Sarita, Texas
| Sarita | |
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| — CDP — | |
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 Sarita
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| Coordinates: 27°13′18″N 97°47′21″W / 27.22167°N 97.78917°WCoordinates: 27°13′18″N 97°47′21″W / 27.22167°N 97.78917°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Kenedy |
| Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 238 |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 78385 |
| Area code(s) | 361 |
| FIPS code | |
| GNIS feature ID | |
Sarita is a census designated place in, and the county seat of Kenedy County, Texas, United States.[1] It is the only settlement of note in the county, and as of the 2010 US Census had a population of 238.
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[edit] History
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This section does not cite any references or sources. (October 2012) |
Sarita was created in 1904 as the headquarters of the Kenedy Ranch, and was named by its founder, John G. Kenedy, after his daughter. The town grew to about 300 residents by 1916, when a major hurricane swept through the area and many settlers moved away (in 1999, the largest Texas hurricane in 20 years, Bret, came ashore near Sarita but did little damage). Although the town was made county seat when Kenedy County was created in 1921, it has not grown appreciably since then.
Today, Sarita is home to a Catholic church, a school, several homes, a post office, and the Lebh Shomea House of Prayer, all centered around the headquarters of the Kenedy Ranch, but no businesses are active other than the ranch. The 1921 Kenedy County Courthouse is a two-story white Beaux-Arts structure on a large green and the most prominent building in town; many county employees actually live in Kleberg County just to the north, as there is limited housing available in Sarita or Kenedy County. Across the street sits the whitewashed, two-story headquarters of the Kenedy Pasture Company, which owns most of the land in the county and employs many of Sarita's citizens. The building also houses the Kenedy Ranch Museum.
[edit] Geography
Sarita is located at 27°13′18″N, 97°47′21″W.
Sarita is along U.S. Route 77, 20 miles (32 km) south of Kingsville and 70 miles (110 km) south of Corpus Christi. The drive to Nuevo Progreso, Mexico is about one hour and thirty minutes.[2]
[edit] Cityscape
Gary Cartwright of Texas Monthly said that Sarita's only landmarks were a green sign reading "Sarita," a water tower, a blinking yellow light.[2] Sarita has an elementary school and a Catholic church. The only lodging establishment, as of 2004, is a bed and breakfast operated by justice of the peace Patti Fain. The only venue that sells soft drinks is a vending machine at the Kenedy County courthouse. Sarita does not have any convenience stores, shops, or cafes. The nearest grocery store is in Kingsville. The nearest major medical center is in Corpus Christi. As of 2004 most Sarita residents go to Nuevo Progreso, Mexico for prescription drugs, due to the low prices.[2]
[edit] Education
Sarita Elementary School (PreK-6) of the Kenedy County Wide Common School District serves Sarita.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ a b c Cartwright, Gary. "Sarita's Secret." Texas Monthly. September 2004. Retrieved on October 14, 2012.
[edit] External links
- Handbook of Texas Online article
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sarita, Texas
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