Zapata, Texas
Zapata is a census-designated place (CDP) in and the county seat of Zapata County, Texas, United States.[3] The population was 4,856 at the 2000 census. As an unincorporated community, Zapata has no municipal government but like all 254 Texas counties has four elected county commissioners chosen by single-member districts and a countywide elected administrative judge.
Zapata was named for Colonel Jose Antonio de Zapata, the revolutionary commander who served in the cavalry of the Republic of the Rio Grande, of which the town was a part. Zapata is served by the Zapata County Airport (T86).
U.S. Highway 83, running north and south, is the main thoroughfare of Zapata. It intersects Texas State Highway 16, an east-west link, in Zapata.
Contents |
Geography
Zapata is located at 26°54′22″N 99°16′12″W / 26.90611°N 99.27°W (26.906244, -99.270007)[4].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.7 square miles (20.0 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2009, there were 14,680 people, 4,231 households, and 1,265 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 629.9 people per square mile (243.2/km²). There were 2,239 housing units at an average density of 290.4/sq mi (112.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 83.92% White, 0.25% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 12.40% from other races, and 12.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 89.11% of the population.
There were 1,574 households out of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.6% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.07 and the average family size was 3.50.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 31.7% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $24,136, and the median income for a family was $27,708. Males had a median income of $30,833 versus $12,604 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $11,863. About 29.1% of families and 33.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.1% of those under the age of 18 and 27.0% of those ages 65 and older.
Education
All of Zapata County is within the Zapata County Independent School District. ZCISD is designated as Class 3A, and participates in numerous UIL academic and athletic events. Sports offered by the school include Cross Country, Volleyball, Football, Basketball, Tennis, Golf, Track & Field, Softball, Baseball, as well as Powerlifting through the THSPA/THSWPA.
Post-secondary education is available in Laredo, fifty miles to the north on U.S. Highway 83 through Laredo Community College, Main and South campuses, and Texas A&M International University. In addition, educational institutions are also available fifty miles to the south in Rio Grande City, through the Starr County campuses of both South Texas College of McAllen and the University of Texas•Pan American of Edinburg.
Library
The Olga V. Figueroa Zapata County Public Library is located on 901 Kennedy Street in Zapata. Aida R. Garcia is the library director. The library is known as a site for viewing white-collared seedeaters. This small bird draws thousands to the library grounds every year.
Hang gliding
More world records in hang gliding have been set from Zapata than any other location in the world. The World Record Encampment has been taking place at the Zapata County Airport since 2000, and the first hang glider flights to break the 308-mile barrier took place there the first year. The current distance record is 438 miles set by Mike Barber in 2002. Three new world records were set in 2005.[5][6]
Bass fishing
Falcon International Reservoir located in Zapata is becoming well known for its bass fishing. The community hosts numerous "Winter Texans" between November and April, most residing in travel camper trailers.
References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ . National Association of Counties. . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Zapata" at The Oz Report, retrieved 2008-05-14
- ^ Hang Gliding and Paragliding World Records, Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), retrieved 2008-05-14
|
|||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Categories: Zapata County, Texas | Census-designated places in Texas | County seats in Texas | Texas communities with Hispanic majority populations
|
