Cameron County, Texas

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Cameron County, Texas
Camcourthouse.jpg
The current Cameron County Courthouse in Brownsville.
Seal of Cameron County, Texas
Seal
Map of Texas highlighting Cameron County
Location in the state of Texas
Map of the U.S. highlighting Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded 1848
Seat Brownsville
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
1,276 sq mi (3,305 km²)
906 sq mi (2,347 km²)
371 sq mi (961 km²), 29.03%
Population
 - (2010)
 - Density
406,220
370/sq mi (143/km²)
Website www.co.cameron.tx.us

Cameron County is the southernmost county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 406,220.[1] Its county seat is Brownsville.[2] Cameron was founded in 1848. Cameron is named for Captain Ewen Cameron,[3] a soldier during the Texas Revolution and in the ill-fated Mier Expedition.

Cameron County is part of the Brownsville–Harlingen Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville Combined Statistical Area.

It is north from the Mexican border.

Contents

Geography [edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,276 square miles (3,304.8 km2), of which 906 square miles (2,346.5 km2) is land and 371 square miles (960.9 km2) (29.03%) is water.

Major highways [edit]

US-77 is a freeway through Harlingen to Brownsville, blocks north of the international border.

US-83 is a freeway through Harlingen and Brownsville.

US-281 is called the "Military Highway" through Cameron County and runs roughly adjacent to the Rio Grande and the border.

Adjacent counties and municipios [edit]

To the east, the county borders the Gulf of Mexico.

National protected areas [edit]

Demographics [edit]

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1850 8,541
—
1860 6,028 −29.4%
1870 10,999 82.5%
1880 14,959 36.0%
1890 14,424 −3.6%
1900 16,095 11.6%
1910 27,158 68.7%
1920 36,662 35.0%
1930 77,540 111.5%
1940 83,202 7.3%
1950 125,170 50.4%
1960 151,098 20.7%
1970 140,368 −7.1%
1980 209,680 49.4%
1990 260,120 24.1%
2000 335,227 28.9%
2010 406,220 21.2%
Est. 2011 414,123 1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
Texas Almanac: 1850-2010[5]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 335,227 people,[7] 97,267 households, and 79,953 families residing in the county. The population density was 370 people per square mile (143/km²). There were 119,654 housing units at an average density of 132 per square mile (51/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.29% White, 0.48% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 15.98% from other races, and 2.30% from two or more races. 84.34% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 97,267 households out of which 45.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% were married couples living together, 17.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.80% were non-families. 15.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.40 and the average family size was 3.81.

In the county, the population was spread out with 33.80% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 17.80% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,155, and the median income for a family was $27,853. Males had a median income of $22,755 versus $18,182 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,960. About 28.20% of families and 33.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.10% of those under age 18 and 22.90% of those age 65 or over.

A 2000 Texas A&M study stated that of the residents of Cameron County, 43% do not have basic literary skills.[8]

Communities [edit]

Cities [edit]

Towns [edit]

A picture of the Cameron County Courthouse (1912), the Dancy Building, in Brownsville, Texas which served as the County Courthouse before the construction of the current Courthouse. It was restored in 2006 and now houses County Court at Law No 1 as well as some county offices.

Unincorporated areas [edit]

Census-designated places [edit]

Other unincorporated areas [edit]

Government and infrastructure [edit]

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operates the Port Isabel Service Processing Center, which is located in an unincorporated area adjacent to Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport.[10][11]

Education [edit]

Cameron County is served by several school districts. They include:

In addition, residents are eligible to apply to South Texas Independent School District's magnet schools.

Economic development [edit]

SpaceX has proposed building a private space launch facility east of Brownsville on the Gulf Coast.[12] If built, the facility is projected to employ 75–100 full-time workers in the early years with up to 150 full-time employees/contractors by 2019.[9]

Radio stations [edit]

Newspapers [edit]

  • The Brownsville Herald (A Freedom Communications, Inc. newspaper based in Brownsville, TX) - Official Site
  • Valley Morning Star (A Freedom Communications, Inc. newspaper based in Harlingen, TX) - Official Site

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ United States Census Bureau. "2010 Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 22 December 2011. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  3. ^ "DeWitt Colony Militia Captains". Tamu.edu. Retrieved 2012-05-14. 
  4. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2012-05-14. 
  5. ^ "Texas Almanac: County Population History 1850-2010" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-05-14. 
  6. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  7. ^ "Cameron County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". Quickfacts.census.gov. Retrieved 2012-05-14. 
  8. ^ Clark, Steve. "Borders liquidation to bring down local Waldenbooks." The Brownsville Herald. July 20, 2011. Retrieved on July 21, 2011.
  9. ^ a b Nield, George C. (April 2014). Draft Environmental Impact Statement: SpaceX Texas Launch Site (Report). 1. Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Commercial Space Transportation. http://1.usa.gov/YtxBzo.
  10. ^ "Port Isabel Service Processing Center." U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Retrieved on 21.July 2010.
  11. ^ Texas Department of Transportation, 2008Retrieved 26.April 2013
  12. ^ Martinez, Laura (2012-04-10). "Brownsville area candidate for spaceport". The Monitor. Retrieved 2012-05-12. 

External links [edit]

 Willacy County
Hidalgo County Gulf of Mexico
  Cameron County, Texas  
Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Municipalities and communities of Cameron County, Texas, United States
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There are 254 counties in Texas. (See Template of Texas counties or List.)

Coordinates: 26°09′N 97°27′W / 26.15°N 97.45°W / 26.15; -97.45

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