Premont, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Premont, Texas
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Premont City Hall
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Location of Premont, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Jim Wells |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.71 sq mi (4.43 km2) |
| • Land | 1.71 sq mi (4.43 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 161 ft (49 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,455 |
| • Density | 1,436/sq mi (554.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
78375
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| Area code(s) | 361 |
| FIPS code | 48-59384 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1344536 |
Premont is a small city located in Jim Wells County, Texas, in the United States. In 2020, about 2,455 people lived there. It's a quiet community in the southern part of Texas.
Contents
Where is Premont Located?
Premont is found in south central Jim Wells County. It's right along U.S. Highway 281. This highway is also known as Future Interstate 69C.
The city is about 27 miles (43 km) south of Alice. It's also 9 miles (14 km) north of Falfurrias. These nearby towns are bigger centers for shopping and services.
Premont covers a total area of about 1.7 square miles (4.4 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
A Look Back: Premont's History
The land where Premont now stands was once part of a large land grant. This grant was given to Ignacio de la Peña in 1831. His family owned the land for about 30 years.
How Premont Started
In 1907, a man named R.P. Halderman bought a huge piece of land. He paid over half a million dollars for it! He then divided this land into smaller plots. He wanted to attract people from the northern U.S. to move to South Texas. He told them about the warm weather and good farming conditions.
Around 1908 or 1909, the town site was mapped out. Halderman named the new community "Premont" after Charles Premont. Charles Premont was the foreman of the Seeligson Ranch.
A special part of the town was set aside for Mexican and Mexican-American families. This area was east of the railroad tracks. A park called Hidalgo Park was built for these families. Charles Premont, who spoke Spanish, helped sell land to Mexican families. He also gave money to build Santa Theresa Catholic Church. This church still serves three missions today.
Early Growth and Changes
Soon, businesses started to open in Premont. These included a post office and a general store. In 1911, Premont became part of the new Jim Wells County. Charles Premont was even elected as the county's first commissioner.
By 1912, Premont had ten businesses. About 800 people lived there. By 1914, the population grew to about 1,000. That same year, the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway built a stop in Premont.
The Premont Independent School District was created in 1921. It was the largest school district in Jim Wells County at the time. However, by 1925, Premont's population had dropped to around 600.
Oil Discovery and Later Years
In the early 1930s, oil was found near Premont. This discovery helped the town grow a lot! The first oil well started producing in 1933.
Premont officially became a city in 1939. By 1940, its population was 1,080. The oil industry helped Premont become strong and successful after World War II.
By 1950, 2,619 people lived in Premont. In 1952, there were 55 businesses. The population reached its highest point in 1970, with 3,282 residents. Since then, the population has slowly decreased.
Who Lives in Premont?
Here's a quick look at the population changes in Premont over the years:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1940 | 1,080 | — | |
| 1950 | 2,619 | 142.5% | |
| 1960 | 3,049 | 16.4% | |
| 1970 | 3,282 | 7.6% | |
| 1980 | 2,984 | −9.1% | |
| 1990 | 2,914 | −2.3% | |
| 2000 | 2,772 | −4.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,653 | −4.3% | |
| 2020 | 2,455 | −7.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Premont's Population in 2020
In 2020, there were 2,455 people living in Premont. There were 899 households and 660 families.
Most of the people living in Premont are of Hispanic or Latino background. They make up over 90% of the population.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 212 | 8.64% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1 | 0.04% |
| Asian (NH) | 10 | 0.41% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 2 | 0.08% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 3 | 0.12% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 11 | 0.45% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,216 | 90.26% |
| Total | 2,455 |
Schools in Premont
The Premont Independent School District provides public education in the city. The district has two main schools:
- Premont Ernest H. Singleton Early College Academy (for grades Pre-K through 5th grade)
- Premont Collegiate High School (for grades 6th through 12th grade)
For students who want to continue their education after high school, Coastal Bend College is the local community college. It serves Jim Wells County.
Famous People from Premont
- J. M. Lozano: He is a member of the Texas House of Representatives. He grew up in Premont and graduated from Premont High School. He represents several counties, including Jim Wells.
See also
In Spanish: Premont (Texas) para niños
