Frio County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 18,385.[1] The county seat is Pearsall.[2] The county was created in 1858 and later organized in 1871.[3] Frio is named for the Frio River, whose name is Spanish for "cold".[4]

Frio County
The Frio County Courthouse in Pearsall
The Frio County Courthouse in Pearsall
Map of Texas highlighting Frio County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 28°52′N 99°07′W / 28.86°N 99.11°W / 28.86; -99.11
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1871
Named forFrio River
SeatPearsall
Largest cityPearsall
Area
 • Total
1,134 sq mi (2,940 km2)
 • Land1,134 sq mi (2,940 km2)
 • Water0.8 sq mi (2 km2)  0.07%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
18,385
 • Density15/sq mi (6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district23rd
Websitewww.co.frio.tx.us

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,134 square miles (2,940 km2), of which 1,134 sq mi (2,940 km2) are land and 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2) (0.07%) is covered by water.[5]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
186042
1870309635.7%
18802,130589.3%
18903,11246.1%
19004,20035.0%
19108,895111.8%
19209,2864.4%
19309,4111.3%
19409,207−2.2%
195010,35712.5%
196010,112−2.4%
197011,15910.4%
198013,78523.5%
199013,472−2.3%
200016,25220.6%
201017,2175.9%
202018,3856.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1850–2010[7] 2010–2014[8] 2020[1]

2020 census

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Frio 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[9] Pop 2010[10] Pop 2020[11] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 3,344 2,796 3,053 20.58% 16.24% 16.61%
Black or African American alone (NH) 777 524 705 4.78% 3.04% 3.83%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 14 38 49 0.09% 0.22% 0.27%
Asian alone (NH) 58 362 199 0.36% 2.10% 1.08%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 1 1 9 0.01% 0.01% 0.05%
Other race alone (NH) 25 29 81 0.15% 0.17% 0.44%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 46 66 118 0.28% 0.38% 0.64%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11,987 13,401 14,171 73.76% 77.84% 77.08%
Total 16,252 17,217 18,385 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 18,385 people, 4,673 households, and 3,306 families residing in the county.

As of the census[12] of 2000, 16,252 people, 4,743 households, and 3,642 families resided in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). The 5,660 housing units averaged 5 per square mile (1.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 71.86% White, 4.87% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 19.76% from other races, and 2.50% from two or more races. About 73.76% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 4,743 households, 40.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 16.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.20% were not families. About 20.60% of all households was made up of individuals, and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.44.

In the county, the population was distributed as 28.70% under the age of 18, 11.20% from 18 to 24, 30.80% from 25 to 44, 18.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 121.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 130.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,504, and for a family was $26,578. Males had a median income of $23,810 versus $16,498 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,069. About 24.50% of families and 29.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.20% of those under age 18 and 30.40% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

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United States presidential election results for Frio County, Texas[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 3,060 61.96% 1,848 37.42% 31 0.63%
2020 2,823 53.48% 2,422 45.88% 34 0.64%
2016 1,856 42.18% 2,444 55.55% 100 2.27%
2012 1,559 39.29% 2,376 59.88% 33 0.83%
2008 1,644 40.47% 2,405 59.21% 13 0.32%
2004 1,991 50.66% 1,931 49.13% 8 0.20%
2000 1,774 42.97% 2,317 56.13% 37 0.90%
1996 1,225 29.94% 2,593 63.37% 274 6.70%
1992 1,275 29.52% 2,377 55.04% 667 15.44%
1988 1,505 33.16% 3,016 66.46% 17 0.37%
1984 2,003 42.90% 2,656 56.89% 10 0.21%
1980 1,753 37.55% 2,849 61.03% 66 1.41%
1976 1,280 32.75% 2,598 66.48% 30 0.77%
1972 1,904 54.23% 1,588 45.23% 19 0.54%
1968 795 32.69% 1,330 54.69% 307 12.62%
1964 607 28.67% 1,507 71.19% 3 0.14%
1960 713 39.83% 1,068 59.66% 9 0.50%
1956 825 47.94% 886 51.48% 10 0.58%
1952 1,011 50.52% 983 49.13% 7 0.35%
1948 345 25.73% 898 66.96% 98 7.31%
1944 293 21.40% 951 69.47% 125 9.13%
1940 236 18.85% 1,012 80.83% 4 0.32%
1936 193 15.83% 1,019 83.59% 7 0.57%
1932 142 12.46% 998 87.54% 0 0.00%
1928 673 72.21% 258 27.68% 1 0.11%
1924 158 19.55% 637 78.84% 13 1.61%
1920 102 19.17% 421 79.14% 9 1.69%
1916 55 11.68% 410 87.05% 6 1.27%
1912 25 5.07% 418 84.79% 50 10.14%

Frio County has generally leaned Democratic at the presidential level, although it has sometimes voted Republican, including the elections of 2004 and 2020.

Communities

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Frio County Cemetery is located just off Interstate 35 in Pearsall.

Cities

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated area

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Ghost town

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Education

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School districts include:[14]

The designated community college is Southwest Texas Junior College.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "2020 Census Data". data.census.gov.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 132.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  6. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". 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 April 26, 2015.
  8. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 18, 2011. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  9. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Frio County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  10. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Frio County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Frio County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  14. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Frio County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022. - Text list
  15. ^ Texas Education Code: Sec. 130.200. SOUTHWEST TEXAS JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
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28°52′N 99°07′W / 28.86°N 99.11°W / 28.86; -99.11