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Nueces County, Texas

Coordinates: 27°44′N 97°31′W / 27.74°N 97.52°W / 27.74; -97.52
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Nueces County
County
The Nueces County Courthouse in Corpus Christi
The Nueces County Courthouse in Corpus Christi
Official seal of Nueces County
Seal
Map of Texas highlighting Nueces County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 27°44′N 97°31′W / 27.74°N 97.52°W / 27.74; -97.52
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1847
Named forNueces River
SeatCorpus Christi
Largest cityCorpus Christi
Area
 • Total1,166 sq mi (3,020 km2)
 • Land838 sq mi (2,170 km2)
 • Water327 sq mi (850 km2)  28%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total353,178
 • Density300/sq mi (120/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district27th
Websitewww.co.nueces.tx.us

Nueces County (/njuˈeɪsɪs/ new-AY-siss) is located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 353,178,[1] making it the 16th-most populous county in the state. The county seat is Corpus Christi.[2] The county was formed in 1846 from portions of San Patricio County and organized the following year.[3] It is named for the Nueces River, which marks the county's northwestern boundary with San Patricio County before emptying into its mouth at Nueces Bay north of the port of Corpus Christi. Nueces County is part of the Corpus Christi metropolitan statistical area.

Native Americans

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The Indian tribes that lived in and raided the county were the Lipan Apache, Karankawa, Coahuiltecan, Kickapoo, and the Seminole. The final recorded Indian raid in the county happened in April of 1878, when Lipan Apache, Kickapoo, Seminole, Mexicans, and a white man briefly entered the county and onto ranches, before returning west to Laredo. [4]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,166 square miles (3,020 km2), of which 838 square miles (2,170 km2) are land and 327 square miles (850 km2) (28%) are covered by water.[5] It borders the Gulf of Mexico.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850698—
18602,906316.3%
18703,97536.8%
18807,67393.0%
18908,0935.5%
190010,43929.0%
191021,955110.3%
192022,8073.9%
193051,779127.0%
194092,66179.0%
1950165,47178.6%
1960221,57333.9%
1970237,5447.2%
1980268,21512.9%
1990291,1458.5%
2000313,6457.7%
2010340,2238.5%
2020353,1783.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1850–2010[7] 2010[8] 2020[9]
Nueces County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[10] Pop 2010[8] Pop 2020[9] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 118,178 111,870 106,165 37.68% 32.88% 30.06%
Black or African American alone (NH) 12,718 12,178 12,651 4.05% 3.58% 3.58%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 933 882 907 0.30% 0.26% 0.26%
Asian alone (NH) 3,458 5,495 7,712 1.10% 1.62% 2.18%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 136 209 281 0.04% 0.06% 0.08%
Other Race alone (NH) 308 399 1,264 0.10% 0.12% 0.36%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) 2,963 2,897 7,146 0.94% 0.85% 2.02%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 174,951 206,293 217,052 55.78% 60.63% 61.46%
Total 313,645 340,223 353,178 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the census[11] of 2000, 313,645 people, 110,365 households, and 79,683 families resided in the county. The population density was 375 people per square mile (145 people/km2). The 123,041 housing units averaged 147 units per square mile (57/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 72.03% White, 4.24% African American, 0.64% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 18.74% from other races, and 3.13% from two or more races. About 55.78% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 110,365 households, 36.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.80% were married couples living together, 15.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were not families. About 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the county, the age distribution was 28.40% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,959, and for a family was $41,066. Males had a median income of $31,571 versus $22,324 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,036. About 14.70% of families and 18.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.00% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities (multiple counties)

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In the 2000 U.S. Census, a portion of San Patricio was indicated as being in Nueces County.[12] As of the 1990 U.S. Census, the 2010 U.S. Census, and the 2020 U.S. Census, that particular area is indicated as being in San Patricio County.[13][14][15]

Cities

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Education

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School districts:[16]

Del Mar College is the designated community college for all of Nueces County.[17]

Politics

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Past gubernatorial election results[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2018 56.33% 52,918 42.28% 39,720 1.40% 1,312
2014 54.13% 30,854 43.41% 24,746 2.46% 1,403
2010 52.68% 32,593 45.13% 27,921 2.16% 1,341
2006 37.07% 25,066 30.95% 20,931 31.97% 21,624
2002 48.16% 33,152 49.39% 34,001 2.37% 1,627
1998 60.80% 38,165 38.70% 24,290 0.50% 316
1994 44.52% 31,116 54.94% 38,399 0.54% 376

Historically, Nueces County leaned Democratic in presidential elections, though in recent years has narrowly voted Republican. Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 became the first Republican candidate to carry the county. Prior to that year, the only times Nueces County did not vote for the national Democratic candidate was in its first presidential election in 1848 for Whig Zachary Taylor, and in 1860, supporting Southern Democratic John C. Breckinridge. Since Eisenhower's election, the only other Republicans to carry the county in the 20th century were Richard Nixon in 1972 and Ronald Reagan in 1984. So far, Bill Clinton remains the last Democratic candidate to win Nueces County, having done so in 1996.

Since 2000, Nueces County has voted for every Republican presidential candidate, with only George W. Bush in 2004 having carried it by a double digit margin, and his 56.8% of the vote is also the highest for any Republican in the county's history. In 2016, Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the county with a plurality of 48.6% to 47.1%, or 1,568 votes, the closest race since 1956. In 2020, Trump won the county again, this time with a slight majority and 2.9% margin, or 3,692 votes, over Joe Biden.

Democratic strength is concentrated within the inland portion of the county, with particular strengths in center portion of Corpus Christi whereas neighborhoods that are predominately Hispanic and the city of Robstown. Republicans performed well in areas particularly in the suburbs of the city, North Padre Island and Port Aransas.[19]

United States presidential election results for Nueces County, Texas[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 67,015 55.30% 53,015 43.75% 1,158 0.96%
2020 64,617 50.75% 60,925 47.85% 1,780 1.40%
2016 50,766 48.62% 49,198 47.12% 4,441 4.25%
2012 48,966 50.95% 45,772 47.63% 1,366 1.42%
2008 52,391 51.75% 47,912 47.33% 927 0.92%
2004 59,359 56.77% 44,439 42.50% 762 0.73%
2000 49,906 51.28% 45,349 46.59% 2,071 2.13%
1996 37,470 40.22% 50,009 53.68% 5,689 6.11%
1992 36,781 36.49% 46,317 45.95% 17,693 17.55%
1988 46,337 48.30% 49,209 51.30% 386 0.40%
1984 54,333 53.68% 46,721 46.16% 159 0.16%
1980 40,586 46.84% 43,424 50.12% 2,634 3.04%
1976 32,797 37.99% 52,755 61.11% 773 0.90%
1972 41,682 55.39% 33,277 44.22% 291 0.39%
1968 21,307 31.57% 39,025 57.82% 7,159 10.61%
1964 14,048 25.75% 40,426 74.10% 84 0.15%
1960 18,907 39.09% 29,361 60.70% 100 0.21%
1956 19,985 49.89% 19,912 49.71% 162 0.40%
1952 19,124 48.59% 20,156 51.21% 79 0.20%
1948 5,577 25.60% 15,240 69.96% 966 4.43%
1944 3,819 24.21% 11,091 70.32% 863 5.47%
1940 3,065 23.87% 9,740 75.84% 37 0.29%
1936 1,234 15.54% 6,597 83.09% 109 1.37%
1932 967 12.62% 6,659 86.91% 36 0.47%
1928 2,481 45.36% 2,985 54.58% 3 0.05%
1920 383 21.55% 1,246 70.12% 148 8.33%
1916 404 16.85% 1,830 76.35% 163 6.80%
1912 85 6.50% 910 69.63% 312 23.87%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Nueces County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  4. ^ https://www.frontiertimesmagazine.com/blog/indian-raid-in-duval-and-nueces-counties
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  6. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  7. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  8. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Nueces County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  9. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Nueces County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  10. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Nueces County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ^ "CENSUS 2000 BLOCK MAP: NUECES County (Page 2)" (PDF). 2000 U.S. Census. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  13. ^ "1990 COUNTY BLOCK MAP (RECREATED): NUECES County (Page 2)" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  14. ^ "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Nueces County, TX (Page 2)" (PDF). 2010 U.S. Census. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  15. ^ "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Nueces County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  16. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Nueces County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2024. - Text list
  17. ^ Texas Education Code Sec. 130.177. DEL MAR COLLEGE-CORPUS CHRISTI JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
  18. ^ "Election History Nueces County, TX". www.nuecesco.com.
  19. ^ Rohla, Ryne. "2016 Presidential General Election Maps". Ryne Rohla.
  20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
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