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Refugio County, Texas facts for kids

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Refugio County
The Refugio County Courthouse in Refugio
The Refugio County Courthouse in Refugio
Map of Texas highlighting Refugio County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Texas
Founded 1837
Named for Refugio
Seat Refugio
Largest town Refugio
Area
 • Total 818 sq mi (2,120 km2)
 • Land 770 sq mi (2,000 km2)
 • Water 48 sq mi (120 km2)  5.8%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 6,741
 • Density 8.241/sq mi (3.1818/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 27th

Refugio County ( ri-FYOOR-ee-oh) is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 6,741. Its county seat is Refugio. The county originated as a municipality of Mexico in 1834 and was classified as a county in 1837.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 818 square miles (2,120 km2), of which 770 square miles (2,000 km2) is land and 48 square miles (120 km2) (5.8%) is water.

Major highways

  • US 77.svg U.S. Highway 77
    • I-69E.svg The future route of Interstate 69E is planned to follow the current route of U.S. 77 in most places.
  • Alternate plate.svg
    US 77.svgUS 183.svg U.S. Highway 77 Alternate/U.S. Highway 183
  • Texas 35.svg State Highway 35
  • Texas 239.svg State Highway 239
  • Texas FM 136.svg Farm to Market Road 136
  • Texas FM 774.svg Farm to Market Road 774
  • Texas FM 2441.svg Farm to Market Road 2441
  • Texas FM 2678.svg Farm to Market Road 2678

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1850 288
1860 1,600 455.6%
1870 2,324 45.3%
1880 1,585 −31.8%
1890 1,239 −21.8%
1900 1,641 32.4%
1910 2,814 71.5%
1920 4,050 43.9%
1930 7,691 89.9%
1940 10,383 35.0%
1950 10,113 −2.6%
1960 10,975 8.5%
1970 9,494 −13.5%
1980 9,289 −2.2%
1990 7,976 −14.1%
2000 7,828 −1.9%
2010 7,383 −5.7%
2020 6,741 −8.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850–2010 2010–2014

As of the census of 2000, 7,828 people, 2,985 households, and 2,176 families resided in the county. The population density was 10 people/sq mi (4/km2). The 3,669 housing units averaged 5 per sq mi (2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.22% White, 6.77% African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 10.47% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were about 48.6% of the population.

Refugio County Memorial Hospital Texas July 2014
Refugio County Medical Center (2014)

Of the 2,985 households, 31.60% had children under 18 living with them, 55.10% were married couples living together, 12.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were not families. About 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59, and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the population was distributed as 26.10% under 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.60% who were 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,986, and for a family was $36,162. Males had a median income of $29,667 versus $16,565 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,481. About 14.30% of families and 17.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.20% of those under age 18 and 16.30% of those age 65 or over.

Geology

The Tom O'Connor field was discovered in 1934 with the Quintana No. 1-A well, the location of which was based on a gravity survey and a trend of other fields to the southwest and northeast between the Vicksburg Fault Zone and the Frio Fault Zone. The field is a structural trap formed by an anticline on the downthrown side of the Vicksburg Fault Zone. The faulting is due to "large-scale gravity slumping", and these types of faults are referred to as growth faults, which are normal faults that occur simultaneously with sedimentation. Most of the oil and half the gas is produced at depths between 4500–6000 feet, from 15 oil reservoirs and 4 gas reservoirs in the Oligocene Frio Formation sandstones deposited during Marine regression, notably the "5900 foot sand", the "5800 foot sand", the "5500 foot sand" and the "5200 foot sand". Gas with some oil is found above these sandstones in the Oligocene Anahuac Formation, deposited in a Marine transgression, notably the "4400 foot Greta sand". Dry gas is found in the Miocene-Pliocene Fleming sandstones deposited during marine regression, notably the "L-4 sand, which is overlain by 1400 feet of Pleistocene Lissie sandstones.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated place

Ghost towns

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Refugio para niños

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