Kleberg County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kleberg County
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The Kleberg County Courthouse in Kingsville. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 10, 2010.
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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 | 1913 |
| Named for | Robert J. Kleberg |
| Seat | Kingsville |
| Largest city | Kingsville |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,090 sq mi (2,800 km2) |
| • Land | 881 sq mi (2,280 km2) |
| • Water | 209 sq mi (540 km2) 19% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 31,040 |
| • Density | 28.48/sq mi (11.00/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 34th |
Kleberg County is a special area in the state of Texas, USA. It is like a large district with its own local government. In 2020, about 31,040 people lived there. The main town and where the county government is located is Kingsville. Kleberg County was created in 1913. It is named after Robert J. Kleberg, who was an important early settler.
Kleberg County is part of the Kingsville area, which is connected to the larger Corpus Christi region. A big part of the county's land belongs to the famous King Ranch. This huge ranch also stretches into nearby counties.
Contents
History of Kleberg County
Kleberg County was officially formed in 1913. It was named to honor Robert J. Kleberg, who was a very important person in the area's early days.
In 1997, something interesting happened. The county leaders decided that "HeavenO" should be the county's official greeting. They made this change because they felt the word "Hello" sounded too much like "Hell."
Who Was Robert Justus Kleberg?
Robert Justus Kleberg Sr. (1803–1888) was born in Germany in 1803. His father was a merchant.
Kleberg studied at the University of Göttingen and became a lawyer. After finishing school, he worked as a judge. In 1834, he married Rosalie von Roeder. They moved to Texas in the same year and settled in Cat Spring in 1836.
In the early days of the Republic of Texas, Kleberg held several important jobs. He was a land commissioner and a justice of the peace. He also served as the chief justice of Austin County. Later, in 1847, the Kleberg family moved to Meyersville. There, Robert was elected county commissioner and then chief justice.
Kleberg also played a part in Texas history. He fought in the battle of San Jacinto. After the battle, he helped guard General Santa Anna. He also volunteered to fight against Native Americans on Escondido Creek.
During the American Civil War, Kleberg supported the Confederacy. He even tried to form a group of soldiers, but he was too old for active duty. Robert and Rosa raised seven children of their own. Their youngest son, Robert Justus Kleberg Jr., married Alice Gertrudis King.
Robert Kleberg Sr. passed away in 1888 near Cuero. His grave has a monument shaped like a soldier's tent. It has the words "Remember the Alamo" carved on it. Kleberg County was named after him in 1913. A special marker was placed at his old home in 1936.
Geography and Nature
Kleberg County covers about 1,090 square miles. Most of this (881 square miles) is land, and 209 square miles (about 19%) is water. The county is located right next to the Gulf of Mexico. A large part of the border with Kenedy County is formed by Baffin Bay.
Main Roads in Kleberg County
Interstate 69E (This road is still being built)
U.S. Highway 77
State Highway 141
State Highway 285
Farm to Market Road 771
Park Road 22
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Neighboring Counties
Kleberg County shares its borders with these other counties:
- Nueces County (to the north)
- Kenedy County (to the south)
- Brooks County (to the southwest)
- Jim Wells County (to the west)
Protected Natural Areas
Part of the Padre Island National Seashore is located in Kleberg County. This is a special area protected for its natural beauty and wildlife.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 7,837 | — | |
| 1930 | 12,451 | 58.9% | |
| 1940 | 13,344 | 7.2% | |
| 1950 | 21,991 | 64.8% | |
| 1960 | 30,052 | 36.7% | |
| 1970 | 33,166 | 10.4% | |
| 1980 | 33,358 | 0.6% | |
| 1990 | 30,274 | −9.2% | |
| 2000 | 31,549 | 4.2% | |
| 2010 | 32,061 | 1.6% | |
| 2020 | 31,040 | −3.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
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In 2020, the population of Kleberg County was 31,040 people. Over the years, the number of people living in the county has changed. It grew steadily until the 1980s, then saw some small ups and downs.
Religious Beliefs
Many people in Kleberg County are religious, about 68% of the population. The largest religious group is Catholics, making up about 37% of the people. Other Christian faiths like Baptists and Methodists are also present. There are also communities of Muslims and Mormons.
Communities in Kleberg County
Cities and Towns
- Kingsville (This is the largest city and the county seat.)
Census-Designated Places
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities.
Unincorporated Community
Education
Several school districts serve the students in Kleberg County:
- Kingsville Independent School District
- Ricardo Independent School District
- Riviera Independent School District
- Santa Gertrudis Independent School District
For students who want to go to college, Coastal Bend College is the community college for most of Kleberg County. However, the Riviera area is part of the Del Mar College-Corpus Christi Junior College District.
Images for kids
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The Kleberg County Courthouse in Kingsville.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Kleberg para niños
