Rock Island, Colorado County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rock Island, Texas
|
|
|---|---|
 Rock Island, Colorado County, Texas
Location in Texas
Rock Island, Colorado County, Texas
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Colorado |
| Elevation | 246 ft (75 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
77470
|
| Area code(s) | 979 |
Rock Island is a small community in Colorado County, Texas, United States. It's called an unincorporated community because it doesn't have its own city government. It's also a census designated place (CDP), which means the U.S. Census Bureau counts its population separately. In 2000, about 160 people lived in Rock Island.
Contents
Where is Rock Island?
Rock Island is located in Colorado County, Texas. It sits along U.S. Highway 90A. This highway connects Rock Island to other towns. It's about 12 miles southwest of Columbus. It's also about 15 miles west of Eagle Lake.
How Many People Live Here?
Rock Island was first counted as a special census place in the 2020 U.S. Census.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 228 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 |
|||
In 2020, the population of Rock Island was 228 people. Most residents were White (not Hispanic or Latino). There were also people who identified as Black or African American, and those of mixed races. About a quarter of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Rock Island's Past
Rock Island started in 1896. It was part of a plan to sell land along the Texas and New Orleans Railroad. The community's map was finished on February 19, 1896.
At first, the area was called Crasco, named after a nearby creek. But in 1897, people living there asked to change the name to Rock Island. Their request was approved. Charles Petersen became the first postmaster of Rock Island on August 9, 1897.
Two real estate agents worked hard to sell land. They told people from states like Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri that the area was a "tropical paradise" close to the Gulf of Mexico. By 1904, Rock Island had grown to 367 people.
In July 1909, a big hurricane hit the Texas coast. The storm passed over Rock Island with strong winds, estimated at about 75 miles per hour. Several buildings in the downtown area, including a bank, were destroyed.
The population of Rock Island reached its highest point around 1925, with about 500 people. In the 1960s, several fires caused damage, leaving empty spaces where buildings used to be downtown. By the mid-1980s, the number of people living in Rock Island had dropped to 160. It stayed at that level through 2000.
Today, Rock Island has its own post office. Its ZIP code is 77470.
Learning in Rock Island
Students in Rock Island attend public schools managed by the Columbus Independent School District.
Images for kids
-
The Rock Island US Post Office is at 1st and Tuttle Streets.
-
There is a Spanish language Baptist Church at 3rd and Cushen Streets.
-
Rock Island has a water tower at CR 106 and 4th Street.
-
The Rock Island Volunteer Fire Department is housed in a former school.
