La Joya, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
La Joya, Texas
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| La Joya | |
| Nickname(s):
The Jewel City
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| Motto(s):
The Jewel of the Rio Grande Valley
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Location of La Joya, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Hidalgo |
| Incorporated | 1965 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.38 sq mi (11.35 km2) |
| • Land | 4.21 sq mi (10.89 km2) |
| • Water | 0.18 sq mi (0.46 km2) |
| Elevation | 174 ft (53 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,457 |
| • Density | 1,017.6/sq mi (392.69/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
78560
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| Area code(s) | 956 |
| FIPS code | 48-40384 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1339334 |
La Joya is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, in the United States. In 2020, about 4,457 people lived there. La Joya is part of a larger group of cities called the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission area. It is also part of the Reynosa–McAllen area, which includes cities in both the U.S. and Mexico.
Contents
History of La Joya
The name La Joya means "the jewel" in Spanish. This name came from a small natural lake west of the city. Early settlers thought the lake sparkled like a jewel in the sun.
The land where La Joya was built used to be part of "Los Ejidos de Reynosa Viejo." Ejidos were shared grazing lands for the animals of the people living in "Old Reynosa."
In the early 1800s, a community called "Tabasco" was started near the Rio Grande. This community was successful. However, big floods in 1908 and 1909 destroyed it. The people living there moved their homes and belongings to higher ground, which is where La Joya is today.
Geography of La Joya
La Joya is located in the southwestern part of Hidalgo County. It is next to the city of Peñitas on its east side. To the west, it borders an area called Havana.
Interstate 2 runs through the middle of La Joya. This highway goes east about 16 miles (26 km) to McAllen. It also goes northwest about 24 miles (39 km) to Rio Grande City.
The city of La Joya covers a total area of about 4.4 square miles (11.4 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 4.2 square miles (10.9 square kilometers). The rest is water, about 0.2 square miles (0.5 square kilometers). Walker Lake is found in the southeastern part of the city.
| Climate data for La Joya, Texas (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 71.1 (21.7) |
75.3 (24.1) |
82.2 (27.9) |
87.2 (30.7) |
91.4 (33.0) |
96.4 (35.8) |
97.3 (36.3) |
98.5 (36.9) |
93.6 (34.2) |
88.4 (31.3) |
81.7 (27.6) |
72.1 (22.3) |
86.3 (30.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 48.0 (8.9) |
51.5 (10.8) |
57.5 (14.2) |
63.7 (17.6) |
70.8 (21.6) |
75.2 (24.0) |
75.7 (24.3) |
75.8 (24.3) |
72.1 (22.3) |
64.8 (18.2) |
56.8 (13.8) |
47.8 (8.8) |
63.3 (17.4) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.56 (40) |
1.41 (36) |
0.86 (22) |
1.27 (32) |
1.53 (39) |
2.16 (55) |
2.56 (65) |
0.94 (24) |
4.26 (108) |
2.76 (70) |
1.22 (31) |
1.50 (38) |
22.03 (560) |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 1,217 | — | |
| 1980 | 2,018 | 65.8% | |
| 1990 | 2,604 | 29.0% | |
| 2000 | 3,303 | 26.8% | |
| 2010 | 3,985 | 20.6% | |
| 2020 | 4,457 | 11.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The table below shows the different groups of people living in La Joya, based on the 2020 census. "NH" means Non-Hispanic.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 86 | 1.93% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 2 | 0.04% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 5 | 0.11% |
| Asian (NH) | 5 | 0.11% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 19 | 0.43% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 8 | 0.18% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4,332 | 97.2% |
| Total | 4,457 |
In 2020, there were 4,457 people living in La Joya. These people made up 1,235 households, with 880 of them being families.
Schools and Learning
The schools in La Joya are part of the La Joya Independent School District. Students living in La Joya city usually go to these schools:
- Tabasco Elementary School
- Lorenzo de Zavala Middle School
- La Joya High School
Students can also apply to special schools called magnet schools. These schools are run by the South Texas Independent School District. The city also has its own public library, called La Joya Public Library.
Famous People from La Joya
- Sergio Castillo – A professional football player who kicks for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the CFL. He won the Grey Cup in 2021.
- Macarena Hernandez – An award-winning journalist and teacher. She graduated from La Joya High School.
- Mayra Rosales – Known as one of the heaviest women of all time.
See also
In Spanish: La Joya (Texas) para niños
