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La Paloma, Texas facts for kids

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La Paloma, Texas
Location of La Paloma, Texas
Location of La Paloma, Texas
Cameron County LaPaloma.svg
Country United States
State Texas
County Cameron
Area
 • Total 2.2 sq mi (5.6 km2)
 • Land 2.2 sq mi (5.6 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
49 ft (15 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 3,218
 • Density 1,488/sq mi (575/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
78586
Area code(s) 956
FIPS code 48-41416
GNIS feature ID 1374420

La Paloma is a small community in Cameron County, Texas, United States. Its name means "The Dove" in Spanish. It is a special type of place called a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area that the government counts for population, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city.

The population of La Paloma has grown a lot over the years. In 2000, there were only 354 people. By 2010, it grew to 2,903 people. The latest count in 2020 showed 3,218 people living there. La Paloma is part of the larger BrownsvilleHarlingen metropolitan area.

Where is La Paloma Located?

La Paloma is in the southwestern part of Cameron County. It is about 16 miles (26 km) northwest of Brownsville. It is also about 5 miles (8 km) east of Los Indios. The community is very close to the Rio Grande river. This river forms the Mexico–United States border.

The total area of La Paloma is about 2.2 square miles (5.6 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

How Many People Live in La Paloma?

Historical population
Census Pop.
2000 354
2010 2,903 720.1%
2020 3,218 10.9%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850–1900 1910
1920 1930 1940
1950 1960 1970
1980 1990 2000
2010 2020

La Paloma was first recognized as a census-designated place in the year 2000.

People and Their Backgrounds (2020)

The 2020 census showed that most people in La Paloma are of Hispanic or Latino background. They make up about 98.35% of the population. People of other backgrounds also live in La Paloma.

La Paloma CDP, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 18 41 37 5.08% 1.41% 1.15%
Black or African American alone (NH) 0 0 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 0 0 1 0.00% 0.00% 0.03%
Asian alone (NH) 0 8 8 0.00% 0.28% 0.25%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 0 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 1 2 4 0.28% 0.07% 0.12%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 9 0 3 2.54% 0.00% 0.09%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 326 2,852 3,165 92.09% 98.24% 98.35%
Total 354 2,903 3,218 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Life in La Paloma (2010)

In 2010, there were 2,903 people living in La Paloma. There were 93 households, which are groups of people living together. Most of these households (71%) were married couples. About 48.4% of households had children under 18.

The average household had about 3.81 people. The average family had about 4.01 people.

The population had a mix of ages. About 35% were under 18 years old. The median age was 26 years. This means half the people were younger than 26, and half were older.

The average income for a household was $12,162 per year. For a family, it was also $12,162. Many families (54.8%) and people (65.2%) lived below the poverty line. This included a large number of children.

Schools in La Paloma

Students in La Paloma attend schools in the San Benito Consolidated Independent School District. There are also special "magnet schools" run by the South Texas Independent School District. These schools offer unique programs for students.

La Paloma in Pop Culture

La Paloma is even mentioned in a famous song! The song is called "I've Been Everywhere". It was adapted by Hank Snow and later covered by many artists, including Johnny Cash.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: La Paloma (Texas) para niños

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