Portland, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Portland, Texas
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| Nickname(s):
Gem City By the Gulf
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| Motto(s):
Building Community and Raising Families
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Counties | San Patricio, Nueces |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 25.14 sq mi (65.11 km2) |
| • Land | 21.84 sq mi (32.35 km2) |
| • Water | 3.3 sq mi (6.87 km2) |
| Elevation | 43 ft (13 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 20,383 |
| • Density | 1,631.95/sq mi (630.10/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
78374
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| Area code(s) | 361 |
| FIPS code | 48-58904 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1344378 |
Portland is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. Most of it is in San Patricio County. Some water areas extend into Nueces County.
In 2020, about 20,383 people lived here. The city's own count for 2023 is 22,783 people. Portland is a smaller city near Corpus Christi. It sits on the north side of Nueces and Corpus Christi Bays.
Contents
Where is Portland Located?
Portland is found at specific geographic coordinates: 27°52′59″N 97°19′14″W / 27.88306°N 97.32056°W. This means it's at 27.883117 degrees north latitude and -97.320466 degrees west longitude.
The city covers a total area of about 25.14 square miles (65.11 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 21.84 square miles (56.57 square kilometers). The rest, about 3.3 square miles (8.54 square kilometers), is covered by water. Portland is located roughly halfway between Portland, Maine and Portland, Oregon.
How Many People Live in Portland?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 1,202 | — | |
| 1960 | 2,538 | 111.1% | |
| 1970 | 7,302 | 187.7% | |
| 1980 | 12,023 | 64.7% | |
| 1990 | 12,224 | 1.7% | |
| 2000 | 14,827 | 21.3% | |
| 2010 | 15,099 | 1.8% | |
| 2020 | 20,383 | 35.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 22,783 | 50.9% | |
Population in 2020
The 2020 United States census counted 20,383 people living in Portland. This included 6,136 households and 4,639 families.
Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Portland in 2020:
| Group | Number of People | Percentage of Total |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 10,095 | 49.53% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 353 | 1.73% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 88 | 0.43% |
| Asian (NH) | 571 | 2.8% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 39 | 0.19% |
| Some Other Group (NH) | 80 | 0.39% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 674 | 3.31% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8,483 | 41.62% |
| Total | 20,383 |
A Brief History of Portland
The land where Portland now stands was first bought by John G. Willacy in 1890. The next year, in 1891, he sold it to a company from Portland, Maine. This company was called the Portland Harbor and Improvement Co.
Portland is built on the second-highest "bluff" (a steep cliff or hill) along the Gulf Coast. From this high spot, you can see both Nueces Bay and Corpus Christi Bay.
Schools in Portland
Public schools in Portland are part of the Gregory-Portland Independent School District. This district includes several schools for different age groups:
- W. C. Andrews Elementary (for grades K–5)
- T. M. Clark Elementary
- East Cliff Elementary
- Stephen F. Austin Elementary (located in Gregory)
- Gregory-Portland Middle School (for grades 6–8)
- Gregory-Portland High School (for grades 9–12)
After high school, students can attend Del Mar College. This community college serves all of San Patricio County and Nueces County.
Famous People From Portland
Several well-known people have connections to Portland:
- Matt Merrell is a racing driver.
- Don Williams (1939–2017) was a famous country singer and songwriter. He moved to Portland as a child and graduated from Gregory-Portland High School in 1958. Don Williams had 17 songs that reached number one on the country music charts!
- Steve Trevino is a comedian.
- Walker Janek is an American baseball player.
See also
In Spanish: Portland (Texas) para niños
