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Who Lives Here?
In 2020, the population of Jim Wells County was 38,891 people. Most people in the county are of Hispanic or Latino background. About 79% of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino.
Other groups living in the county include:
- White people (not Hispanic or Latino)
- Black or African American people (not Hispanic or Latino)
- Native American or Alaska Native people (not Hispanic or Latino)
- Asian people (not Hispanic or Latino)
- People of two or more races (not Hispanic or Latino)
In 2000, about 40% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had almost 3 people. The median age in the county was 33 years old. This means half the people were younger than 33 and half were older.
Towns and Villages in Jim Wells County
Jim Wells County has several cities, one village, and many smaller communities.
Cities
- Alice is the main city and the county seat. This means it's where the county government is located.
- Orange Grove
- Premont
- San Diego (most of this city is in Duval County)
Village
- Pernitas Point (most of this village is in Live Oak County)
Census-Designated Places (CDPs)
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities.
Unincorporated Communities
These are small communities that are not part of any city or CDP.
Education in Jim Wells County
Students in Jim Wells County attend schools in several different school districts.
School Districts
- Agua Dulce Independent School District
- Alice Independent School District
- Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco Independent School District
- La Gloria Independent School District
- Orange Grove Independent School District
- Premont Independent School District
- San Diego Independent School District
Community College
After high school, students in Jim Wells County can attend Coastal Bend College. This college used to be called Bee County College.
