Nixon, Texas

Nixon, Texas
City
Location of Nixon, Texas
Coordinates: 29°16′14″N 97°45′45″W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Counties	Gonzales, Wilson
Area
• Total	1.57 sq mi (4.06 km2)
• Land	1.56 sq mi (4.05 km2)
• Water	0.004 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	390 ft (119 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	2,385
• Density	1,526/sq mi (589.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	78140
Area code	830
FIPS code	48-51588
GNIS feature ID	1363917

Nixon is a city in Gonzales and Wilson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 2,385 at the 2010 census. Nixon is located at 29°16′14″N 97°45′45″W (29.270443, -97.762423), primarily within Gonzales County. The city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all land.

The Wilson County portion of Nixon is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is served by the Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent School District.

Nixon was founded in 1906 as Nixonville, when the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway built its lines through the John T. Nixon Ranch.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1920	1,124		—
1930	1,037		−7.7%
1940	1,835		77.0%
1950	1,875		2.2%
1960	1,751		−6.6%
1970	1,925		9.9%
1980	2,008		4.3%
1990	1,995		−0.6%
2000	2,186		9.6%
2010	2,385		9.1%
2016 (est.)	2,495		4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,186 people, 686 households, and 506 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,928.1 people per square mile (746.9/km²). There were 803 housing units at an average density of 708.3 per square mile (274.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.99% White, 2.84% African American, 0.91% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 24.15% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 61.57% of the population.

There were 686 households out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.53.

In the city, the population was spread out with 31.5% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 16.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,104, and the median income for a family was $25,139. Males had a median income of $21,250 versus $15,491 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,135. About 22.3% of families and 27.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.7% of those under age 18 and 25.0% of those age 65 or over.

Texas Sheltered Care

In 2007, a former private facility in Nixon, "Texas Sheltered Care", that held children caught illegally crossing the US-Mexico border, was ordered closed due to allegations of sexual abuse. It operated under contract of the federal government's Department of Health and Human Services. Its 72 residents were sent to other shelters outside of Nixon, due to a lack of confidence of being able to reopen in the city. Immigration lawyers were forced to abandon their Nixon practices that served the detainees in the facility. The FBI and local authorities investigated the alleged incidents, with an accused staff member fired. The accused was later criminally charged and sentenced to prison.

Notable people

• Little Joe – Tejano singer
• Andre Marrou – 1992 Libertarian Party presidential nominee
• Chris Marrou – former news anchor for KENS 5-TV in San Antonio
• Carlton McKinney – retired professional basketball player

Manuel Zepeda

In 2018, former Nixon city manager and local substitute teacher, Manuel Zepeda, was charged with 11 sexual felonies against children.

Auvye Trammel

In 2011, former Nixon Councilman Auvye Trammel, having once served 21 years on the city council through two terms, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for connections with drug trafficking marijuana from Mexico; Trammel had posted bail for a known trafficker. He had also been prior charged for a chase involving the trafficker.

The then-current Nixon police chief was fired during the trafficking investigation just prior to Trammel’s arrest; the former chief cites reasons of retaliation for investigating the then-councilman, while the city claims he failed to meet occupational standards.