Peñitas, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peñitas, Texas
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| County | Hidalgo |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.41 sq mi (24.36 km2) |
| • Land | 9.37 sq mi (24.26 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2) |
| Elevation | 145 ft (44 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,460 |
| • Density | 686.5/sq mi (265.19/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
78576
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| Area code(s) | 956 |
| FIPS code | 48-56696 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1388195 |
Peñitas is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, in the United States. It is a growing community. In 2020, about 6,460 people lived there. This was a big jump from 4,403 people in 2010. Peñitas is part of a larger area that includes the cities of McAllen, Edinburg, and Mission. It is also connected to the Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan area, which crosses the border into Mexico.
Contents
Geography of Peñitas
Peñitas is located in the southwestern part of Hidalgo County. You can find it at these coordinates: 26.231111 degrees North and 98.445000 degrees West. The city of La Joya is right next to Peñitas on its western side.
Roads and Travel
U.S. Route 83 is a main road that goes through Peñitas. If you travel east on this road, you will reach McAllen in about 14 miles. Going west for about 26 miles will take you to Rio Grande City.
Land and Water
The city of Peñitas covers a total area of about 10.3 square kilometers. Most of this area is land. Only a very small part, about 0.08%, is water.
Population and People
Peñitas has seen its population grow quite a bit over the years. Here is how the number of people living in Peñitas has changed:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1990 | 1,077 | — | |
| 2000 | 1,167 | 8.4% | |
| 2010 | 4,403 | 277.3% | |
| 2020 | 6,460 | 46.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Who Lives in Peñitas?
The 2020 United States census counted 6,460 people living in Peñitas. These people lived in 1,537 households, and 1,400 of these were families.
Here is a closer look at the different groups of people in Peñitas, based on the 2020 census:
| Ethnies | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 109 | 1.69% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 6 | 0.09% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 2 | 0.03% |
| Asian (NH) | 7 | 0.11% |
| Some Other ethnies (NH) | 7 | 0.11% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 6 | 0.09% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 6,323 | 97.88% |
| Total | 6,460 |
This table shows that most people in Peñitas are of Hispanic or Latino background. There are also smaller numbers of people from other ethnic groups.
Education in Peñitas
Students in Peñitas attend schools that are part of the La Joya Independent School District.
Local Schools
Some of the schools serving the community include:
- JFK Elementary School
- C. Chavez Middle School
- La Joya High School
Magnet Schools
The South Texas Independent School District also runs special "magnet schools." These schools offer unique programs and are open to students from Peñitas as well.
