Starr County, Texas

Infobox U.S. County
county = Starr County
state = Texas


map size = 225
founded = 1838
seat = Rio Grande City | area_total_sq_mi =1229
area_land_sq_mi =1223
area_water_sq_mi =6
area percentage = 0.51%
census yr = 2000
pop = 53597
density_km2 =17
web = www.co.starr.tx.us
|

Starr County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 53,597. Its county seat is Rio Grande CityGR|6. The county is named for James Harper Starr, who served as Secretary of the Treasury of the Republic of Texas.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,229 square miles (3,184 km²), of which, 1,223 square miles (3,168 km²) of it is land and 6 square miles (16 km²) of it (0.51%) is water.

Major Highways

*

=Adjacent counties and municipios=

*Jim Hogg County (north)
*Brooks County (northeast)
*Hidalgo County (east)
*Zapata County (west)
*Camargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico (south)
*Ciudad Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Tamaulipas, Mexico (south)
*Ciudad Mier, Tamaulipas, Mexico (southwest)
*Ciudad Miguel Alemán, Tamaulipas, Mexico (southwest)

History

The founder of Starr County was Matias Longoria, who was awarded a land grant from the king of Spain.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 53,597 people, 14,410 households, and 12,666 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile (17/km²). There were 17,589 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.92% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 9.91% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races.

97.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.According to the Census Bureau, Starr County had the highest percentage of Hispanic residents of any county in the United States [ Census Bureau data, cited in "Minorities now in the majority in nearly 10% of U.S. counties", Associated Press August 8, 2007, "Lexington Herald-Leader" p A8 ] .

There were 14,410 households out of which 54.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.50% were married couples living together, 17.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.10% were non-families. 11.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.69 and the average family size was 4.01.

In the county, the population was spread out with 37.40% under the age of 18, 11.00% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 16.30% from 45 to 64, and 8.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $16,504, and the median income for a family was $17,556. Males had a median income of $17,398 versus $13,533 for females. The per capita income for the county was $7,069. About 47.40% of families and 50.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 59.40% of those under age 18 and 43.30% of those age 65 or over. Starr County is one of the lowest-income counties in the United States.

Law Enforcement

In the 1970s and into the 1980s, federal law enforcement officials concentrated their anti-drug smuggling efforts on Starr County. [Miller, Tom. On the Border: Portraits of America’s Southwestern Frontier, pp. 27-34.]

2004 Election

Starr County is among a handful of counties in Texas that gave the majority of their votes to Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts.

Communities

Cities

*Escobares
*La Grulla
*Rio Grande City
*Roma

Census-designated places

Other community

*Delmita

Education

Residents of eastern Starr County are zoned to schools in the Rio Grande City Consolidated Independent School District.

Residents of western Starr County are zoned to schools in the Roma Independent School District.

Residents of northeastern Starr County are zoned to schools in the San Isidro Independent School District.

References

External links

* [http://co.starr.tx.us/ips/cms Starr County Government]
* [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/SS/hcs13.html Starr County in "Handbook of Texas Online"] at the University of Texas
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~txstarr/ Starr County TX Genweb]