Port Isabel, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Port Isabel, Texas
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Port Isabel Lighthouse
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Location of Port Isabel, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Cameron |
| Area | |
| • Total | 13.80 sq mi (35.73 km2) |
| • Land | 6.79 sq mi (17.58 km2) |
| • Water | 7.01 sq mi (18.15 km2) |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,028 |
| • Density | 364.35/sq mi (140.72/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
78578, 78597
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| Area code(s) | 956 |
| FIPS code | 48-58892 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1375530 |
Port Isabel is a city in Cameron County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville and the Matamoros–Brownsville metropolitan areas. The population was 5,028 at the 2020 census.
The city's name is given to the Port Isabel Detention Center, 12 miles (19 km) to the northwest next to the Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport.
Contents
History
Established as a town after the Mexican War of Independence, Port Isabel became an important cotton-exporting port before the American Civil War. The harbor, town and lighthouse all were fought over and exchanged hands during the Civil War.
In September 1967, Hurricane Beulah caused extensive damage to much of the city. On July 23, 2008 Hurricane Dolly, a category 2 storm, also caused extensive damage to the city.
Geography
Port Isabel is located in eastern Cameron County at 26°4'25" North, 97°12'48" West (26.073675, –97.213234), on the western side of the south end of Laguna Madre, an estuary of the Gulf of Mexico. The Queen Isabella Causeway crosses Laguna Madre to South Padre Island on the Gulf shore. To the southwest it is 23 miles (37 km) to Brownsville, the Cameron County seat.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Port Isabel has a total area of 13.7 square miles (35.4 km2), of which 6.7 square miles (17.4 km2) is land and 6.9 square miles (18.0 km2), or 50.94%, is water.
Demographics
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 907 | 18.04% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 10 | 0.2% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 8 | 0.16% |
| Asian (NH) | 20 | 0.4% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 5 | 0.1% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 13 | 0.26% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 37 | 0.74% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4,028 | 80.11% |
| Total | 5,028 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,028 people, 2,073 households, and 1,432 families residing in the city.
Historic Census Population
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,177 | — | |
| 1940 | 1,440 | 22.3% | |
| 1950 | 2,372 | 64.7% | |
| 1960 | 3,575 | 50.7% | |
| 1970 | 3,067 | −14.2% | |
| 1980 | 3,769 | 22.9% | |
| 1990 | 4,467 | 18.5% | |
| 2000 | 4,865 | 8.9% | |
| 2010 | 5,006 | 2.9% | |
| 2020 | 5,028 | 0.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Education
Children living in Port Isabel are zoned to schools in Point Isabel Independent School District. Children go to Garriga Elementary School (grades K–2), Derry Elementary School (3–5), Port Isabel Junior High School (6–8), and Port Isabel High School (9–12). All of the schools are located in Port Isabel. The mascot of both the junior high and high school is the Tarpon.
In addition, children may apply to schools in South Texas Independent School District.
The designated community college for Point Isabel ISD and all of Cameron County is Texas Southmost College.
The Port Isabel Public Library serves Port Isabel.
Climate
| Climate data for Port Isabel Cameron Co Airport, Texas (1981-2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 69.4 (20.8) |
71.8 (22.1) |
77.2 (25.1) |
82.4 (28.0) |
87.1 (30.6) |
91.1 (32.8) |
92.7 (33.7) |
92.9 (33.8) |
89.6 (32.0) |
84.8 (29.3) |
78.5 (25.8) |
70.5 (21.4) |
82.3 (28.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 52.4 (11.3) |
55.0 (12.8) |
60.2 (15.7) |
67.0 (19.4) |
73.6 (23.1) |
77.3 (25.2) |
77.9 (25.5) |
77.2 (25.1) |
75.1 (23.9) |
68.5 (20.3) |
61.3 (16.3) |
53.5 (11.9) |
66.6 (19.2) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.21 (31) |
1.44 (37) |
1.11 (28) |
1.41 (36) |
2.61 (66) |
2.45 (62) |
2.13 (54) |
2.06 (52) |
5.32 (135) |
2.91 (74) |
2.15 (55) |
1.30 (33) |
26.1 (663) |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
See also
In Spanish: Port Isabel para niños
