Palacios, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Palacios, Texas
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Downtown Palacios
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| Nickname(s):
City by the Sea
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Location of Palacios, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Matagorda |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.21 sq mi (13.48 km2) |
| • Land | 4.94 sq mi (12.79 km2) |
| • Water | 0.27 sq mi (0.69 km2) |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,395 |
| • Density | 918.02/sq mi (354.45/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
77465
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| Area code(s) | 361 |
| FIPS code | 48-54684 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411354 |
Palacios (pronounced pə-LASH-əs) is a city in Matagorda County, Texas, United States. It's often called the "City by the Sea" because it's right on the coast. In 2020, about 4,395 people lived there.
Contents
History of Palacios
The first people to live in this area were the Karankawa tribe. They met Europeans in the 1500s when Spanish explorers came through. In 1685, a French explorer named René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle explored the area. His ship, La Belle, sank in the bay the next year.
In the 1820s, English-speaking settlers arrived. They often had conflicts with the Karankawa people. The Karankawa were eventually moved out of the area.
There's a popular story about how Palacios got its name. Shipwrecked Spanish sailors supposedly saw a vision of three palaces on the bay. They called the area "Tres Palacios," meaning "Three Palaces." However, historians think it was more likely named after José Félix Trespalacios. He was an early Mexican governor of Texas. The town was first called Trespalacios, but the name was shortened. This was because a nearby post office already used the longer name.
The land where Palacios now stands was once a ranch. In 1901, it was sold by the family of its owner, Abel "Shanghai" Pierce. A company bought the land and divided it into lots. When the Southern Pacific Railroad arrived, the town grew quickly. It also became a popular seaside resort thanks to the Texas Baptist Encampment.
Palacios was first settled as a community in 1903. The city government started in 1909. By 1915, Palacios had over 100 businesses. It had a post office, a library, and a weekly newspaper. There were many hotels, including the large Luther Hotel built in 1903. A big entertainment pier was also built in the bay.
In 1926, Camp Hulen opened as a training center. It was for the 36th Infantry of the Texas National Guard. During World War II, the U.S. War Department used the camp. It became a major training center for anti-aircraft weapons. At its busiest, it could hold 14,560 troops. It also held German prisoners of war. Palacios grew a lot during this time. Famous stars like Rita Hayworth and Glenn Miller even visited.
After the war, Camp Hulen closed. The town's population went down for a while. In 1961, Hurricane Carla hit the town and caused a lot of damage. Since then, the population has grown again. Many Vietnamese immigrants and other new people have moved there.
In 1973, the mayor, W.C. "Bill" Jackson, made October 24 "Palacios' First Annual UFO Fly-In Day." This was because of many UFO sightings in the area. He even asked President Richard Nixon to call Palacios the "Interplanetary Capital of the Universe."
In 1991, a new pavilion was built on the waterfront. In 1995, the French shipwreck La Belle was found at the bottom of the bay. This led to a big underwater dig in 1996-1997. Palacios was the base for this important archeological project. In 2009, the city celebrated its 100th birthday with many events.
Geography and Climate
Palacios is located on the Gulf Coast of Texas. It's about halfway between the cities of Houston and Corpus Christi. You can reach both cities using State Highway 35.
The city covers about 5.3 square miles (13.48 square kilometers). Most of this is land, and a small part is water. Palacios sits on the shores of Tres Palacios Bay. This bay is an arm of Matagorda Bay.
The Palacios area is famous among birders (people who watch birds). It has a huge variety of bird species. Since 1997, it has consistently reported more bird species than almost anywhere else in the United States. This happens during the National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count. On December 19, 2005, a record 250 different bird species were seen!
Climate in Palacios
Palacios has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters. In January, the average high temperature is about 62°F (17°C). In August, it reaches about 90°F (32°C). Nighttime lows range from 44°F (7°C) in winter to 77°F (25°C) in summer.
| Climate data for Palacios Municipal Airport, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1943–present) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 82 (28) |
88 (31) |
89 (32) |
96 (36) |
98 (37) |
104 (40) |
101 (38) |
102 (39) |
107 (42) |
95 (35) |
92 (33) |
84 (29) |
107 (42) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 76.9 (24.9) |
78.8 (26.0) |
82.3 (27.9) |
86.8 (30.4) |
89.8 (32.1) |
93.9 (34.4) |
94.6 (34.8) |
96.6 (35.9) |
94.9 (34.9) |
90.4 (32.4) |
83.7 (28.7) |
79.2 (26.2) |
98.0 (36.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 65.2 (18.4) |
68.3 (20.2) |
73.4 (23.0) |
79.5 (26.4) |
84.9 (29.4) |
90.1 (32.3) |
91.7 (33.2) |
92.8 (33.8) |
90.0 (32.2) |
83.7 (28.7) |
74.4 (23.6) |
67.8 (19.9) |
80.1 (26.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 55.6 (13.1) |
59.3 (15.2) |
65.0 (18.3) |
71.4 (21.9) |
78.1 (25.6) |
83.6 (28.7) |
85.4 (29.7) |
85.6 (29.8) |
81.5 (27.5) |
73.9 (23.3) |
64.6 (18.1) |
58.0 (14.4) |
71.8 (22.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 46.0 (7.8) |
50.2 (10.1) |
56.7 (13.7) |
63.3 (17.4) |
71.3 (21.8) |
77.2 (25.1) |
79.1 (26.2) |
78.5 (25.8) |
73.0 (22.8) |
64.1 (17.8) |
54.8 (12.7) |
48.2 (9.0) |
63.5 (17.5) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 29.8 (−1.2) |
33.6 (0.9) |
36.2 (2.3) |
45.0 (7.2) |
56.6 (13.7) |
68.0 (20.0) |
72.0 (22.2) |
71.3 (21.8) |
59.7 (15.4) |
45.6 (7.6) |
35.8 (2.1) |
31.2 (−0.4) |
27.2 (−2.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 13 (−11) |
13 (−11) |
22 (−6) |
32 (0) |
44 (7) |
56 (13) |
63 (17) |
60 (16) |
49 (9) |
30 (−1) |
25 (−4) |
9 (−13) |
9 (−13) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.25 (83) |
1.89 (48) |
2.71 (69) |
2.67 (68) |
3.86 (98) |
4.55 (116) |
3.67 (93) |
3.91 (99) |
5.88 (149) |
4.33 (110) |
3.39 (86) |
2.98 (76) |
43.09 (1,094) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 8.9 | 7.7 | 6.6 | 6.0 | 6.4 | 8.2 | 7.1 | 8.1 | 10.4 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 8.9 | 92.7 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Palacios
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 35 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,389 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,335 | −3.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,318 | −1.3% | |
| 1940 | 2,288 | 73.6% | |
| 1950 | 2,799 | 22.3% | |
| 1960 | 3,676 | 31.3% | |
| 1970 | 3,642 | −0.9% | |
| 1980 | 4,667 | 28.1% | |
| 1990 | 4,418 | −5.3% | |
| 2000 | 5,153 | 16.6% | |
| 2010 | 4,718 | −8.4% | |
| 2020 | 4,395 | −6.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Palacios had 4,395 people living in 1,524 households. These households included 1,038 families.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 1,033 | 23.5% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 118 | 2.68% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 1 | 0.02% |
| Asian (NH) | 420 | 9.56% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 2 | 0.05% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 7 | 0.16% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 64 | 1.46% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,750 | 62.57% |
| Total | 4,395 |
Palacios has a large community of Vietnamese immigrants and their families. This means a higher percentage of Asian-Americans live here compared to many other U.S. cities.
In 2000, about 44.7% of households had children under 18. About 55.4% were married couples living together. The average household had 3.08 people. The average family had 3.64 people.
The median age in the city was 30 years old. This means half the people were younger than 30 and half were older.
Economy and Jobs
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Palacios is a very important place for shrimping. It has about 400 shrimping boats. This makes it the third-largest shrimping port on the Texas Gulf Coast. Palacios even calls itself the "Shrimp Capital of Texas"!
The main jobs in Palacios are in education, farming/fishing, and construction. The area is also a big center for making energy. Matagorda County is working to become an "energy cluster." This means it's a hub for both traditional and "green" (renewable) energy.
Tourism is also important to Palacios. People visit for fishing, boating, and birdwatching. They also come for eco-tourism, which means enjoying nature responsibly.
Education in Palacios
Students in Palacios and nearby areas go to schools in the Palacios Independent School District. This district includes:
- Central Elementary
- East Side Elementary
- Palacios Junior High School
- Palacios High School (the junior high and high school are on the same campus)
For college, students from Palacios ISD can attend Wharton County Junior College.
Media
Palacios has its own weekly newspaper called the Palacios Beacon. It has been published since 1907.
Transportation
You can get to Palacios by car using Texas State Highway 35. The city also has the Palacios Municipal Airport. For boats, the Palacios Channel connects the Port of Palacios to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. This waterway is like a highway for boats along the coast.
If you want to travel by bus, Greyhound Lines offers direct service from Palacios. You can go to Houston, Corpus Christi, and the Rio Grande Valley.
Famous People from Palacios
- Daniel E. Flores: He became a Bishop of Brownsville. When he was appointed, he was the youngest Catholic bishop in the U.S.
- William L. Jungers: An anthropologist who studies humans and their ancestors. He is known for his work on how ancient human relatives, like "Lucy" (who lived 3.4 million years ago), walked on two legs.
- Priscilla Owen: A judge who serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
- Monty Stratton: A Major League Baseball pitcher who played in the 1930s.
See also
In Spanish: Palacios (Texas) para niños
