Three Rivers, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Three Rivers, Texas
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City Hall
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Location of Three Rivers, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Live Oak |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.47 sq mi (3.80 km2) |
| • Land | 1.46 sq mi (3.79 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 144 ft (44 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,474 |
| • Density | 1,003/sq mi (387.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
78060, 78071
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| Area code(s) | 361 |
| FIPS code | 48-72872 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1348525 |
Three Rivers is a city located in Live Oak County, Texas, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,474 people lived there.
Contents
History of Three Rivers
The city of Three Rivers started thanks to Mrs. Annie T. Hamilton. She owned land in the area. In 1913, she paid a railroad company to build a train station there. Charles R. Tips then helped sell land for the new town. On July 4, 1913, the town officially opened.
The city is named for three nearby rivers: the Atascosa River, the Frio River, and the Nueces River. The Atascosa joins the Frio north of the city, and the Frio joins the Nueces south of the city. The town was first called Hamiltonburg. However, mail kept going to Hamilton, Texas by mistake. So, in 1914, the name was changed to Three Rivers. The city became an official city in 1926.
Industry and Growth in Three Rivers
In 1920, natural gas was found near Three Rivers. This led to a small oil refinery being built. Texas's first glass factory was also built here in 1922. It used the local sand and gas. The factory closed in 1938 during the Great Depression. However, the refinery grew over time. Today, it is a large Diamond Shamrock refinery and a major employer.
Three Rivers became well-known in 1948-1949 because of something called the "Longoria Affair." A funeral home in town would not allow a chapel service for a Mexican-American soldier who died in World War II. This event caused a lot of discussion. A historical marker was placed to remember this event. It is now located at the entrance to the city hall.
Geography and Climate
Three Rivers is located at 28°28′02″N 98°10′46″W / 28.467155°N 98.179451°W. The city covers about 1.5 square miles (3.8 square kilometers) of land.
Weather in Three Rivers
The weather in Three Rivers has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. It has a humid subtropical climate, which means it gets a good amount of rain throughout the year.
| Climate data for Three Rivers, Texas (Choke Canyon Dam) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1983–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 90 (32) |
99 (37) |
100 (38) |
105 (41) |
106 (41) |
111 (44) |
109 (43) |
107 (42) |
112 (44) |
101 (38) |
95 (35) |
89 (32) |
112 (44) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 64.1 (17.8) |
68.4 (20.2) |
74.9 (23.8) |
81.4 (27.4) |
87.7 (30.9) |
93.1 (33.9) |
95.2 (35.1) |
96.6 (35.9) |
90.7 (32.6) |
83.7 (28.7) |
73.3 (22.9) |
65.3 (18.5) |
81.2 (27.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 53.4 (11.9) |
57.6 (14.2) |
64.2 (17.9) |
70.3 (21.3) |
77.6 (25.3) |
82.9 (28.3) |
84.5 (29.2) |
85.3 (29.6) |
80.3 (26.8) |
72.6 (22.6) |
62.6 (17.0) |
54.9 (12.7) |
70.5 (21.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 42.8 (6.0) |
46.8 (8.2) |
53.4 (11.9) |
59.2 (15.1) |
67.4 (19.7) |
72.7 (22.6) |
73.9 (23.3) |
74.1 (23.4) |
70.0 (21.1) |
61.5 (16.4) |
51.9 (11.1) |
44.5 (6.9) |
59.9 (15.5) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 18 (−8) |
14 (−10) |
24 (−4) |
36 (2) |
43 (6) |
58 (14) |
62 (17) |
63 (17) |
50 (10) |
29 (−2) |
26 (−3) |
11 (−12) |
11 (−12) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.51 (38) |
1.41 (36) |
2.38 (60) |
2.01 (51) |
2.98 (76) |
2.68 (68) |
2.76 (70) |
1.69 (43) |
3.62 (92) |
2.33 (59) |
1.49 (38) |
1.65 (42) |
26.51 (673) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.3 (0.76) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.3 | 7.0 | 6.6 | 5.6 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 5.3 | 4.2 | 7.4 | 5.4 | 5.7 | 7.4 | 74.0 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Population of Three Rivers
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,275 | — | |
| 1940 | 1,337 | 4.9% | |
| 1950 | 2,026 | 51.5% | |
| 1960 | 1,932 | −4.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,761 | −8.9% | |
| 1980 | 2,133 | 21.1% | |
| 1990 | 1,889 | −11.4% | |
| 2000 | 1,878 | −0.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,848 | −1.6% | |
| 2020 | 1,474 | −20.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Information
In 2020, there were 1,474 people living in Three Rivers. There were 651 households and 506 families.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 567 | 38.47% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 3 | 0.2% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 9 | 0.61% |
| Asian (NH) | 2 | 0.14% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 19 | 1.29% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 24 | 1.63% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 850 | 57.67% |
| Total | 1,474 |
Economy and Jobs
The main ways people make a living in Three Rivers are through oil and gas work, ranching, and hunting. Tourism is also growing. Three Rivers is a gateway to the Choke Canyon Reservoir.
Things to Do and See
Choke Canyon State Park is a great place for boating, fishing, and camping. Many different kinds of birds visit the Three Rivers area. This makes it a popular spot for bird watching. There are many hotels and RV parks for visitors. These were built to house workers during the recent oil boom.
Three Rivers was also home to Texas's first glass factory. While the building is gone, a historical marker shows where it once stood. You might even find old glass pieces from the factory in local antique shops.
Many people in Three Rivers work at the nearby Federal Bureau of Prisons, about 10 miles west of town. The Valero Three Rivers Refinery is another big employer. Three Rivers is in the middle of a large oil field, which means many jobs related to 'fracking' are in the area.
Schools in Three Rivers
Three Rivers has its own school district, called Three Rivers Independent School District. It includes:
- Three Rivers Elementary School
- Three Rivers Junior High School
- Three Rivers High School
Famous People from Three Rivers
- James Crumley, a novelist (someone who writes books)
- Roy Head, a musician
- Felix Z. Longoria Jr., a Mexican-American soldier who died during World War II
See also
In Spanish: Three Rivers (Texas) para niños
