Refugio, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Refugio, Texas
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Town
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Refugio City Hall
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Location of Refugio, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Refugio |
| Incorporated | February 1, 1842 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.57 sq mi (4.07 km2) |
| • Land | 1.57 sq mi (4.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 46 ft (14 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,712 |
| • Density | 1,727/sq mi (666.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
78377
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| Area code(s) | 361 |
| FIPS code | 48-61436 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1345013 |
Refugio (/rɪfˈjʊər.i.oʊ/ RIF-yoor-EE-oh) is a town in Refugio County, of which it is the county seat, in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 2,712 as of the 2020 Census. Refugio is the birthplace of Baseball Hall of Fame member Nolan Ryan.
Contents
Geography
Refugio is located at 28°18′21″N 97°16′29″W / 28.30583°N 97.27472°W (28.305812, −97.274594). According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.0 km2), all land.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Refugio has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 455 | — | |
| 1910 | 773 | — | |
| 1920 | 933 | 20.7% | |
| 1930 | 2,019 | 116.4% | |
| 1940 | 4,077 | 101.9% | |
| 1950 | 4,666 | 14.4% | |
| 1960 | 4,944 | 6.0% | |
| 1970 | 4,340 | −12.2% | |
| 1980 | 3,898 | −10.2% | |
| 1990 | 3,158 | −19.0% | |
| 2000 | 2,941 | −6.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,890 | −1.7% | |
| 2020 | 2,712 | −6.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (NH) | 791 | 29.17% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 298 | 10.99% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 9 | 0.33% |
| Asian (NH) | 10 | 0.37% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 3 | 0.11% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 53 | 1.95% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,548 | 57.08% |
| Total | 2,712 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,712 people, 957 households, and 598 families residing in the town.
Notable people
- Rocky Bridges, Major League Baseball (MLB) infielder
- Dan Firova, MLB catcher, Washington Nationals bullpen coach, and Houston Astros coach (2022 World Series Win)
- Joseph L. Galloway, American newspaper correspondent and columnist
- Kim Henkel, co-writer, with Tobe Hooper, of the original film The Texas Chain Saw massacre
- Kermit Oliver, painter
- Allison Paige, country music singer-songwriter
- Nolan Ryan, MLB pitcher, all-time Major League leader in strikeouts, and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
- Jack Starrett, film actor and director
Education
The Town of Refugio is served by the Refugio Independent School District.
Sports
The 1938 Refugio Oilers played minor league baseball as members of the Class D level Texas Valley League. The Brownsville Charros, Corpus Christi Spudders, Harlingen Hubs, McAllen Packers and Taft Cardinals joined Refugio in the league, which began play on April 14, 1938.
In 1947, future Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan was born in Refugio, though his family would move to Alvin, Texas, when Ryan was an infant.
Hurricane Harvey
On August 23, 2017, Governor Greg Abbott published an emergency evacuation for the town of Refugio, following his state of emergency announcement on the state of Texas. On August 25, at peak intensity, Hurricane Harvey hit Refugio, causing significant damage to businesses and homes along US-77. Wind speeds were clocked up to 130 mph when the storm hit the town. Many professional storm trackers were storm chasing in Refugio during the peak of the storm, witnessing and documenting the experience. Several businesses in Refugio closed permanently in the aftermath of Harvey, and the town was without utilities for months.
See also
In Spanish: Refugio (Texas) para niños
